short oil change intervals, Ram's answer

[Wygate]

Just herd back from my new dealership on my short oil change intervals. This is what RAM told them.



Long periods of highway driving can cause excessive regeneration cycles.

The light will come on when the computer detects 5% F/O dilution



Both of these statements we have learned here on TDR are √√√not correct√√√, that said I have no codes and other than the oil change thing NO issues, they were told to monitor my truck.



Any advice? Reading/homework? Words of wisdom??

 

[JHumphries]

It has been discussed in the past and the computer is giving it's best guess at 5% fuel dilution.
It's all based on amount of time spent performing active re-generations with fuel spraying during the exhaust stroke. I would rather the computer tell signal early than late if 5% is the magic number for engine health.
I did 4 oil changes in 10,000. That's why I got rid of my 2010. I knew I was hurting the engine. Funny thing is, it looks like the dealer filled it with gasoline (no one will admit to it) when delivering it to it's new owner, so it got a new engine any way...

As far as wisdom, you can have the fuel analyzed, try to change driving habits, i. e. ZERO idling, short trips, and work the engine, gas mileage is one thing, but higher egt's result in passive re-gens.
The downside to fuel analysis, is that Ram could say you didn't follow the maintenance schedule if you don't change the oil when the light comes on...

 

[sag2]

I just ran a sample on a customer truck that is coming on at 2500-3500 miles. Keeps coming in for oil level raising between changes. He said the book said he could change at 7500 so he has been ignoring the light. At 4000 miles the fuel dilution was 4. 6% and the iron was at 20. I tried to tell him he was slowly wearing out his engine by ignoring the light but he said the light was BS and he was going to 7500 regardless.
So we had the engine warranty restricted and we will see how surprised he is in the future when it finally gives up. Some people will not listen to reason.

 

[juicedcummins]

I just ran a sample on a customer truck that is coming on at 2500-3500 miles. Keeps coming in for oil level raising between changes. He said the book said he could change at 7500 so he has been ignoring the light. At 4000 miles the fuel dilution was 4. 6% and the iron was at 20. I tried to tell him he was slowly wearing out his engine by ignoring the light but he said the light was BS and he was going to 7500 regardless.
So we had the engine warranty restricted and we will see how surprised he is in the future when it finally gives up. Some people will not listen to reason.

This is the kind of attitude that will cost the dealer that you are working for sales. Sales get low enough no more trucks to fix.

Everyone take note that this would be a great dealership to avoid because of the monkeys in the back overdoing their job and messing with your hard earned $!

 

[HBarlow]

This is the kind of attitude that will cost the dealer that you are working for sales. Sales get low enough no more trucks to fix.

Everyone take note that this would be a great dealership to avoid because of the monkeys in the back overdoing their job and messing with your hard earned $!

No it won't. Most TDR members are adult enough to realize that our trucks have to be fueled, oiled, serviced, operated, and maintained in accordance with the owner's manual guidelines in order for Chrysler/Dodge/Ram to honor the limited warranty provided.

No manufacturer of any product has unlimited liability to repair their products when abused, neglected, or modified by the consumer.

 

[Hoefler]

I just ran a sample on a customer truck that is coming on at 2500-3500 miles. Keeps coming in for oil level raising between changes. He said the book said he could change at 7500 so he has been ignoring the light. At 4000 miles the fuel dilution was 4. 6% and the iron was at 20. I tried to tell him he was slowly wearing out his engine by ignoring the light but he said the light was BS and he was going to 7500 regardless.

So we had the engine warranty restricted and we will see how surprised he is in the future when it finally gives up. Some people will not listen to reason.

This is the kind of attitude that will cost the dealer that you are working for sales. Sales get low enough no more trucks to fix.



Everyone take note that this would be a great dealership to avoid because of the monkeys in the back overdoing their job and messing with your hard earned $!

If I'm not mistaken, the owner's manual states to change the oil when the EVIC indicates "or" 7,500 miles, whichever occurs first!

 

[MelvinPierce]

This is the kind of attitude that will cost the dealer that you are working for sales. Sales get low enough no more trucks to fix.

Everyone take note that this would be a great dealership to avoid because of the monkeys in the back overdoing their job and messing with your hard earned $!

Wow. So, avoid any dealer that says you are destroying YOUR engine, by YOUR actions, so we cannot cover your STUPIDITY, under warranty?

Why should RAM have to warranty damage SOLELY caused by the STUPIDITY of the truck owner?

 

[Wygate]

I just ran a sample on a customer truck that is coming on at 2500-3500 miles. Keeps coming in for oil level raising between changes. He said the book said he could change at 7500 so he has been ignoring the light. At 4000 miles the fuel dilution was 4. 6% and the iron was at 20. I tried to tell him he was slowly wearing out his engine by ignoring the light but he said the light was BS and he was going to 7500 regardless.
So we had the engine warranty restricted and we will see how surprised he is in the future when it finally gives up. Some people will not listen to reason.

