Help on used vehicle, please

[oil7]

Hi, guys. I am new to the boards, and I was hoping for some advice. I just purchased my first used vehicle ever from a Dodge Dealer. It is a 2006 Dodge Ram 155 QC 4.7lV8. It has 30,000 miles on the engine, and it drives like a dream. I immediately ran a Carfax (no problems), and changed the oil over to Amsoil 5W-30 ASL.

When I was changing the oil it looked extremely dark, and the filter was a Mopar…that’s what has me worried. Being that you don’t find Mopar parts around here except at the dealers, I believe either this guy had his oil changes performed at the dealer, or he NEVER changed the oil. Now, my question is this: Is there anyway to tell? Am I just being paranoid?

 

[oil7]

Sorry, that should read 1500...

 

[KBFXDLI]

You can find Mopar filters at Walmart and lots of autoparts stores. I believe they are made by Fram If you didn't have to remove the oil with a spoon then he no doubt changed it at least a couple of times. I have owned 3 Mopar 4.7L durangos and that motor is very durable. Don't dream up any problems you don't have.

 

[m2200b]

I'd go by your next OCI/ and or ARX to decise whether you need ARX or whether your new oil is OK. I'd have used dino and dumped it w/ a UOA after 2K as that's what I do to clean up my daughters cars after too long OCI and their just adding qts rather than doing an OCI.

 

[oil7]

Thanks guys. i feel better.

 

[Raceman]

Do you still have the filter that you took off the truck? Dig through the trash. The filter that came on the engine when new is marked "Factory Installed". If you see that on the filter, I would talk to the dealer about another truck. If not, you are OK. Ask the dealer if they have any service records on the truck. If not , they should be able to provide you with the previous owners name and you can ask him/her about the maintenance history. There is a maintenance logbook in the glovebox. Are there any entries in it?

 

[oil7]

Quote:

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Do you still have the filter that you took off the truck? Dig through the trash. The filter that came on the engine when new is marked "Factory Installed". If you see that on the filter, I would talk to the dealer about another truck. If not, you are OK. Ask the dealer if they have any service records on the truck. If not , they should be able to provide you with the previous owners name and you can ask him/her about the maintenance history. There is a maintenance logbook in the glovebox. Are there any entries in it?

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Nah, the filter is gone...wish I'd known you could check that though. I did check the glovebox after I bought it, and everything was there, but no records in the maintenance log. I did find a thing that showed Enterprise Rental had purchased the truck new from the dealer in Dec of 2005. So, hopefully, they took good care of it.

 

[Black_Thunder]

so it was rental vehicle?


i do a pan drop and filter change on the transmission as well

 

[KBFXDLI]

If it was an enterprise vehicle and was taken back by a Chrysler dealer then it had to meet the Chrysler maintenence spec for returning a rental vehicle. Call them and ask what that spec is. Ford is minimum 5000 oci and GM is 5000 as far as I know. Then call an Enterprise shop and see what they tell you. I would run a few supertech oil chenges through for 2000 miles each with a supertech filter to flush the engine.

 

[KBFXDLI]

Quote:

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so it was rental vehicle?


i do a pan drop and filter change on the transmission as well

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Yes, definitely change the trans and the differential gear oils as well.

 

[hominid7]

My local Mazda/Mercury dealer uses the local Enterprise rental place for their loaner cars. The last 2 loaners ive used both had the oil change window sticker reminder from the dealer.

I've also witnessed another Enterprise location across town dropping off rentals at the local goodyear store for servicing. So, they do get serviced at least at minimum intervals.

 

[mdv]

Enterprise seems up on their maintenance as far as rental companies go. We're using a bunch of their vans for work right now and have had them for a few months. They call every week and check the mileage and occasionally tell us to bring one in. I'm assuming it's for maintenance.

 

[oil7]

Good news guys. I found the TN application for registration receipt in the glove box (don’t know how I overlooked that the first time), and along with it the official Dodge shipping instructions sheet. By looking at the dates, my truck was shipped to a Memphis Dodge dealer after being built, and that is where Enterprise bought it new. The Enterprise address was on the registration receipt, so I called and spoke to a manager…it was the manager that purchased the truck! She pulled up all their records on it! They just sold it to auction in December of 2006, and then I purchased it a couple of weeks ago, so they were the only ones to have it.

She showed that the oil had been changed by the Dodge dealership every 3,000 miles, and no problems whatever except for a flat tire. She even agreed to mail me a copy of the records! So, now I feel much better about my purchase. Because it was probably rental driving (city) I am definitely going to change the tranny filter and fluid here in a month or so.

 

[dave1251]

Nice of Enterprize! BTW the 2006 Ram is a great truck. I hope you enjoy it.

 

[Syntec-Man]

its not that bad buying off rental company's. they always have proper maint. on them