Chrysler 300M, Dodge Interpid. Manual — part 5

MMT IN GASOLINE

MMT is a manganese-containing metallic additive

that is blended into some gasoline to increase octane.
Gasoline blended with MMT provide no performance
advantage beyond gasoline of the same octane num-
ber without MMT. Gasoline blended with MMT
reduce spark plug life and reduce emission system
performance in some vehicles. We recommend that
gasoline free of MMT be used in your vehicle. The
MMT content of gasoline may not be indicated on the
gasoline pump; therefore, you should ask your gaso-
line retailer whether or not his/her gasoline contains
MMT.

It is even more important to look for gasoline with-

out MMT in Canada because MMT can be used at
levels higher than allowed in the United States.
MMT is prohibited in Federal and California refor-
mulated gasoline.

SULFUR IN GASOLINE

If you live in the northeast United States, your

vehicle may have been designed to meet California
low emission standards with Cleaner-Burning Cali-
fornia reformulated gasoline with low sulfur. If such
fuels are not available in states adopting California
emission standards, your vehicles will operate satis-
factorily on fuels meeting federal specifications, but
emission

control

system

performance

may

be

adversely affected. Gasoline sold outside of California
is permitted to have higher sulfur levels which may
affect the performance of the vehicle’s catalytic con-
verter. This may cause the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (MIL), Check Engine or Service Engine Soon
light to illuminate. We recommend that you try a dif-
ferent brand of unleaded gasoline having lower sulfur
to determine if the problem is fuel related prior to
returning your vehicle to an authorized dealer for
service.

CAUTION: If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL),
Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light is flash-
ing, immediate service is required; see on-board
diagnostics system section.

MATERIALS ADDED TO FUEL

All gasoline sold in the United States and Canada

are required to contain effective detergent additives.
Use of additional detergents or other additives is not
needed under normal conditions.

FUEL SYSTEM CAUTIONS

CAUTION: Follow these guidelines to maintain your
vehicle’s performance:

• The use of leaded gas is prohibited by Federal

law. Using leaded gasoline can impair engine perfor-
mance, damage the emission control system, and
could result in loss of warranty coverage.

• An out-of-tune engine, or certain fuel or ignition

malfunctions, can cause the catalytic converter to
overheat. If you notice a pungent burning odor or
some light smoke, your engine may be out of tune or
malfunctioning and may require immediate service.
Contact your dealer for service assistance.

• When pulling a heavy load or driving a fully

loaded vehicle when the humidity is low and the tem-
perature is high, use a premium unleaded fuel to
help prevent spark knock. If spark knock persists,
lighten the load, or engine piston damage may result.

• The use of fuel additives which are now being

sold as octane enhancers is not recommended. Most
of these products contain high concentrations of
methanol. Fuel system damage or vehicle perfor-
mance problems resulting from the use of such fuels
or

additives

is

not

the

responsibility

of

DaimlerChrysler Corporation and may not be covered
under the new vehicle warranty.

NOTE: Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.

FLUID CAPACITIES

SPECIFICATIONS - FLUID CAPACITIES

DESCRIPTION

SPECIFICATION

Fuel Tank

64 L (17 gal.)

Engine Oil*

4.7 L (5.0 qts.)

Cooling System - 2.7L**

10.0 L (10.5 qts.)

Cooling System - 3.5L**

10.5 L (11.0 qts.)

Automatic Transaxle -

Estimated Service Fill

4.3 L (4.5 qts.)

Automatic Transaxle -

Overhaul Fill Capacity
with Torque Converter

Empty

8.8 L (9.3 qts.)

Differential

0.74 L (0.78 qts.)

*(includes filter)

**(includes heater and coolant recovery bottle filled to
MAX level)

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LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE

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FLUID TYPES (Continued)

FLUID FILL/CHECK
LOCATIONS

DESCRIPTION

The fluid check/fill point locations are located in

each applicable service manual section.

LUBRICATION POINTS

DESCRIPTION

Lubrication point locations are located in each

applicable Sections.

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

There are two maintenance schedules that show

the required service for your vehicle.

First is Schedule “B”. It is for vehicles that are

operated under the conditions that are listed below
and at the beginning of the schedule.

• 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).

L

• Trailer towing.L

• Taxi, police, or delivery service (commercial ser-

vice).

L

• Off-road or desert operation.

NOTE: If ANY of 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 Schedules

(

section of this

manual.

NOTE: Most vehicles are operated under the condi-
tions listed for Schedule

(

B

(

.

Second is Schedule “A”. It is for vehicles that are

not operated under any of the conditions listed under
Schedule

9B9.

Use the schedule that best describes your driving

conditions. Where time and mileage are listed, follow
the interval that occurs first.

NOTE: Under no circumstances should oil change
intervals exceed 6000 miles (10 000 km) or 6
months whichever comes first.

CAUTION: Failure to perform the required mainte-
nance items may result in damage to the vehicle.

At Each Stop for Fuel

• Check the engine oil level about 5 minutes after

a fully warmed engine is shut off. Checking the oil
level while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level reading. Add oil
only when the level is at or below the ADD or MIN
mark.

