I'm doing a poll as to what interval most folks are going to have the oil changed in their Crossfire. 5k or 7k intravals???

I opt for 7k.

For years I used to change oil every 3k miles but increased it to 5k without any ill effects using 10W/30 year around. DC recommends 7k. I'll do two oil changes and see how the oil looks before I'll think about going to the 5k cycle.

 

If D/C specs are 7K miles for an oil change and is using Mobil 1, then why would it be necessary to do it any sooner? I understand more frequent changes being required for hard driving or enviornmental conditions.

Is there any other real reason to do so?

 

matter of fact, i need to think about that myself. i've got a free-tires-for-life deal that depends on my having all my oil changes and service done at the dealer. they stickered it for 3k last time till i showed 'em the book and 7k. they will, of course, up-charge me for synthetic but i believe that what the book says. the car tells me i'm now due, according to the odometer trick y'all showed me, in 1700 miles which will be close to 7k.

just checked and it's lookin a little dirty.

did y'all know they did away with the transmission-fluid dipstick?? change it at 80k and that's it "for life". amazing how little i know about this thing.

dan

 

The book says 7k but the service program I've got changes the oil every 5k. Will be taking 2896 in for her first oil change next week. I just hit 5 k yesterday.

 

I wouldn't go past 5k with synthetic no matter what the book says!

 

I also got one of those from my dealer. I read somewhere more and more dealers are putting stuff like that out to bring in more money. They are using it as a ploy.

The last few years I've been hearing changing oil every 3k miles is overkill. I tend to believe it. My oil has always looked too new to be changing it then. I went to 5k with no bad results so far.

BTW what does the computer generated maintenance schedule on your odometer say??? My car is 6 months old with 3.5k miles. Mine shows I still have 3.9k miles to go. That brings it to the 7.4k mark before mine is due.

Let us know how much the oil change is. :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

Just curious as to your opinion. Wasn't that the purpose of synthetic oil to provide better protection and prolonged life between oil changes vs regular oil?

 

As a matter of fact, I got my oil changed this morning right at 3K. But I had owned it for four months and didn't know how long it sat on the lot, so I was just playing it safe. Moving forward I'll go into my zone of around 4 - 4.5 K between oil changes.

Outlaws you're right, the 3K oil change interval is a crock, even here in dusty old AZ. At the "customer appreciation night" I went to a few weeks ago they were floating the very real possibility that the free world might crumble if you didn't change your oil every 3K.

 

I recommend 3k for regular oil and 5k for synthetic. We don't see engine failures anymore at the dealers.When we do it's from lack of oil changes.Modern engines have alot more moving parts inside of them than older engines.4 camshafts,24 valves,24 rocker arms,24 hyd. valve adjusters,timing chains,gears,hyd.tensioners and so on.The last engine I did was a 2.7L chrysler failed from oil starvation.Half my day was spent unwrapping over a hundred new engine parts.Just the parts cost 5 grand.Also the oil pickup in the oil pan has a very small inlet screen that can clog easily.If you do any stop and go driving or short trips change the oil 3k or 5k.Why take the chance?

 

When they gave me the car they also gave me a coupon book for service every 7K miles and oil changes every 3K. Dealer as been fine with thefree synthetic oil changes, 2 so far, 8K miles on the car. I dont think you can hurt a motor changing the oil to often.

 

OK, so if there is a danger to the engine if the oil is not changed at 5K intervals, then why would the manual say 7K? If I have a 60K mile warranty, and I follow their specs, then you would think that D/C would want to make sure they do not have to replace many engines for free. Plus they would increase revenues if the manuals stated that required oil changes must be done every 5K.

I am just having a problem understanding why I should do more maintenance than the company that manufactures the product says is necessary.

One more thing. Are the free oil changes being mentioned by some in this group provided by D/C, by individual dealerships, or a third party maintenance agreement?

Thanks.

