2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY oil temperature

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If temperature gauge reads (H),
pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with
the air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the“H”, and you hear continuous chimes, turn the
engine off immediately, and call for service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, see Section 7 of this manual. Follow
the warnings under the Cooling System Pressure
Cap paragraph.
17. Washer Fluid Light
This light turns on when the washer fluid level
falls below approximately 1/4 filled. The light will
remain on until fluid is added.
18. Transmission Range Indicator
This display indicator shows the automatic transaxle gear
selection.
204 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Change Engine Oil
Road conditions and your kind of driving affects the
interval at which your oil should be changed. Check the
following list to see if any apply to you.
•Day or night temperatures are below 32°F(0°C).
•Stop and Go driving.
•Extensive engine idling.
•Driving in dusty conditions.
•Short trips of less than 10 miles (16 km).
•More than 50% of your driving is at sustained high
speeds during hot weather, above 90°F (32°C).
•Trailer towing.
•Taxi, Police or delivery service (commercial service).
•Off-Road or desert operation.IfANYof these apply to you, then change your engine oil
every 3,000 miles (4 800 km) or 3 months, whichever
comes first.
If none of these apply to you, then change your engine oil
every 6,000 miles (10 000 km) or 6 months whichever
comes first.
NOTE:Under no circumstances should oil change in-
tervals exceed 6,000 miles (10 000 km) or 6 months
whichever comes first.
Engine Oil Selection
For best performance and maximum protection under all
types of operating conditions, the manufacturer only
recommends engine oils that are API certified and meet
the requirements of DaimlerChrysler Material Standard
MS-6395.
382 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

American Petroleum Institute (API) Engine Oil
Identification Symbol
This symbol means that the oil has
been certified by the American
Petroleum Institute (API). The
manufacturer only recommends
API Certified engine oils.
Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade)
SAE 5W-20 engine oil is recommended for all operating
temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature
starting and vehicle fuel economy. Refer to your engine
oil filler cap for the recommended engine oil viscosity for
your vehicle.
For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to
the Engine Compartment illustration in this section.Lubricants which do not have both, the engine oil certi-
fication mark and the correct SAE viscosity grade num-
ber should not be used.
Synthetic Engine Oils
There are a number of engine oils being promoted as
either synthetic or semi-synthetic. If you chose to use
such a product, useonlythose oils that meet the Ameri-
can Petroleum Institute (API) and have the correct SAE
viscosity grade. Follow the maintenance schedule that
describes your driving type.
Materials Added to Engine Oil
The manufacture strongly recommends against the addi-
tion of any additives (other than leak detection dyes) to
the engine oil. Engine oil is an engineered product and
it’s performance may be impaired by supplemental ad-
ditives.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 383
7

vehicle, or when the underside or rear of the vehicle is
damaged, have a competent mechanic inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent body areas for broken,
damaged, deteriorated, or mispositioned parts. Open
seams or loose connections could permit exhaust fumes
to seep into the passenger compartment. In addition,
inspect the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace as required.
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO) which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing CO, fol-
low the preceding safety tips.
Cooling System
Inspection
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling fan, turn
the ignition key to the OFF position. The fan is
temperature controlled and can start at any time
when the ignition key is in the ON position.
•You or others can be badly burned by hot coolant
or steam from your radiator. If you see or hear
steam coming from under the hood, don’t open
the hood until the radiator has had time to cool.
Never try to open a cooling system pressure cap
when the radiator is hot.
394 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Temperature Gauge..................... 203
Exhaust Gas Caution..............38,83,335,394
Exhaust System......................... 393
Extender, Seat Belt........................ 53
Exterior Folding Mirrors................... 93
Filters
Air Cleaner.......................... 385
Air Conditioning....................288,390
Automatic Transaxle.................... 405
Engine Oil........................384,423
Engine Oil Disposal.................... 384
Flashers
Hazard Warning....................... 346
Turn Signal.....................200,418,420
Flat Tire Stowage........................ 357
Fluid Capacities......................... 422
Fluid Leaks............................. 85Fluid Level Checks
Automatic Transmission................. 404
Brake............................... 401
Power Steering........................ 390
Fog Light Service........................ 419
Fog Lights..........................142,419
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle................... 370
Fuel................................. 332
Adding............................. 336
Additives............................ 334
Clean Air............................ 333
Filler Cap............................ 336
Gasoline............................ 332
Gauge.............................. 199
Hoses.............................. 403
Light............................... 200
Octane Rating......................332,423
Requirements......................332,422
Tank Capacity........................ 422
INDEX 459
10

Lead Free Gasoline...................... 332
Liftgate................................ 35
Lights..............................85,138
Airbag........................58,68,84,202
Alarm.............................. 203
Anti-Lock........................... 202
Automatic Headlights................... 140
Back-Up............................. 420
Battery Saver......................... 141
Brake Warning........................ 200
Bulb Replacement...................416,417
Center Mounted Stop................... 421
Cruise.............................. 207
Dimmer Switch, Headlight............... 139
Door Ajar........................... 200
Engine Temperature Warning.............. 203
Fog .............................142,419
Hazard Warning Flasher................. 346
Headlight Switch...................... 139Headlights........................... 417
Headlights On Reminder................. 141
High Beam Indicator.................... 205
High Beam/Low Beam Select............. 143
Illuminated Entry....................... 16
Interior..........................138,139
License............................. 421
Liftgate Ajar.......................... 200
Lights On Reminder.................... 141
Low Fuel............................ 200
Malfunction Indicator................... 205
Oil Pressure.......................... 205
Park.............................139,418
Passing............................. 143
Reading............................. 154
Rear Servicing........................ 420
Rear Tail............................ 420
Seat Belt Reminder..................... 203
Security Alarm........................ 203
462 INDEX

Spark Plugs............................ 385
Speed Control.......................... 151
Speedometer........................... 200
Starting............................... 296
Engine Fails to Start.................... 297
Starting and Operating.................... 296
Starting Procedures...................... 296
Steering
Column Controls...................... 142
Linkage............................. 391
Power...........................307,390
Shaft Seal............................ 391
Tilt Column.......................... 146
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System
Controls............................. 262
Storage............................177,415
Storage Bin............................ 177
Storage, Vehicle......................287,415
Storing Your Vehicle...................... 415Sun Roof.............................. 169
Sun Visor Extension....................... 95
Sunglass Storage........................ 155
Sunroof Maintenance..................... 171
Supplemental Restraint System - Airbag........ 54
Synthetic Engine Oil...................... 383
System, Navigation...................... 243
Tachometer............................ 202
Tape Player............................ 224
Temperature Control, Automatic............. 276
Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant.......203,347
Tether Anchor, Child Restraint............... 74
Theft Alarm............................ 27
Theft System............................ 27
Theft System Arming...................... 28
Theft System Disarming.................... 28
Tilt Steering Column..................... 146
Tire and Loading Information Placard......314,315
468 INDEX