Hi,

According to the manual in the 2012 Town & Country I just bought I am to change oil with much longer intervals than what I am used to. However, on the sticker the dealer I purchased it from put up it says I'm to change oil after the normal 3,000 miles. I asked the dealer and they told me to do 3,000 miles, but when I took it in to a Chrysler dealer for a recall fix they told me I did not need to change oil every 3,000 miles and could follow the intervals in the manual which is also what's programmed into the van's warning system. At the Chrysler dealer they told me that the "Pentastar" engine doesn't need new oil as often and that it would be a waste doing it every 3,000 miles.

Who am I to trust in this case?

//C

 

Go with the longer intervals in the owners manual. If you change oil every 3000 miles you're wasting money and oil. Of course some dealers and oil-change shops are going to recommend a shorter interval. It may not be any better for the car or the environment, but it's better for their bottom line.

 

Agreed. Don't waste your money and time. This is just one example of a well established and trusted automotive establishment telling us the truth behind the much vaunted "3000 mile oil change" edict. There are many others: Stop Changing Your Oil! - Edmunds.com

 

If you use a full synth oil (Or better still a double ester) like Motul or even Hydro cracked ones like Mobil 1 and Castrol EDGE then there isn't any need to change the oil untill the 6-8k mark, especially if its a petrol model... I change my oil and filter on my 2.8L diesel GV every 6k and the fuel filter every 10k

 

I change once a year (2012 2.5CRD) - that's roughly every 10k miles. I always put good quality oil - check the date on the container... oil does age...! Typically I use 0W-40 or 5W-40 and I live in Switzerland ... lots of snow, down to -15°C during some winters. I check the smell and feel of the oil every few months at the gas station. If it feels like it's watery or smelling burnt.... time to check engine and change asap. Note it will become dark brown or black within a few miles after filling... that's normal for diesels.

 

Every 3,000 miles is to soon, but I really think what kind of climate you live in as when to change it. If in a hot dirty climate I would do it every 4-5,000. Normal climates, I would say 6,000.