So I bought my DD brand new and did my first oil change at 3500 miles to get the break in crap out and switch to full synthetic. My Nephew-in-law works at a fast lube express place for a dealership and has been giving me some info but he advised me to ask you DD experts in here what you think. My engine oil cap says to use 0w-30. However I live in Palm Springs CA where its very hot in summer and very cool in Winter where its rarely gets below freezing out here, NO SNOW. So for my first oil change we decided to use Castrol Edge full synthetic 5w-30 in the DD. Ive put now about 6000 miles now on the car and my gauge is showing 30% oil life left so Im about ready to change it out. my question is what oil weight should I really be using for this engine? the engine cap says 0w-30, i see a lot of you guys talking about using 5w-20 or even 0w-20 but since i don't live in a freezing climate I figured the winter weight doesnt need to be 0 so figured 5 would be ok. However that aside, should i use the 30 or 20. My nephew says these motors have very little tolerances so maybe i should stick with what the engine cap says at 0w-30 or maybe stay with 5w-30 or do you think I should go to 5w-20? I've even thought about 10w-30 since Im in a warm climate and summer is coming quick! Please any info you guys may have for me would be great. I just want to use the best weight for my engine and not use the incorrect one. Also I have heard some very slight tings here and there when my window is down and not sure its my engine or something else. I usually get regular gas from Same Club and sometimes costco and Flying J so not sure if thats gas related or what!
What oil weight should I use on my SXT V6?
Matty760
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So I bought my DD brand new and did my first oil change at 3500 miles to get the break in crap out and switch to full synthetic. My Nephew-in-law works at a fast lube express place for a dealership and has been giving me some info but he advised me to ask you DD experts in here what you think. My engine oil cap says to use 0w-30. However I live in Palm Springs CA where its very hot in summer and very cool in Winter where its rarely gets below freezing out here, NO SNOW. So for my first oil change we decided to use Castrol Edge full synthetic 5w-30 in the DD. Ive put now about 6000 miles now on the car and my gauge is showing 30% oil life left so Im about ready to change it out. my question is what oil weight should I really be using for this engine? the engine cap says 0w-30, i see a lot of you guys talking about using 5w-20 or even 0w-20 but since i don't live in a freezing climate I figured the winter weight doesnt need to be 0 so figured 5 would be ok. However that aside, should i use the 30 or 20. My nephew says these motors have very little tolerances so maybe i should stick with what the engine cap says at 0w-30 or maybe stay with 5w-30 or do you think I should go to 5w-20? I've even thought about 10w-30 since Im in a warm climate and summer is coming quick! Please any info you guys may have for me would be great. I just want to use the best weight for my engine and not use the incorrect one. Also I have heard some very slight tings here and there when my window is down and not sure its my engine or something else. I usually get regular gas from Same Club and sometimes costco and Flying J so not sure if thats gas related or what!
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Page number 510 in your owners manual ( for 2017 model year vehicles ) states 0W-20 oil for the V-6 engine. If your cap says 0W-30, then I would ask the dealer to replace the cap.
Remember, it's always best to read the owners manual for guides and information particular to your specific vehicle.
Remember, it's always best to read the owners manual for guides and information particular to your specific vehicle.
Since you live in a warm climate area, I would think 5W-30 would be fine.
W=Winter .... and you basically don't have one. The 30 weight would offer more protection on very hot days.
The manufacturers are doing a balancing act of engine protection and gas economy.
My 2014 says to use 5W-20 which is fine for PA weather patterns.
Bob
W=Winter .... and you basically don't have one. The 30 weight would offer more protection on very hot days.
The manufacturers are doing a balancing act of engine protection and gas economy.
My 2014 says to use 5W-20 which is fine for PA weather patterns.
Bob
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The 5.7L V8 requires 5W-20, so that's why you hear a lot about it here.
As pointed out above, check your owner's manual. The oil used in the V6 has changed over the years.
In street use, if you use a good-quality synthetic, there is really no advantage in using anything other than the manufacturer's recommended viscosity IMHO..
Quick-lube places tend to use whatever is closest among the bulk oil they have hooked up.
...tom
As pointed out above, check your owner's manual. The oil used in the V6 has changed over the years.
In street use, if you use a good-quality synthetic, there is really no advantage in using anything other than the manufacturer's recommended viscosity IMHO..
Quick-lube places tend to use whatever is closest among the bulk oil they have hooked up.
...tom
I assume you have a new D which has the updated Pentastar which was designed to reduce friction within it, so I'd stick to what the oil cap says...0W-30.
That said, you should be fine with 5W30 or 10W30 but I certainly would stick with a full synthetic and only go to 5w30 if 0w30 was not available.
Especially being under warranty.
That said, you should be fine with 5W30 or 10W30 but I certainly would stick with a full synthetic and only go to 5w30 if 0w30 was not available.
Especially being under warranty.
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I forgot to mention I have a 2016 model, bought it last June! so its not a 2017... its just that seems weird how some models are 0w-20 or 5w-20 and etc, and then mine says 0w-30 and just always am wondering why they can't just make it easy enough to say hey use this for this time or whatever, lol.
