Me too. I am coming around to fuel injection.....I've built many injected engines now....some blown and injected as well.....but I swear....dammit all! You'd think the factories would take a hint from say ....Vic Edelbrock on fuel injection and make it simple. They just keep makin it more and more complex and people keepin backin off. It's really a very simple theory. And most systems are pretty simple overall. It's the frikkin details of HOW they go about it that make it tough. ...and you gotta be careful diagnosin a Powerstroke too. Wanna know why? Not only are the injectors fired with VERY HIGH (over 1000 PSI) oil pressure, but they are powered by 115 volts A.C.!!!! They come with a red warning wrap on the harness that says "WARNINIG, DO NOT PROBE WITH TEST LIGHT", but that falls off after a while. Can you imagine finding THAT little tidbit out the hard way?????? It's stupid stuff like that that keep folks from wanting to learn somethin new. The aftermarket is just sooooo user friendly and plug and play. Makes you almost wanna just say screw this new stuff and build somethin yourself. Almost.

 

I had the oil in my Pontiac Soltice analyzed after a 6,000 mile run with no make-up oil. It was mixed city/highway driving, with much hard acceleration, spending much 6,time well above 6,000rpm. The analysis, from Blackstone labs, was excellent, and showed that the oil could have gone longer. The filter looked good, too. (it is a cartridge filter). I did not need to add make-up oil along the way, either. The oil was Pennzoil Platinum synthetic 5w30, and the filter was a Wal-Mart Supertec. I'm going to do an analysis on the Jeep at the next change, which will be precisely at 6,000 miles. You could run a cheap oil at 6k intervals, and that engine should easily outlast the rest of the Jeep. The oils and engines are both of much better quality than ever before. The 3k oil change is a kling-on from the days when engines and oils were not so durable. My wife's Express van with the 6.0 liter V8 gets oil changes between 7k and 10k miles, with Mobil 1 or Pennzoil Platinum 5w30. It is at 65k miles right now. We'll see how far she goes. I'm betting on better than 200k, with lots of idling, and both cold winters and hot summers.

 

My dealer told me the same thing...there is no way I would go that long without changing the oil either.

 

I use Royal Purple Synthetic and still change every 3000 mi. It's pricey but great oil. You can get it on Amazon Prime for $72 a case (about) $6 a quart vs. $9.99 in the auto parts stores!

A case = 12 quarts.

S.R.

 

I had the change oil light come on at 2500 mi. Guess I need that computer flash metioned on this forum. Anyway, figured I change it the first time a little early. I too had the knocking on start up with the original oil/mopar filter. I replaced it with a Fram and Penzoil. Knocking immediately disappeared!

 

Agree all you want, but:

I have read the test reports from several groups, including a group of sports car enthusiasts, that actually tested oils to see how long they last. One was in a Camaro Z28 that was daily driven plus taken to the strip. Castrol GTX Dino oil lasted 6k no problem, and synthetic Amsoil lasted 15k, and Mobil 1, 12k.
All you are doing by changing every 3k if you do not serious wheel is wasting money and time.
And as far as being in the south where it is hot, I'm in Florida and have done oil changes with synthetic (Mobil 1) on all my vehicles for the last 11 years. My cars have all gotten double the recommended interval, and by motorcycles have gotten 1.5 times the recommended interval. I have never had an oil related failure, and my son is still driving my wife's old car,, 98 Honda Civic now has 140k.