2004 Sebring Touring Oil Changes...

Discussion in 'Sebring' started by The Henchman, Nov 11, 2007.

  1. The Henchman

    The Henchman Guest

    Car is close to 100 000 Km (60 000 miles) Engines is 2.7L driven in
    Canada, about 70-30 hiway to city miles.

    Should I switch to full or semi synthetic to help this car last to 200 000
    Km (120 000 miles+). I am unable to change the oil myself so I take it to
    a Wal-Mart lube around the corner from my work.

    Oil is changed reguarlary every 5000 kms (300 miles) with Pennzoil 5W30 and
    new filter but I have only owned the car since 60 000 kms.. It was a daily
    rental before I purchased it.

    A synthetic oil change is double the cost of a conventional change. I
    drive about 40 000 km's a year. so that's 8 or 9 changes a year.

    Any thoughts??
     
    The Henchman, Nov 11, 2007
    #1
  2. The Henchman

    Bill Putney Guest

    With that low a mileage and the amount of hiway miles (good) and the
    regular maintenance you have done so far, you probably are OK to switch
    to synthetic without breaking lose a lot of sludge that this engine is
    famous for (if oil changes had been neglected and/or it had had a lot of
    short-trip city driving).

    I would still make the change gradually - not as easy to do since you
    are not doing the changes yourself. But maybe you could talk them into
    putting in 1 qt. of synthetic with 4 qts. of conventional oil for the
    first change (use new filter). Have another change done 1500 miles
    later, but this time use 2 qts. synth., 3 qts. conventional (new filter
    this time too). Then at 3000 miles, do 3/2 synth to convetional - new
    filter. Then at 3000 mles, 4-to-1 and new filter. I would stay at 4
    qts. synth to 1 qt. conventional forever after that.

    Or stay with conventional oil and put 8 ozs. of Marvel Mystery Oil in
    the crankcase with each change, and change the filter each time
    (synthetic oil is not the panacea that every one thinks it is). This is
    what I have done for my 2.7L that now has 189k miles on it and runs
    great (bought it used with 58k miles on it). That would be simpler
    since someone else is doing the changes. You can just add the MMO in
    yourself after you get it back home from having the change done.

    Also pay attention to the brand and model of oil filter they use. Some
    brands and models are much better than others for very little extra cost.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Nov 11, 2007
    #2
  3. The Henchman

    Ron Seiden Guest

    If you switch to a good synthetic (like Mobil 1), you can change your oil
    every 5000 miles (8000 or 9000 km in round numbers), which evens out the
    cost. The big thing with expensive synthetic is whether or not the engine
    uses or loses oil between changes. If you have to add oil, then it doesn't
    pay; if the engine is tight enough to not need any additional oil, then
    synthetic is worth the cost (in both lowered wear and fuel savings).

    If your engine is showing signs of wear (using up oil, etc.), then think
    about adding molybdenum disulphide with every oil change...
     
    Ron Seiden, Nov 12, 2007
    #3
  4. This North American penchant for pouring oil into engines...

    With motorway driving 5000 miles is nothing. What does the manufacturer say
    about oil changes?

    This is a modern car with, no doubt, an electronic service monitoring
    system.

    DAS

    For direct replies replace nospam with schmetterling
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Nov 12, 2007
    #4
  5. The Henchman

    Bill Putney Guest

    Dori - With this particular engine (2.7L), following the manufacturer's
    recommendations of 7500 mile oil change intervals (conventional oil)
    will absolutely kill it. Sometimes the educated consumer is smarter
    than the manufacturer.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Nov 12, 2007
    #5
  6. The Henchman

    Bill Putney Guest

    This particular engine typically develops bad exhaust valve stem seals
    not too much beyond 100k miles - the OP can expect to have to add 1-1/2
    to 2-1/2 qts. between changes (that's based on a 3500 mile change
    interval - of course proportionaly more if interval extended due to
    using synth or whatever) when this occurs. So, in line with your
    comment, what would be the sense in changing to synth. now, only to have
    an oil usage problem develop not too far down the road (synth. will not
    prevent this from happening - in fact, in general irrespective of which
    engine, many people report that synth only leaks worse than conventional
    oil for otherwise small external or internal 'leaks').

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Nov 12, 2007
    #6
  7. Bill

    I have seen a lot of criticism of this engine here, but it still surprises
    me that it needs so many oil changes and that Chrysler seem to have done
    little about it.

    Or are later versions better? Is there a later 2.7 l?

    DAS

    For direct replies replace nospam with schmetterling
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Nov 14, 2007
    #7
  8. The Henchman

    Bill Putney Guest

    They did do some modifications to the 2.7L thru the 2nd gen. LH
    production years. You'd think they have the main problem solved to be
    using it on the new platforms. Haven't heard of problems with those
    like I was hearing on the LH cars. Or maybe we just haven't given it
    long enough. 60 to 80k miles was enough to destroy many of the earlier
    2nd gen. LH ones, so you'd think if there were going to be a bunch of
    problems, we'd already be hearing about it.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')

     
    Bill Putney, Nov 14, 2007
    #8
  9. The Henchman

    Bill Guest

    My wife's 02 Sebring Conv. (2.7) has had Valv Maxlife in it for years
    using the 3k oil change schedule (this car has the worst possible
    life, i.e., very short trips without ever getting to full op.temp. on
    most.) I change the oil myself, since I no longer trust the quick-lube
    places or even the dealer to put in something other than bulk oil.
    Also, it's usually had Wix filters in it. When changing the oil, I've
    used really long cotton swabs to reach into the sump and I don't see
    any sludge yet, but of course I can't get to some of those internal
    passages, etc. where it might be forming.
    Bill Putney: Do you know what the cut-off for 2nd generation 2.7's is,
    or when certain improvements re: sludge were made?
    BTW, Maxlife is usually at Wmart for about $2.20qt in 5qt jugs -
    bargain for this oil.
    TIA
    Bill.
     
    Bill, Nov 20, 2007
    #9
  10. The Henchman

    Bill Putney Guest

    It may be a gamble to even get it changed at all. Places - dealers as
    well as quick-change franshises charging for oil and filter change and
    doing neither (especially if they think there's a good chance of not
    getting caught) is at epidemic levels IMO.
    That's a good thing.
    I don't know the complete history off the top of my head. I know the
    heat exchanger on the PCV hose was added starting with the 00 MY on the
    LH cars (maybe across the board on all platforms.). I've seen other
    things mentioned here and there about increased oil pump volume and
    larger drainback passages. Don't know if all changes were done in one
    fell swoop or if they came in stages. I also don't know if more
    drastic, extensive and/or more effective changes were made in prep. for
    the post-LH platforms, or if later year LH's (and Sebrings) had pretty
    much everything that you would find in today's production engine.

    I will try to remember to search places where I think there may have
    been discussions and post back. I don't know that I've seen anything
    real definitive as far as time line.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Nov 20, 2007
    #10
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