StuartV
Ram Guru
This is probably not news to any of y'all, but it was a pain in my @ss today.
Getting an oil change on an SST HO. That's what.
I have just over 5K miles on it now and wanted an oil change.
I went to my local dealer, pulled into the lane with the big sign that says "Express Lane" and went in. The service writer looked at me like I was some kind of fool. "You're here for an oil change? Did you have an appointment?" No, I don't have an appointment. "Our next available appointment is next week."
You have gotta be kidding me! Fine. I'll go somewhere else.
The Valvoline oil change place didn't have the right oil. They had 0w-40 full synth, but it was API-SN. If you haven't looked, the manual clearly says that SN will (essentially) void your warranty. It needs to be API-SP, or API-SN+ can be used. But, it calls out API-SN as [paraphrased:] "may tear up your engine and no warranty".
Take 5 was the same. No suitable oil. 0w-40 only in API-SN.
Of course, had I not checked them and stopped them, both of them were going to put their API-SN oil in and were telling me that it meets the OEM specs. "It's 0w-40, full synthetic."
I went to a NAPA auto parts store and got the only oil they had that met the specs. Mobil 1 European Car Formula, Advanced Full Synthetic, 0w-40, API-SP. $75 for 2 x 5qt jugs.
My RAM pickup requires oil that is "European Car Formula". Weird.
I went back to the Valvoline place (those guys were super nice) and they used the oil I brought to do the change. $37, including their oil filter.
What a pain.
I was not expecting the required oil to be so hard to find.
Looking at the Owner's Manual, I see that the SST SO uses 0w-20, which seemed to be in plentiful supply everywhere I went. But the HO manual calls for 0w-40.
I wonder how many posts we'll eventually see from owners of HO motors that are blown, and it's really (despite whatever they might SAY) because they used API-SN oil.
I'm just wildly speculating that maybe the API-SP oil has some extra additives that are needed for turbo life. Maybe the SO motors don't need it because they don't run as much boost or maybe don't have as high EGTs.
Getting an oil change on an SST HO. That's what.
I have just over 5K miles on it now and wanted an oil change.
I went to my local dealer, pulled into the lane with the big sign that says "Express Lane" and went in. The service writer looked at me like I was some kind of fool. "You're here for an oil change? Did you have an appointment?" No, I don't have an appointment. "Our next available appointment is next week."
You have gotta be kidding me! Fine. I'll go somewhere else.
The Valvoline oil change place didn't have the right oil. They had 0w-40 full synth, but it was API-SN. If you haven't looked, the manual clearly says that SN will (essentially) void your warranty. It needs to be API-SP, or API-SN+ can be used. But, it calls out API-SN as [paraphrased:] "may tear up your engine and no warranty".
Take 5 was the same. No suitable oil. 0w-40 only in API-SN.
Of course, had I not checked them and stopped them, both of them were going to put their API-SN oil in and were telling me that it meets the OEM specs. "It's 0w-40, full synthetic."
I went to a NAPA auto parts store and got the only oil they had that met the specs. Mobil 1 European Car Formula, Advanced Full Synthetic, 0w-40, API-SP. $75 for 2 x 5qt jugs.
My RAM pickup requires oil that is "European Car Formula". Weird.
I went back to the Valvoline place (those guys were super nice) and they used the oil I brought to do the change. $37, including their oil filter.
What a pain.
I was not expecting the required oil to be so hard to find.
Looking at the Owner's Manual, I see that the SST SO uses 0w-20, which seemed to be in plentiful supply everywhere I went. But the HO manual calls for 0w-40.
I wonder how many posts we'll eventually see from owners of HO motors that are blown, and it's really (despite whatever they might SAY) because they used API-SN oil.
I'm just wildly speculating that maybe the API-SP oil has some extra additives that are needed for turbo life. Maybe the SO motors don't need it because they don't run as much boost or maybe don't have as high EGTs.
