Manual says 12,000kms Dealer says 6000kms

[GSpeed]

Just left an arguement with my dealer.

He say's due to Canada's cold weather the 12,000km oil change is not valid. I beg to differ but thought I'd ask you guys. I am increasingly getting frustrated with these people. Every document I have from Dodge Canada says 12,000kms. Whose mistaken? It's like these guys only know or care if it has a hemi!



Been a member for 7 months and I think the $45cdn. member fee is totally worth it. I've probably saved over $500 in mistakes that you guys made for me

 

[mbaston]

They try that here too. In fact, I went in for 7500 mile oil change and the service writer commented that he hoped I had changed the oil before this. I told him this was the extreme duty change interval and he argued with me that it was 3500 miles until I showed him my book. He then showed all the service writers. They didn't know either. Scary.



I don't think cold makes that much of a difference in oil changes as long as you run it enough to heat the oil up and burn off moisture. We have a lot of dust so I change mine on the extreme cycle.



Marty

 

[nickleinonen]

well, i am not really going to follow the milage [kilometer'age :-laf] interval too tightly. i dumped the factory fill back at 3500km for 10w30 cause it had been pretty cold and was getting colder and i didn't want 15w40 in there for that temp. will do my next change at about 6k, then i will do the next one at the end of fall, before the snow hits, then next one at end of winter, begining of spring when the weather gets nice again... it will end up being about 6-7k between changes...

 

[Casey Balvert]

Your dealer is trying to take you for a ride. 12,000 kilometers if just fine between changes. Tell him to take a hike. You are following the manufacturer's recommendations. Tell him you are not as stupid as he looks.



Casey

 

[Slow Six]

I change oil every 10,000km. because it is easy to keep track of time to change. I have done this on my 91 and my 94. Both of them are close to the 500,000 mark and still running hard with no oil consumption. I do use the stratopore filters and good oil.

 

[Moterhead]

Remeber that dealers are in business to make money, not because they are nice guys. They'd love to have you change your oil every 1,000 miles or kms. Not because it needs it, because it costs you money and puts it in their pocket. Besides the fact that many are just ignorant of the facts. As you did, educate 'em! What's really aggravating is when they tell you the owner's manual is wrong. "We recommend oil changes at XXX interval" is a commonly used line. Pity the poor owner who believes the dealer instead of the factory. I go by the owner's manual. I figure the information in it is provided by the company that provides the warranty so it's what is required.

 

[DPelletier]

GSpeed,

I have the 2003 Ram Truck Diesel Owner's Manual: Schedule "B" (severe duty) shows only California trucks (California LEV (235hp) Engines Only) as having a 6000 km oil change schedule. All others using Schedule "B" are 12,000 km's. (250 or 305 hp engines).

I ALSO recieved a Maintenance Service Schedule from Daimler Chysler Canada. Its a scam and makes me angry because it shows a 6000 km service (without an oil change) that has such stuff as inspect steering components, check filter minder, check manual transmission fluid level, etc. etc. Its all checking and inspecting. No actual work is required, but I'm sure the dealer would still charge for something. This is a blatant rip-off, but it STILL doesn't require an oil change before 12,000 km.



Dave

 

[GSpeed]

Thanks for all the replies . I figured if i go by what's in print I should be okay



Thanks again

 

[Deezal Man]

You can take this to the bank

A statement of warranty must honor and adhere to any stated procedures of the manufacturing party. In otherwords, if DC's manual states 20K mile intervals, They must honor any warranty claim containing proof of adherance.



NEVER follow what is mearly stated in conversation or otherwise. If a procedure within the manual is incorrect, it is the manufacturers responsibility to not only revise the document, but also to inform all previous purchasing parties of the revision.



Long story short, follow the recommendations within the manual.

And remember, Talk is just that... talk... When it comes to $$$, nobody cares about he said, she said. Only what the book says. Get my point?



Cheers,

Mike