Oil Change Instructions for a Chrysler 300C

The Chrysler 300C is equipped with an automatic oil change indicator system that will let know when it is time to change your oil. This system automatically adjusts your oil change intervals based on driving habits so that you get the most out of your engine oil without driving beyond its chemical limits. Whether you have an Electronic Vehicle Information Center that displays "OIL Change Required" or a non-EVIC vehicle that displays "Change Oil" in the instrument cluster, you will know when the oil in your engine has reached its service limit.

Preparing the Vehicle

Place car ramps under the front tires and drive the vehicle onto the car ramps. Place the vehicle in park and set the parking brake. Open the hood and un-clip the top engine cover from its mounting grommets. Remove the rear belly pan by going under vehicle and removing the bolts that hold the pan in place. Set the belly pan aside.

Draining the Oil

Place the drain pan directly under the oil drain plug and remove the oil drain plug, being careful not splash oil onto your skin. After all the oil is drained, re-install the oil drain plug and tighten to 20 ft-lbs using a torque wrench.

Removing the Oil Filter

For a 5.7-liter engine, remove the oil filter from underneath the vehicle. Place the drain pan under the oil filter just behind the steering rack, next to the passenger side of the oil pan. Using an oil filter wrench, unscrew the filter counter-clockwise, being careful not to splash engine oil on your skin. Also, ensure the gasket ring on the oil filter came out with the filter; if it didn't, remove the gasket ring from the filter mating surface on the engine block.

For a 3.6-liter engine, remove the oil filter element from the top of the engine. Place rags around the oil filter housing located on the right front of the engine. Unscrew the top of the filter housing, clockwise, with a 1/2-inch-drive ratchet and socket. Slowly remove oil filter cap and element, allowing excess oil to drip off the filter element.

Installing the New Oil Filter

For a 5.7 L engine, remove the new filter from packaging and fill the filter with 5W20 oil. Using your finger, apply a thin coating of oil on the gasket ring and screw in the new filter onto engine clockwise until hand tight.

For a 3.6 L engine, unsnap the old filter element from the oil filter cap and using a pick, remove the the O-ring from the oil filter cap. Install the new oil filter cap O-ring and snap in the new oil filter element. Using your finger, apply a thin coating of 5W20 oil on the oil filter cap O-ring. Install the oil filter cap to the oil filter housing, turning in a clockwise direction. Tighten and then torque the oil filter cap to 18 ft-lbs using a torque wrench.

Filling and Checking the Engine Oil

Remove the oil filler cap on top of the engine and install a clean oil funnel. Pour 6 quarts of 5W20 engine oil (plus the partial quart left from filling oil filter, if you have the 5.7 L engine). Re-install the cap and start the engine, letting it run for about 40 seconds. Wait one minute and then check oil level using the oil dipstick. The oil level should be between the oil fill marks on the dipstick; if it's not, then add oil and recheck as necessary. After the oil level is set, check for leaks and re-install belly pan and bolts. Install the upper engine cover and ensure drain pan has been removed from under the vehicle. Back the vehicle off of the ramps.

Resetting the Service Indicator

Ensure the engine is off and the vehicle is in park. With the foot off of the brake, press the Start/Stop button two times to set the vehicle into "Run" mode without starting the engine. Then depress the accelerator pedal and release three times within 10 seconds. Press the Start/Stop button one more time to turn off the ignition and exit the service indicator reset mode. Start the vehicle and ensure the "Oil Change Required" or "Change Oil" message does not illuminate; if it does, repeat this step.