I bought my 2008 Crossfire (Automatic) from the Chrysler dealership just over a year ago. When I bought it, the car had about 6k miles on it, and it now has just over 19k.

I have gotten 3 oil changes at the dealership (one shortly after getting it, one around 14k, and finally at just under 19k). The first two times they used Pennzoil 5w40 and said that is now what the recommend instead of the M1 0w40 (really it has to do with their contracts, but it meets the specifications in the manual).

Since my last oil change about 2 months ago, I have only driven it about 900 miles, and have noticed a few problems.

1) it is making a fast ticking sound constantly (gets quicker and louder when I accelerate)
2) it is making a slow thumping sound when I am at a constant speed (40-80 mph and in addition to the other)
3) there is a bit of a lag between the petal and acceleration and it isn't accelerating as fast as it had been.

So far, all the maintenance has been done at the dealership. I took it to a local mechanic that my family has been dealing with for forever to get the back tires changed (he was much cheaper), I thought it might be the spark plugs and asked him to take a look at it. He said they were in great condition, but pointed out that the dealer used the wrong oil this last time. Sure enough, the sticker says 5w20 (the same oil they put in my wife's 2012 Kia Optima!).

So here is my question, can the oil be causing those issues? What kind of damage can the wrong oil cause? What else could be causing that?

Thanks for your help!

 

Key word here is dealership. I don't think I would have my oil changed at a dealership if it was free. If you don't want to do it yourself, bring to the local guy.

 

I have been going to the dealership because I got 6 free oil changes when I bought the car, and at over $100 a pop, it is good to use them up.

Honestly I wouldn't have a clue what I am doing to change it myself. I am doing good to know how to check the tire pressure and add wiper fluid. I deal with taxes for a living, and have always thought that the mechanic has no business doing my job, and I have no business doing his.

 

I don't think 5w20 is on the approved list. Stock up on 0W40 when it is on sale and buy a good fleece filter from your local auto parts store. I don't take my Crossfires to the Chrysler/Dodge dealerships as they barely have an idea of what a Crossfire is. If you have 5w20 in there now, I'd highly recommend replacing the oil ASAP.

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...oved-oils.html

 

I will be polite as I can. Dealerships don't care. Oil is oil to them. I bet you anything when they gave you free oil changes they didn't know they gave away 81/2 qts of oil rather than 5. How do you suppose they will recoup their loss? 5w-30 or 5w-40 if you can't find the 0w-30 in a synthetic is what is recommended along with fleece filters. If you don't use these then you are wearing out an engine before its time. Nothing is free. Pick up the oil and filter and take it to a local shop. Keep in mind most local shops don't do topsider oil changes. So they may have to learn as well. Don't be a cheap skate with the oil. That 100 bucks at an MB dealership is cheap insurance if you don't want to do it yourself or teach a local shop to do it.

 

That was very polite Doc

klb.kenneth,
Take his advice and be certain that the correct oil is used every time.
Free oil changes at the dealer are nothing more than a incentive to buy a car.
They have no intention on providing you a "service" nor do they have a clue what they are doing.
6 years owning my Crossfire now and never once allowing a Chrysler dealer to touch this car.

Good luck and also welcome to this forum.
Stick around because this place has the most comprehensive info on the internet about our cars.

Gary

 

For the record it is 0W-40 not 0W-30 we use. Paper filters were specified in '04s I believe, although fleece is now preferable.

If I have an oil change I would prefer the oil to be drained from the bottom, I use a top sider, but it is easier for me. I have found that dealers do not need to learn how to do a top side oil change they know and some do it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valk

Take his advice and be certain that the correct oil is used every time.
Free oil changes at the dealer are nothing more than a incentive to buy a car.
They have no intention on providing you a "service" nor do they have a clue what they are doing.
6 years owning my Crossfire now and never once allowing a Chrysler dealer to touch this car.

A lot of money is made in the service department of dealerships, it makes more money than new/used car sales in many dealerships. They want you to keep taking your car there regularly for oil changes, brakes and whatever they can sell you, needed or not. There is more money to be made servicing an older car than a new car.

 

Thank you. I have been lurking around the last year, but hadn't really had the urge to ask a question or respond to anything yet. I have definitely learned a lot from the forum.

I went into the dealership today to ask them about it. They said that the service department slip says 0w40 on it, but some of the idiots don't think to change the stickers when they print them. They leave the oil grade, 3 month, and 3k mile info in and just change the beginning mileage.