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SO I guess I had the wrong cap, it should have been 0W-20 got that swapped out today. So now I'm legit I guess, lol. Costco has a great price on Mobil 1 5w-30 full synthetic $38 for 12 quarts but they don't have the 20.... ughhh is it a big deal you think to just stick with the 30 then?
USE 0W-20. I'm not sure why everyone who is using a vehicle for normal use (not as a heavy service, race, tow) trys to out think an engineer hired to do one specific job. One who has quantitative data to back up their recommendations. If you want a second opinion, call the oil companies and ask them what to use for you specific vehicle and it's intended use.
No offense but asking an oil change jockey is the last place to go. Sure it's their daily interaction, but it's not on their vehicles, they don't know the service use or life of what someone might use. For example if someone has a slugged up engine using the recommended oil but neglected to to change it regularly, they would says that oil didn't work well. But the guy running xW-30 had no sludge so that's better.... Never mind his he has top end wear because the motor is starved during cold starts, or at extreme Temps.
Lastly for reference the only number you might be able play with its the number before the W. That depicts the flow rate at 0 degrees Celsius. 0 flows faster than 5,which is faster than 10 etc. So in a colder climate a motor with tight tolerances would want a lower number so the oil could be easily pumped to the points furthest from the pump.
The last number (in your case 20) depicts the viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius (220 F). Or what's around higher operating temp (most like to stay around 180-200).
So this is how the oil flows when you're up to temp. The lower the number the faster. So again raising the number makes it harder to flow where needed... And when you're motor is hot it wants/needs oil to lubricate and cool.
So, Going to 5w30 would give you less oil when cold to vital components, and when warm will do the same too.. Your oil pump will work harder and you'll have more wear on high friction points.
Read the manual, do as it says, and you'll be good. Stray form it (especially if it doesn't list the oil you use as an option at all) and when you do have warranty claim and show them your "proof" of Change with a receipt for the wrong oil...thrg might not cover something or will have a leg to stand on when fighting you about it.
No offense but asking an oil change jockey is the last place to go. Sure it's their daily interaction, but it's not on their vehicles, they don't know the service use or life of what someone might use. For example if someone has a slugged up engine using the recommended oil but neglected to to change it regularly, they would says that oil didn't work well. But the guy running xW-30 had no sludge so that's better.... Never mind his he has top end wear because the motor is starved during cold starts, or at extreme Temps.
Lastly for reference the only number you might be able play with its the number before the W. That depicts the flow rate at 0 degrees Celsius. 0 flows faster than 5,which is faster than 10 etc. So in a colder climate a motor with tight tolerances would want a lower number so the oil could be easily pumped to the points furthest from the pump.
The last number (in your case 20) depicts the viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius (220 F). Or what's around higher operating temp (most like to stay around 180-200).
So this is how the oil flows when you're up to temp. The lower the number the faster. So again raising the number makes it harder to flow where needed... And when you're motor is hot it wants/needs oil to lubricate and cool.
So, Going to 5w30 would give you less oil when cold to vital components, and when warm will do the same too.. Your oil pump will work harder and you'll have more wear on high friction points.
Read the manual, do as it says, and you'll be good. Stray form it (especially if it doesn't list the oil you use as an option at all) and when you do have warranty claim and show them your "proof" of Change with a receipt for the wrong oil...thrg might not cover something or will have a leg to stand on when fighting you about it.
From what I know the Pentastar started out 5w30 then went to 5w20 and now the new version has a recommended 0w20.
Sounds like you have the 1st gen as the upgraded PUG engine came out late 2016.
Just confirm, if you do, you'll be fine with 5w30...the owners manual should confirm that.
That should be in the glove box on the upper shelf.
Sounds like you have the 1st gen as the upgraded PUG engine came out late 2016.
Just confirm, if you do, you'll be fine with 5w30...the owners manual should confirm that.
That should be in the glove box on the upper shelf.
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Factory filled for the 3.6L was 5W-30 from 2011-13, then switched to 5W-20 in 2014-16 and then again switched to 0W-20 in 2017.
But per Mopar manuals you can still use 5w-30 in the 3.6L (if you wish) up though the 2016 MY.
Per the 2014 manual:
"Engine Oil Viscosity — 3.6L Engine
MOPAR® SAE 5W-20 engine oil approved to Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil®, Shell Helix® or equivalent is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy. The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to the “Engine Compartment” illustration in this section.
NOTE: MOPAR® SAE 5W-30 engine oil approved to Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil®, ShellHelix® or equivalent may be used when SAE 5W-20 engine oil meeting MS-6395 is not available."
Per the 2016 manual;
"Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade) — 3.6L Engine
MOPAR SAE 5W-20 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil, Shell Helix or equivalent is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy. The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to the “Engine Compartment”
illustration in this section.
NOTE: MOPAR SAE 5W-30 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil, Shell Helix or equivalent may be used when SAE 5W-20 engine oil meeting MS-6395 is not available."
Per the 2017 manual;
"Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade) — 3.6L Engine
Mopar SAE 0W-20 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil, Shell Helix or equivalent is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy. The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to the “Engine Compartment”
illustration in this section.
