2008 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL Owners Manual

mVehicle Storage........................464
mReplacement Light Bulbs.................465
mBulb Replacement......................466
NHeadlight (Halogen)/Front Park And Turn
Lights.............................466
NFog Lights..........................469
NTail, Stop, Turn And Backup Lights.........470
NCenter High-Mounted Stoplight (CHMSL)
With Cargo Light.....................473
NCab Top Clearance Lights Ð If Equipped....474NTailgate ID Lights (Dual Rear Wheels) Ð If
Equipped...........................476
NRear Light Bar ID Marker (Dual Rear Wheel) Ð
If Equipped.........................477
NSide Marker Lights (Dual Rear Wheels)......478
mFluid Capacities........................479
mFluids, Lubricants And Genuine Parts........480
NEngine.............................480
NChassis............................482
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 407
7

ENGINE COMPARTMENT Ð 6.7L DIESEL ENGINE
408 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (OBD II)
Vehicles equipped with California emissions controls
have a sophisticated onboard diagnostic system called
OBDII. This system monitors the performance of the
emissions, engine, and automatic transmission control
systems. When these systems are operating properly,
your vehicle will provide excellent performance and fuel
economy, as well as engine emissions well within current
government regulations.
If any of these systems require service, the OBD II system
will turn on the ªMalfunction Indicator Light.º It will
also store diagnostic codes and other information to
assist your service technician in making repairs. Al-
though your vehicle will usually be driveable and not
need towing, see your dealer for service as soon as
possible.CAUTION!
Prolonged driving with the ªMalfunction Indicator
Lightº on could cause further damage to the emission
control system. It could also affect fuel economy and
driveability. The vehicle must be serviced before any
emissions tests can be performed.
If the ªMalfunction Indicator Lightº is flashing,
severe catalytic converter damage and power loss
will soon occur. Immediate service is required.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
Use of genuine Mopartparts for normal/scheduled
maintenance and repairs is highly recommended to en-
sure the designed performance. Damage or failures
caused by the use of non-Mopartparts for maintenance
and repairs will not be covered by the manufacturer's
warranty.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 409
7

ENGINE DATA PLATE
Use the information from the engine data plate when
discussing service or sourcing parts for your engine. The
engine data plate is located on the intake side of the
breather cover.
AUTHORIZED DEALER SERVICE
Your authorized dealer has the qualified service person-
nel, special tools and equipment to perform all service
operations in an expert manner. Service manuals are
available which include detailed service information for
your vehicle. Refer to these manuals before attempting
any procedure yourself.
NOTE:Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
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.
SERVICE INFORMATION
MopartFluids, Lubricants and Parts are available from your
authorized dealer and will help you keep your vehicle
operating at its best. Your authorized dealer also has the
qualified service personnel, special tools and equipment to
perform all service operations in an expert manner. Service
manuals are available which include detailed service infor-
mation for your vehicle. Refer to these manuals before
attempting any procedure yourself. See Service Publications
information at the back of this manual.
410 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
To maintain your vehicle safely follow these guide-
lines:
²Watch your vehicle's mileage and check your
Maintenance Schedules regularly for required ser-
vicing. Excessive wear or damage to certain vehicle
components can result if required services are not
performed.
²If you have your vehicle undercoated, inspect for
undercoating material on the propeller shafts.
Such material could cause the shafts to become
unbalanced and result in drivetrain vibrations.
Remove any undercoating with solvent.
²If you have your vehicle undercoated, make sure
no undercoating material is sprayed on the ex-
haust system or components of the seat belt
system.NOTE:It is not possible for the manufacturer and
Cummins, Inct. to anticipate every possible circumstance
that can involve a potential hazard.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 411
7

WARNING!
To maintain your vehicle safely and avoid personal injury, follow these
guidelines:
²Never spray or pour diesel fuel, flammable liquid or starting fluids
(ether) into the air cleaner assembly, air intake piping or turbocharger
inlet in an attempt to start the vehicle, unintended engine acceleration
may occur.
²Do not use alcohol or gasoline as a fuel blending agent. They can be
unstable under certain conditions and be hazardous or explosive
when mixed with diesel fuel.
²If 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.
²To avoid burns, remember that the engine components will stay hot
after the engine is shut off.
²Do not use gasoline or other flammable materials to clean parts.
Always use approved cleaning solvents.
²Relieve 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.
²Important: All maintenance other than that listed in this manual, as
well as some procedures listed here, MUST be performed by your
authorized dealer. Your authorized dealer has been trained and has
the necessary parts to maintain your engine.
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.
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.
412 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

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 30 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 ªADDº
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 damage
your engine.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 413
7

Never operate the engine with oil level below the ªADDº
mark or above the upper ªSAFEº mark.
Change Engine Oil (6.7L Diesel Engine)
Follow the 6.7L Diesel Maintenance Schedule for recom-
mended engine oil change intervals.
Engine Oil Selection (6.7L Diesel Engines)
For best performance and maximum protection under all
types of operating conditions, the manufacturer only
recommends engine oils that are API CJ-4 certified and
meet the requirements of DaimlerChrysler. Use Mopart
or an equivalent oil meeting DaimlerChrysler Material
Standards MS-10902. Products meeting CumminstCES
20081 may also be used. The identification of these
engine oils are typically located on the back of the oil
container.
American Petroleum Institute (API) Engine Oil
Identification Symbol
This symbol means that the oil has
been certified by the American Petro-
leum Institute (API). The manufacture
only recommends API CJ-4 certified
engine oils.
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 1.00 mass % is
recommended for all oil used in the engine.
The same oil change interval is to be followed for
synthetic oil as for petroleum based oil. Also, synthetic oil
must meet the same performance specifications as petro-
leum oil.
414 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE