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I run rotella 15/40 in my motorcycle because it doesn't have the friction modifiers that regular oils (I think are mandated for auto use) have for fuel efficiency. They make the clutch in the bike slip & can cause early wear. I swear by Rotella for motorcycles......not for the Jeep, though. I'd run the blue bottle (synthetic) if I were going to use it on the Patriot. I think it's a 5w40.
 
I run rotella 15/40 in my motorcycle because it doesn't have the friction modifiers that regular oils (I think are mandated for auto use) have for fuel efficiency. They make the clutch in the bike slip & can cause early wear. I swear by Rotella for motorcycles......not for the Jeep, though. I'd run the blue bottle (synthetic) if I were going to use it on the Patriot. I think it's a 5w40.
Why would you run a 40 weight?
 
Why would you run a 40 weight?
In the Jeep? I wouldn't. But if I had to run Rotella, I'd run the synthetic over the dino.

In my motorcycle I basically use it because the oil spec'd by the manufacturer would cost me right at $100/oil change if I use their semi-synthetic blend. The Rotella does a nice job with heat dissipation & it shifts great with the Rotella.
 
I like the valve attachment with one thing...

instead of adding a lever to the valve they should of just made a flat spot on both sides for a wrench, because the lever could be hit by sticks, rocks, etc.... if they remove the lever and change the attachment to just need a wrench i would buy, good concept though.
 
Hello I am a new member and only got my first Jeep exactly a week ago. My sister has had a 96 Cherokee for the last 10 years and its still running strong at over 250,000 miles so when my honda civic died last week I said what the hell and did research and found the 2011 patriot had the best milage and price point for what I was looking for in a jeep. I have to say I absolutely love it. I have about 600 miles on the car now and was told by a friend that at the first thousand miles I should change out the oil and put in Synthetic...is this true? Also I have been reading through the thread about switching to a Fumoto valve which I will probably do and this brought up a question as well...will changing my own oil and putting this valve on my Jeep void the warranty at all. I don't think so but I want to start changing my own oil again as synthetic changes in the shop will probably cost me an arm and a leg... Thanks for all your Help - Bill
 
Welcome Bill! Each Patriot is built with oil change reminder which will pop up on your dashboard when the time comes. You don't really need to change your oil any earlier than maybe 2500 miles or so. My first reminder came up at 2600 miles or so. I change oil myself on all my cars. I put in synthetic in Patriot. It's your choice on what oil to use but synthetic will give you more time and mileage between oil changes and cost only a few $ more. Fully synthetic Mobil1 is pretty popular choice among members.
 
Thanks for the help folks...one more question I was on amazon this morning searching for the fumoto valve and saw that they also sell an extension I haven't been under the Jeep yet to check but does anyone know off the top of their head if I need this and also what size or model number valve I will need? Thanks Bill
 
So this may sound stupid because I have changed the oil in almost every other car I have ever owned but not a Jeep. So today I got under my 2011 Jeep patriot just to see how the clearance was to do an oil change and it was amazing but as soon as I stuck my head under I saw the Oil Filter right there recessed in with a hole cut out of the skid plate for easy access how beautiful. The stupid part comes now for the life of me and maybe because it was getting dark I could not see the drain plug. I saw something to the right of the filter that might have been it and probably was but I wanted to see how much space I had between the skid plate and the plug to see if I should buy the F-106N or just the F-106 Fumoto Valve. If this was the drain plug its covered a little by the plastic skid plate and I could see getting oil up there so it may be better to get the N so I can hook up a tube....any suggestions and am I looking in the right place for this thing? Thanks for the help - Bill
 
some good comments on here.mine! bottle by law has to say if semi syn,fully syn,etc,my take on 5-20,its done by manufacturer to get better MPG,on paper, 5-30 is much better when hot,look up Amsoil web they are fairly honest,did my own tests, two beakers of oil,one reg one syn,in freezer ovenight [I live in Canada] next morning reg was like grease, syn poured,next boiled on BBQ [ Wife went nuts when she seen the mess] reg oil and syn,put a steel rod in drill press,put reg oil on steel plate and got wife to press down. [neutral] it burned out after 5 seconds, syn went over 35 seconds,both temps were 240F measured with digital therm,but my main reasons,green and offshore oil, ams is 100% US and I change it once year
 
More accurate, believable data from just taking a sample of your used oil and have it analysed. 5W20 protects just as well as 5W30.
BTW, do you happen to be an AMSOIL dealer?
 
O by the way, I use Earth magnets {ebay cheap] on my oil and drain plug,cut the filter open after oil change,little iron fillings beside magnet, anybody know what torque settings for oil and tran plugs thanks,great forum this
 
Stupid question, y'all are using 30w instead of 20w? I didn't knOw I could do this, was told I had to use 20w
It's been discussed, sometimes heatedly. You can safely run 5W-30 as per an official Chrysler memo/letter and it will not void the warranty (It's available on here somewhere). Some say it makes no difference between 5W-20 or 5W-30, but I personally prefer the 30, especially in the summer time. If they weren't different, they wouldn't have different ratings. YMMV!
 
Oil changes are pretty easy on the Riot compared to previous vehicles where you have to be a contortionist to reach the oil filter. Only thing--and this is similar to other vehicles with the filter hanging down like a piece of fruit--either take it off with a filter socket wrench w/extension or make sure you have a short sleeve shirt. Otherwise you'll have oil trickling down on the cuff.

Advantage synthetic--you can go longer between changes and save on oil and filters.

x2 on the flashlight for the dipstick. Hate that.:doh:
 
Ok, I am about to do my first oil change on a vehicle since college (many, many years ago( and I can take the filter off but that drain plug is T-I-G-H-T!

DO you use a 1/2" socket?

DO you use a crescent wrench?

I see some blue stuff around the base but not the nut part - what is that?

Do you turn it clockwise or counter-clockwise???

Do you need to have the engine warmed up?

Is it okay to add some SEA FOAM for a short while before changing???

I am not going to pay a local dealer $65 for a MOBIL 1 oil change when I have five quarts and an oild filter I bought at Advance Auto Parts for around $21!!!

I am doing this without a ramp and its tight under there for an old, fat man like me....

Thank you in advance as I wait by my PC for the responses!!!
 
I just did my first oil change on the Patriot, the dealer has done them to this point because I had coupons. In any case, I used a 1/2" socket and some elbow grease and the drain plug came out just fine, it did have my 90-degree air ratchet on standby though.

The blue stuff is likely some kind of thread locker.
 
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