Originally Posted By: Oil_Me
I have done searches and read for info and I would now like to ask for some help. I have a 2000 Dodge Quad Cab, with a 360 engine. I have been having my oil changed at the Dodge dealership and they use Mopar oil and I don't have any idea who makes it. I want to start changing the oil myself and I would like some recommendations for quality oils and oil filters. I have 65,000 miles on my truck. I change the oil 3K to 5K. Thanks everyone for the help, I am new and I know you get asked this by every noobie. Wes
Welcome to another Mopar driver ;-)
From what I've read here, most of the name-brand oils of the correct weight will protect your engine just fine, and you'll never really see any engine longevity benefit of one compared to another. Besides- you've got a Mopar 360. As long as you keep ANYTHING in the crankcase, it will keep plugging away ;-) Your MY2000 360 is a roller-cam engine, so you really don't have any need to get uptight about reduced Zinc/Phosporous additives either, about the most oil-shredding widget it still has is a helical gear drive on the oil pump itself, and that's also a very stout piece on Mopar LA and B/RB engines because of the large diameter of the oil pump/distributor drive gear itself (the slant-6 is another story). Use SM oil with confidence, and just look through some of the UOAs here to find a brand that does well. I've seen great UOAs from everything from Pennzoil to Castrol to Mobil 1 to the boutique oils like Shaeffer's and Royal Purple. Since my older Mopars have flat-tappet cams, I have been using Rotella T synthetic, but its Zn/phosporous is going down with later API certs too.
Filter wise, I've always had very good success with both Wix and Purolator filters. If you have room in your particular installation, you can use a full-length filter (Motorcraft FL-1 equivalent, I think the Wix number is 1515 and Puorlator is L3001, or PureOne PL3001) instead of the "shorty" equivalent filter. That gives you about 1/3 to 1/2 quart extra total oil capacity, and a bit more filtration area for less pressure-drop across the filter.
Hope this helps!