Synthetic oil change Jeep wrangler

[crashz]

To preserve your investment in the extended warranty, I would document every maintenance interval and strictly follow the owners manual. If it calls for an oil change when prompted by the oil monitor, then do so. And if it regularly indicates an oil change is needed before 6000 miles, then stick to a good off the shelf conventional oil. Keep a record of every maintenance item and have a copy of your maintenance logs (never the original) availble for the dealer and warranty company any time there is a claim. These warranty companies are just like insurance companies and will treat you the same when a warrranty issue arrises. I've had my share of run-ins with them and the only thing that ever counted in my favor was well documented, strict maintenance. Learned it the hard way after paying for s short block that was under my extended warranty and later recalled for gasket failure.

Most modern oil life monitors measure ambient temps, operting temps, operating time, engine rpms, fuel usage and airflow and then compute a theoretical oil life based on the recorded data. They cannot indicate the amount of suspended solids, total base number, viscosity or contamination from fuel or coolant leaks. The also cannot tell the difference between synthetic and conventional oils. So putting synthetic in a vehicle will not make the oil life monitor extend the drain interval, baring any changes in driving habits.

 

[PBinWA]

I did notice that my oil change light came on almost exactly six months after I purchased the vehicle which the service manual calls for (6000 miles or 6 months). It would be interesting to know the logic the computer is using.

Either way, I just put Mobil 1 in the Durango and a new filter. It will be interesting to see if this lasts longer than six months as I don't expect to drive it more than 2500 miles in the next six months.

 

[joe48]

Well I certainly don't want to tell you what to do for a number of obvious reasons, like liability, or voiding your warranty.

However I can tell you what has worked very well for me. I have a 2001 ,Chrysler T&C minivan that is my work car. I'm a traveling sales rep (no jokes), I average 35,000 miles a year on this car. I bought it used with 27,000 mi(lease return). From first oil change I used WalMart 10-30 synthetic, with standard Fram Filters. I change the filters every 7500 mi and the oil at 15,000. I now have 209,000 mi on it. It doesn't burn a drop, but has a few minor leaks as would be expected with that many miles. You can take a clean white rag ,wpie under the valve cover and all that will be on the rag is oil, no sludge or gunk.
I used to run Hondas and change conventional oil & filt. every 3,000, had one engine I pulled out of my 86 and put in an 89 with blown engine. when my son wrecked it it had close to 400,000 on the engine.
Now to the point ,the conventional oil would have sludge inder the valve cover before 200k , even with 3000 mi changes. The synthetic is still clean.

You can draw your own conclusions from my experience. Good Luck.

 

[deereman64]

Thanks for inputs, and I think I will write to Mobil and see what their response is. They probably won't respond but it would be interesting to see how they really see their product outside of the marketing hype

 

[PBinWA]

On a related note, how does everyone "document" their oil changes when they do it themselves?

Does anyone know what the best practice for this would be?

 

[kenmac]

Thanks for inputs, and I think I will write to Mobil and see what their response is. They probably won't respond but it would be interesting to see how they really see their product outside of the marketing hype

Good luck getting info from mobil. That's 1 of the reasons I switched to Amsoil. They are happy to share their info with you

 

[crashz]

On a related note, how does everyone "document" their oil changes when they do it themselves?

Does anyone know what the best practice for this would be?

I made it a habit of not stocking the oil or filter when my vehicles were under warranty. So either I would have it done by a local shop or change it myself and buy the needed parts right before the change. I would write in a notebook the date and mileage and staple the receipts to the page. This is sufficent data to cover you for warranty purposes.

Part store reciepts will have the time and date stamp as well as product codes for the proper filter and oil. With them you are covered.

Outside of warranty is when I get lazy. I buy oil in bulk and I pick up spare filters. Reciepts for anything go into a folder for specific vehicle, but little else.

 

[PBinWA]

I made it a habit of not stocking the oil or filter when my vehicles were under warranty. So either I would have it done by a local shop or change it myself and buy the needed parts right before the change. I would write in a notebook the date and mileage and staple the receipts to the page. This is sufficent data to cover you for warranty purposes.

Part store reciepts will have the time and date stamp as well as product codes for the proper filter and oil. With them you are covered.

Outside of warranty is when I get lazy. I buy oil in bulk and I pick up spare filters. Reciepts for anything go into a folder for specific vehicle, but little else.

That's basically what I do.

I wonder though if anyone has ever had to fight a denied warranty claim (and won) and what they did to win it.

I hear about local service people trying to deny claims but once it gets "legal" there should probably be some form of standards that need to be met.

 

[deereman64]

One of the reasons I do my own oil changes is because I have never liked using those oil change stations. You probably sit there for most of Saturday morning, whilst I can do it at home when I like(great alternative to Come Dancing) and then they always trot into the waiting room holding a dip stick muttering something that my transmission fluid looks like molasses thus making me into some kind of car neglect fiend. I do keep records but mainly because I would forget when the nexr oil change was due.

 

[kenmac]

That's basically what I do.

I wonder though if anyone has ever had to fight a denied warranty claim (and won) and what they did to win it.

I hear about local service people trying to deny claims but once it gets "legal" there should probably be some form of standards that need to be met.

I have never heard of anyone that has had an oil related failure that changes their oil & maintains their vehicle on a regular maintainance sehedule