The manual will specify the recommended oil type (likely conventional, possibly synthetic blend depending on the engine and conditions) and viscosity (e.g., 5W-30, 10W-30). Failing to use the correct oil can damage your engine.
If you don't have the owner's manual, you can try:
* Finding a digital copy online: Search for "1996 Dodge Caravan owner's manual" on a search engine.
* Checking with a Dodge dealership: They might have access to the specifications for your vehicle's engine.
* Looking for an oil fill cap: Sometimes the recommended oil type is printed on the oil fill cap itself. However, this isn't a reliable method.
Using the wrong oil can seriously harm your engine, so finding the correct information from your owner's manual or a trusted source is crucial.