Inconsistent documentation for oil viscosity & change intervals

[JonW]

So I need to do an oil change. I knew that with the 2012 SRT8's that the oil viscosity had changed. The manual now says to use 5W-40. But guess what, my oil fill cap on the motor still says 0W-40!

Additionally, there are two different intervals in different documentation. The owners manual says "Under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 6000 miles" and the user guide shows all intervals at 8000 miles. Note that the user guide is the only printed documentation included with the vehicle. All other docs are on DVD.

With synthetic, I've always used 5000 as my rule of thumb and would not go 8000, but for many others, are they going to get hosed by the dealer if they have a failure and they were going 8K?

Below are pics of my fill cap (with the BT version removed) and the two copies of the intervals from the "2012 User Guide" (included in the glove box) and the "2012 Owners Manual" (available on the included DVD or as a download).

[JonW]

So, while the manual doesn't specify a brand for the oil, it appears that the SRT's were tested with Shell Ultra 5W40. Mopar Magazine | Three Strong Brands

Don't know if that's what is in them from the factory though. Regardless, I cannot find that oil anywhere except for two online merchants. I will probably stick with M1 0W40 for now.

Edit: Looks like some dealers may have the oil as Mopar Part # 5127394PB. Filter is also Mopar Part # 4884899AB.

[seanol]

Jon,
My manual in the 2012 Charger SRT8 shows 0W40 and 6,000 mile oil changes.
HTH,
Sean

[JonW]

Jon,
My manual in the 2012 Charger SRT8 shows 0W40 and 6,000 mile oil changes.
HTH,
Sean

Just pulled up the online version of the "User Guide" and it shows a separate maintenance chart for the SRT8's. Seems the printed version has this also, but several pages later than the one I scanned. Funny though that page 84 lists the specifications for the 6.4L engine and page 85 lists the intervals for non-6.4L engines. While not signficant, the inconsistency of 0W40 versus 5W40 still remains.



Edit: OK, this seems like a moving target. I just downloaded the "new" owners manual "2012-300_SRT-OM-3rd.pdf", which is the 3rd revision. It now lists 0W40 as the suggested oil. Revisions #1 and #2 have 5W40, so I guess they found and corrected their inconsistency already.

[seanol]

Jon,
Glad you found it. I remember my manual having the SRT page after the other two and it stated 0W40.Good find.
Sean

[JonW]

Jon,
Glad you found it. I remember my manual having the SRT page after the other two and it stated 0W40.Good find.
Sean

Oh, I found it, but my printed ones say 5W40. It's only the newer PDF version that I pulled from the Chrysler website that says 0W40 (well, that and my fill cap).

[Fargo59]

jon, it's 0w40. they issued a recall on the 2012's with the wrong oil caps. dealerconnect says the wrong oil too.

The User Guide and Tip Card on about 2,600 of the above vehicles incorrectly stated the use of SAE 5W-40 engine oil instead of the correct oil which is SAE 0W-40 full synthetic engine oil.

M04 recall.

[TNCHARGER]

When Chrysler and Mobil parted ways the recommended oil changed from 0/40 to 5/40 because Mobil was the only syn that came in 0/40...............use 0/40 or 5/40 or 10/40 per SRT engineer....15/40 in warm weather works...............

[magnesiumpearlr/t]

I got the Updated card that came on the visor from the factory, with a document that states the note, the new card says 0-40. Thats all well and good, but what was put in there from the factory??? Does this mean Free oil change?

[fnkychkn]

as Fargo said, correct oil is 0W-40 as specified in CSN M04.

as for the 8000 mile service interval, many 2012 mdels have switched to the extended service interval specs.
8000 miles is under ideal conditions. anything that would have put you in the "schedule B" maintenance (now a duty cycle based calculation) will cut that interval in half therefore, 4000 miles. since the warning gives you a 500 mile "heads up", expect your warning reminder to appear around 3500 miles.

[JonW]

....expect your warning reminder to appear around 3500 miles.

I'm at 5400 total and the service reminder has never come on. I purposefully did not reset it so that I could see when it did finally come on - not there yet.

[fnkychkn]

I'm at 5400 total and the service reminder has never come on. I purposefully did not reset it so that I could see when it did finally come on - not there yet.

must be driving under ideal conditions. never see that up here.

[JonW]

The standard schedule is now 6000, so maybe it will come on at 5500.

[JonW]

Verified yesterday that the oil change indicator came up after the first restart with the vehicle just over 5500 miles. Car must be programmed for 5500 between resets for the 6000 mile interval.

[USAF_R/T]

i dont care what the cool light says, i change my oil more often. Cheap and makes me feel good inside..lol. My R/t has 4k miles and ive changed the oil twice. Once i get to 10k miles ill switch to full synthetic and do it every 5.