oil dipstick DODGE STRATUS SEDAN 2005 Owners Manual

WARNING!
You can be badly injured working on or around a
motor vehicle. Do only that service work for which
you have the knowledge and the proper equipment.
If you have any doubt about your ability to perform
a service job, take your vehicle to a competent
mechanic.
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
The pages that follow contain therequiredmaintenance
services determined by the engineers who designed your
vehicle.
Besides the maintenance items for which there are fixed
maintenance intervals, there are other items that should
operate satisfactorily without periodic maintenance.
However, if a malfunction of these items does occur, it
could adversely affect the engine or vehicle performance.
These items should be inspected if a malfunction is
observed or suspected.
Engine Oil
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper lubrication of your vehicle’s engine, 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 oil level is about 5 minutes
after a fully warmed engine is shut off or before starting
the engine after it has sat overnight.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Maintain
the oil level between the MIN and MAX markings on the
dipstick. Adding one quart of oil when the reading is at
the MIN mark will result in a MAX reading on these
engines.
206 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling will cause aeration or
loss of oil pressure. This could damage your engine.
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 decide if any apply to you.
•Day and 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 (16.2 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
•If equipped for and operating with E-85 (ethanol)
fuel.
NOTE:IfANYof these apply to you then change your
engine oil every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months,
whichever comes first and follow schedule“B”of the
Maintenance Schedulessection of this manual.
Engine Oil Dipstick
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 207
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Daytime Running Lights.................. 67
Dealer Service......................... 205
Defroster, Rear Window.................. 135
Defroster, Windshield...............50,128,134
Diagnostic System, Onboard............... 203
Dimmer Control........................ 64
Dimmer Switch, Headlight................. 67
Dipsticks
Automatic Transaxle................... 229
Disposal
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)............. 224
Engine Oil.......................... 210
Door Ajar Warning...................... 17
Door Locks............................ 15
Door Locks, Automatic................... 17
Door Opener, Garage..................... 74
Drive Belts............................ 210
Driving
On Slippery Surfaces.................. 196
Electrical Outlet, Auxiliary................. 81
Electrical Power Outlets................... 81
Electronic Speed Control.................. 71Emergency, In Case of
Freeing Vehicle When Stuck............. 197
Jacking............................. 188
Jump Starting........................ 193
Overheating......................... 186
Towing............................. 197
Emergency Trunk Release...............24,25
Emission Control System Maintenance....204,248
Engine............................201,202
Air Cleaner Filter..................... 211
Block Heater......................... 145
Break-In Recommendations............... 48
Checking Oil Level.................... 206
Compartment.....................201,202
Coolant (Antifreeze)................221,245
Cooling............................ 220
Exhaust Gas Caution.................. 176
Fails to Start......................... 144
Fuel Requirements.................173,244
Oil ..........................206,244,245
Oil Change Interval................... 207
Oil Selection......................208,244
Oil Synthetic......................... 209
INDEX 283
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