Coming up on the first oil change

[Newsa]

If you drive daily, remember that your truck will conduct active regens regularly. If is not driven hard and long (15k in 6 months/500 hours or the equivalent of 2500 miles/80+ hours per month) Ram thinks it has gone through enough active regens that there could be a small amount of fuel dilution in crankcase oil. So to be on the safe side and protect warranty, it sets it's recommendation at 6 months. Additionally, if you are starting cold alot, the engine creates more soot/acids when running cold. So the oil quality and filter capacity could be suspect. For those who only average one cold start per day and drive most of the day only stopping for breaks/food/fuel, they will hit 15k before 6 months. Many of their restarts are with a warm engine.

 

[Cummins12V98]

How does the 6 month time frame play into changing the oil? I'm at 6 months, with 7800mi and the oil indicator shows 48% life left for the oil. I am changing the oil now, but am wondering for future changes. I know I need to follow the "requirements" for warranty issues, but don't understand the time frame element. Does the oil break down over time? Thanks

I highly advise to keep receipts and log your changes and be sure to reset. If you want to go longer be sure to do a Blackstone oil sample.

 

[Cummins2014]

I highly advise to keep receipts and log your changes and be sure to reset. If you want to go longer be sure to do a Blackstone oil sample.

I have read this from you before, you are saying that its okay to go longer as long as Blackstone has said its okay. I can't see where that would work as far as warranty goes if there was an oil related engine failure, do you have anything to back that up.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Yes the question was discussed at the TDR's May Madness with the Chrysler Reps. I am talking time NOT mileage. My last change was almost 7 months and 15K. Report was good so that shows the oil was still in good condition. High moisture area and a lot of short trips are what they are worried about.

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[SnoKing]

Ron, what was their logic to change oil at 6 months when mileage is low? SNOKING

 

[Cummins12V98]

Mine came with the Mopar 0508 3285 AA MO-285 . I would say no it is not the Stratapore. It would be nice if it was ,its the one I use. May go to the Stratapore ,but its just been to convenient to get the Mopar MO-285 from Walmart.

At 5K between oil changes not real concerned about going to the Fleetguard Stratapore, which is apparently the best we can use.

Geno's or AMAZON are even more convenient

 

[Cummins12V98]

Ron, what was their logic to change oil at 6 months when mileage is low? SNOKING

Short trips not allowing moisture to evaporate.

You would think that the computer would tell you to change when it's been 6 mo since last change.

 

[Cummins2014]

Geno's or AMAZON are even more convenient

Yes Amazon is convenient, Geno's I don't use. I just purchased everything with the exception of the Mopar oil filter on Amazon, Rotella 15-40, comes in a 3 gallon box, and was actually cheaper then the local Walmart. Both Mopar fuel filters, and fleetguard air filter . Time for the six month ,and yearly changes.

 

[SnoKing]

Changed the oil in Cherry today, "from the top". Fleetguard Stratapore filter and Delco 400 15-40 CK. Dropped the ATF in the Aisin pan and measure that I got aprox 7 qts. out. Put 7 quarts in and it was over full. Mistake was to not verify level before starting. Dropped 1/2-3/4 quart out and drive it a bit and it was below max. OD will turn 30K in the next couple days.

Took a peak at the air filter, and have to order one of those. Dead bees below the filter in the air box.

 

[gsbrockman]

Changed the oil in Cherry today, "from the top". Fleetguard Stratapore filter and Delco 400 15-40 CK. Dropped the ATF in the Aisin pan and measure that I got aprox 7 qts. out. Put 7 quarts in and it was over full. Mistake was to not verify level before starting. Dropped 1/2-3/4 quart out and drive it a bit and it was below max. OD will turn 30K in the next couple days.

Took a peak at the air filter, and have to order one of those. Dead bees below the filter in the air box.

Unless you got the transmission fluid up to 163*F or 165*F AFTER the drain & fill, you won't get an accurate reading. With a :30 minute or so drain time of 165*F transmission fluid, 7 quarts +/- .25 quarts is dead nuts on.

 

[JR]

I struggle with the 6 month recommendation on changing the oil. For me, my trips are longer so the oil gets good and hot everytime the truck gets ran. I wonder if the driver is possible fuel dilution or soot loading of the oil.

 

[Newsa]

I struggle with the 6 month recommendation on changing the oil. For me, my trips are longer so the oil gets good and hot everytime the truck gets ran. I wonder if the driver is possible fuel dilution or soot loading of the oil.

Probably not a huge issue.

