Here’s a quick question which may have not been addressed yet on this forum regarding the “Oil Change Required” notification.

Less than a month ago, in preparation for a long trip, I changed my oil (“Oil Change Required” warning was NOT on). The odometer read 43,368 miles. I then proceeded to reset the oil monitor in the usual manner (press accelerator 3 times with key in “ON” position). Two weeks ago I towed my 5th wheel about 2200 miles from AZ to FL, stopping only 5 times for overnight rest.

Today, less than one month later the “Oil Change Required” message appeared. The odometer is at 46,580 miles, only 3,212 miles since the last change. So I’m wondering if somehow I didn’t reset the oil monitor correctly in the first place, although I have done it several times in the past, OR (this is the big question):

Does the oil change monitor reset ONLY when the notification is illuminated in the EVIC and does NOT reset if the notification isn’t showing? I can’t believe I have to change the oil so soon (less than a month??). Thanks for your help…

 

Mr. Ed : Mine does the same thing, after a oil change and reset I only get about 2500-3000 hauling miles before the Over head starts telling me to change the oil. The best I ever got was just over 4k and that was without any load for those miles. I think that there's just so much crap being pumped into these engines that it's killing the oil and fuel mileage. can't wait to do the deletes.

 

Like you, my 2007.5 would only go 3000 or so before "Oil Change Required". Somehow, my 2009 went 7500. I recommend you verify that the truck has the latest "flash"l upgrade as I believe things have improved with the later updates. Otherwise, just ignore the message and change it at 5000.

 

This is off of another forum site, the site is Turbo Diesel Register.com. The person asking the question has a similar issue that you have. One of the responders is diesel mechanic at a Dodge dealership. He is very will respected and offers advice when needed on this site.
I have attached the question and his comment, take it for what it is worth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dabbelt1
Hello,
Joined the forum last month and this is my first post. I purchased my vehicle also a month ago it is an 08 mega cab Ram 2500 4x4 Vin#3D7KS29A08G247168. I have already changed the oil twice and have only gotten about 2600mi out of both oil changes. I am taking the truck to my dodge dealer tomorrow for a new fuel filter and was wondering if there is an updated flash for my truck that would help it achieve more miles between oil changes. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike Dabbelt

Mike, welcome to TDR, a great resource for you and your new truck. The oil change message is turned on by an algorithm based on YOUR driving conditions. The light comes on about 500 miles before it is actually required, so you don't have to drop everything to get it changed. Do not exceed the interval on the overhead unless you back it up with oil samples to prove the oil condition is still OK. The message usually comes on when there is about 3-6% fuel dilution in the oil (as verified by many oil samples on many trucks). You will notice several of the posts above indicate the intervals for them are very long, but that the oil change light still does not come on. This is because THEY have much different drive conditions than you do.
You can extend the interval by having the latest flashes, minimize cold starts, excessive cold idle, low speed operation, low load operation, excessive hot idle. Avoid excessive temp extremes. Driving the truck harder will generally result in longer oil life. Follow what Dodge owners manual says and use common sense.
__________________
Fixing them most of the time and loving it.
This is just my $0.02
Jim

 

Do all models come with this change oil alert feature? My rig (my sig) is the bottom of the bottom lines, rubber floors, no power windows, locks and mirrors, etc... I just changed my oil to Amsoil and I am hoping that they are true to their word when it comes to 1 year and 25k oil change intervals.

 

got you beat...last 4 oil changes overhead notice that change oil required came on 1 day after change....asked dealer and they said no tsb's but could diagnose problem at my cost(warranty expired). this problem started around 47000 miles. i just learned to live with it.....my ******* also told me that in addition to the three pumps of gas pedal that i need to take key out and open door to put ecm to sleep....this gets ride of overhead notice for a couple of start-ups then it comes right back on

 

This is a 6.7L engine "feature". I wouldn't go 1 year/25K with any oil unless doing oil analysis to verify.

 

Thanks, guys. Your help has been appreciated. I learned a lot from your input. Anyway, I'm not going to take any chances. I just purchased the oil and filter today and will perform an oil change in the near future. I WILL take a sample of the old oil and send it to Blackstone Labs. I'd be interested to learn if I really needed to change the oil so soon.

Here's a thought: Much of that 2200 mile trip towing my fiver was in cool to cold weather. Don't know if that had anything to do with it but I thought I'd throw that in.....

 

Make sure you go back and read the informative info about "MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE LATEST ECM UPGRADE"....... that is pretty important.

 

I couldn't find any posts regarding "Make Sure You Have The Latest ECM Upgrade", as you suggested. My ECM was last updated 5/18/09. The service report simply states "Updates Per Witech. Updated ECN & CCN."

BTW, I sent an oil sample to Blackstone for analysis. I'll report here what the findings were. Thanks....

 

There is no rhyme nor reason to the way the oil change warning works. I ignore it and change my truck's oil and filter at 10,000 km intervals.

 

...it was up in JimW's post:


...so DWR, if you pay no mind to the overhead do you have a "system" down so that you simply change the oil when you feel there is sufficient fuel dilution?

 

JBody, as I stated, I change the engine oil and fillter every 10,000 kms, using Mobil Delvac 1 and Fleetgard filters. I do not believe that this message feature has anything to do with fuel dilution or anything else that will give a legitimate oil change message. The reason that I say this is because I have run this truck for 83,000 kms, with many trips up and down hwy #2 here in Alberta both empty and hauling our travel trailer with 1,000 lbs in the box. The run is always made locked on cruise at 120 kph. I have had the "oil Change light come on in as little as 200 kms after an oil change and message cancellation and as long as 15,000 kms and everything in between. I know several others with these trucks who have experienced the same. Therefore I ignore the message, cancel it and change at 10,000 kms. The oil level does not change between oil drains. The truck is stock but the EGR is unpulgged and has been for 60,000+ Kms. I'm also running a gutted intake tube, a drop in aFe filter and have a 4" hole cut in the bottom of the stock air box. It gets 20 to 22 mpg empty and 14 to 16 towing on the #2 runs, hand calculated in Imperial.

 

I've always been curious about the EGR unplugging but have read posts regarding a loss in HP, not to mention slower warm-ups and possibly other problems. I think that CEL would annoy my, too. I understand that a tuner like the Smarty can take care of that but worry wart that I am I'm still concerned with the negative ramifications of unplugging the EGR. I am impressed with your mileage figures, BTW.Care to elaborate?........

 

There was never any power loss. I originally unplugged the EGR to see if it affected the oil colour and soot content. What I found was that the oil stayed clean longer after a change. You get used to the CEL! It is my friend. The other plus is with it unplugged, the truck gets 1 to 1.5 MPG more than with it plugged in.
The mods to the stock intake box and tube were good for 1 to 1.5 MPG as well. The only other mods are gauges. I have Optix boost, trans temp, and EGT gauges mounted on the dash.
Down the road I may try a cold air tube from the bottom of my air box to the front of the truck or better yet a cold air tube hooked up to an SRT hood.
At present, I have no plans for any programmer that downloads to the truck's computer. I may, however try an MP-8. I did try a boost fooler, there was no MPG increase but it did provide a throttle response increase at highway speed. The problem that both myself and a friend with an '08 had was DPF full messages showing up for no reason. So, the boost fooler sits in its box.
The factory DPF will remain, until someone comes out with a proven high flow DPF. At this point, here in Alberta, we don't know whether exhaust testing will come to be. I hope that this answers your questions.