Pentastar 3.6 8000 mile OCI

[The_Captain]

I have a 2012 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 3.6 4X4. The owners manual and the dealership calls for 8000 mile OCI. The dealership will cover 4 oil changes in 24 months. I dumped the factory fill at 2200 miles. I could not see going 8000 miles on the factory fill on a new engine. I had Mobil 1 synthetic put in the Jeep. I have noticed my MPGs have improved. This may be the oil and the engine breaking in. The dealership would not allow the 2200 oil change to count as one of the 4 free ones. They said it must be done at or near 8000 miles. The dealership was pushing pennzoil products. I can see using PP or Ultra but using Pennzoil conventional for 8000 miles?? He seemed a little confused as why I wanted to change the oil so soon and why I brought my own oil (Mobil 1 synthetic). I told him that I always dump out the "break in oil" and I can't see myself paying $70.00 for an Pennzoil Ultra oil change. I told him $26.95 for 6 quart case at costco and $9.95 to the dealership. I asked him to do the math. I wanted the forum members opinions. Pennzoil conventional for 8000 OCI or leaving the unknown (allegedly Pennzoil conventional) factory fill for 8000 miles? Stick with M1 or go with another brand suited for 8000 OCI?

 

[billythekid]

The OLM will probably call for a change before 8k. Why not go by that? I have the same vehicle.

 

[Gabe]

My '98 Bravada calls for an API SH oil every 7500 miles.

What makes you think 8K is unreasonable for a quality conventional oil??

 

[electrolover]

Id go with a synthetic at those miles. 8k is a little much to be comfortable without a used oil analysis on dino

 

[randomhero439]

Pennzoil Ultra 5w30 every 8,000 miles or 9-10 months with a Purolator Synthetic or Bosch DistancePlus filter

If you decide you want to do conventional... try Pennzoil conventional every 5300 miles or 5-6 months with a Purolator PureOne or Bosch Premium filter.

Mobil 1 is fine for 8k mile oil changes. I prefer Pennzoil.

 

[JavierG]

Pennzoil all the way. I still don't understand why some people want to change the ff so early. What do they know that the car engineers don't.

 

[billythekid]

The book says 8k or 6 months I believe if I remember correctly. However, depending on driving style, the OLM should be followed also. I like to change oil a lot, but I'd bet any decent conventional is fine for their OCI listed. They wouldn't list something risky that may ultimately lead to warranty issues.

I eventually settled for formula shell synthetic because it's darn good oil and cheap at BJ's when they run the coupon every other month. 6 qt case is exactly amount it calls for. I personally wouldn't spend on Pennzoil Platinum or Pennzoil Ultra for that interval.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: The_Captain
I have a 2012 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 3.6 4X4. The owners manual and the dealership calls for 8000 mile OCI. The dealership will cover 4 oil changes in 24 months. I dumped the factory fill at 2200 miles. I could not see going 8000 miles on the factory fill on a new engine. I had Mobil 1 synthetic put in the Jeep. I have noticed my MPGs have improved. This may be the oil and the engine breaking in. The dealership would not allow the 2200 oil change to count as one of the 4 free ones. They said it must be done at or near 8000 miles. The dealership was pushing pennzoil products. I can see using PP or Ultra but using Pennzoil conventional for 8000 miles?? He seemed a little confused as why I wanted to change the oil so soon and why I brought my own oil (Mobil 1 synthetic). I told him that I always dump out the "break in oil" and I can't see myself paying $70.00 for an Pennzoil Ultra oil change. I told him $26.95 for 6 quart case at costco and $9.95 to the dealership. I asked him to do the math. I wanted the forum members opinions. Pennzoil conventional for 8000 OCI or leaving the unknown (allegedly Pennzoil conventional) factory fill for 8000 miles? Stick with M1 or go with another brand suited for 8000 OCI?



IMO, good idea to take the FF out early. I could not find the thread, but an F150 owner on BITOG did the same and there was a LOT of junk in the FF after a couple thousand miles. On his next change there was an incredible reduction in contaminants, and he went around 4x as far.