• Check the windshield washer solvent and add if

required.

Once a Month

• Check tire pressure and look for unusual wear

or damage.

• Inspect the battery and clean and tighten the

terminals as required.

• Check the fluid levels of coolant bottle, brake

master cylinder and transmission, add as needed.

• Check all lights and all other electrical items for

correct operation.

• Check rubber seals on each side of the radiator

for proper fit.

At Each Oil Change

• Change the engine oil filter.

• Inspect the exhaust system.

• Inspect the brake hoses.

• Inspect the CV joints and front and rear suspen-

sion components.

• Check the automatic transmission fluid level.

• Check the coolant level, hoses, and clamps.

• Rotate the tires at each oil change interval

shown on Schedule “A” 6,000 miles (10 000 km) or
every other interval shown on Schedule “B” 6,000
miles (10 000 km).

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LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE

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SCHEDULE “B”

Follow schedule “B” if you usually operate your

vehicle under one or more of the following conditions.
Change the automatic transmission fluid and filter
every 60,000 miles (96 000 km) if the vehicle is usu-
ally operated under one or more of the conditions
marked with an

L.

• 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 (16.2 km).

• More than 50% of your driving is at sustained high

speeds during hot weather, above 90° F (32° C).

L

• Trailer towing.L

• Taxi, police or delivery service (commercial ser-

vices).

L

• Off-road or desert operation.

• If equipped for and operating with E-85

(ethanol) fuel.

NOTE: If ANY of 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 Schedules

(

section of this

manual.

Miles

3,000

6,000

9,000

12,000

15,000

18,000

(Kilometers)

(5 000)

(10 000)

(14 000)

(19 000)

(24 000)

(29 000)

Change engine oil and engine oil filter.

X

X

X

X

X

X

Inspect the air cleaner filter and
replace if required.*

X

X

X

X

X

Replace the air cleaner filter.*

X

Inspect the front and rear brake linings
and rotors.

X

X

Adjust the drive belt tension.

X

Miles

21,000

24,000

27,000

30,000

33,000

36,000

(Kilometers)

(34 000)

(38 000)

(43 000)

(48 000)

(53 000)

(58 000)

Change engine oil and engine oil filter.

X

X

X

X

X

X

Inspect the air cleaner filter and
replace if required.*

X

X

X

X

X

Replace the air cleaner filter.

X

Inspect the front and rear brake linings
and rotors.

X

X

Adjust the drive belt tension.

X

Check and replace, if necessary, the
PCV valve.*

X

Miles

39,000

42,000

45,000

48,000

51,000

54,000

(Kilometers)

(62 000)

(67 000)

(72 000)

(77 000)

(82 000)

(86 000)

Change engine oil and engine oil filter.

X

X

X

X

X

X

Inspect the air cleaner filter and
replace if required.*

X

X

X

X

X

Replace the air cleaner filter.*

X

Adjust the drive belt tension.

X

Inspect the front and rear brake linings
and rotors.

X

X

Replace the differential fluid.

X

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LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE

0 - 7

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES (Continued)

Miles

57,000

60,000

63,000

66,000

69,000

72,000

(Kilometers)

(91 000)

(96 000)

(101 000)

(106 000)

(110 000)

(115 000)

Change engine oil and engine oil filter.

X

X

X

X

X

X

Inspect the air cleaner filter and
replace if required.*

X

X

X

X

X

Replace the air cleaner filter.

X

Inspect the front and rear brake linings
and rotors.

X

X

Replace the drive belts.

X

Check and replace, if necessary, the
PCV valve.* ‡

X

Change the automatic transaxle fluid
and filter.

X

Miles

75,000

78,000

81,000

84,000

87,000

90,000

(Kilometers)

(120 000)

(125 000)

(130 000)

(134 000)

(139 000)

(144 000)

Change engine oil and engine oil filter.

X

X

X

X

X

X

Inspect the air cleaner filter and
replace if required.*

X

X

X

X

Replace the air cleaner filter.*

X

Replace the air cleaner filter.

X

Adjust the drive belt tension.

X

X

Inspect the front and rear brake linings
and rotors.

X

X

Check and replace, if necessary, the
PCV valve.* ‡

X

Miles

93,000

96,000

99,000

100,000

102,000

105,000

(Kilometers)

(149 000)

(154 000)

(158 000)

(160 000)

(163 000)

(168 000)

Change engine oil and engine oil filter.

X

X

X

X

X

Inspect the air cleaner filter and
replace if required.*

X

X

X

X

Replace the air cleaner filter.

X

Inspect the front and rear brake linings
and rotors.

X

Flush and replace the engine coolant.

X

Replace the engine timing belt
(Federal Emissions).

X

Replace the engine timing belt
(California Emissions).

X

Replace the spark plugs.

X

Adjust the drive belt tension.

X

Change the differential fluid.

X

* This maintenance is recommended by the manu-

facture to the owner but is not required to maintain
the emissions warranty.

‡ This maintenance is not required if previously

replaced.

Inspection and service should also be performed

anytime a malfunction is observed or suspected.
Retain all receipts.

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LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE

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MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES (Continued)