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Preferred Oil in the Hemi?

90K views 106 replies 42 participants last post by  cambo  
#1 ·
I've been a big user of Mobil 1 oil and plan to put the 0-20 Mobil 1 Extended performance oil in my new Hemi when the oil change is due.
But....looking in the manual, it has a recommendation of Pennzoil or Shell Helix.
What are you Hemi guys running?
 
#50 · (Edited)
in the history of the world - has anyone every been asked for proof of maintenance for warranty work under normal conditions (eg Besides the dealer checked for oil and found nothing but sludge since the oil wasn't changed for 10 years)?

I only go to the dealer when there's a recall of a repair involved. All my regular maintenance (well unless done with recall or repair) is typically carried out at independent garages that respect my time. Owned a bunch of cars over the years. Never had anyone ever ask me for proof i did any maintenance. I even have a Chrysler from just before the bankruptcy with the lifetime powertrain warranty. I had to get a 5 year inspection but never have been asked for maintenance records for warranty work. Granted I've not blown an engine or the like...
 
#51 ·
in the history of the world - has anyone every been asked for proof of maintenance for warranty work under normal conditions (eg the dealer checked for oil and found nothing but sludge since the oil wasn't changed for 10 years)?
No, not in my world anyway. Probably one reason I got receipt-lazy.
 
#52 ·
If you buy from auto zone I assume other name brand parts store they give you a lil card that gets you points for purchases.
It also is a second history of your purchases.
For a engine to build sludge you really pushed past a oil changes to get that to happen.
All engines build carbon and some sludge. Enough to cause a issue you really neglected your SUV.
 
#55 ·
Royal Purple 5W20 (API cert not HPS, we have roller lifters) for my Hemi and my Pentastar. UOA on the Hemi shows well below average wear despite a longer than average change interval. I will have a UOA done on the Pentastar when it gets its second oil change (by me)
 
#56 ·
Glad this thread is revived, I wasn't an owner when it started. For the record I'm "Old School" as well, just did my 3rd oil change on my 2015 D and have just over 10,000 miles on it. First change I do quick on any new vehicle, now plan to change at 4,000-4,500. Part of this is my old school roots, but part is also coming from a GM 5.3 MDS vehicle and it's pretty well understood that short changes could help with the GM MDS failure issues that some years had. So, while the hemi MDS seems to be a much more reliable system from what I've read, I'm still going to change pretty regularly.

Also, while I've had my share of bad dealer experiences I have to say in my town we have a few really good dealerships. I'm not saying they are cheap, you have to understand that if you change oil at a dealer you are going to pay for some of that big shiny building they are in. My local Dodge dealer has always been great, just changed hands from the long time owner to a long time employee, you can walk in and shoot the breeze with the owner, service department is on the ball and gets you out in a reasonable amount of time. I plan to change oil there for at least the first year, will likely do my own after that. I like to establish a record of regular maintenance on their system, for 3 reasons. 1) give them enough business to want to deal with me if I have a problem, 2) show them how well I maintain a vehicle so any problems won't be blamed on neglect, and 3) in the modern electronic world when you sell your used car a buyer can look up the maintenance intervals and events done at dealers, proves how well maintained your vehicle is so maybe gets you a few bucks more.
 
#57 ·
Where is the best place to buy the Pennzoil Ultra Platinum? I have been a Mobil 1 fan since the mid 90's, but I see that M1 does not meet Chrysler spec 6395 (thanks Tom), so it looks like the Hemi in my Charger will get Pennzoil to keep FCA happy in case I have to use the MaxCare lifetime on an engine related issue.
The 04 D has lived quite well on M1 since I brought it home 6 years ago.

Don
 
#59 · (Edited)
My local Walmart carries Pennzoil Platinum (Silver bottle), but not Pennzoil Platinum Ultra (Darker Gray bottle). But, they do sell it on Walmart.com, and I've purchased the Pennzoil Platinum Ultra on Walmart.com for the best price, and have ordered with free shipping too. I think I just paid about $27.80 for 5 quart jug, plus they sell single quarts if you don't want to buy two larger jugs.
 
#60 ·
Cody and White:
Your comments are appreciated. Our local WM appears to be the same. They have the two lower tiers of Pennzoil, but not the Ultra. Back when we bought our 2005 Grand Caravan in 2006, I had to petition them to stock the Mobil 1 in 5W20 in the 5 qt jugs. My first recollection of 5w20 was in Ford products around 2001. Eventually, Chrysler and Honda followed suit. Interestingly, it seems that some manufacturers have switched back to 5w30 in some cases.

What is the benefit of the Ultra vs the Platinum? They are both synthetic right?

Don
 
#61 · (Edited)
Cody and White:
Your comments are appreciated. Our local WM appears to be the same. They have the two lower tiers of Pennzoil, but not the Ultra. Back when we bought our 2005 Grand Caravan in 2006, I had to petition them to stock the Mobil 1 in 5W20 in the 5 qt jugs. My first recollection of 5w20 was in Ford products around 2001. Eventually, Chrysler and Honda followed suit. Interestingly, it seems that some manufacturers have switched back to 5w30 in some cases.

