I posted a few days ago on this topic and got a few of the answers I needed, however I still have a few questions. I am looking to do an early oil change (the truck is at about 1500 KM right now) but it has been suggested that the Hemi has break in additives in the oil, and so should not be changed till the initial dealer reccomendation. Is this true, or is there no real reason to avoid changing my oil early? I just cant help but think that getting that early break in metal/oil out of the engine early would be preferable to leaving it. and finally, For those of you still using dino oil, what is your reccomendation for the Hemi Rams? Thanks
I haven't heard of an additive to the oil for the break in process.I wouldn't think they would do something like that sence the dealer doesn't recommend running additives in the oil.As far as changing the oil early I would just what til the first 3000 miles. And the metel from the brake in process the oil filter should pick that up. The oil I use for the first two oil changes in my new HEMI was valine 5w-30 after the first two changes I went to mobile1 5w-30 full synthetic.
To say there is no reason to change it before 3000 is just ignorant. If anything, there is no reason NOT to change the oil other than being lazy and/or cheap!
There is a ton of metal shavings and other crap in that original oil that needs to come out! Oil does not like to sit around in an engine. It collects water and other impurities from condensation inside an engine that sits around, so if your truck sat on some dealer lot or at the plant for several months, that alone is cause to change it as soon as you get the truck home. Even if all the solids get trapped in the filter (which they won't) the filter can become clogged and restricted.
I changed mine at 1000 and will change it again at 3000 with dino oil. Third change will see full synthetic.
There is NO justification for changing it early. If metal shavings and debris were a problem then the manufacturer would recommend an early oil change. As for the water collection inside the engine due to condensation, doesn't the engine have to go through a heating and cooling cycle in order to have condensation. Granted it won't hurt anything to change it, or not to change it, but there is NO reason other than wanting to have it changed.
I didn't change mine until 3K, at which time I switched to synthetic.
Ruckstar. You can always consult your owners manual for change intervals and recommendations on oil. You can also call your local dealer and get their recommendations.[sm=smiley20.gif]
The manual should read something like "... change oil more often in heavy use conditions or at least every six months (regardless of mileage)".
That includes if the car sits for long periods of time and/or is used for short distance driving.
No, the engine does not have to heat cycle for condensation to be an issue. A few degree swing in ambient temperature is enough to do it, just like cars have condensation on the outside every morning, the humidity gets inside as well (though to a lesser degree). Except inside your engine, it drips down and becomes submerged in your OIL. That's why when you are taking a vehicle out of storage, the first thing you should do is change the oil!
Besides, the engine has gone through several short heat cycles (the worst kind) being moved around parking lots, on and off trucks, and at the production facility. All these short drives also cause condensation, wile the engine never gets hot enough to burn them off.
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Granted it won't hurt anything to change it, or not to change it, but there is NO reason other than wanting to have it changed.
Uh, yeah... whatever floats your boat. I don't know about you, but I bought a fairly expensive truck that I want to keep a wile. The whole $15 and 15 minutes it's gonna cost me to do an oil change on my new truck doesn't require much contemplation IMO.
Don't forget about the transmission, axle and transfer case oils. There is a lot of break-in there, too!
The inside of your engine can't be compared to the exterior of the car since it is not exposed directly to the atmosphere. Nor does it vent directly to the atmosphere where it can access moisture. If moisture does get into the oil, it's a minute amount through the processes you have described. There simply isn't enough air volume, for expansion and contraction due to heating and cooling, inside an engine to pull in moist air.
I have to say b12teuton that you are indeed extremely ignorant. Simply because you think you are more knowledgable than the people designing and testing these engines. There is no real reason to change the oil other than you want to. There is no recommendation from the factory in the service manual, owners manual, SAE recommendation. New production engine failures are few and far between, so the concerns you express are more in line of paranoia than actual fact. The reason you take the oil out after storage is because you didn't change it before you put the car away, which is when it should have been done rather than let it set with the acids in the oil.
You also lack social grace proven by your unwillingness to smooth over your comments above.
Why wait for 3k miles to change it again? Do it every 1k. Heck it's your money, you have every right to waste it.[sm=smiley24.gif]
Oh man here we go again, come on people lets just agree to disagree and drop it. You both have valid points, so lets all group hug[sm=smiley31.gif] and move on to the next topic.
i know some people seem to doubt me, but i work at a dodge dealer, and i would think that JCswm, and dodgemech would agree. the dealerships recommend that you have your oil every 3000 miles for a reason. if it was an issue to have it changed within the first 1500mi or so, they would tell you so, and they would do stupid things like threaten your engine warranty. the second your engine is started for the first time, its slowly in the process of dying. you could change your oil every day, and it wouldnt make it run for a million miles, although thats not out of the question, based on a regular maintenance schedule. while its not unhealthy to change it more often than 3000, changing it say, every 1000mi, is just wasting money. while working as a mechanic, i changed my oil every thousand miles, because i got oil and filters for free, and when i changed my oil, the fluid drained out was barely dirty. it could have easily passed for new oil. while im NOT trying to argue with anyone, or flame anyone, im simply stating..that if dodge thought it was that important that your engine oil was flushed out in the first 1500mi, they wouldnt send out the little 3000mi reminder cards after 3 months. think about what dodge gas at stake here too. say that the oil does need to be changed in the first, say 1500mi, and dodge doesnt mention it, and the engine blows up. extreme, i know...but i dont think that hey would take the chance of having to replace the all of those engines that could conceivably go south due to the additives in the engine from the factory.
it can never HURT to change the oil every 1500mi, but at a certain point, it becomes overkill. ive seen cars that have gone 25000 miles without a change that run fine. while thats also not recommended, ther eis always that chance. next time you get your oil changed, or do it yourself, have a look at it after 1500 miles. next time, go 3000 miles, and the odds are Very good that there wont be much of a difference.
First Oil Change
