First oil change

[Indy597]

When do you guys suggest doing the first oil change? I've seen some people that wait 3k-5k miles...others are saying they changed it out at 500. I want to switch to a 100% synthetic oil as soon as I can.

[kevenj]

Originally Posted by Indy597

When do you guys suggest doing the first oil change? I've seen some people that wait 3k-5k miles...others are saying they changed it out at 500. I want to switch to a 100% synthetic oil as soon as I can.

I say change it at around 500 miles. They no longer use a 'break in' oil so this is not absolutely necessary, but there's gotta be more contaminants in the oil when the engine is brand new and being broken in. I put Mobil 1 5w20 in mine at 700 miles ( I assume you have a "C" with the 5.7 - - if so make sure you use 5w20 ONLY no matter what brand) If you have the SRT8 it's 0w40. And DO NOT use a Fram Filter. I use Napa Gold (#1085) which is same as WIX. I may switch to the Mobil 1 filter too, read good things about it but I have not seen one cut open yet to see what it looks like compared to the Napa / Wix filter.

[II kings 9:20]

I concur fully with KJ, I would add NO FRAM FILTERS again, I too like Napa Gold and M1. Also consider Filtermagnet and a pan bolt magnet to catch all the metal missed by the filter, search my threads on this. I put magnets on day one, I actually brought them to the dealership to put on but had to wait to get home because of the pesky bellypan. Here are some pics of my magnet and filter study. The Filtermag is visible on the outside of the cut filter and metallic dust on the inner aspect. The bolt shows a shard presumably a piece of thread off the bolt since the pan is aluminum, the metal dust is shown on a paper towel.

[II kings 9:20]

oops, more pics.

[CottyGee]

Good advice. Don't recall when I went syn. I know I changed the oil @ 500 miles - but I think I ran conventional, and then changed it again at 2,000 - and then ran 5W20 Valvoline synthetic, which I've been running ever since.

Don't use FRAM anything. Ever. Crappy products, period.

[marlinspike]

Originally Posted by CottyGee

Don't use FRAM anything. Ever. Crappy products, period.

If that mopar filter is good by comparison, I hate to see a cutaway of a Fram.

[kevenj]

Originally Posted by marlinspike

If that mopar filter is good by comparison, I hate to see a cutaway of a Fram.

there's about half as much paper in a Fram and the endcaps are cardboard. It's a total joke. The Napa / wix filter has more material, evenly spaced pleats, and metal endcaps like the mopar, but also has a coil spring instead of that flimsy flat stamped 'spring'. Fram has nice paint on the outside however.

[marlinspike]

I wonder if Knetch, Hengst, Mann, or Bosch make a filter that fits.

[kevenj]

Originally Posted by marlinspike

I wonder if Knetch, Hengst, Mann, or Bosch make a filter that fits.

well i never heard of the first 2, and i read somewhere that Bosch filters are actually made by someone else and labeled Bosch. Mann, I dunno but it would be hard to find a place to buy them. You can go to just about any NAPA store and see a cutaway comparison of the NAPA Gold vs. Fram and Purolator. The NAPA Gold is in reality a WIX filter, it's an excellent filter; check it out for yourself and you'll agree.

[marlinspike]

Part of it though is something that no filter can fix (or at least I think): it's too short. Are there any extra long filters?