"Oil Life" indicator?

[Oletimer]

1. Engineers are not smart. Most of them are average corporate ladder climber and do whatever their boss tells them to do, and write reports on whatever computer simulation yields. Smart people wouldn't stay in stalantis. lol
2. This is not about smart, is about knowing the cause. Especially behind the scene CAFE plays more roles than technical optimization.

thats what he ment by bureaucrats/bean counters.
he's past his prime, been with them his whole career as a engine developer.
he says its a shame what we could build but cant.

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[Old Dogger]

Just re-set it or ignore it! I see that you have a Diesel engine. I really don't know what the engine oil change interval should be for it. As for the 3.6 engine, which we have four in the Family, our oil change interval is 3000 miles. Hot and dusty Arizona plays a big part in this 3000-mile changes. As for the indicator, I have always ignored it, with a re-set.

 

[AFD]

As far as I can tell, the OLI is purely factoring in 2 variables. 12-months and 10,000-miles.

For example, if you reset your OLI on Jan. 1, 2025 and don't drive your Jeep even a single mile, around July 2nd, your indicator should read 50% (and 0% around Dec 31st if you continue not driving). You can drive up to 10,000 miles during this same time and the results should be exactly the same. But say you normally drive 20,000 miles in a year, after the first 5,000 miles you'd hit 50% around April 2nd (and 0% by July 2nd).

It's possible the indicator is also factoring in variables like excessive idling, heavy throttle, or other usage above and beyond time/miles, but I personally haven't seen anything that's noticeably effected the formula other than the basic 12-month/10k-mile criteria.

I've been doing my changes at 1-year/~7,500-mile with the Mobil-1 Extended Performance (rated for 20,000-mile) with 40-mile commutes 4x per week and the OLI has always been pretty dang close at calculating the remaining time (or miles) based on the manufacturer's oil change recommendations.

 

[Ratbert]

Smart people wouldn't stay in stalantis. lol

I would wager that they're smart enough to know how to spell the name of the company, right?

But as @Jad4275 said, everyone thinks they're smarter than the engineers.

 

[Terrymo]

I would wager that they're smart enough to know how to spell the name of the company, right?

But as @Jad4275 said, everyone thinks they're smarter than the engineers.

Growing up in a family with several engineers, I’ll add that each engineer thinks they’re smarter than all the other engineers.

 

[gm920]

As far as I can tell, the OLI is purely factoring in 2 variables. 12-months and 10,000-miles.

For example, if you reset your OLI on Jan. 1, 2025 and don't drive your Jeep even a single mile, around July 2nd, your indicator should read 50% (and 0% around Dec 31st if you continue not driving). You can drive up to 10,000 miles during this same time and the results should be exactly the same. But say you normally drive 20,000 miles in a year, after the first 5,000 miles you'd hit 50% around April 2nd (and 0% by July 2nd).

It's possible the indicator is also factoring in variables like excessive idling, heavy throttle, or other usage above and beyond time/miles, but I personally haven't seen anything that's noticeably effected the formula other than the basic 12-month/10-mile criteria.

I've been doing my changes at 1-year/~7,500-mile with the Mobil-1 Extended Performance (rated for 20,000-mile) with 40-mile commutes 4x per week and the OLI has always been pretty dang close at calculating the remaining time (or miles) based on the manufacturer's oil change recommendations.

My reality does not follow this, change my oil 4/28/2024 reset OLI. Changed again 4/24/2025 Jeep was driven 736 miles, OLI indicated 89% oil life left. 2019 JLUR 3.6L

 

[gm920]

Growing up in a family with several engineers, I’ll add that each engineer thinks they’re smarter than all the other engineers.

As a highly trained Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, those that think they know everything really annoy those of us that do.

Boeing, Douglass and Lockheed, have fixed them all and certified them airworthy on a daily basis. The amount of things that can go wrong with a commercial jet is truly staggering.

 

[Terrymo]

We all know that everything Amsoil says is gospel so here you go…
“ Oil life monitors track climate, driving habits and other conditions. The algorithm calculates mileage, idle time, engine temperatures, trip times, engine loads, and ignition starts and stops. It then establishes an oil change interval as low as 3,000 miles (4,800 km) and all the way up to 10,000 miles (16,000 km) and more depending on severity of conditions.”

 

[siggy]

engineering doesn't decide oil change interval.
bureaucrats/bean counters do.
that came right out of the mouth of a Stelantis engineer.
we were speaking of a 5.7 at the time. he said change it at 5000 miles with 0 w 40 and it will serve you well.
he said engineers don't have any say in oil specs or change intervals.
he went on to say , change your 392 every 3000.
they want your engine to last just long enough for a extended warranty of usually 100,000 miles to expire.

As a bean counter, I’d prefer you change your oil more often. Please take it to the dealership so they make more money off of you.

