Oil

[domehead]

It appears the truck wants the oil changed at about 3800 miles instead of 5000. This has happen in the last three oil changes. I have ask the dealer to contact dodge to find why.



I will get oil sample kit and send it in just in case.

 

[Zak Smith]

The computer estimates oil life based on engine events, including starts, hours, achieved engine temperature, and DPF regeneration cycles. DPF regeneration causes oil dilution by fuel, which reduces viscosity. The average for my first 5 oil changes was about 3000 miles before the EVIC indicated it was time for an oil change. The two samples I had sent to Blackstone did show viscosity out of spec for 15W40.

There are many threads about it here.

 

[Simplysmn]

I would reset it and keep driving this will not hurt anything

 

[67guzzler]

Is this a problem? I'd just change the oil. Mine notified me at 4200 miles...

 

[domehead]

Drop the truck of at the dealer this mornng and he told me to change the oil every 5k and do not worry about the oil change info.

 

[67guzzler]

Really -- And you're going to follow his advice? Not me -- I'd follow the alerts. If it says change it at 4200 or 3800, then that's what I'll do -- or more often than what it says. I wouldn't go longer. But that's just me!

 

[domehead]

67guzzler,



How many miles do you plan on driving your truck per year?



I have 18K on my truck in 6 months if I have to chnage the oil every 3800 than that would burn a hole into my wallet and there is a major design flaw with the truck.



The software that tries to figure out if you need a oil change is just a guess. It's based on engine run hours idle time and regen. It does not check to see if the oil is within specs or not.



The spec's in the book says the truck will go 5k between oil changes. If it cannot go that distances than the men/woman that use their trucks to make a living has just been had.

 

[Wingate]

Hence the need for urea injection. . I feel that it is coming to the light duty pickups very soon!!!...

 

[Zak Smith]

Here is what the manual says in 2010-Ram_Truck_Diesel_Supplement-OM-2nd.pdf. It notably does not say every 5000 miles.

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[Simplysmn]

Sorry but I refuse to change the oil at 3800 miles I reset mine and when it comes on for a second time then I am all over it to get it changed and haven't hadany troubles in 83,000 miles waste your money if you want but that's you n not me . just my 2 Cent's

 

[67guzzler]

All I'm saying is I trust the truck (factory engineers) over the dealers. I don't drive 18000 miles in 6 months and I change my own oil so the cost is negligible... If I was a high mileage driver I could see it as frustrating so I get your point domehead! Cheers!

 

[Jim W]

It appears the truck wants the oil changed at about 3800 miles instead of 5000. This has happen in the last three oil changes. I have ask the dealer to contact dodge to find why.



I will get oil sample kit and send it in just in case.

Most of these issue that are showing up in the 2010 trucks have been discuss before. Anyone you has bought a 7. 5 and later truck have had the same issues. I do know that the 2010 trucks have become more refine and they will not have as many issues with this MY then the 7. 5 MY, but we have been their and done it.



So I would do my home work and read in the older issues of TDR for the 6. 7L HP CR engine section and review them for the why's and what to do about them.



As for your oil change issue. I would reread TDR issue 61 on pages 34 and 35. I would then read the article on page 71 in this issue also. There is a very good explanation on how the whole system works and monitors the oil condition in your truck from the dodge engineers.

Jim

 

[rscurtis]

Wingate is right, GM is going to be on the right side of history with their urea and ninth injector for regeneration.

 

[Wingate]

Along with Ford, the new 6. 7L uses urea also. We ran our new Ford F550s 3K miles on the first oil change, we reset the oil life monitor, and are going to run 5K this time. If everything goes ok, will probably got 7. 5K on the next oil change. Ford reps. have indicated to us that there is no mileage recomendation on oil change interval other than to do it when the monitor says to.

Most likely, we wont go past 7. 5K due to the urea tank being low by then. Don't want to have to haul a jug of that around, have enough crap on my truck already.

 

[domehead]

All I'm saying is I trust the truck (factory engineers) over the dealers. I don't drive 18000 miles in 6 months and I change my own oil so the cost is negligible... If I was a high mileage driver I could see it as frustrating so I get your point domehead! Cheers!

I guess time will tell with this trucks which is the correct way to go.



Have good weekend.

 

[firedude]

From some of the oil analysis that have been posted on these motors they are showing fuel dilution at high levels (5-6 %) with less than 5000 miles.

 

[domehead]

If thats the case than there is a bad design.

 

[domehead]

Some rough numbers to work with on the cost of changing oil every 3800 miles compare to 5000 miles.



Based on driving 3000 miles per month. That's changing the oil at 3800 miles



approx 10 oil changes per year @ $100 per change $1,000



At 5,000 miles



approx 7 oil changes per year @ 100 per change $700



difference is 300



If you are running the blue stuff it will cost $60 per oil change or $468 per year



Does not sound like much but when you add it up over the life time of your truck it becomes really money.

 

[rscurtis]

I would question that urea cost. When purchased at the pump, it should be about the same cost as fuel. I like the math on my '03 even better- an oil change every 18,000 miles with a filter change at the half way mark using Amsoil series 3000 5/30. No measurable fuel dilution and soot is less than 1/10 of 1%.

 

[firedude]

I think it is a issue. I would get a oil analysis and see where your at before running alot of miles on your oil.