Thank you Sag
I do follow the evic, I even stopped 2 different times during my recent drives back and for to find a dealer and have it changed. It was a pain but I am not willing to chance a 8k eng over $80 for a change.
Don't get me wrong I am not happy about doing it and when did changing my own oil cost almost the same as a dealership change?
I have always done my own, just before I moved I found that it was no longer much of a cost diff, especially when I had my stuff packed and still had to deal w/ disposal.

 

[Jim W]

Wygate,
At your next oil change install one of the Fumoto finger touch engine oil drain valves from Geno's Garage. This will help you take an oil sample from your engine oil if you do not want to draw from the oil fill tube to take a sample. I did this at first with my engine at 3,000 miles; found I needed to change the oil. I have done this for several of the next changes around 3,000 miles for the first 20K miles to establish a base line. I now take samples every other oil change just to monitor the oil and engine wear.

I found that I was seeing between 4 and 5% fuel dilution at every oil change around 3,000 miles until I deleted. I have since seen the fuel dilution drop to below 1% in 7,000 mile oil change interval. My last change was at 65,000 miles and everything is normal according to Fleetgaurd oil monitoring service.

Just a suggestion for you.

Jim W.

 

[juicedcummins]

Wow. So, avoid any dealer that says you are destroying YOUR engine, by YOUR actions, so we cannot cover your STUPIDITY, under warranty?

Why should RAM have to warranty damage SOLELY caused by the STUPIDITY of the truck owner?

MY stupidity? Lol! I am deleted so that would make my oil cleaner than yours!
I will not tolerate an emission system that will not let my truck do what it was bought for. Just like my last 7 diesel pickups. Oh and by the way it runs stock timing and stock power.

 

[JLeake]

I had two short oil change intervals, and then 7500, now the oil change EVIC notification has not come on and I realized the other day I am at nearly 9,000 miles. Did a software update change things? I'll take it to the dealer and have them look at it, the rear end or transmission is clunking alot when I put it in park - again.

 

[jhenderson]

It's stupid to ignore recommended service intervals and expect to retain a warranty. I suspect you deleted after your warranty expired,otherwise you voided yours as well.

 

[HBarlow]

Some who brag here about all the modifications they've done and deletion of required smog equipment are the first to whine and complain bitterly in a year or two when a major problem develops and a smart tech recognizes it and initiates voiding of their warranty.

It's their truck and they have every right to screw it up anyway they choose. They understand that side of the equation very well. The other part about personal responsibility and voided warranty is the part that some have trouble with.

 

[lawdog1]

One thing to note. I had a oil change light come on 2K after my first oil change and I took it in to the service department and asked what was up. I had done my first oil change at 3700 miles b/c I was in the dealership even though the computer had not yet told me it was time. When the light for an oil change then went on at 5700 miles I was concerned by the short interval (I had not been driving in a way that would have a ton of regens) and I was told that the oil service reset was tricky in diesel trucks it is three pushes of the accelerator pedal with the engine in the on position but not cranked, but there needs to be a slight pause between the pedal pumps (whereas the 1500's are just three quick pumps. ) ... so they reset the computer, sent me on my way and told me to come back at 8500 for an oil change. My situation was unique b/c the light did not bring me to the dealership the first time (so they could not verify they reset the computer after the first change), but it bears note that some techs may not know the slightly different reset for diesel truck computers.

 

[SNiebaum]

One thing to note. I had a oil change light come on 2K after my first oil change and I took it in to the service department and asked what was up. I had done my first oil change at 3700 miles b/c I was in the dealership even though the computer had not yet told me it was time. When the light for an oil change then went on at 5700 miles I was concerned by the short interval (I had not been driving in a way that would have a ton of regens) and I was told that the oil service reset was tricky in diesel trucks it is three pushes of the accelerator pedal with the engine in the on position but not cranked, but there needs to be a slight pause between the pedal pumps (whereas the 1500's are just three quick pumps. ) ... so they reset the computer, sent me on my way and told me to come back at 8500 for an oil change. My situation was unique b/c the light did not bring me to the dealership the first time (so they could not verify they reset the computer after the first change), but it bears note that some techs may not know the slightly different reset for diesel truck computers.

Surprisingly, this scenario has happened to my wife on her Camry numerous times... she'll get the oil changed and a week or two later and the maintenance required light comes on... the 'tech' didn't reset the dang thing and I'm out in the garage doing it.

 

[Wygate]

Sorry it has been so long. Got sample results back, 2% f/o dilution. Far better than I expected. This was on my short oil change intervals, prompted by the truck. So far 5 changes in 17k and yes it has been used. 8028 miles in June alone (OR to MI a few times). Dealership is "watching her" and has opened a report about it.



The delay has been moving this summer, started in June and am just now in our new home. My dream has come true, house meets the 3 P's from the porch ( Pee, Poach and "Pork") not necessarily in that order. No visible lights at night

 

[LocoPilot750]

So they're advertising 15k miles between changes on the 14's and calling it a money saving change. I'd say it would be. What's different with these?

 

[Kry226]

Less regeneration.

 

[MelvinPierce]

So they're advertising 15k miles between changes on the 14's and calling it a money saving change. I'd say it would be. What's different with these?

The 13's and 14's use DEF, earlier do not.