Oil Changes

Ask the Service Center at O'Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram: Why and How Often Should I Change My Engine Oil?

Here's an automotive myth-buster that may surprise you: depending on your vehicle's age, you probably only need to change the engine oil between every 5,000-10,000 miles. That's right - the 3,000 mile rule is old and out-of-date. Fortunately, the service center at O'Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is here to help you out and make sure your car, truck, SUV or minivan is served appropriately. We're not in the business of overselling oil changes, and we'll make sure you know what's appropriate for your particular vehicle, based on what's recommended by the manufacturer.

As intervals between oil changes have gotten longer, this begs the question: why do I need to change my engine oil at all? The answer is that engine oil gets dirty and degrades over time. This means the viscosity of the oil becomes thicker, and it doesn't do its job as well as an engine lubricant, and your engine parts get dirty as well. External factors that may influence the frequency of your oil changes include the nature of your driving, for example:

• Do you tend to take a lot of short trips
• Do you spend a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic?
• Do you drive in dusty conditions?
• Are you often towing heavy loads with your truck or SUV?

Regardless of these answers, most engine oil will function well for anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 miles. The automobile manual in your glove compartment will tell you what the appropriate interval should be between oil changes. If you drive regularly under harsher conditions, err toward the lower part of that range.

The service center at O'Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Fort Wayne, IN is here to help, and our service managers and technicians will help you determine what's best for your car. You can also count on our parts center for all your OEM parts and accessories needs. We're conveniently located at 5611 Illinois Road (exit 305A off of Highway 69), and we're open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 5:30 am and Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Call us at (888) 716-3641 to schedule your next appointment.