I would call *[censored]* on the dealer...they are offering 4 free oil changes in 24 months, NOT a free oil change every 8k for 24 months. You'd have to be driving 16k a year to get them all in. If you want an earlier oil change than required in the owner's manual, common sense indicates that they should support that "better than required" maintenance plan.

In the same position I might consider letting them put in the Pennzoil conventional, then take a sample for a used oil analysis at around 5k and see how its doing.

However I would be more likely to tell them to stuff their bogus free oil change plan and do it myself with an oil of my choosing.

 

[askani79705]

Run MC semi syn it should do 8k no problem.

 

[mauric3]

Originally Posted By: randomhero439
Pennzoil Ultra 5w30 every 8,000 miles or 9-10 months with a Purolator Synthetic or Bosch DistancePlus filter

If you decide you want to do conventional... try Pennzoil conventional every 5300 miles or 5-6 months with a Purolator PureOne or Bosch Premium filter.

Mobil 1 is fine for 8k mile oil changes. I prefer Pennzoil.


AFAIK. there are no bosch distance+ or pureone filters for the pentastar engine.. I also have the same engine but its on our minivan.. i was able to only get purolator classic from amazon...

Hopefully there will be more filter options for the pentastar engine soon! there's not a lot of choices for it right now!

 

[mauric3]

Originally Posted By: The_Captain
I have a 2012 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 3.6 4X4. The owners manual and the dealership calls for 8000 mile OCI. The dealership will cover 4 oil changes in 24 months. I dumped the factory fill at 2200 miles. I could not see going 8000 miles on the factory fill on a new engine. I had Mobil 1 synthetic put in the Jeep. I have noticed my MPGs have improved. This may be the oil and the engine breaking in. The dealership would not allow the 2200 oil change to count as one of the 4 free ones. They said it must be done at or near 8000 miles. The dealership was pushing pennzoil products. I can see using PP or Ultra but using Pennzoil conventional for 8000 miles?? He seemed a little confused as why I wanted to change the oil so soon and why I brought my own oil (Mobil 1 synthetic). I told him that I always dump out the "break in oil" and I can't see myself paying $70.00 for an Pennzoil Ultra oil change. I told him $26.95 for 6 quart case at costco and $9.95 to the dealership. I asked him to do the math. I wanted the forum members opinions. Pennzoil conventional for 8000 OCI or leaving the unknown (allegedly Pennzoil conventional) factory fill for 8000 miles? Stick with M1 or go with another brand suited for 8000 OCI?



My local chrysler/dodge/jeep dealer here recommends 5k KM on conventional oil and 6k km on synthetic oil for the penstar engine

i might just follow the OLM in the van and use pennzoil ultra 5w30 with it!

 

[kam327]

You may be hindering the engine break in by putting in synthetic at only 2,000 miles.

If you're asking the question, why not run conventional or synthetic blend for 5-6,000 miles and do a used oil analysis to settle the question for sure.



Originally Posted By: askani79705
Run MC semi syn it should do 8k no problem.


Agreed, though look at Castrol GTX Synthetic Blend - I recently discovered it's a little cheaper than Motorcraft and at least 1 of my engines stayed very clean using Castrol GTX conventional.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: kam327
You may be hindering the engine break in by putting in synthetic at only 2,000 miles.

If you're asking the question, why not run conventional or synthetic blend for 5-6,000 miles and do a used oil analysis to settle the question for sure.



Originally Posted By: askani79705
Run MC semi syn it should do 8k no problem.


Agreed, though look at Castrol GTX Synthetic Blend - I recently discovered it's a little cheaper than Motorcraft and at least 1 of my engines stayed very clean using Castrol GTX conventional.


