B4ZINGA Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 It's been over five years since I had a car with an oil monitoring system and it typically lit up around 3,000 miles (2003 Grand Prix). On my 300M, I typically do a 5,000 mile OCI, and Blackstone Labs told me I should be able to go to 7,000 miles on the oil I use. My Journey is at 3800 miles on the factory fill, no sign of the OMS light. When is the typical first service? It's the first car I've owned with 4-figure mileage and I've heard that new engines tend to need a first oil change sooner than usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 If you have an owners manaul, it will tell you. 2late4u 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecrazyfoo4u Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 My indicator light went off for the first time around 4000 miles. Then after that it's every 8000 miles, +/- a few hundred miles depending on your driving conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobitz68 Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 My avenger went at 8,000 and my DJ went at about 4,000... It will vary some depending on your driving conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woah322 Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 I put over 30k of hard mileage on mine and I think I've only seen that oil change come on twice. It's the most inaccurate oil life monitoring on a modern vehicle. I understand it usage based and not mileage based but has no way to check the actual percentage of oil life remaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 If your serious about it, send a sample off to be tested. I've never done this personally, but I know folks who do it all the time to base their oil change intervals off of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobitz68 Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 I put over 30k of hard mileage on mine and I think I've only seen that oil change come on twice. It's the most inaccurate oil life monitoring on a modern vehicle. I understand it usage based and not mileage based but has no way to check the actual percentage of oil life remaining. Both of my current Dodge vehicles oil change lights go on when a change is necessary... I would get it checked out because it certainly shouldn't go that long... BTW, no manufacturer has an accurate OCI indicator... Its all a guess based on different characteristics of your driving. The ones that give you a "percent oil life" are a gimmick at best. jkeaton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Both of my current Dodge vehicles oil change lights go on when a change is necessary... I would get it checked out because it certainly shouldn't go that long... BTW, no manufacturer has an accurate OCI indicator... Its all a guess based on different characteristics of your driving. The ones that give you a "percent oil life" are a gimmick at best. I liken all these systems to "smart" idiot lights....lol Still need to physically check the level and condition of all fluids on your vehicle on some sort of routine basis. Never rely on just the car only to tell you. Journey_SeXT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woah322 Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 I do 5-6k on full synthetic since the first oil change. I've never had to add Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webslave Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Always check my fluids twice a month, minimum, although I must admit the TPMS has me spoiled...just go to the EVIC to get the latest pressures for an "eyeball" on the actual pressure of each tire. I change my oil once a year or sooner if the unit tells me to. The first EVIC notice on mine came after 9,300 miles. It comes on once per year, usually after 8500-9200 miles. I live out in the boonies so a "short drive" for me is 34 miles, usually 50-150 miles for stores/shopping. No "stop and go" short trips, so I get much longer life. I've had my oil tested (years ago) when I had the Hemi Commander and I've come to trust the EVIC system. The oil tests actually indicated that I was good to go for even longer, but, the EVIC warning is what I use, as it comes on with a frequency I can live with and I know from previous testing that the oil is still good at that point. jkeaton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journey_SeXT Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 I liken all these systems to "smart" idiot lights....lol Still need to physically check the level and condition of all fluids on your vehicle on some sort of routine basis. Never rely on just the car only to tell you. Well said JK! Routine fluid checks may also avoid starting threads that your dipstick is dry. For me after a certain mileage if the oil gets a little too dark for my liking I'm changing the oil regardless if the OC indicator lights up or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B4ZINGA Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 My daily commute is 6 miles round trip of pure stop-n-go. Sometimes I'll be pleasantly surprised and have to sit through only 2-3 traffic signal cycles per intersection. Most of the time it's 5-6 cycles. If traffic is bad, 10+ cycles. Takes 40 minutes to drive 3 miles if I don't spot the backup and take the empty side roads instead (which still involve heavy traffic). Troy is busy replacing huge swaths of concrete on one of the cross roads between the lab and my apartment, which isn't helping. I'm at 3800 miles now, so that's why I got to thinking about it. I'm thinking I'll have it done either when the light comes on, or at 5,000 miles. Whichever comes first. I used to do 5,000 OCIs on my Special with synthetic oil before the lab told me I could do 7,000 miles, which puts that car at fewer than one change per year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris1276 Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 My daily commute is 6 miles round trip of pure stop-n-go. Sometimes I'll be pleasantly surprised and have to sit through only 2-3 traffic signal cycles per intersection. Most of the time it's 5-6 cycles. If traffic is bad, 10+ cycles. Takes 40 minutes to drive 3 miles if I don't spot the backup and take the empty side roads instead (which still involve heavy traffic). Troy is busy replacing huge swaths of concrete on one of the cross roads between the lab and my apartment, which isn't helping. I'm at 3800 miles now, so that's why I got to thinking about it. I'm thinking I'll have it done either when the light comes on, or at 5,000 miles. Whichever comes first. I used to do 5,000 OCIs on my Special with synthetic oil before the lab told me I could do 7,000 miles, which puts that car at fewer than one change per year... We are almost same daily commute.. Would you mind if i ask your fuel economy. Mine sits on 16L/100km pure city driving. 11200km right now on my r/t awd. Is it normal or still a bit higher. It improves 1L/100kms since my best pure city driving last year was17L/100kms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B4ZINGA Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 We are almost same daily commute.. Would you mind if i ask your fuel economy. Mine sits on 16L/100km pure city driving. 11200km right now on my r/t awd. Is it normal or still a bit higher. It improves 1L/100kms since my best pure city driving last year was17L/100kms. The worst I have seen was about 16-17 MPG, or 14.7-13.8 L/100km. I've yet to consume one full tank with strictly commuting, since I drive a lot to the gym, post office, and grocery store after the rush when the traffic is better and I don't spend much time sitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobitz68 Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 My daily commute is 6 miles round trip of pure stop-n-go. Sometimes I'll be pleasantly surprised and have to sit through only 2-3 traffic signal cycles per intersection. Most of the time it's 5-6 cycles. If traffic is bad, 10+ cycles. Takes 40 minutes to drive 3 miles if I don't spot the backup and take the empty side roads instead (which still involve heavy traffic). Troy is busy replacing huge swaths of concrete on one of the cross roads between the lab and my apartment, which isn't helping. I'm at 3800 miles now, so that's why I got to thinking about it. I'm thinking I'll have it done either when the light comes on, or at 5,000 miles. Whichever comes first. I used to do 5,000 OCIs on my Special with synthetic oil before the lab told me I could do 7,000 miles, which puts that car at fewer than one change per year... Ha! It would be quicker to walk or ride a bike! Screw that commute... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B4ZINGA Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Ha! It would be quicker to walk or ride a bike! Screw that commute... I tell myself that every time... I'm moving at the end of the year hopefully into a house. If it remains within 5 miles of the office, I'm investing in a bicycle and leaving the Journey and M at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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