I asked them about the problems I have been having, and the tech said it sounds like an emissions/exhaust problem, and they could have one of their "Crossfire techs" look at it on Monday if I wanted to drop it off. (Supposedly only 2 guys in the service department are allowed to work on Crossfires (they are supposedly the only ones who touch SRTs too).

... So I am going to take it back to the local guy and have him check it out thoroughly. He seems to have dealt with more crossfires than they have. Also, he works on MBs and BMWs too.

 

Ask them if they used a 0w-40 or a 5w-40.......then ask them what brand they used.....if they claim it was a Pennzoil 0w-40.....then they are screwing you over.....the Pennzoil that meets the MB std & has replaced the Mobil-1 0w-40 is Pennzoil Ultra Euro 5w-40......it doesn't come in a 0w-40. If they put in a 0w-40 Pennzoil it may not even have been a synthetic.....let alone a synthetic that meets the MB std.

There is a new Pennzoil Ultra 0w-40 (I think it's for SRTs)......but it's the Pennzoil Ultra EURO 5w-40 that's on the MB 229.3 & 229.5 approved list.

 

I went in there today and they showed me the service slip that says 5w40 full synthetic. They are going to change the oil anyways. Also, they are looking at the sound it is making because it should be covered by the Powertrain Warranty.

 

One thing I must say about the dealership and service center here, they do really try to keep you happy (because they want you to buy another car from them).

 

Tell me if this sounds right...

They changed the oil.

Problem #1, They are saying the ticking noise is normal and it is the injectors. It could be that they are getting dirty or that they are getting broken in from use. There is nothing clogged but an injector service would probably clean it out and reduce the sound. They said try a fuel additive before spending the money to do that. Supposedly that could be contributing to the reduction in power as well, but they couldn't be 100% sure how dirty the injectors are without taking it apart.

Problem #2, thumping when at cruising speed. She said the sound is from the front tires being out of alignment and not balanced. She said I should replace the front soon anyways (which I was going to do within the next month or so anyways), so should replace them before getting an alignment and balance.

So question: Does anyone else have a (pretty loud) ticking sound from their engine from start up (I know there is some of that, but I don't think it should be that loud)? And would an injector cleaning help that?

I will have to take a video of the sound tomorrow after I pick it up and see what you guys think.

 

I use synthetic because I saw how it saved one of my race engines in a no oil pressure situation. Weight is less important to me than changing it often. I heavy up for running in the summer on the track. For the C I do it every 3k cause I run it hard and I add one qt extra for those hard corners where its all on the side of the pan. But I do as I please and at 66 have certain beliefs that others dont share, to each his own...

But if you have a noise, record it on your cell and post it on the utube with a link here so we can listen to it first-second hand

Enjoy, Woody

 

You can't find 0w-40 around here. I use the 30. Or 5w-30. I agree there are other synthetics that are just as good. If you are sure your dealership is using the right oil then that is all you need. Most don't. They use bulk oil. And by top sider I was referring to the fact our filters are on top the engine. YES dealerships are familiar with this but smaller shops are not. O rings have to be just right as well as seating the filter.

 

It's not normal. Are you using high octane fuel? Timing could be an issue but the computer usually corrects any small differences. Both can cause "pinging".

 

I am using Premium (93). They said that it sounds like there is buildup from maybe not getting the best gas or just a "normal" buildup, and I should run some injector cleaner additive in my gas.

They told me today when I went to pick it up that there is an issue with the oil gasket leaking, and a rear axle seal is cracked (or something like that) so they are keeping it until tomorrow morning.

I will take a video of the sound and upload it when I get my car back. (hopefully tomorrow!)

 

I think 5-W20 is way too thin an oil for this engine. I think the ticking is the result of such thin oil as it does not adequately pressurize the oil carriage system AND it doesn't provide the buffer necessary to protect the internals. Now I have nothing to back this up except to say my 5.7L GM motor makes a helluva tappet sound (generic so many of them do it) and when I increase the viscosity by 10 it is noticeably quieter). Thats my story and I'm sticking to it. Too thin an oil (by 50%) may be most of the ticking sound.

 

Take a look at this and tell me what you think.

 

I cannot pinpoint that but it sounds like it could be expensive...

 

It sounds like you could be a mechanic. I swear that is the automatic response with the crossfire, "it is going to be expensive."

I have been running fuel cleaner additive, and it is helping greatly with the sound.