Lubricants which do not have both the engine oil certification mark and the correct SAE viscosity grade number should not be used."
But per Mopar manuals you can still use 5w-30 in the 3.6L (if you wish) up though the 2016 MY.
Per the 2014 manual:
"Engine Oil Viscosity — 3.6L Engine
MOPAR® SAE 5W-20 engine oil approved to Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil®, Shell Helix® or equivalent is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy. The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to the “Engine Compartment” illustration in this section.
NOTE: MOPAR® SAE 5W-30 engine oil approved to Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil®, ShellHelix® or equivalent may be used when SAE 5W-20 engine oil meeting MS-6395 is not available."
Per the 2016 manual;
"Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade) — 3.6L Engine
MOPAR SAE 5W-20 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil, Shell Helix or equivalent is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy. The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to the “Engine Compartment”
illustration in this section.
NOTE: MOPAR SAE 5W-30 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil, Shell Helix or equivalent may be used when SAE 5W-20 engine oil meeting MS-6395 is not available."
Per the 2017 manual;
"Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade) — 3.6L Engine
Mopar SAE 0W-20 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil, Shell Helix or equivalent is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy. The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to the “Engine Compartment”
illustration in this section.
Lubricants which do not have both the engine oil certification mark and the correct SAE viscosity grade number should not be used."
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Interesting, I checked my physical manual that I had stashed away in glove compartment and then also check the manual online from Dodge and both say for my exact model that it should be 0W-20 and then 5W-20 for the Hemi V8s... So anyways, I went ahead and bought my 0W-20 from Costco yesterday... That sale price of $38 for 12 quarts was not correct for Mobil 1 full synthetic it was for the costco brand or some off brand oil at that price. I got my 6 quart box 0W-20 Mobil 1 for $28 plus tax so bought 2 boxes of it for the next oil change that ill have to do by Xmas. I did use castrol Magnatec 5w-30 on my last oil change and it did well. My nephew said the viscosity was still pretty decent with some life left in it and not burnt, he figures I could have probably gone another 2000 miles on it if I really wanted to. I had put 6300 miles on it already, so basically he was saying I could have gone about 8500 miles on it. Obviously I could maybe have even gone 10000 miles but according to most people on here they say that 10k miles is possible but not recommended. Im not hurting for money that bad to risk my vehicle on something as needed as oil to keep things running. So Ill just stick with a 8k mile range for now. The Mobil 1 oil though to me seems to do better in my engine that the Castrol. The shifts seem a little smoother. However it is new oil so IDK, maybe its the weight as well since I have the new oil weight in there now compared to the old oil. Could just be me. The Mobil 1 box had for the 0W-20 that it was advanced fuel economy as well where the 5w-20 did not say that. So IDK if thats a big deal but anyways, Im now with 0W-20 Mobil 1 full synthetic now and we shall see how that goes! So far so good! Cant beat the price either at Costco!
Just a FYI Mobil 1 oils are not MS-6395 approved. Dino Mobil 5000 is.
Did your nephew have a used oil analysis done? By who? If not, he has no way of knowing the viscosity or how much life was left in the oil.
Mobil AFE, Mobil EP, and Mobil 1 are all different blends. None of which are MS-6395 approved. They will hurt nothing, but if you tell the dealer thats performing warranty work, they could give you grief about it.
Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum are MS-6395 approved and Pennzoil has the FCA contract currently. They are very good oils, as are almost all oils on the market. They are also about the same price as Mobil oils.
FCA cannot give you grief if you use oil that they approve in the viscosity the recommend.
Did your nephew have a used oil analysis done? By who? If not, he has no way of knowing the viscosity or how much life was left in the oil.
Mobil AFE, Mobil EP, and Mobil 1 are all different blends. None of which are MS-6395 approved. They will hurt nothing, but if you tell the dealer thats performing warranty work, they could give you grief about it.
Pennzoil Platinum and Ultra Platinum are MS-6395 approved and Pennzoil has the FCA contract currently. They are very good oils, as are almost all oils on the market. They are also about the same price as Mobil oils.
FCA cannot give you grief if you use oil that they approve in the viscosity the recommend.
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Yeah, but Mobil1 is fine.
This year they chose to tithe to GM to get the DEXOS cert. Maybe next year they will tithe to FCA.
My selling dealer, on the free oil changes that came with the vehicle, used their bulk oil that didn't meet any of these specs. That's part of why I never used 3 of my 4 free oil changes.
But YMMV.
...tom
You have an onboard oil-change indication system that will tell you the oil life left and when to change.
FCA just says to NOT exceed 10,000 miles.
Note; I'm personally very impressed with the Pennzoil recommended oil.
I like it better than Mobil 1, it seems to keep the Hemi running quiet longer between oil changes.
FCA just says to NOT exceed 10,000 miles.
Note; I'm personally very impressed with the Pennzoil recommended oil.
I like it better than Mobil 1, it seems to keep the Hemi running quiet longer between oil changes.
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Huh, my manual (2015) says 5W20, just like my Hemi Ram uses, so I am running the same Pennzoil Platinum in both
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