Your statement is completely illogical.

 

[ScotM]

I live in financial bubble, where nothing matters when it comes to keeping my Jeep happy. Mobil 1 5W-30 on the 2.0, every 6 months or 3k miles, mopar oil filter. Reset the clock and move onto the next dollar sucking activity. I drink cheap wine, wear my clothes until they have holes. If you saw me in my Jeep , you’d think I was stealing it. But I’m happy.

 

[NWJeepr]

I live in financial bubble, where nothing matters when it comes to keeping my Jeep happy. Mobil 1 5W-30 on the 2.0, every 6 months or 3k miles, mopar oil filter. Reset the clock and move onto the next dollar sucking activity. I drink cheap wine, wear my clothes until they have holes, and generally look like I could be unhoused. If you saw me in my Jeep , you’d think I was stealing it. But I’m happy.

This.

I change my oil too often, I'm absolutely wrong, and wasting my own money, and I'm ignoring good data that says the oil *should* have a lot of life left in it. My Jeep is mine, and I do what I want.

 

[Oletimer]

As a bean counter, I’d prefer you change your oil more often. Please take it to the dealership so they make more money off of you.

Your statement is completely illogical.

it wasn't my statement, it was engineers. but I hear you
I think what he ment was the corporate people dealing with cafe.

 

[c20040215]

Disclaimer: This is not to argue what is or who is right or wrong. Just what I do and why I do it. I am not qualified, nor have the intension to debate if designers and engineers are dumb or smart.

I do my oil change every time the 4th digit from the right on the odometer hits "0" and '5', or 5000 mile interval.

1. I am not smart enough to understand the logic behind the % the computer shows me. And I really dont want to go on internet and ask, either. Did I reset it? Did last person who served the Jeep reset it? It has been 10,000 miles but it still shows 5%, or it shows me its due but it has less than 10,000 mile since last oil change. Which one I should go by? mileage, percentage, user manual, or my feelings? I go by the 4th digit on the odometer.

2. I am a firm believer that most premature wear in the modern engine comes from lack of maintenance, a.k.a. 10,000 mile oil change. I am not saying changing your oil in a shorter interval would guarantee success, but it gives me a better odds to not having any oil related issues.

3. People say its wasting money. The modern oil is so good, the lab test says this and that......

Lets break down the costs. Allow me to make some reasonable assumptions:

• You drive 15,000 miles per year on average.
• You change your own oil. You use name brand, full synthetic 0W20 oil that is easily accessible in major retail stores. It costs $30 + $10 filter = $40 per oil change
• Using 200,000 miles as the "life span" of the Jeep

If you do 10,000 mile oil change, in its life time you would have:
200,000/10,000= 20 total oil changes.
You would spend 20x$40= $800 for oil change during its entire life span.

If you do 5,000 mile oil change, in its life time you would have:
200,000/5,000= 40 total oil changes.
You would spend 40x$40= $1,600 for oil change during it entire life span.

The difference is $800.

Driving 15,000 miles per year means, to reach 200,000 miles, it takes you 13 years.

$800/13=$61.5 more per year, or $5.13 more per month. For this little more, I ensure the oil is fresh and never overdue. The engine is happy and I am happy.
And then if you look at the cost of a good used engine, or a new short block. $5.13 is dirt cheap. Do you think a shop or dealership makes more money on oil changes, or doing a engine job replacing short block? If I run a shop only to make as much money as possible, I will tell you to go with 10,000 mile interval, even 20,000 mile like some oil containers claim. That gives me a better chance to have a big engine job in the near future.
Also, I highly encourage people to do your own maintenance, if you are able to, and have time and place to do it. Its rewarding and saves you money.

To me, I rather stay with my 0 and 5 interval. Eliminates the guess work and the need to argue with people online when I should change my oil.

I watch some videos on Car Care Nut channel on YT. Its mostly Toyota/Lexus content but it has some really good information about modern cars in general, especially maintenance. The guy is more qualified than I am.

 

[AFD]

My reality does not follow this, change my oil 4/28/2024 reset OLI. Changed again 4/24/2025 Jeep was driven 736 miles, OLI indicated 89% oil life left. 2019 JLUR 3.6L

That's strange. If Jeep wants you to change your oil no later than 1-year, then shouldn't the indicator state 0% after a year has elapsed?

I divide mine out several times each year and it always correlates near-perfectly with time (as long as my mileage is kept below an average that wouldn't surpass 10k/yr). For example, my last change was Sept 2, 2024 and the OLI now reads 22% today and 22% of 365 is ~80 days left and today plus 80 days is Aug 25, 2025, which is one week shy of the 1-year mark.

I've done this calculation check many times in the 3 years I've had the Jeep and it always works out the same for me

 

[Jeep Junkie]

you people change your oil? jesus ya'll must be rich.

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