Oil Suggestions - 2016 3.6L

[Silver]

My wife just bought a 2016 Chrysler T&C with 48k miles. It was a rental before. It is spec'd for 5W20. We are in the Atlanta area. Lots of stop and go, hot summers and mild winters but we do travel on the weekends and it gets loaded down with luggage and 4 people when we do that. I'd like opinions on the best oil for longevity and protection over any other benefit. I just want it to last and not leak

Also, would it be beneficial to do an AutoRX treatment, or maybe just a 'maintenance dose'? The engine looks clean, runs good. It probably has cheap dino in it now as the oil was clean when I checked it on the lot.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Do not use Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w20 because for some unknown reason Mobil dropped the Chrysler MS-6395 spec your Chrysler 3.6L needs to maintain the warranty. Otherwise, that oil is pretty awesome for something a little extra you're looking for. Therefore a similar oil that actually does carry the spec is the Castrol Edge Extended Performance 5w20 found for cheap in walmart in 5 quart jugs, best I can think of for protection. Pick a Fram Ultra oil filter for best performance there, or Fram ToughGaurd if a Fram Ultra is not available.

 

[KevinP]

You really only need an MS-6395 spec oil and change it based upon the OLM. If you run in extreme heat or cold I'd consider a synthetic but take your pick. There are plenty of good oils that exceed what you need and it is hard to argue spending more for a daily driver.

I've run in my Pentastars (one in a RAM the other in a van):

Pennzoil Ultra & Platinum

Mobil 1 (not MS-6395 speced but who cares)

Castrol Magnatec (also not MS-6395)

Chevron Supreme (the only dyno oil of the bunch and also not MS-6395)

I really notice no difference in either MPG or any operational factor among any of them.

 

[JTK]

They hold ~6qts of oil and have fairly large top load, drop-in element style oil filters. I've never heard of the Pentastar being hard on oil in this application. We had a 2013 Grand Caravan and it was excellent. I had a local transmission shop do a pan drop and filter change on the 62TE trans at ~45K miles. I also did a few suck out and refills of the power steering fluid. New owner should be set. LOL.

 

[Silver]

Just reading and I see this engine has went from 5w20, to 5w30, back to 5w20. I may have an extra change in there, but I wonder why they changed.

Are "extended performance" oils composed of better or more additives than ... well... regular performance?

 

[KevinP]

You can run either 5W-20 or 5w30. The only reason for 5W-20 is to hit fleet standards for fuel economy. The 5w30 shears down to pretty close to 5W-20 anyway so it isn't worth worrying about.

Extended performance oils tend to have more buffer capacity for pH change and additives that allow you to extend oil changes. These extended changes may or may not hurt long term longevity of the engine. The general consensus is that it doesn't hurt but you are best off monitoring extended changes via oil testing. If that is something that interest you go for it. Or.... you can just buy the oil suggested by the Chrysler and change it according to what they suggest is a reasonable time/miles range and you at least know teams of engineers who designed the engine thought it through rather than the marketing department at the oil company.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: JTK
They hold ~6qts of oil and have fairly large top load, drop-in element style oil filters. I've never heard of the Pentastar being hard on oil in this application. ....


Yes absolutely correct; 3.6 is easy on oil. As mentioned, 5w30 or 5w20 can be used.

 

[SilverSnake]

This is really a tough issue. I thought about it long and hard. It suddenly came to me. Use an oil specified by FCA for the car.

 

[FlyNavyP3]

Valvoline conventional in 5w20 changed at the OLM intervals.

 

[Tech819]

I swear it feels like someone is asking the same question about this engine weekly. Pick a 5w20 of your choice and run with it.

 

[SatinSilver]

More like a daily occurrence it seems.

 

[Crispysea]

Any good 5w-20/30 will do fine. The Pentastar doesn't have the sludge problem older Chrysler engines did. My wife has a 2012 GC with 128k. I recently pulled the intake to change plugs, and the valves were very clean. I've been putting Gumout Regane inevery few tanks. We also put E85 in it once in a while.

 

[JC1]

Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
More like a daily occurrence it seems.

Yes it's a popular engine. I'm running Pennzoil platinum 5w-20 in mine with a Wix filter.

 

[dblshock]

At least try a 5W-40 down there, it's more, especially in the heat like that.

 

[JC1]

And don't waste your time with auto rx

 

[PimTac]

Run any major brand of 5w-20 that meets the specs required for that motor in your owners manual. Don't use any additives.

 

[MichaelRS]

When it comes to helping you select an oil Either this guy, associated with the link below, is the [censored] artist on Earth or he is performing a great public service. I tend to think it's the latter.

What I would really like to know is how you contact him because off the blog site I couldn't figure out how to do it. Anyone?

LINK https://540ratblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/motor-oil-wear-test-ranking/

 

[oil_film_movies]

Originally Posted By: Silver
Are "extended performance" oils composed of better or more additives than ... well... regular performance?

Yes, although its mostly base oil in it thats better, and if you use them for normal oil change miles or time, you get less black deposits on your pistons. In your original post, you indicated you were interested in the best possible performance, which many here forget is your goal.

Also, remember Chrysler could deny you engine warranty coverage if you make a claim and they notice you haven't used the Chrysler spec oil like Castrol Edge Extended Performance 5w20.

Recommend just using the Extended Performance type oils since they cost about the same as lesser oils and are the best the oil maker offers. Cheap at walmart. If you can't find Castrol Edge (gold jug) Ext Perf 5 quarts at walmart, or see something elsewhere, you can also get very good NAPA Full Synthetic for cheap on sale (check for the Chrysler spec whatever u do.).

Originally Posted By: MichaelRS
When it comes to helping you select an oil Either this guy, associated with the link below, is the [censored] artist on Earth or he is performing a great public service. I tend to think it's the latter. What I would really like to know is how you contact him because off the blog site I couldn't figure out how to do it. Anyone?LINK https://540ratblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/motor-oil-wear-test-ranking/
Off this topic. Ignore 540rat, its not related to our engine reality.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: Tech819
I swear it feels like someone is asking the same question about this engine weekly. Pick a 5w20 of your choice and run with it.



Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
More like a daily occurrence it seems.

Maybe we need a stickied thread for this engine....



Originally Posted By: JC1
And don't waste your time with auto rx


Agreed; at only 48k there's no need.

 

[bigt61]

My son runs Mobil Super 5000 in his '15 Chrysler 200S w the Pentastar. No issues and follows the OLM which lets it go about 8k between changes. Mobil Super 5000 meets MS-6395. I'll post a used oil analysis on his car later this summer after his next OCI. A big plus for the Pentastar is the 6 quart sump.