 

The manual always says 7k for oil changes no matter what the oil is.But there is usually an * that says under extreme conditions change at 3k.Extreme conditions are considered stop and go driving and short trips.The goverment makes them put the 7 k intervals.The manifacturers are getting tougher on engine repairs and will ask for oil change reciepts. I've had customers spend 5 grand on a motor and still not change their oil.I pull out the drain plug and sludge comes out.If you want to be cheap go ahead.I will change my synthetic at 3 to 5k.Also mercedes had lawsuits because there dealers were putting in regular oil and the customers were following the syn. maint. schedule and damaged their engines.

 

Its no doupt the syns. last at least twice as long as regular oils. I have no fear at all of going 7000 miles between oil changes with the syn.

I did not always feel this way about synthetic oil, I was a big doupter of it till this past summer. I sucked it up and did a little experiment with it.

Took a ride on my motorcycle. They are aircooled v-twin harleys. I put syn oil in the one and ran it coast to coast this past summer. Atlantic ocean to the pacific. Noramlly I would have had to do two or three oil changes. This time I did no oil changes, the thing ran quieter, cooler, and gas milage was up. I did this just to see if the syn was all it was cracked up to be. When I drained the oil after almost 7000 miles it was still realativley clean. My riding partner could not say the same, Same bike, same milage, regular oil. His bike ran hot ( had to stop in death valley for over heat), the valves clattered, and he had to change oil twice along the way, both times the oil was black. I know this is off the subject of cars but a good example of how great the synthetic oils really are. One thing about any oil change , make sure you use a good filter, wix is a good one , Stay away from Fram and the cheap filters, a bad filter is as bad if not worse than a prolonged oil change.

 

Comparing a harley motor to a benz motor is a bit of a stretch.Synthetics are definitely better.Thats why I extend the service a couple thousand miles.The crossfire manual is not clear on oil change mileage, its monitor starts at 7k but can go up or down depending on driving conditions.The 2004 Pacifica manual is more clear,it uses regular oil.The Pacifica manual says 3k oil changes and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should the oil go more than 6000 miles.Going by my 20 years experiance I change oil at 3k and synthetic 5k.A couple years ago chrysler started stamping their factory oil filters with FACTORY INSTALLED so there is no doubt about the filter being changed or not.Oil changes are cheap insurance considering the price of engine repair.

 

crossfiretech:

Thanks for the info. It did not have anything to do with the cost. I was just trying to understand why the manual said one thing, and general practice said another. I will change at 5k.

You would think the manual would be a lot more clear on this issue, since it is so important......

 

I just had mine changed at 1K. Dealer suggested it at the time of purchase after the engine has been broken in. Not sure if that is accurate or was a means of lingin his pocket. Anyway, it's done - $69 labor, $9 parts, plus tax. I provided the 8 qts oil.

I know the manual says 7K interval but it also said 6 qts oil.

 

You provided the oil??? I just had my second oil change, first was free.
I paid $74.95 and the dealer provide the oil!!!! 8)

 

You hit the nail squarely on the head... they took you for a ride, big time IMO

 

I contacted my dealer a few weeks ago concerning a free oil change that they had offered me. Their offer was to expire in early March and I explained to the Service Manager that my X-fire was put away for the winter and would not be on the road until April. There is only 3,500 miles on it.

He extended the free oil change until the end of April, as he said, if I took that good care of my car, it was the least the dealership could do for me.

I asked him if he knew about the radio
replacement and he said no. I gave him the TSB # and the radio part #. He called me back and said he ordered the radio and would be installed when the oil was changed. Stated he was impressed that I knew about this TSB and he didn't and thanked me for the info.

This forum provided me with the info on the TSB, which came in very handy.

Thanks guys.

 

Okay, here's my take (its all about numbers)

At 70,000 miles you would change the oil four more times by using the 5K plan. Changes are pricey, mine are $80. So its $320 difference in the first 70,000 miles.

I don't think 320 is too much to spend for a little peace of mind. And, 70,000 miles may not be 7 years like the warrenty implies, but if you DO only drive 10K a year its only a $46 a year (less than $4 a month) difference. Heck, that's a good deal at twice the price!

Change em at 5K. It may be under warrenty, but do you want to go throught he hastle if 7K isn't quite often enough?!?