I'm due for first oil change.

Just took quick glance under car and looks like there is a plastic shield that may need to come off before you can drain oil. Is this correct?

 

You must remove the cover or buy a pump to remove the oil thru the dip stick.

 

yea, drain the oil through the bottom to get it all out. search button > you.

 

CE Smith makes a great product for doing it yourself. Boaters World sells it for $32 Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas as well or you can order one online. Never crawl under you car again.

http://www.cesmithco.com/product/oilchange.htm

 

i just changed my oil yesterday with synthetic and got a mercedes filter from the chrysler dealer. it's real easy and not that hard at all. i lifted it up, removed 4 bolts from the bottom after removing the oil cap and filter from the top . removed gaskets while i let the oil drain and replaced them with new ones. put everything back together and put 8 quarts of Mobil1 10w-40 in there. the engine sounds real clean now.

 

I took mine in and it lifted up on rack. Much easier to get to the sheild.

 

I changed oil this past weekend and everything went just as smooth as I had expected. All of the information that our members have supplied is exactly right. Resetting the FSS display was no problem either. Although, I did have to ‘fish” the drain plug gasket out my drain pan, since it plopped in unexpectedly for a swim.

I also cleaned and waxed my lower splash shield. That’s right, waxed it, besides I needed something to do while waiting for the oil to drain and I think my car runs faster now that the shield has been waxed.

 

I hate to tell you this, but you SHOULD have used Mobil 1 0W-40, not 10W-40!

 

oops sorry, i meant 0w-40 mobil 1, it has a black label on it and a black cap. the car runs a lot better with that, the dealer might've used crude oil to do the oil change.

 

Performed mine tonight, took me about 20 mins, Nice and easy. I put 8 qts in and have another half ready after i have run it a few miles. Used the topsider from Westmarine, drained all the oil in less than 10 mins. Its so easy i just couldn't believe it. Initially it cost me about $130 for all the parts, from now on it will be about $55 a go. I will also use on my wife's VW passat and my twin volvo boat, reckon it will save me about $500 a year in all, for about two hours work...

 

04' black crossfire owner here. I got 10k on it. How often are you suppose to change the oil? My chrysler rep told me a light would come on to notify me of oil change due, is this correct?

 

i would have it changed asap. the longest i would go is 7,500 miles between oil changes. i wouldn't rely on the computer for oil service.

 

Oh it was changed at 6,000 miles but I was not sure how to check it or how often owners are going in between. Someone told me to not go past 4k and others say 7k. Any suggestions?

 

When you first start your car in the odometer area, you will see a wrench and a mileage countdown to the next service interval. I agree with Andrew...change it ASAP, if not sooner. Take it to Lawrence Chrysler on S. Laburnam Avenue. They will have you in and out quickly. If you bought the car used, the oil may have already been changed. But if you are not sure and the dealer/private owner is not sure...then I would have it changed to be on the safe side.

 

Also doesn't that indicator tell you the number of days till your next service? I thought I read something about that in the manual. I know I just got my crossfire and when I start it, it tells me 162 and that's it. I only have 100 miles on the car. How do you change that to miles? Also I just looked at the info on changing your oil seems pretty easy I will let the dealership do the first since it's free but after that I will do my own.

 

Just changed oil yesterday. $32 for 8 quarts of Mobil 1 0-40; $14 for the filter. 20 minutes time.

 

RESETTING THE FSS MAINTENANCE INDICATOR AFTER AN OIL CHANGE

1. Move the ignition switch to the “RUN” position.
2. Within 4 seconds of moving the ignition switch into the
“RUN” position, press the reset button for the trip odometer
twice within one second. The display for the FSS service
request is activated for 10 seconds
3. During the 10 seconds the FSS service request is displayed,
move the ignition switch to the “OFF” position.
The FSS service request will continue to be displayed.
4. Press the reset button for the trip odometer and
hold.
5. Move the ignition switch to the “RUN” position
6. Continue to press and hold the reset button for the trip
odometer (about 10 seconds) until the audible signal
sounds and the new start distance appears in the display.
The tool symbol should disappear at this time.

 

I'm guessing you just purchased an 04'. My 04' was giving me a negative number (meaning an oil change was overdue) when I purchased my Aug 03' build in July 05'. I bickered with the dealership after the fact and was able to receive a free oil change because they should not be selling cars that are in need of an oil change.

The computer obviously doesn't just factor in miles when calculating miles until next service; time is a big component, as it should be. Most synthetic oils should be changed after 1 year regardless of how many miles you have driven.

 

TO:silver98m3, I'm curious as to why you made the statement about synthetic oil needing changed after 1yr. regardless of mileage. I've been using synthetic oil in all my cars since 1979 and it's always been my understanding that reg.Petro.base oil is much more prone to "breaking down" than any synth. is. Were you simply saying,"Change your oil every year whether it needs it or not", maybe because of condensation build up?

 

I use Amsoil's best synthetic oil-- their 0w-30 2000 series--in my 98 M3. They recommend oil changes at 35,000 mile or one year intervals for most applications (not turbos, industrial engines, etc.).

The reason for including the time interval constraint I don't know. Condensation and general breakdown of the oil over time would be my guess.