Oil with more additives (diesel oil has more additives than some other engine oils) typically are more hygroscopic. Moisture will dissolve in the oil even when it just sits. Does the truck do a lot of sitting in a humid environment? (Sitting in the winter would not be an issue because the air is so dry.) Dissolved moisture in the oil is invisible but is the most chemically reactive.


Excessive Fuel Dilution and soot loading would only happen with lots of short trips not allowing the engine to fully warm up.

Emulsified oil https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/255395-milky-oil-fill-cap?p=2474852#post2474852 looks really bad, but seems to float to the top. This could happen if you have a coolant leak or a lot of short trips. Nobody on here will tell you to violate the warranty (FCA recommendation) which says 15k or 6 months.... which ever comes first. Most likely extending the oil change would probably not cause a problem with the truck. But might cause a problem with the warranty.

 

[vipers95]

Wondering how many people disconnect the crank position sensor before cranking it over when they do an oil change? I had a truck repair shop for 50 years, any car (old days we disconnected the coil wire) or truck we would always disconnect the crank position sensor and crank it over till we had good oil pressure and the reconnect the crank sensor. It would never throw a code on any vehicles we ever did. Never had to worry about running a dry engine if only for a few seconds.

 

[SnoKing]

Wondering how many people disconnect the crank position sensor before cranking it over when they do an oil change? I had a truck repair shop for 50 years, any car (old days we disconnected the coil wire) or truck we would always disconnect the crank position sensor and crank it over till we had good oil pressure and the reconnect the crank sensor. It would never throw a code on any vehicles we ever did. Never had to worry about running a dry engine if only for a few seconds.

Did you pre-fill the filters with oil?

 

[Cummins12V98]

If the filter is not able to be pre filled I will crank til oil pressure is up. I don't do so with the Cummins because I pre fill the filter with one quart.

 

[SnoKing]

I struggle with the 6 month recommendation on changing the oil. For me, my trips are longer so the oil gets good and hot everytime the truck gets ran. I wonder if the driver is possible fuel dilution or soot loading of the oil.

Me to! However this time we put a little over 9K on the truck in 6 months. Oil was pretty black. 1.5 trips between NW WA and AZ, and the running around the Phoenix area for 5 months. Looked at wifes Buick Rainier and it has gone 3500 miles in a year and a half. Got to drive it more! However the RAM is a nicer RIDE! Rainier has 3:73 gears and 70 seems like you are pushing it a little, the RAM at 80 feels like the Rainier at 50 MPH.

 

[JPM]

I don't usually like to stretch my first oil out that far. I consider that the,"break-in" oil. Time for an oil/filter change.

I am at less than 50% of oil life in I believe is the original break-in oil. I was under the impression that changing the break-in oil too soon is not advised as it has many additives . Should I change it ? 2017 RAM

 

[SnoKing]

I am at less than 50% of oil life in I believe is the original break-in oil. I was under the impression that changing the break-in oil too soon is not advised as it has many additives . Should I change it ? 2017 RAM

I believe the original fill is just standard 5w/40 synthetic. They do not know want climate the truck is headed for, so they use synthetic.

 

[Newsa]

I am at less than 50% of oil life in I believe is the original break-in oil. I was under the impression that changing the break-in oil too soon is not advised as it has many additives . Should I change it ? 2017 RAM

My opinion is yes (regardless of indicator). According to the manual, if you have been driving it more than 6 month's, yes.

Reasoning for my above opinion:
No amount of additive will remove or neutralize break-in metals that wear off of parts as parts form to each other. If it is the first oil change, you will see a mopar oil filter that only filters to about 30 microns. Most on here recommend switching to a stratopore 15 micron filter as soon as possible. Wear metals circulating in break in oil between 10-30 microns is probably not the best thing to extend for your new engine and it's oil.

My opinion may be different than other's and yours.

I did my first oil change at 4 months and 2200 miles. There was plenty of life left on the oil according to the indicator. But at the time, I didn't know the mopar branded oil filters were lower/lesser filtration metrics than the fleetguard stratopore. My first 4 oil changes were free at the dealer. They came with the warrantee as long as it was within first 24 months.

 

[masterdrago]

Ditto on my original was a Mopar. First change was at ~4,000 miles (really wanted to get original oil out). Did from fender like recommended but had to use the Geno's cap to prevent spill (had to tip the filter). Put some heavy towels under filter to rest it on while getting cap on. They don't make it real easy but much better than some of my other vehicles. Went with LF-16035 Stratapore recommended. I remember having to take some of the air intake loose to get the cap on. Did not prefill but now see that is recommended also. Might be interesting getting a prefilled filter on without spill!?