If anyone doesn't have one of these oil change pumps your missing out. Best $25 I've spent in awhile. Changed oil and filters in both my Xfires and it's already paid for itself! You don't have to get under car to drain the oil! Jiffy lube charges about $100 to change with synthetic oil and filter.

 

I change mine without getting under the car. I have a low profile 2 1/2 gallon pan and my car has no "shield" under it. But my Graphite had the cover, no need to get under there if you just reach in and take the screws out.

I find the Crossfire to be almost as easy (well, it IS as easy) to do an oil change than my lifted Ranger. And the Crossfire has a filter/carrier setup, the Ford has a stupid filter that dumps it's contents when you remove it. WHy can only the Germans manage this? THere is no reason for a screw-on filter hidden on the side of an engine.

 

What's the best deal for Filter + Oil? I hear FCP Euro has a kit and if you keep the containers you can send them back the following year and get them replaced for free?

 

I buy the Mobil1 oil at Walmart. Probably the cheapest price around here. You can use 0w40 or 5w40 - both are recommended for the Crossfire. So I buy one 5 gallon container & 3 quarts. I get the Mann Fleece Oil Filter (HU718/5x) from an eBay Seller. Easy to find these when you search.

 

Sometimes it is cheaper to just buy two 5 gallon containers.

 

The best deal is to go to Amazon and buy filters in bulk (four to ten at a time) and also order oil from them. For my use, I do an oil change once a year at about 3500 miles.
I go to a local store and get a Purolator L25277 (a reboxed MANN filter) for $14 and one of the 5W40s with "MB229.3" on the side. There is no way in hell I am going to order enough fliters for five or more years just to save $2 per filter.

 

"
I almost never disagree with you but.............
Both are APPROVED, the recommendation was changed by MB in 2011 from 0W40 to 5W40. I don't see how you can say they are both "recommended", they are both approved.

 

I'm aligned with pizzaguy on filter purchase. When I buy from an eBay or Amazon Seller, I never by more than 2 fleece filters. Can't see keeping them stored in my garage cabinets. Filters can be had from a wide variety of sources. And an oil change for me is every 2 years considering the miles I put on the car & driving style.

 

The attached are somewhat old (3 yrs) but it's interesting to see how MB stated their 'recommendation of approved oils'. Looks like we may be both correct. I don't know if I am going to be able to live with myself!

 

So which is the consensus? Is Mobil 1 0W-40 the best choice or 5W-40? I live in Florida. Always thought 0W-40 was the most popular and most recommended oil for our engines.

 

You can't go wrong with using either oil. The 5w40 came along with the 229.5 MB specification, which primarily applied to those newer model years that could use an extended oil change interval over the 229.3 spec that covered the FSS oil tracking systems used on earlier MB models. The Crossfire uses the MB FSS oil tracking system, probably because the Crossfire is designed using the R170 MB chassis which was the outgoing model in MB. But the Crossfire engines weren't necessarily 'older' versions. Most likely a political issue between MB & Chrysler back then.

Another difference between the 2 specs is the 229.5 required the owner to use the 'fleece' type oil filter over the 'cellulose' version. You will see where I highlighted that requirement in the attached file. Most of us use the 'fleece' type filter in our cars anyway, which probably has better filtration characteristics than the cellulose version.

Another consideration for you, since you live in Florida is to use the 5w40 oil, which would have a slightly higher oil viscosity during cold start-up. Is the difference significant - I don't believe so, but it is a difference. I live in SC, which isn't much different than Florida, & I use the 0w40 product. Kind of interesting to see that the 0w40 motor oil has a higher viscosity at 100C than the 5w40 product. Probably due to the 0w40 additive package which maintains the oil viscosity across a wider temperature range. Goes against traditional thinking which I stated at the beginning of this point.

 

The key points for those of us who drive our cars as fun vehicles with minimal annual mileage is change the oil and filter each year. I use Mobil1 0-40w oil and Mann filters not only in my Crossfire 3.2L but also in my MB E350. My MB 3.5 is now approaching 200K miles and has always used this combination of lubrication performed at approximately every 7K mile interval. I live in New England and store my Crossfire during the winter once the ice and snow arrives.
I like the idea of using a pump as a convenient way to remove the oil from the pan but consider draining it from the bottom helps to minimize the buildup of spent oil residue in the oil pan over time.

 

I know, I'm late with the reply...
My 2021 Ram Warlock V-6 had the same oil filter setup as our Crossfires.
Nice easy oil changes on both.

 

Just had the oil and filter changed by the local indy import shop. I was set to do it myself ... have a pump and everything, but we have a delusional neighbor who's been on a tear recently, so to avoid yet another complaint to the management company about, "running a business from the home," or, "unauthorized auto repair shop," or whatever.
For reasons known only to the shop, they didn't order the oil or filter, so I brought them mine. Mobil 1 Euro Spec, 0W40, and Mann filter. Saved a few dollars, and while they had the car they checked for engine codes (they still have the older OBD readers as well as a newer reader), measured brake linings, checked tire wear and pressure, and did a general overall visual. Freya just hit 30K, so she's aging well and appreciates the proper service and maintenance. Runs like a dream, smiles for miles.