I see a lot of discussion about the oil specs for the Ecodiesel. I tend to read a research a lot and in everything I read one question kept popping into my head. Before everyone gets completely up in arms please know that I'm asking a legitimate question based on printed material from FCA and not trying to start anything. I'm genuinely interested in what y'all are thinking on this.
The 2020 1500 Owners Manual states "We recommend you use 5W-40 synthetic engine oil such as Mopar that meets FCA Material Standard MS-12991 and the API SN engine oil category is required."
Given the fact that 4,000 lawyers probably reviewed that before it was put into print/digital form I find it interesting that they recommend FCA MS-12991 but only require API SN. That being the case it would seem that any oil that meets API SN meets the minimum requirements. They've worded it in an interesting fashion using and in the middle of that sentence but it isn't saying MS-12991 and API SN are required. It's saying we recommend MS-12991 and require API SN.
My 2021 is on order but I'm interested to know why everyone is so worried about MS-12991 when it isn't even a requirement from FCA. Words are important. Oil changes, according to the manual, are required every 10,000 miles so if you skip that and have a problem they can say "sorry but you didn't follow the required maintenance" and you're out of luck. If it said oil changes were only recommended every 10k then that would be a different thing entirely. I'm not saying I won't buy the MS-12991 but it's a pretty major difference between required and recommended. Recommended means "we have a marketing agreement with the parent company that makes this and we suggest you use it".
The 2020 1500 Owners Manual states "We recommend you use 5W-40 synthetic engine oil such as Mopar that meets FCA Material Standard MS-12991 and the API SN engine oil category is required."
Given the fact that 4,000 lawyers probably reviewed that before it was put into print/digital form I find it interesting that they recommend FCA MS-12991 but only require API SN. That being the case it would seem that any oil that meets API SN meets the minimum requirements. They've worded it in an interesting fashion using and in the middle of that sentence but it isn't saying MS-12991 and API SN are required. It's saying we recommend MS-12991 and require API SN.
My 2021 is on order but I'm interested to know why everyone is so worried about MS-12991 when it isn't even a requirement from FCA. Words are important. Oil changes, according to the manual, are required every 10,000 miles so if you skip that and have a problem they can say "sorry but you didn't follow the required maintenance" and you're out of luck. If it said oil changes were only recommended every 10k then that would be a different thing entirely. I'm not saying I won't buy the MS-12991 but it's a pretty major difference between required and recommended. Recommended means "we have a marketing agreement with the parent company that makes this and we suggest you use it".