Hey guys! I took my Stratus in for its first oil change since i've had it (June 07) at 3,200 miles about two months ago. I want to maintain the car so it will last and will stick to every 2,500 -3,000 mile oil changes. I am due in about 500 miles to get another oil change and they can't get me in for two more weeks! I am going on a trip next weekend and willeasily pass that 500miles by then. I don't wantto let it gothat long because of the sledge problems. Myquestion is...shouldI just bring it to Wal-Mart and have them put in full synthetic (this would be a first for the car) and get it done ahead of time or should I hold out and have the dealership do it (not using synthetic)and be over by about 1,000 miles????
Thanks guys!
Nick

 

Ummm do it yourself??

 

I would hadn't I had a bad experience from changing my own oil in my last car...long storybut i would rather someone else do it so that if something were to go wrong on the car i can't be blamed for it.I know it sounds stupid, but from personal experience its way easier to have someone else do it for a little more money.

 

Check the oil level. If it's ratherlow, get it done at walmart.
Otherwise you can wait to get it done at the stealership. If it's low, you can top it off and still wait to get it done.

 

Wal-mart ruined my oil pan by stripping out the bolt, then they had to have it re-threaded. I would guess the walmart "techs" know just about as much as you do. Go anywhere else!

 

I dont believe that if you change the oil 4000 miles compared to 3000 miles will make much of a difference. As long as you have a well known brand of oil and filter you should be just fine.

 

thanks for all the input guys! I took it to Wal-Mart before the trip and had them put in 5W-30 full synthetic Castrol and a Fram oil filter. I don't know how good Fram filters are but its not like I know how good dealership filters are either, or if there is even a difference. I ended up putting on about 600 miles on the car during the trip and got a shocking and consistent 28 mpg (the computer was saying 29.8-30 mpg butit came in at just over 28 according to my calculations. I really have been impressed by this car so far and I get comments on it all the time..especially about the chrome rims that came on the ES models...weird. Thanks again guys!
Nick

 

wish I could get that kinda mileage out of our R/T

 

Same here My gas mileage sucks

 

That shouldn't really be that much out of the normal for Interstate Highway miles Nate. I don't do 29, but I do generally get about 25-26 when I'm running up to Daytona on I-95. Stop light to stoplight in town kills me though.[:@]