metalwonzero

just wondering why my engines is needing the oil changed way too soon it seems? is it the new engine breaking in? <my guess.. or is this i wonder, the nature of the beast? also... wondering if i can use standard oil in it or do i have to stick with the stuff thats in it now? and i have no clue what it is.. synthetic something or other.. ?

Watchful

A lot of it has to do with driving application: I understand that with routine, day-to-day driving, I should expect 6500-7000 miles per change: that's about what I've been getting so far.

but if you take yours off road--and you do, obviously--you go through oil faster. And you definitely take yours off road!

lighttoast

When I took mine in for the change they said it was using standard oil originally and I kept it that way for now. Don't know the weight, but unless you've put synthetic in it should be the old fashioned stuff.

metalwonzero

makes sense... low range high rpms.. thanks yall.. both of ya..

cruiser54

I want to know how the vehicle determines it needs a change......

Watchful

I don't know, but most vehicles by manufacturers are doing it.

And obviously without the support of the folks who do oil changes: in a decade of driving, I've gone from four/five oil changes a year down to two.

Crazy 8s

Do the new Jeeps have an idiot light to suggest when an oil change is needed? That would be a good feature for a lot of drivers...

Maybe it is basing when the light comes on by how much fuel is consumed. Maybe something like every 200 gallons burned = oil change time? I dunno...just throwing that out there.

With quality oil, especially synthetics, you can get more than 7000 miles out of the oil...but you will still want to change the oil filter at every 3-4000 miles. My opinion is that we should change it at 3-4000 anyway because it isn't all that expensive and cheap insurance for engine longevity.

Since you don't need to jack up the Cherokee to get at the plug, (unless you need to go on a diet), oil changes are friggin easy. The filter is easy to get at too. No excuses!


(though I do not know if the KL is so easy to do an oil change on... I haven't looked inside one yet.)

Crazy 8s

If you just bought the KL, you will want to follow a proper break-in period oil change schedule. It will likely be found in the book in the glovebox.

lighttoast

Guys, you get 4 FREE oil changes from Jeep (at least on the '14 models). There is no excuse to not follow a good break-in schedule and have Chrysler mechanics do it. Plus you get all the software updates when you bring it in. After the first year start digging in yourself and switch to your favorite oil.

As for oil life, I've heard some say to change every 3000 and other mechanics that swear synthetic oil with a good filter should get you 15k easy. Personally I think those are both extreme. After breaking it in I've been going about 4000 on standard oil and will switch to synthetic where I will probably do 6-7k. Of course it all depends on your driving style. All off road? You should probably change every 2-3k. All highway? Probably closer to 10k. There is no exact number of miles to change at. The computer factors your driving style in when monitoring oil. Use that as a guide. Check it every once in a while. If its pitch black and really thick you should probably change it.

GCWIMMER

FREE oil change is not a factory standard for 2014 or 2015 KL, it is an individual dealer add on option. If it was standard it would be listed on the OEM window sticker.

lighttoast

Must be a regional thing because every dealership I shopped at had it as a standard offer

cruiser54

But how is it determined?????????????

drhoward1988

Fairy dust and the tears of a virgin whale shark....

metalwonzero

the oil gauge on the dash control panel type thing has a life span meter, im questioning its accuracy kinda..? but the panel warns you withing 500 miles of the change.. then the dash turns from happy blue colors to a deathly sick red. no joke..

seems too soon.. of course last change was it puking oil everywhere so i have nothing good to compare it too.. they owe me a free change anyway..

dmill89

The oil life monitoring system on most vehicles uses software in the computer that measures parameters such as how you drive (stop/go vs. highway, short trips, aggressive vs. mild, etc.), oil temp, number of temp cycles, outside temp, and time to determine when the oil needs to be changed. A few European cars (BMWs and possibly others) actually have a sensor that samples the oil (not sure exactly what it measures, maybe viscosity or conductivity) to determine when the oil needs changed.