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Oil Spec Recall/TSB - Grounds for Class-Action?

cevans

Active Member
Nov 1, 2015
141
90
Truck Year
2014
In late July FCA changed the oil specification for our trucks. All unsold 2016 were to be drained and refilled immediately before sale and any truck that was in for service is to be drained and refilled as well. Without any type of explanation we're left to wonder why all this happened.

I'm thinking that there are grounds for a class-action lawsuit against FCA for this under these two scenarios.

1) The oil specification that was originally used was discovered to be grossly under-protecting internal engine components. This means that for years owners and dealers used a recommended oil that was actually very harmful to their engines. Since engine damage resulted directly from the requirements put forward by FCA, it is my belief that FCA should compensate owners who suffered engine failure and bore the cost of engine repair or replacement AND should compensate all those who used oil according to their recommendation with monetary compensation for future repairs made necessary by increased internal engine wear and/or extended warranties for these owners.

2) The oil specification originally used is fine, however, FCA changed the specification for inventory simplicity and or cost savings. Notably, the new specification for 5w40 has a negative impact on engine efficiency and accordingly fuel economy - these trucks got their EPA numbers under the requirement that they used a high-efficiency 5w30 oil. By changing the oil specification the MPG numbers of this truck have been lowered below their EPA estimates, and FCA should compensate owners for their increased fuel consumption in accordance with previous settlements with other manufacturers such as Hyundai who also needed to adjust their MPG numbers downward years after selling the cars in the US market.
 
Last edited:

flying7

Active Member
Jul 15, 2014
175
42
Truck Year
2014
Well, it makes me wonder why they changed the spec all of a sudden with no explaintion. Perhaps the opportunity is there but its to early to tell if the switch has caused or will cause any problems for us
 

cevans

Active Member
Nov 1, 2015
141
90
Truck Year
2014
Well, the class action would hinge on discovery. The goal would be to force FCA to turn over internal documentation about why they made this change. If they knew it caused damage but actively sought to prevent that information from coming out, that would come out in discovery.
 

bobcat67

Active Member
May 19, 2016
223
88
Truck Year
2016
Not completely related, but I have the 5w-40 in mine now and haven't noticed a difference in economy
 

bobcat67

Active Member
May 19, 2016
223
88
Truck Year
2016
The thing that concerns me is why drain the oil out of the unsold trucks, that to me is the concerning part about this whole deal.
 

flying7

Active Member
Jul 15, 2014
175
42
Truck Year
2014
Something to do with oil cooler failure maybe.. or maybe something worse (internally)??
 

Brokedownbutgood

Active Member
Apr 17, 2016
289
103
Truck Year
2015
My guess is it had something too due with FCA going away from Pennzoil and lowering maintenance costs. Personally I switched to 5W-40 myself before the change with no noticeable change.
 

BoostN

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Jul 27, 2013
4,288
1,127
Truck Year
Not Listed
My guess is it had something too due with FCA going away from Pennzoil and lowering maintenance costs. Personally I switched to 5W-40 myself before the change with no noticeable change.

That was my first impression. But, if they are draining non-sold trucks oil and replacing it with the new spec that really takes away from the "cost saving" theory.
 

bobcat67

Active Member
May 19, 2016
223
88
Truck Year
2016
I know the trucking industry is already having a hard time with these newer, lighter oil formulations, saw a pic from a kenworth with a newer Cummins engine in it, had been running 10w-30 synthetic blend in it since the first change, cam was completely shot and needed an overhaul at 300,000 miles and it wasn't in town hauling it was OTR, because they drained the oil and replaced it from unsold trucks leads me to believe there is a deeper problem than cost, maybe they had a gigantic mess up at the factory and filled em all with 5w-30 gasoline engine oil, switch to 5w-40 and alleviate a lot of that kind of confusion
 

Brokedownbutgood

Active Member
Apr 17, 2016
289
103
Truck Year
2015
I was thinking more on the line of lowering maintenance cost for customers. But ive seen enough clean oil analyst with the 5W-30 to be confident that it was a good oil.
 

MSP548

Active Member
Aug 30, 2016
202
62
Truck Year
2016
What is FCA? And, does anyone have a link to this information? I bought a new ecodiesel 3 days ago and I'm wondering if I should change the oil. I don't trust that the dealer did it.
 

John

Well-Known Member
Nov 13, 2015
1,186
386
Fiat Chrysler America. (FCA)

you should have the correct oil since it was purchased 3 days ago, but it wouldn't hurt to ask your dealer to confirm.

just mention TSB NUMBER: 18-078-16 and or RAPID RESPONSE TRANSMITTAL (RRT) 16-064.
 

Attachments

  • TSB-18-078-16 Oil Spec Change.pdf
    110.3 KB · Views: 136

MSP548

Active Member
Aug 30, 2016
202
62
Truck Year
2016
Fiat Chrysler America. (FCA)

you should have the correct oil since it was purchased 3 days ago, but it wouldn't hurt to ask your dealer to confirm.

just mention TSB NUMBER: 18-078-16 and or RAPID RESPONSE TRANSMITTAL (RRT) 16-064.
Thank you
 

BoostN

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Jul 27, 2013
4,288
1,127
Truck Year
Not Listed
What is FCA? And, does anyone have a link to this information? I bought a new ecodiesel 3 days ago and I'm wondering if I should change the oil. I don't trust that the dealer did it.

Welcome to the forum!
 

Mr Reed

New Member
Aug 27, 2016
26
5
Truck Year
2016
Question: If the service bulletin states this is under warranty, shouldn't my first oil change be free? Just asking opinions before I take my truck in. I bought it new the last days of June and now have 5k miles on it.
The dealer I bought this from sent me a service reminder and I have asked about this service bulletin, but have not gotten a response yet. I dont want to walk into the service department blind.
Thanks
 

bobcat67

Active Member
May 19, 2016
223
88
Truck Year
2016
Everything except the oil filter is covered
 
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