Dodge Durango Oil Changes: Pentastar 0W-20, HEMI 5W-20, SRT 0W-40

The Durango is the three-row SUV that tows. In Northern Nevada that often means a boat to Pyramid Lake or a camp trailer to the Eastern Sierra, and plenty of Durangos with a HEMI do exactly that. It is also an SUV with three different oil grades across its engines, so we never fill one from memory. We look at the engine and the cap, then match the table.

Engine by engine

MS-6395 and MS-12633 are Chrysler material standards, and the table names oils that meet them. Dodge's spec also tells owners to check the oil filler cap for the correct SAE grade, and so do we. The V6 and the HEMI look similar from the driver's seat and take different oil, so we confirm the engine before anything is poured.

How the oil change indicator works

Durangos use an automatic oil change indicator rather than a printed mileage. A current Stellantis owner's manual describes it: the system shows an oil change message based on engine operating conditions, the vehicle should be serviced within the next 500 miles, and under no circumstances should the interval exceed 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. Frequent short trips, trailer towing, extremely hot or cold temperatures and extended idling all bring the message on sooner.

Mopar's Canadian service page for Dodge adds a limit for hard use: with excessive idling or dusty or off-road conditions, do not exceed 6,500 km, which is about 4,000 miles. A HEMI Durango that tows all summer, when the Reno airport averages about 65 days at 90 F or more (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals), will usually see its indicator well before 10,000.

The rest of a towing SUV

• Coolant: Dodge lists its 10-year, 150,000-mile formula OAT antifreeze; we test the mix and the level, which matter most on a hot grade with a trailer.
• Transmission: the eight-speed automatic takes ZF 8 and 9 speed ATF, and our transmission fluid service uses that type.
• Axles: front and rear take synthetic GL-5 75W-85, and the electronic limited-slip rear axle needs the version with friction modifier. Our differential service follows that.
• Engine air filter, cabin filter, belts and hoses, and a battery test at participating locations.
• Trailer lights and the truck's own bulbs, a quick check worth doing before a long tow.

Bring the Durango in

All four service centers, no appointment: Mae Anne Avenue and Longley Lane in Reno, College Parkway in Carson City, US 395 in Gardnerville. We match the engine and grade, change the filter, run the multi-point maintenance check, and reset the oil change indicator. If you are about to tow, say so; we will look harder at the coolant, axle and transmission levels and tell you what we see.