Dear Tom,
I own a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a hemi engine. I run it on medium grade gasoline. How often should I change the oil? Also, how much should I expect to pay for an oil change for a hemi engine? Thank you.
Patty from NJ
I own a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a hemi engine. I run it on medium grade gasoline. How often should I change the oil? Also, how much should I expect to pay for an oil change for a hemi engine? Thank you.
Patty from NJ
Patty,
The engine in your truck should be a 5.7-liter Hemi. If it is, the crankcase capacity is 7.0 quarts; add a high quality oil filter and it should cost you about $60 (if you use synthetic oil, add about $30). For regular oil the recommended interval will be 3-5K miles. For synthetic it will be 5-7K miles. Some folks go higher depending on the brand of oil.
Tom
Dear Tom,
I own a 2008 Ford cargo van that's used for deliveries. I drive about 100 miles per day and do a lot of stop and go. I use Mobil 1 oil and change it every 2,000 miles. Is this oil change interval too aggressive? Could it go longer? I depend on this van and can't afford any problems. Thank you.
Sal from Staten Island, NY
Sal,
Every 2,000 miles might be a bit excessive when using Mobil 1 because it's a high-grade synthetic oil. I suggest you extend the interval to 5,000 miles. Make sure you change the oil filter every oil change
Tom
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
21. i own a 1978 triumph 2500s, and regularly change the oil and filter at aprox 4000 km . can not remember how many k's the car has done but it has been serveral times around the clock and still going strong . good oil is the cheapest part of running a car.
tony .
Posted at 3:33PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by hornert1
22. Hi Frank:
That drain interval doesn't surprise me at all. AMSOIL recommends with their full synthetic a 25,000 mile drain interval. That's based on the toughness of the additive package & using an ester oil base stock along with the high detergency aspect of the high quality synthetic motor oil.
Call me a skeptic but I am skiddish with such long drain intervals because I have seen as an automotive machinist what extended intervals can do to an engine, granted this was some time ago when lubricants were not quite as good as they are today. That said, I would be comfortable with a 12,000 drain interval (providing you're using Mobil One or AMSOIL) using an OEM quality oil filter.
Tom
Posted at 12:26PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
23. Leon:
Using the truck as little as you do, I would be fine with every 6 months or 6,000 miles whichever comes first using conventional motor oil. If you were to use synthetic motor oil, I would say that 12 months or 12,000 miles whichever comes first would be a safe practice to follow. Remember, oil breaks down when sitting in a crankcase and subject to moisture, rich fuel mixtures and acids that are a natural byproduct of the internal combustion engine, especially an engine which is used seldom. Synthetic oil stands up much better than conventional oil to viscosity breakdown from chemical contamination.
Tom
Posted at 12:32PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
24. Paul:
To err on the agressive side, change your synthetic oil every 6 months or 6,000 miles whichever comes first and you will be fine. Just make sure to use an OEM quality oil filter when you do it.
Tom Torbjornsen
Posted at 2:50PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
25. Jack:
Every 6 months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first and make sure you use high quality synthetic motor oil such as AMSOIL or Mobil One. Finally, use an OEM quality oil filter.
Tom Torbjornsen
Posted at 2:53PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
26. Well good Tony, glad to hear that it works for you. I couldn't agree with you more, I call regular oil and filter changes "Cheap Insurance."
Tom Torbjornsen
Posted at 3:35PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
27. That's tellin' 'em James! AMSOIL is THE ONLY synthetic motor oil I would do that with!
Tom Torbjornsen
Posted at 4:46PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
28. Ebony:
Oftentimes carmakers will perform closer diagnoistic checks to confirm a warranty claim. If they found that the failure resulted from poor service (non-dealership) or from using an aftermarket product then warranty will be denied. They must prove that the failure was the result of the aftermarket service/product as per the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act of 1972. I wish you success.
Tom Torbjornsen
Posted at 4:55PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
29. Daisy:
Every 6 months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Tom Torbjornsen
Posted at 4:58PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
30. Jim:
Every 6 months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Tom Torbjornsen
Posted at 5:00PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
31. Joey,
First, how you use the truck is paramount to how many miles or months between oil changes. If you are working the truck with heavy loads or towing, then you should hold oil changes to 5,000 miles or 3 months. If you are just driving with casual loads then you can stretch to 7,500 miles or 6 months.
Using synthetic oil you can stretch to 7,500 miles regardless of use. If you search the market you will find some high quality synthetics that allow longer drain intervals.
