I have a 2013 Journey and have not seen the Oil Change Indicator light come on yet. I went about 6000 miles and started to get nervous so I went ahead and took it in for an oil change. I've now gone another 7000 miles and the light has not come on yet. I'm wondering if I'm just missing the indicator or is this normal?

 

Supposely oil change interval is now 6 month or 8000 miles as an acceptable warranty requirement.


Call me old school, But I wouldn't go over 5000 miles on conventional oil. Especially many oil change place try to use cheapest supplier available. And if you do use Synthetic and extended interval, Make sure you check oil level periodically.

 

The oil change indicator on mine (09) has a mind of its own. I just keep track and change the oil 5 months, or 5000 miles per the manual. I was never a believer in idiot lights. I just reset it whenever I change the oil. Sometimes it will come on 2000 miles later, sometimes it never comes on.

 

According to the user's manual, the maximum change interval is 10,000 miles or 12 months for the 2013 3.6 VVT engine.

I wanted to see how far mine would go. 9,278 miles and the EVIC finally told me to change the oil. I use Mobil 1 and have no problem with the 10,000 mile / yearly interval unless the EVIC tells me to do it sooner.

I've used the EVIC's recommendation (I wait until it tells me to change it or I meet the time interval of 1 year) on all of my Dodge/Jeep vehicles that have them and have not suffered any ill affects on the engine. The EVIC, evidently, uses some computer algorithm based on time, duty cycles, type of driving, etc.) to come up with a "time to change the oil" notification. I towed for years with my Jeep Commander and when towing, it would come on sooner and when I bought my RAM Longhorn for towing (I bought a 5th wheel) and stopped towing with it, it would let me go longer between changes.

 

But nowadays, no one check their oil level every other gas fill up anymore.


The only down side about American car's Oil change reminder is it doesn't tell you when you are a quart low on oil like the European cars. Only reminder is the red oil light, it comes on when your engine is completely out of oil.


I've seen so many engine failed due to a small leak, or burns oil. when car owners decided to use these Extended oil change interval, there will be literally no oil left to be changed on their next oil change.

 

I am old school... Fill-up= check oil, look at other fluids under hood (I really don't like that the Journey has no transmission dip-stick...). Also use the EVIC to check tire pressures at fill-up when I'm getting the odometer information for my mileage calculations; I still keep a tank by tank calculation for every tank of gas I buy. The EVIC only gives a tire pressure warning when difference is > 10% and I like to keep within a pound or two. Most instances, my psi should 3 to 5 psi over cold values. If it isn't, I check them cold the next day.

I agree about the "automation" though making a lot of people lazy. I'm especially concerned about all the "avoidance" automation popping up. People will stop looking left and right, or slowing on approaching another vehicle "knowing" that their systems will warn them of a problem...until said system fails, then what?

 

You can buy the SPECIAL dip stick for $20.




As long as your trans fluid is between 40-60mm, you are ok.

 

I'd already bought one, but, it just irked me that the car didn't come with it. Similar to my paying for the roof rack only to find that it is just the side rails; cross rails extra and paying for the "tow package" to find the electrical connector in a bag in the back end and no tow hitch. Just irks me a bit at the things they leave off, even though you paid for them. I'd have gladly paid the extra $200 to have the cross rails, trailer hitch and transmission dip stick so that I could actually use the options that I paid for...

Next you'll order the car only to find it delivered to the dealer and sitting on blocks; tires not included.

 

I never got an owners manual bought my truck used. So I do my oil change every 3500k Miles and oil filter every oil change. I use 2hat ever is on sale at wally world ( walmart ) when i am at 3500. check every fluid under the hood and air filter every Monday. Also I check the air in my tires every monday to. And twice a year I get some rust check and go nuts. This year I will try and save the money to have the rust check guys do it for me properly.

I might start changing my oil at 5000k miles instead now that I see you guys go a lot longer.