According to Chrysler, Jeeps have a sensor that checks the oil and mixed with milage, and hours, the computer decides when it needs changing. Usually 2500 will be the average. And as said above, not good running synthetic too early. Most say between 10,000 and 15,000 miles

 

The "change oil" is based on a math calculation, not the actual condition of the oil.
It doesn't know if the oil is clean, dirty, synthetic, or even the correct weight.

As far a changes, I'm using synthetic and changing every 3,000.
My oil selection and change interval reflects my desire to have the motor last as long as possible.

 

I have never heard it is bad to switch to synthetic early. What is the reasoning behind that? I am pretty sure some very high end cars come with synthetic from the factory.

 

Do 2007 models have the oil change indication? I've never seen it. I regularly go 3-5k miles between dino changes.
Hmmm... Jeep is due for an oil change.

 

No, they dont have it.

 

Are your driving habits extremely rough? Lots of stop and go/ off road? Has it been a long time since your change?

It took my light 9,000 miles before it came on even though I changed the oil twice inthat period.

 

I have ~2,900 miles on mine now and no change oil light yet. I was going to do the first at 3K and the rest at 5K like the rest of my cars.

 

Off topic but I have read the whole "synthetic won't allow rings to seal properly" also. What I do not get is I think that my LT1 Firebird and this Hemi came from the factory with synthetic oil, and neither engine uses oil. Do they have different rings/cylinder wall material or somehow pre-run them at the factory? Or is the first batch of oil dino, and the oil cap just says to use synthetic? Hmmmm.

Anyway,

You can reset the oil change indicator any time you like using the procedure mentioned (I think its in the manual also?).

Weirdly enough since people say it should not have one, my 07 does have an oil change indicator. Mine came on right after my first oil change on the 3.8. Reset it and never saw it (or the 3.8 lol) again (over 30k now).

If you know from the odometer when you need to change oil, just reset the annoying chime/idiot light and be sure to check the level every 1000 miles or so.

 

You're correct. High end vehicles all are manufactured to strictly utilize (full)synthetic. Since JK's aren't "high end" vehicles in that respect they are filled with non-synthetic motor oil and can use it and synthetic or blends for the life of the engine. However, in order for the rings etc. to seat properly, since the manufacturing tolerances are not what other manufacturers' engines that strictly utilize synthetic are, you are taking a slight risk changing it prior to 3,000 miles. Why take any risk at all. Even a slight risk is still a risk, depending how well the engine was built prior to ending up in your JK. That's why some JK's burn oil more than others. If they were all manufactured with the strictist tolerances they would either all burn oil, and be considered defective, or not burn oil. Chrysler has attempted to address this since 07 and by the time 2010 came most 3.8's don't burn as much if at all. However, in order to preclude major claims from occurring Chrysler believes it is within their manufacturing tolerances for the 3.8 to use (burn) 1 qt. of oil every 1,000 miles. It is utterly ridiculous for a modern engine to use that much oil and it is then considered "normal". Since claims can't be filed unless that happens, overall it is more prudent to wait at least 3,000 miles and then switch to full synthetic.

 

I did mine at 2500 with Mobil 1 full synthetic, had I known that it was a possible issue before reading this I would have waited. I have not burned a drop of oil in the last 3000 miles so I am hopeful all is good and am planning on just sticking with Mobil 1 as the damage would already be done. I just can't believe that I never heard of that before.