[II kings 9:20]

Look at the owners manual, I can't imagine anyone who would not be on schedule B.
1. Day or night temp below 32F
2. Stop and go driving
3. Extensive engine idling
4. Driving in dusty conditions
5. short trips of less than 10 min
6. More than 50% of driving at sustained high speeds during hot weather (90F).
7. Towing

If ANY(caps and bold in the manual) of these apply to you, then change oil every 3K or 3 months and follow schedule B.

Looks like I have already voided my engine warranty.
NE1 yet replaced the AC filter at 15K?

 

[arnoldw]

You could use schedule "A" if you're making a highway trip. :wink1:
Also there's a footnote for the ac (air cleaner) filter, it's just a recommendation to the owner but not required to maintain the emissions warranty.

 

[II kings 9:20]

Yeah, but what about all the other trips you make throughout the year or temps falling below 32F. I guess if I did a loop around America in the Spring I could go use schedule A. I am still only changing oil every 6K regardless.

 

[BrilliantBlackHemi]

I went to the dealer and asked about the A/C pollen filter. They did not have any in stock, had to order. They told me NO ONE ever changes those things. I shook and brushed it clean of all the pollen and dust and put in back in. I'm at 23K miles and 1.5 years ownership.

 

[kevenj]

Yeah, but what about all the other trips you make throughout the year or temps falling below 32F. I guess if I did a loop around America in the Spring I could go use schedule A. I am still only changing oil every 6K regardless.

That's the case with every car, not just the 300C....almost NOBODY falls under what they consider "normal" driving. There's no way I'd even consider going 6000 miles between oil changes; I don't even do that to my winter beater and I don't even give a rip about it! I've always changed oil in the 2500 - 3000 mile range with any vehicle I've had.

 

[joey]

Look at the owners manual, I can't imagine anyone who would not be on schedule B.
1. Day or night temp below 32F
2. Stop and go driving
3. Extensive engine idling
4. Driving in dusty conditions
5. short trips of less than 10 min
6. More than 50% of driving at sustained high speeds during hot weather (90F).
7. Towing

If ANY(caps and bold in the manual) of these apply to you, then change oil every 3K or 3 months and follow schedule B.

Looks like I have already voided my engine warranty.
NE1 yet replaced the AC filter at 15K?

2) Stop and go driving.
That needs to be better defined.
Like 25% of the time, 50% of the time, etc?

5) Short trips of less than 10m.
Also needs more definition. How many trips? A percentage of total trips?

There is enough ambiguity in these guidelines to allow Chrysler to use them to their advantage.

I change every 3000 miles.

 

[II kings 9:20]

You 3K boys using synthetic? I would agree with 3K if not. Remember the interval for MB and BMW is 12-18K and the Ram Cummins is 15K, not that I would ever go that long (I did with the leased Bimmer, free maintenance included for 4/50 which amounted to two oil changes and a couple bulbs over 34K during the lease).

 

[Jimmy]

oil chg. frequency

You 3K boys using synthetic? I would agree with 3K if not. Remember the interval for MB and BMW is 12-18K and the Ram Cummins is 15K, not that I would ever go that long (I did with the leased Bimmer, free maintenance included for 4/50 which amounted to two oil changes and a couple bulbs over 34K during the lease).

I could never bear to run synthetic over 5k, usually changed it at 4 k on my impala ss. I decided to run dino in my 300c, specially since chrysler has the service contracts so reasonable. I paid 350.00 for 7 years worth of oil changes at 12.00 per oil change including filter for Mopar oil 5w20. :wink1:

 

[II kings 9:20]

Mopar is a good filter (Purolator) at least for our engine, a few of the Mopars are the piss poor Fram. One of my many concerns with regular oil is sludge even with 3K changes. The sorry 2.7 chryco engine replacements for sludge have a 2K interval yet they do not require synthetic as of a year or two ago. I know someone who had thier 2.7 replaced at 50K. I know many people who use regular oil with great results at 3K intervals going well over 150K without problem.

 

[kevenj]

I'm running Synthetic (Mobil 1 5w20) and have no intention of going more than 3000 miles between changes. While synthetic oil may we lubricate better than petroleum based oil, there are still contaminants such as condensation that doesn't get burned off in short trips, and combustion by-products that are corrosive to internal engine parts. Synthetic doesn't change any of that. I've got too much invested to cut corners on oil changes.

