They want to sell oil. That may be why they have a time. I work on Jet Aircraft the synthetic oils only get changed at engine overhaul. The filter get changed more often.

 

A big concern for all concerned ought to be what are the requirements to keep the car in warranty?

 

Woodlands: You make a valid point. But the book says every 7k and personally, even with synthetic I still change mine every 3,500. Overkill? Probably, but I plan on keeping it for a long time and I consider that cheap insurance.

 

As long as you follow the recommendations of the FSS, then you should be covered under the factory warranty. If you have an extended warranty, their requirements may be different. The one I have requires the oil to be changed every 5K miles.

 

Any idea what proof would be required by Chrysler to prove that oil changes were performed as required, if not accomplished by a dealer or other third party? Would receipts for the oil and filters be sufficient?

 

My 04' is just giving me day until the oil change not miles but I was reading in another post that if you don't drive the car very much it will give you days but if you drive the car a lot it will switch to miles. My Xfire still has 162 days on it till it needs a oil change so I'm not overdue at all plus the Dealership gives me a free oil change. This will be the only time I take it to them to change the oil since the oil change seems very easy. I don't know why they recommend that you take it to them because just basic mechanics. Maybe they are just trying to make up for not selling the cars as fast as they might of thought they would.

 

I think all dealers want you to take the car to them for service. I have not had to do an oil change yet, but if I am paying a dealer that much to do it, I am gonna take it to a Mercedes dealer. I am sure that since they all tie into Daimler that it wouldn't void the warranty.

 

That brings up a good point about oil changes and mercedes. Can mercedes honor the warranty i purchased through Chrysler, since they are all in the same? I am getting such terrible service from my chrysler dealership. The last time they had it over 4 weeks and then i picked it up to discovered they scratched the interior all up during the work and they dented the outside drivers door. I'm very upset the way they didn't take care of my car. I have written the General Manager and have yet to hear back from him to discuss my displeasure.

 

I know that I would be knee deep in some about getting all of that fixed! You pay good money for the car and then pay out the a** to get the oil changed and anything else that needs to be fixed and they go in there and mess everything up that is some BS. I know the dealership would be fixing for free after that.

 

If you're planning on going to a M/B dealer, call ahead! One of the dealers here in St. Louis will not work on them. I guess they don't want the stepchild being seen by their customers!

 

Well, I guess I am lucky as part of my car deal, I got 3 years (4 X per year) mobil 1 oil changes from my 5-Star Chrysler dealer. I didn't realize the value of this until now. I have bought 3 other vehicles from this dealer, they also wash and vacuum your car with the oil change that is free. I know I have to schedule it, but I am in and out in about an hour.

 

I can't seem to get my oil filter off?

 

If brute force doesn't seem to work, it means you're not using enough of it.

 

Just go to any major auto parts store, PepBoys, Auto Zone, etc. They sell an oil filter socket that will fit for a few bucks.

 

Is there a procedure on this site for changing our oil. 8 qts. is that true?

 

Slightly more than. Check your owner's manual; it's in there.

I heard that cars which use synthetic and have electronic oil level and quality sensors typically require a large volume of oil. Oil life is determined by engine operating parameters (load, oil temperature, etc) but level is determined by electrical capacitance. From what I understand, a lot of oil is necessary to get accurate results. My friend's Audi A6 similarly uses a huge volume of synthetic, and has the same types of quality/level sensors in it. Must be a German thing.

BTW, am I the only one here who has a hard time finding Mobil 1 in the 0W-40 weight? It's an oddball, but also recommended for SRT engines (6.1L, 8.3L) so I am really surprised that I can't find it at Pep Boys, AutoZone, etc. Not that I need to change oil yet (3,500 or so miles to go), but I looked out of curiosity.

 

8.5 quarts of Mobil 1 0W/40 synthetic and here are two DIY directions for changing oil.

http://www.slk32.com/pages/oilchange/oilchange.html

http://www.dfwsbr.com/crossfire/faq/oil/

The first set of instructions is a MB SLK 320 but everything applies to the Crossfire, as it is the same engine. They use a topsider to suck the oil out through the dipstick on the SLK instructons. You can also go in from underneath and remove the shield that covers the bottom of the engine to get at the drain plug as in the second set of instructions.

 

$4.28 a quart for the Mobil 1 0W/40 synthetic at Wal-Mart's.

Now the filter is another story. Fram (P/N: CH8481) and STP (P/N: S8481) make aftermarket filters for the Crossfire.

I could only find the STP filter and that was at AutoZone for $10.99, but I don't think I an going to use it. It is not as well built as the OEM filter and I can not imagine it lasting 7,000 miles. It's made out of cheapo looking paper and does not have the thin teflon bands or whatever they are that are wrapped around the OEM filter.

 

...I don't blame you on the filter choice. From what I have read, Fram filters are iffy in terms of internal construction. There was an article I read on it some time ago, and I could dig it up if anyone is interested.

I think when it comes time for me to do this, I may decide to order the oil and filter online. I might have better luck. I guess I can add Kmart and Meijer to the list of places that do not carry this weight.

 

Does anyone have the part # for the oil plug copper gasket?
Or a good place to get these?
It seems that the filters come with the 4 O rings, but not the copper gasket.