Dan Watson
Certified Lubrication Specialist, STLE
www.Lubedepot.com
Posted at 6:44PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
32. Ann,
The oil change formula set in the computer is based on information the computer can collect from installed sensors. Engine temp, RPM, fuel consumption, O2 sensors etc... The computer then begins to subtract useful life based on the severity of the inputs. The easier you drive the less work on the oil. Short trips that don't allow the oil to reach normal operating temps will subtract from use foul life. With this being said the system is a fair indicator of remaining oil life. As explained here, the system is not actually taking a sample of the oil so it is really just making an approximation on best info available. If you want to rely on the light and go the complete distance until the light says change, I recommend you use a good quality synthetic oil. The wide variety of quality in petroleum oils can make it a game of chance on whether the oil is still good at the time the light comes on. Amsoil and Mobil offer extended drain synthetic oils that would allow you to run the oil for 1 year with confidence for your estimated 6,000 miles.
Dan Watson
America's Car Show Pane of Experts
Certified Lubrication specialist, STLE
www.Lubedepot.com
Posted at 7:20PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
33. Richard,
First, how you use the truck is paramount to how many miles or months between oil changes. If you are working the truck with heavy loads or towing, then you should hold oil changes to 5,000 miles or 3 months. If you are just driving with casual loads then you can stretch to 7,500 miles or 6 months.
Using synthetic oil you can stretch to 7,500 miles regardless of use. If you search the market you will find some high quality synthetics that allow longer drain intervals.
Dan Watson
America's Car Show Panel of Experts
Certified Lubrication Specialist, STLE
www.Lubedepot.com
Posted at 10:02PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
34. JC,
When a vehicle is used so little over a year you should use an oil with extra rust and corrosion inhibitors. Considering the capacity and the cost, it may be cost effective to run an oil analysis once a year and just change the filter and add make up oil until the oil analysis tells you to change. There are several good choices from Amsoil Synthetics for this exact situation. The Amsoil Marine oils have enhanced rust and corrosion inhibitors as well as the advanced motorcycle oils. The choice may come down to matching up the proper viscosity and using either of these oils.
I think you can enhance the protection and cut cost at the same time.
Dan Watson
America's Car Show Panel of Experts
Certified Lubrication Specialist, STLE
http://www.Lubedepot.com
Posted at 10:25PM on Mar 2nd 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
35. Richie,
Vehicles that are driven less than 7.500 miles a year are good candidates for longer drain interval oils that are designed for 1 year oil changes. Amsoil and Mobil offer extended drain oils with one year drain intervals.
Depending on how many times the vehicles sits for over 2 weeks you may want to look at using an oil with enhanced rust and corrosion properties. There are several good choices from Amsoil Synthetics for this exact situation. The Amsoil Marine oils have enhanced rust and corrosion inhibitors as well as the advanced motorcycle oils. The choice may come down to matching up the proper viscosity and using either of these oils. Both of these oils also carry the SL rating for gasoline engines which will meet your engine oil specifications.
I think you can enhance the protection and cut cost at the same time.
Dan Watson
America's Car Show Panel of Experts
Certified Lubrication Specialist, STLE
http://www.Lubedepot.com
Posted at 10:52AM on Mar 4th 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
36. Blair,
I would say your situation is much like Richie's and I would give you the same advice. Although, you may also fall into the one a year oil sample and only change oil when the sample results require it. It is probably simpler to just use the long drain (1 year) oil and change oil and filter once a year.
Dan Watson
America's Car Show Panel of Experts
Certified Lubrication Specialist, STLE
http://www.Lubedepot.com
Posted at 11:03AM on Mar 4th 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
37. Baily,
You are OK with the yearly oil change. Most petroleum oils require no more than 6 months on the oil but since you have nearly 4 gallons of oil in the power stroke diesel you will be OK.
I suggest you look at the Heavy Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 from Amsoil Synthetics to allow you to simply send in an oil sample once a year and assuming good results just change the filter and add make up oil. You may go several years before it is necessary to change out all the oil.
Dan Watson
America's Car Show Panel of Experts
Certified Lubrication Specialist, STLE
http://www.Lubedepot.com
Posted at 11:18AM on Mar 4th 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
38. Phil,
When vehicles are used so little over a year you should use an oil with extra rust and corrosion inhibitors. There are several good choices from Amsoil Synthetics for this exact situation. The Amsoil Marine oils have enhanced rust and corrosion inhibitors as well as the advanced motorcycle oils. The choice may come down to matching up the proper viscosity and using either of these oils.
Both of these oils have high levels of zinc and phosphorous and will provide excellent protection for tappet valves.
I think you can enhance the protection and cut cost at the same time.
Dan Watson
America's Car Show Panel of Experts
Certified Lubrication Specialist, STLE
http://www.Lubedepot.com
Posted at 11:53AM on Mar 4th 2009 by Tom Torbjornsen
39. oil change is a rip off if you do highway driving the gas diluting the oil evaporates change filter
Posted at 7:31PM on Mar 28th 2009 by JOHN
40. test engines are run in a test lab under idealconditions the additives last forever
Posted at 7:42PM on Mar 30th 2009 by JOHN