Come on. Hasn't the whole hindering break in fallacy been put to rest since now many oem's ship the vehicle with syn in the crankcase from the factory.
If you have to follow the oil life monitor for warranty and you are allowed to do the oil changes yourself I'd stock up on Pennzoil Platinum or Quaker State Ultimate Durability when Walmart has it on sale and never give oil a second thought ever again. Either of those 2 oils is more than enough for 6000 mile changes.

 

[kam327]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: kam327
You may be hindering the engine break in by putting in synthetic at only 2,000 miles.

If you're asking the question, why not run conventional or synthetic blend for 5-6,000 miles and do a used oil analysis to settle the question for sure.



Originally Posted By: askani79705
Run MC semi syn it should do 8k no problem.


Agreed, though look at Castrol GTX Synthetic Blend - I recently discovered it's a little cheaper than Motorcraft and at least 1 of my engines stayed very clean using Castrol GTX conventional.


Come on. Hasn't the whole hindering break in fallacy been put to rest since now many oem's ship the vehicle with syn in the crankcase from the factory.
If you have to follow the oil life monitor for warranty and you are allowed to do the oil changes yourself I'd stock up on Pennzoil Platinum or Quaker State Ultimate Durability when Walmart has it on sale and never give oil a second thought ever again. Either of those 2 oils is more than enough for 6000 mile changes.


I'm not an expert, don't claim to be. Are those manufacturers putting in an additive in the FF we don't know about? There are a few engine makers out there still saying not to use synthetic right away.

Here's another one.

http://www.foleyengines.com/resources/tech-tips/break-oil-not-synthetic

 

[SLCraig]

Since I got my new car, I have been following the OLM. I did dump my factory fill at 3K, but I ran conventional again right afterwards (Pennzoil conventional) for about 6K (OLM)

 

[VNTS]

Change it every 4K, use the 8K interval on their dime,use what you want when you do it and once your "free" cahnges are done use the M1 and change it yourself every 8K or whatever is needed for warranty.

 

[Danno]

OLM on my FIL 2011 Chev Equinox 2.4L had 57% oil life remaining at 7,600 kms and had never had the oil changed since purchased new 18 months ago. 100% short city trips with engine never fully warmed. Truck is never plugged in. Winter can get pretty nasty with temps at -30C today. FIL said "Onstar report said it was A-OK at 57%". Dipstick oil was a black mollasses like texture. Owner's manual says to change it at minimum annually but was never read by FIL. OLM taken with a big grain of salt here.

 

[DinoOil]

My 2012 Hemi Charger calls for an 8000 mile OCI and/or OLM reminder as well. Ain't NO WAY am I going to rely on their "wisdom" or "recommendation". I'll change at 5000 miles, thank you very much.

 

[DinoOil]

Originally Posted By: Danno
OLM on my FIL 2011 Chev Equinox 2.4L had 57% oil life remaining at 7,600 kms and had never had the oil changed since purchased new 18 months ago. 100% short city trips with engine never fully warmed. Truck is never plugged in. Winter can get pretty nasty with temps at -30C today. FIL said "Onstar report said it was A-OK at 57%". Dipstick oil was a black mollasses like texture. Owner's manual says to change it at minimum annually but was never read by FIL. OLM taken with a big grain of salt here.


What you're essentially doing is loading up 5 out of 6 chambers in a revolver and putting it to your temple with your submissive faith and belief in whatever the he!! the OLM and On-"Smart" says...

You may have some luck for a while with what you're doing, but remember that after reading this forum won't allow you to play the "pleading ignorance" card. Good luck.

Sheeesh!!!!

 

[Thermo1223]

So let me get this straight....

You will pay all that money because you like the way the engineers designed the engine/transmission/body. Then completely ignore them on maintenance...because "you" know better. When in doubt RTFM.

LOL

Furthermore FF on engines is packed with assembly lube and there may be special break-in additives. The car maker doesn't need to tell us there is, especially if it is a trade secret. So dump your FF at 2,000...1,000....heck 500 miles. Let your belly get warm on the inside because you think you are doing yourself a favor. In reality you just did the oil refinery a favor and will continue to do so by believing myths propagated on the internet.