What is the benefit of the Ultra vs the Platinum? They are both synthetic right?


Don
Yep, both the Platinum and the Ultra Platinum are synthetic. Pennzoil website shows them being equal on their "chart", but shows the Ultra Platinum for Extreme performance. Probably just more additives or detergents. As the Ultra version was just a couple dollars more, I went with that one, plus the jug looked cooler haha. I'm sure either is just fine.

Just found a rebate offer on their website too, $2 off per quart if it works. AND, rebate is good for all of 2017...

http://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/promo...oil-change/promotion-8.html#iframe=L0RJWS9OYXRpb25hbDE3L3N0b3JlbG9jYXRvci5jZm0=

http://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/promo...ions/do-it-yourself-oil-change/promotion-7.html#iframe=L0RJWS9OYXRpb25hbDE3Lw==
 
#62 ·
Cody:
Thanks for the coupon. I think I'll pick some up to have on hand for when my oil change screen appears. I plan on taking my oil to the dealer and having them use the oem filter.

Don
 
#64 ·
True on the older SRT, but that engine, the 6.1L didn't have MDS.
FCA is calling out a particular oil spec to use which Mobil doesn't show meeting. However, someone on another forum called up Mobil and they said their oil would pass that spec they just haven't paid to have their oil tested to the FCA spec.

So I too think there is no problem using Mobil 1, but maybe its better to use the oil to the required spec just in case there is a warranty issue down the road?
Not like there is any real price difference between the brands top oils.
 
#65 ·
Walmart is a great place to buy oil; I get Royal Purple there for $37.50 for 7 quarts which comes out to $7.50/qt. All the auto parts stores want $10/qt for it.


IIRC Pennzoil ultra platinum is the only oil approved for the gen 5 Viper engine, though I am sure that has a lot to do with a deal between Shell and FCA
 
#66 ·
Gents:
All of your comments are appreciated. I agree that using M1 would likely pose no problems as far as doing what the oil does. Since the prices are within a few dollars, it seems prudent to use what they call for. If the warranty was not an issue, I would run the M1 as I have in all of my other vehicles in or out of warranty.

Don
 
#67 ·
It is also worth mentioning that Royal Purple's API certified oil (not the HPS; the stuff without the extra ZDDP) meets Chrysler's MS-6395 specification
 
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#70 · (Edited)
I used Penzoil Ultra Plat in the dark grey bottle and I noticed "stuff" in the bottom of the bottle like the guy on youtube did too. I am now thinking of going back to Mobil One Extended Performance. I do not care of the Chrysler Spec is not there...good enough for a lot of Premium engine vehicles and what else is weird is that their 5w20 regular synthetic is approved but not yet the Extended Performance "premium" synthetic. I was told they have to test the oil product for 2 years to meet the Chrysler spec and Mobil expects it to pass with flying colors just like all the others.

EDIT: I JUST SEEN ON MOBILS WEBSITE IT IS FOR THE MOBILE ONE SUPER 5W20 LINE WHICH IS A PREMIUM LINE: https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/mobil-super/mobil-super-synthetic
 
#71 ·
I used Penzoil Ultra Plat in the dark grey bottle and I noticed "stuff" in the bottom of the bottle like the guy on youtube did too. I am now thinking of going back to Mobil One Extended Performance. I do not care of the Chrysler Spec is not there...good enough for a lot of Premium engine vehicles and what else is weird is that their 5w20 regular synthetic is approved but not yet the Extended Performance "premium" synthetic. I was told they have to test the oil product for 2 years to meet the Chrysler spec and Mobil expects it to pass with flying colors just like all the others.

EDIT: I JUST SEEN ON MOBILS WEBSITE IT IS FOR THE MOBILE ONE SUPER 5W20 LINE WHICH IS A PREMIUM LINE: https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/mobil-super/mobil-super-synthetic
What is that, like a group 4?
 
#74 ·
here is the low down from the bitog forum I've been a member of for years. The 5.7 hemi is not picky about the oil you use. Run any synthetic with the qualifications Chrysler has. On Dino oil, penzzoil is not good. Castrol probably is the best with the German castrol taking the prize for #1. This is all things being equal in that the hemi isn't picky at all when it comes to oil.
 
#79 ·
There is not a spec or requirement for specific filters. Nobody is getting their warranty denied on a rod bearing failure unless the filter crapped its insides through the return line
 
#83 ·
I've been using the Mobil 1 5w-20 extended performance in my '06 Hemi for quite a while, now at 185K. I run it close to 10K and change out. Last oil change at 180K I used the Pennzoil Ultra 5w-20 and I swear the engine which has the famous Hemi tick is quieter running the Pennzoil.
I'm now sticking with the Pennzoil.