Page 431 of 517

CAUTION!(Continued)
•Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of your
vehicle and also allow extended maintenance inter-
vals. Do not use chemical flushes in these compo-
nents as the chemicals can damage your engine,
transmission, power steering or air conditioning.
Such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. If a flush is needed because of
component malfunction, use only the specified
fluid for the flushing procedure.
Engine Oil
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil must
be maintained at the correct level. Check the oil level at
regular intervals, such as every fuel stop. The best time to check the engine oil level is about five minutes after a
fully warmed engine is shut off. Do not check oil level
before starting the engine after it has sat overnight.
Checking engine oil level when the engine is cold will
give you an incorrect reading.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground and
only when the engine is hot, will improve the accuracy of
the oil level readings. Maintain the oil level between the
range markings on the dipstick. Either the range mark-
ings consist of a crosshatch zone marked SAFE or a
crosshatch zone marked with MIN at the low end of the
range and MAX at the high end of the range. Adding one
quart of oil when the reading is at the low end of the
range marking will raise the oil level to the high end of
the range marking.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 429
Page 454 of 517

3. Fully apply the parking brake, and press the brakepedal.
4. Place the shift lever momentarily into each gear posi- tion (allowing time for the transmission to fully en-
gage in each position), ending with the shift lever in
PARK.
5. Wipe the area around the dipstick clean to prevent dirt from entering the transmission.
6.
Remove the dipstick and determine if the fluid is hot or
cold. Hot fluid is approximately 180° F (82° C), which is
the normal operating temperature after the vehicle is
driven at least 15 miles (24 km). Hot fluid cannot be held
comfortably between the fingertips. Cold fluid is at a
temperature of approximately 80° F (27° C).
7. Wipe the dipstick clean and reinsert it until seated. Then, remove the dipstick and note the fluid level on
both sides. The fluid level reading is only valid if there
is a solid coating of oil on both sides of the dipstick.
Note that the holes in the dipstick will be full of fluid
if the actual level is at or above the hole.
• If the fluid is hot, the fluid level should be in the
crosshatched area marked “HOT” (between the up-
per two holes in the dipstick).
• If the fluid is cold, the fluid level should be between
the lower two holes in the area marked “COLD.”
If the fluid level is low, add fluid through the dipstick
tube to bring it to the proper level. Do not overfill. After
adding any quantity of oil through the dipstick tube, wait
at least two minutes for the oil to fully drain into the
transmission before rechecking the fluid level.
8. Check for leaks. Release the parking brake.
452 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 502 of 517

Emergency, In Case ofJacking .............................. .398
Jump Starting ......................... .410
Towing ............................. .417
Emergency Trunk Release ....................42
Emission Control System Maintenance ..........426
Engine ................................ .423
Air Cleaner .......................... .433
Block Heater ......................... .300
Break-In Recommendations .................96
Checking Oil Level ..................... .429
Compartment ......................... .424
Compartment Identification ................424
Coolant (Antifreeze) .....................443
Cooling ............................. .442
Exhaust Gas Caution .....................98
Fails to Start .......................... .298
Flooded, Starting ...................... .298
Fuel Requirements ..................... .369Jump Starting
......................... .410
Oil................................. .429
Oil Change Interval ..................... .216
Oil Filler Cap ......................... .423
Oil Selection .......................... .430
Oil Synthetic ......................... .431
Overheating .......................... .396
Starting ............................. .296
Temperature Gauge ..................... .210
Engine Oil Viscosity ...................... .431
Engine Oil Viscosity Chart ...................431
Enhanced Accident Response Feature ............71
Entry System, Illuminated ....................21
Ethanol ............................... .370
Event Data Recorder ........................74
Exhaust Gas Caution ........................98
Exhaust System ...........................98
Exterior Lights .......................... .101
500 INDEX
Page 508 of 517

Lubrication, Body........................ .438
Lumbar Support ......................... .156
Maintenance Free Battery ....................433
Maintenance Procedures ....................428
Maintenance Schedule ..................... .476
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) .......222
Manual, Service ......................... .490
Map/Reading Lights ...................... .170
Master Cylinder (Brakes) ....................449
Methanol .............................. .370
Mini-Trip Computer ...................... .224
Mirrors ............................... .107
Automatic Dimming .....................107
Electric Powered ....................... .109
Heated ...............................110
Outside ..............................110
Rearview ............................ .107
Vanity ...............................111 Modifications/Alterations, Vehicle
...............7
Monitor, Tire Pressure System ................360
Mopar Parts ............................ .427
MTBE/ETBE ........................... .370
New Vehicle Break-In Period ..................96
Occupant Restraints ........................67
Occupant Restraints (Sedan) ..................42
Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel) ................369
Odometer .............................. .214
Trip ................................ .214
Oil Change Indicator ...................... .216
Oil Change Indicator, Reset ..................216
Oil, Engine ............................. .429
Capacity ............................ .471
Change Interval ....................... .216
Checking ............................ .429
Dipstick ............................. .429
506 INDEX