Who makes "Chrysler" oil?

[DHenry]

I'm taking my 2500 mile truck in to the dealer next week to fix a fuel system leak and intermittent 4WD indicator light. While I've got it there I'll let them do the first oil change and get that tight filter off. I asked what kind of diesel-rated oil they use. The service writer said "Chrysler oil". Does anybody know anything about this oil? I don't want some junk oil in my new baby.

 

[redeye]

According to the parts department at my local dealership... Valvoline?

 

[DHenry]

Thanks. That's comforting, if true.

 

[4020Deere]

I work for a diesel engine manufacturer and got a brief "lesson" opn oil a few years ago. Most companies that produce vehicles or engines market their own "brand" of oil. What makes this oil unique to the manufacturer is the same thing that makes other store shelf brands unique also. "Oil is Oil" is a pretty basic fact as far as it comes out of the ground from somewhere on the earth (except for synthetics). What makes each brand of oil unique is the additives that are blended in for wear, lubricity, anti-foam agents, viscosity enhancers, etc. Just as an example, the manufacturer I work for markets their own oil through the dealer network. In the past, there were contracts negotiated with some of the major oil companies to blend (add all the unique additives specified by the manufacturer) the oil and package it for them. I know that this was done by such names as Mobil, Texaco, Phillips, etc. At the same time, a small local company that markets their own brand of oil in the area was also "blending" oil for us. They would buy oil on the open market in railcars from a major refiner, then blend in all the aditives and package it. So it really didn;t matter where it was blended, as long as the additives were the same. I would imagine Mopar sells more oil under the Mopar brand than say K-mart, so they probably have one of the major oil refiners blend the oil to their specs. The most important thing about the oil though is the API rating on it. As long as it meets the minimum spec for the engine it's ok to use, although I, like everyone else, am partial to some prands over others. Hope I haven't bored anyone to death, just wanted to share a little knowledge.

 

[pwr2tow]

I would bet unless the dealership sells alot of diesels they don't have a barrel of diesel oil to take oil from. Make damn sure they use oil that is API rateing of CH-4/SJ. I have heard of dealerships puting oil in that is classified for gas engines. Dealerships sell alot more gas cars so that is what they buy oil in bulk for.



Ron

 

[Snow man]

The chrysler dealer I used to work for always used 15w40 Mopar diesel oil,in the gallons. We never ever used the bulk oil meant for gas motors.

 

[klenger]

The dealer I bought from offers free oil changes (including filter and labor) for life. They seem to know what they are doing, and I expect they use a lot of oil if they are doing the changes for free. After mine's broken in, I'll probably bring AmsOil to them for the change.

 

[pwr2tow]

lighten up guys, It was just meant as a warning to make sure you know what someone else is doing to your vehicle. there are good stories and then there are horror stories, just trying to keep someone from becomeing agitated unnessicarily.



Ron

 

[illflem]

I'm with you Ron, I'd trust Jiffy-Lube long before the dealer. Most dealer oil changes are delegated to the lot boy, not a mechanic. If you don't want to change your own oil buy some Delo or Rotella and a Fleetguard filter then take it down to Jiffy-Lube.

 

[Jar Head]

I drained the original oil and sent a sample to Blackstone. They said: "... appears to be a Citgo product... ". If anyone cares, the sample came back fine.

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Can't be sure

Mopar contracts out for bid on motor oil, so different brands are possible yet the part number or can stays the same. Some Dodge dealers don't use Mopar oil, a 5 star dealer here puts a local oil company brand 10w-30 in all their oil changes!