 

[2Shay]

Is every 3,000 necessary?

1. Day or night temp below 32F
I live in Hollister, California. It hardly ever gets below 32F here.
2. Stop and go driving
I back out of my driveway, Stop, put down the garage door, and then Go. My commute is 43 miles. There are 7 stop signs on the Way with about 38 miles of highway in between. (Is that considered Stop and Go driving?)
3. Extensive engine idling
If my engine is running, I'm usually moving!
4. Driving in dusty conditions
Not a lot of dust storms around here either!
5. short trips of less than 10 min
Takes me about 50 minutes to drive the 43 miles.
6. More than 50% of driving at sustained high speeds during hot weather (90F).
If 60-70 mph is considered high speeds, I suppose I might qualify for this during the summer on my way home.
7. Towing
What!!!! Like I'm going to put a trailer hitch on my 300C??


That said, I have just switched from Dino to Mobil 1 synthetic. Oil changes were as follows:

1. 942 miles
2. 4,087 miles
3. 10,056 miles (Included a 1,500 mile highway trip, or I would have changed it at about 9,000)
4. TBD

I have changed oil in my cars pretty religiously at 5,000 mile intervals. I have never had any engine problem caused by oil. A list of my vehicles:

1958 Chevy Biscayne: Sold with 170,000 miles in running condition.
1973 Opel 1900: (Bought for $40.00 with 80,000 miles, drove 70,000 miles and re-sold for $400.00)
1984 Ford TBird: Bought new, sold with 174,000 miles. (Had small water leak in heater core, but ran well otherwise.)
1993 Toyota Camry V6: Bought new, sold with 253,000 miles. (Water pump just starting to drip, small oil drip)
1999 Chevy Suburban K1500: 163,000 miles (Wife's vehicle, but we use it for trips) Still driving it.
2005 Chrysler 300C: Bought used with 1,241 miles on 09/09/05. Driven over 9,000 miles in 3 months.

None of these cars have had any engine work done except the Ford, which needed the head gaskets replaced due to oil leak at 11,000 miles. I don't think the type of driving I do warrants changing the oil 12 times a year. I will most likely stick to my schedule of 5,000-6,000 miles between changes. I now replace the filter every oil change. My Dad only changed the filters on his cars every other change. I got the '58 from him.

I could just be extremely lucky, but I think the modern engines are built to last much longer than they used to. Computers and modern manufacturing have increased the quality of engine components. As long as you don't abuse the vehicle or lose oil pressure, the thing should last. I remember the oil change intervals being about 5,000 miles as a kid. At some time, I seem to remember them going to 7,500 (maybe when the Synthetics first came out), and now they have dropped down to 3,000? I wonder how much of a 3,000 mile interval is to increase maintenance profits at the dealerships, and how much of it is necessary?

Just my 2cents!

 

[kevenj]

I wonder how much of a 3,000 mile interval is to increase maintenance profits at the dealerships, and how much of it is necessary?

Just my 2cents!

Well in your case it probably isn't necessary; but very few people fit into your catagory. A long sustained trip burns off all the condensation in the oil and is much easier on an engine than stop and go, in town driving.

In MY case, 3000 mile (or sooner) oil changes contribute not a penny to dealership's profits because I do it myself.

A humourous aside, regarding what you said about maintenance intervals being longer when you were a kid... My first car when I was 16 (in 1979) was a 1966 Ford Galaxie. I honestly don't remember the oil change interval specified in the manual, but I think even then they said 5000 miles - - but I remember it clearly stating that the chassis did not need to be lubricated and the automatic transmission fluid did not need to be changed FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR!!..... I remember thinking that was kind of a self fulfilling prophecy. I mean you could say that about anything couldn't you? "Your 300C requires NO maintenance FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR!!!" .... in fine print "of course cars with maintenance performed regularly just MAY have a longer life ....."

Something to think about.....

 

[bruno]

2Shay,
You made some very good points! You forgot to mention that Hollister is more country than city, thus the easier driving (unless you begin to shake, rattle, and roll)! Glad to have a neighbor on the other side of the Coastal Range!

bruno