Hi everyone,

I have a 2012 Caravan and was told when I bought it (and it's also in the user manual) that it only needs oil changes every 7,000 miles. I have 3,400-something miles on it, and every time I start it now I get a message reading "oil change due". I have gotten the oil checked, just not changed yet.

I called up the service guys at the local Dodge service center and they were no help. I am just trying to figure out if I can wait till 7,000 miles, and why it is telling me "oil change due" now when it is supposed to be 7,000 miles.

Thank you!
Rubydog

 

It depends on what kind of miles they were. If it was a lot of in town driving or short trips then I would change it sooner than 7k. If it was all highway, longer trips then you can go that long. It's better in the long term to change it more often. I have replaced my share of sludged up motors that failed at much lower miles than the should have due to lack of oil changes.

 

Turn the key on, press the accelerator to the floor 3 times and turn the key off within 10 seconds and the message will reset. You can change your oil whenever you want.

 

Thank you. The dealership actually called me back and said there is some sort of special "break-in" oil that is put in new cars and that only the first oil change needs to be done at an earlier interval because of this special additive.

 

Wonder how the van would know it has a different oil in it?

 

news to me

 

Strange, mine didn't do that and there is no mention of it in the owners manual.

 

Wonder if it takes hours run into effect. Perhaps if your particular van sat on the lot for a while it may have been idled several times to keep battery/fluids fresh.

 

I have no clue. I bought it n February with 5 miles on it and have only put 3500 on it since.

 

Look at see what the build date was. Should be on the drivers door jam. It could have sat on the lot for 6 months before you bought it.