2007 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL engine oil

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS

Engine Compartment ....................378
▫ 5.9L HO Cummins Turbo Diesel ...........378

Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II) .........379

Replacement Parts ......................379

Engine Data Plate ......................380

Dealer Service .........................380

Service Information .....................380

Maintenance Procedures ..................383
▫ Engine Oil ..........................383 ▫
Drive Belt ...........................389
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter ................389
▫ Draining Fuel/Water Separator Filter .......391
▫ Maintenance Free Batteries ...............394
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance .............396
▫ Power Steering — Fluid Check ............397
▫ Front Suspension Ball Joints ..............397
▫ Steering Linkage — Inspection ............398
▫ Front Prop Shaft Lubrication .............398
7

•If an engine has been operating and the coolant is hot,
allow the engine to cool before you slowly loosen the
filler cap and relieve the pressure from the cooling
system.
•To avoid burns, remember that the engine components
will stay hot after the engine is shut off.
•Do not use gasoline or other flammable materials to
clean parts. Always use approved cleaning solvents.
•Relieve all pressure in the fuel, oil and cooling systems
before any lines, fittings or related items are removed
or disconnected. Be alert for possible pressure when
disconnecting any device from a system that utilizes
pressure. Do not check for pressure leaks with your
hand. High pressure oil or fuel can cause personal
injury.
WARNING!
Do not open the high pressure fuel system with the
engine running. Engine operation causes high fuel
pressure. High pressure fuel spray can cause serious
injury or death.
•Important: All maintenance other than that listed in
this manual, as well as some procedures listed here,
MUST be performed by your local Dodge Truck
Dealer. Your authorized Dodge Dealer has been
trained and has the necessary parts to maintain your
engine.
382 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

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. The best time to check
the oil level is before starting the engine after it has been
parked overnight. When checking oil after operating the engine, first ensure the engine is at full operating tem-
perature, then wait at least 15 minutes after engine
shutdown to check the oil.
Checking the vehicle while it’s on level ground will also
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Add oil
only when the level on the dipstick is below the “ADD”
mark. The total capacity from the low mark to the high
mark is 2 quarts (1.9 liters).
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will cause
oil aeration or loss of oil pressure. This could dam-
age your engine.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 383
7

Never operate the engine with oil level below the “ADD”
mark or above the upper “SAFE” mark.
Change Engine Oil
Road conditions as well as your kind of driving affect the
interval at which your oil should be changed. Check the
following to determine if any apply to you:
•Frequent short trips where the engine does not achieve
full operating temperature (operating temperature de-
fined as 190° F (66 ° C ) coolant temperature).
•Extensive engine idling (over 10 minutes per hour of
operation) at ambient temperatures less than 32° F (0°
C).
•Driving in dusty conditions.
•Frequent trailer towing.
•Taxi, police, or delivery service (commercial service).
•Off-road or desert operation.
•Extensive operation at high engine speeds (greater
than 2900 rpm) and loads (greater than 70% throttle).
384 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

IfANY of these apply to you, then change your engine oil
at every interval shown in schedule Bof the Mainte-
nance Schedules section of this manual.
If none of these apply to you, then change your engine oil
at every interval shown on schedule Aof the Mainte-
nance Schedules section of this manual.
NOTE: Most vehicles are operated under the conditions
listed for Schedule B.
Engine Oil Selection
1. Engine Oil Quality
Use only oils conforming to API Ser-
vice CI-4. A sulfated ash limit is speci-
fied for lubrication oil used in Cum-
mins engines. Oils with a high ash
content may produce deposits on
valves that can progress to guttering and valve burning. A maximum sulfated ash content of
1.85 mass % is recommended for all oil used in the
engine.
2. Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade)
The proper SAE viscosity of engine oil for the expected
ambient temperature range should be selected, as indi-
cated in the following chart:
NOTE:
The same oil change interval is to be followed
for synthetic oil as for petroleum based oil. Also, syn-
thetic oil must meet the same performance specifications
as petroleum oil.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 385
7

You may use synthetic engine oils provided the recom-
mended oil quality requirements are met, and the recom-
mended maintenance intervals for oil and filter changes
are followed.
Materials Added to Engine Oil
The manufacture strongly recommends against the addi-
tion of any additives (other than leak detection dyes or lube odorants) to the engine oil. Engine oil is an engi-
neered product and it’s performance may be impaired by
supplemental additives.
NOTE:
The manufacturer offers a lube odorant (Mopar
Diesel Fresh) for diesel engines crankcases. The lube
odorant is recommended by the manufacturer to reduce
the sulfur smell that may occur during engine idling.
Engine Oil Filter
Refer to Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts for the
correct part number. The engine oil filter should be
changed at everyengine oil change.
Engine Oil And Filter — Change
Operate the engine until the coolant temperature reaches
140°F (60°C). Shut the engine off. Remove the oil drain
plug.
Use a container that can hold at least 12 quarts (11.3
Liters) to hold the used oil.
386 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Always check the condition of the used oil. This can give
you an indication of some engine problems that might
exist.
•Thin, black oil indicates fuel dilution.
•Milky discoloration indicates coolant dilution.
Clean the area around the oil filter base. Remove the filter
from the underside of the vehicle using a cap style oil
filter wrench.
Clean the gasket surface of the filter mount. The filter
gasket can stick on the filter mount. Make sure it is
removed.
Change the engine oil filter with every engine oil change.
Only a high quality MOPAR filter should be used to
assure most efficient service.
CAUTION!
The filtering medium of other aftermarket filters
may disintegrate. Debris from failed filters may plug
the piston oil cooling nozzles, resulting in scuffed
pistons and engine failure.
CAUTION!
Fill the oil filter element with clean oil before
installation. Use the same type oil that will be used
in the engine. When filling the oil filter, prevent
foreign material from falling into the filter. Severe
engine damage may occur.
Apply a light film of lubricating oil to the sealing surface
of the filter gasket before installing the filter.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 387
7

CAUTION!
Overtightening may distort the threads or damage
the filter element seal.
Install the filter as specified by the filter manufacturer.
Turn the filter 3/4 to one full turn after making contact
with the gasket.
Check the condition of the threads and sealing surface on
the oil pan and drain plug.
Install the drain plug and sealing washer and tighten to
37 ft-lbs. (50 N·m).
Use only high-quality multi-grade lubricating oil in your
Cummins Diesel Engine. Choose the correct oil for your
operating conditions as outlined in the Selection of
Engine Oil. Cummins Turbo Diesel
Fill the engine with the correct grade of new oil. The
engine capacity is 11 quarts (10.4 liters) in the crankcase
and 1 quart (.95 liter) in the lubricating oil filter.
Start the engine and operate it at idle for several minutes.
Check for leaks at the lubricating oil filter and oil pan
drain plug.
Run the engine until it has reached operating tempera-
ture, stop the engine. Wait approximately 15 minutes to
let the oil in the upper parts of the engine drain back to
the pan. Check the oil level again.
Add oil as necessary to bring the level to the “SAFE”
mark on the dipstick.
388 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE