When to change your oil

[ummduh]

At that rate I'd do once per year with semi synthetic, unless it's still under warranty.

Unless it's one of the engine families known for oiling problems, like the Dodge 2.7/3.5.

 

[Zodiark1593]

At that rate I'd do once per year with semi synthetic, unless it's still under warranty.

Unless it's one of the engine families known for oiling problems, like the Dodge 2.7/3.5.

I thought Dodge fixed that sludge problems in 06-07? Could be an issue as my mom is rolling the 07 Dodge Charger SE (Slow Edition).

 

[ummduh]

AFAIK it's never really been fixed and has continued to be problematic.. Just that those engines have all been discontinued for better ones like the 3.6 they're using in everything now a days.

 

[Zodiark1593]

AFAIK it's never really been fixed and has continued to be problematic.. Just that those engines have all been discontinued for better ones like the 3.6 they're using in everything now a days.

Oh lovely. Nice surprise for mom once the Charger hits 100k.

 

[LTC8K6]

Oh lovely. Nice surprise for mom once the Charger hits 100k.

Change the oil more often, or go with full synthetic, and make sure the car does a long trip once in a while.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Change the oil more often, or go with full synthetic, and make sure the car does a long trip once in a while.

Coincidentally, the car was in a roughly 300 mile trip today. 76K on it now, so I suppose it's not to late to run Synthetic. However, that decision is up to my parents since it is their car. :whiste:

 

[Jimzz]

Coincidentally, the car was in a roughly 300 mile trip today. 76K on it now, so I suppose it's not to late to run Synthetic. However, that decision is up to my parents since it is their car. :whiste:

Tell them to use a high mileage oil. It has a very strong additive pack and is a semi-syn oil as well. That way it will protect from sludge without breaking the bank. Valvoline high mileage and Castrol's high mileage have been under $17 for 5qts at walmart for a while now.

 

[skyking]

We follow the manual on oil type and interval. 10k and an
Oil that meets VW's engine specs.
We average 35 minutes on the commute and have virtually no stop and go or short trips, both things that are harder on the engine and oil.

 

[phucheneh]

Change the oil more often, or go with full synthetic, and make sure the car does a long trip once in a while.

I feel it is worth noting that, despite the general consensus that 3k oil changes are not needed...

...I've never seen an engine on the still-common 3-4k oil change schedule experience sludging problems. At all. Even if it's turbo, even if it see wide ambient temp swings, lots of cold starts/short trips, ect. If you follow the two most common oil change schedules- most often 3k/5k at indy or chain shops, or the slightly-more-generous 3750/7500 I've seen at dealers...you're not going to ruin an engine with sludging. You will never cause ANYTHING negative, except maybe the loss of 30-45 minutes of your time and $30 for that extra oil change.

It's such cheap insurance. If a certain engine is known for sludging, oil consumption, ect, it's a smart move to keep the oil change intervals a little on the tight side.