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Cooling System Tips — Automatic Transmission
To reduce potential for engine and transmission over-
heating in high ambient temperature conditions, take the
following actions:
•City Driving —
When stopped, shift the transmission into NEUTRAL
and increase engine idle speed.
•Highway Driving —
Reduce your speed.
•Up Steep Hills —
Select a lower transmission gear.
•Air Conditioning —
Turn it off temporarily.
Do Not Operate The Engine With Low Oil Pressure
When the engine is at normal operating temperature, the
minimum oil pressures required are:
Idle 700 to 800 RPM 10 psi (69 kPa)
Full speed and load 30 psi (207 kPa)
CAUTION!
If oil pressure falls to less than normal readings, shut
the engine off immediately. Failure to do so could
result in immediate and severe engine damage.
Do Not Operate The Engine With Failed Parts
All engine failures give some warning before the parts
fail. Be on the alert for changes in performance, sounds,
and visual evidence that the engine requires service.
Some important clues are:
•engine misfiring or vibrating severely
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•sudden loss of power
•unusual engine noises
•fuel, oil or coolant leaks
•sudden change, outside the normal operating range, in
the engine operating temperature
•excessive smoke
•oil pressure drop
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms engine coolant and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the heater
cord to a ground-fault interrupter protected 110–115 Volt
AC electrical outlet with a grounded, three-wire exten-
sion cord.
The engine block heater cord is routed under the hood to
the right side and can be located just behind the grille
near the headlamp.NOTE:The engine block heater cord is a factory installed
option. If your vehicle is not equipped, heater cords are
available from your authorized MOPAR® dealer.
The block heater must be plugged in at least one hour to
have an adequate warming effect on the coolant.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110–115 Volt electrical cord could
cause electrocution.
NOTE:The block heater will require 110 Volts AC and 6.5
Amps to activate the heater element.
Block Heater Usage
For ambient temperatures below 0°F (-18°C), engine
block heater usage is recommended.
222 STARTING AND OPERATING
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NOTE:For application specific information with respect
to PTO and pump requirements and additional vehicle
information (wiring schematics, preset idle values, en-
gine speed limits, and vehicle hardware and software
requirements) please refer to the Body Builders Guide by
accessingwww.rambodybuilder.comand choosing the
appropriate links.
Power Take Off — Aftermarket Installation
If you did not order the PTO (Power Take Off) Prep
Package from the factory and want to convert your
vehicle, refer to the Body Builder’s Guide at
www.rambodybuilder.comor contact the manufacturer
directly at (866) 205–4102 (toll free).
ENGINE RUNAWAY
Diesel engine runaway is a rare condition affecting diesel
engines, where the engine consumes its own lubrication
oil and runs at higher and higher RPM until it overspeedsto a point where it destroys itself due to either mechani-
cal failure or engine seizure through lack of lubrication.
WARNING!
In case of engine runaway due to flammable fumes
from fuel spills or turbocharger oil leaks being
sucked into the engine, do the following to help
avoid personal injury and/or vehicle damage:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
2. Using a CO2 or dry chemical type fire extinguisher,
direct the spray from the fire extinguisher into the
grille on the passenger side so that the spray enters
the engine air intake.
The inlet for the engine air intake is located behind
the passenger side headlamp and receives air
through the grille.
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•No. 1 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel should only be used
where extended arctic conditions (-10°F or -23°C) exist.
Bio-Diesel Fuel Requirements
Chassis Cab Models
A maximum blend of 5% biodiesel meeting ASTM speci-
fication D975 may be used with your Cummins diesel
engine. If operation with Biodiesel blends greater than
5% but not greater than 20% (B6-B20) is desired, the truck
must first be reconfigured by an authorized Ram dealer
and the provisions in the following section must be
adhered to.
Pickup Models And Chassis Cab Models Ordered
With B20 Option
Your vehicle has been validated and approved for the use
of Biodiesel in blends up to 20% (B20) provided that youcomply with the requirements outlined below. It is im-
portant that you understand and comply with these
requirements. Failure to comply with Oil Change require-
ments for vehicles operating on biodiesel blends up to
B20 will result in premature engine wear. Such wear is
not covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Biodiesel is a fuel produced from renewable resources
typically derived from animal fat, rapeseed oil (Rapeseed
Methyl Ester (RME) base), or soybean oil (Soy Methyl
Ester (SME or SOME) base). Biodiesel fuel has inherent
limitations which require that you understand and ad-
here to the following requirements if you use blends of
Biodiesel greater then 5% but not greater than 20%
(B6-B20). There are no unique restrictions for the use of
B5. Use of blends greater than 20% is not approved. Use
of blends greater than 20% can result in engine damage.
Such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
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Fuel In Oil Dilution — Must Adhere To Required
Oil Change Interval
Fuel dilution of lubricating oil has been observed with
the use of Biodiesel fuel. Fuel in oil must not exceed 5%.
To ensure this limit is met your oil change interval must
be maintained to the following schedule:
•Ram PickUp 2500/3500 Only — 15,000 Miles*
•Ram 3500/4500/5500 Chassis Cab — 12,500 Miles*
(*unless otherwise notified with a oil service message)
CAUTION!
•Under no circumstances should oil change inter-
vals exceed 15,000 miles (24 000 km) pickup or
12,500 miles (20 000 km) chassis cab if operation
occurs with greater than 5% biodiesel blends. Oil
change intervals should not exceed 6 months in
either case. Failure to comply with these Oil
Change requirements for vehicles operating on
biodiesel blends up to B20 may result in premature
engine wear. Such wear is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
•B20 Biodiesel capable: The engine may suffer se-
vere damage if operated with concentrations of
Biodiesel higher than 20%.
252 STARTING AND OPERATING
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 6.7L DIESEL —
SIX-SPEED 68RFE (2500/3500 Models).......289
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 6.7L DIESEL —
SIX-SPEED AS69RC HD (3500/CHASSIS CAB
MODELS)............................290
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES...........291
▫Engine Oil..........................292
▫Engine Air Cleaner Filter................296
▫Draining Fuel/Water Separator Filter.......300
▫Engine Mounted Fuel Filter Replacement.....302
▫Underbody Mounted Fuel Filter Replacement. .304▫Priming If The Engine Has Run Out Of Fuel . .306
▫Intervention Regeneration Strategy — EVIC
Message Process Flow..................307
▫Diesel Exhaust Fluid...................308
▫Maintenance-Free Batteries..............309
▫Cooling System......................310
▫Charge Air Cooler — Inter-Cooler.........315
▫Brake System........................316
▫Clutch Hydraulic System................317
▫Transfer Case — If Equipped.............317
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ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 6.7L DIESEL — SIX-SPEED 68RFE (2500/3500 Models)
1 — Battery 7 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
2 — Engine Coolant Reservoir 8 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3 — Automatic Transmission Dipstick 9 — Power Distribution Center
4 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 10 — Engine Oil Dipstick
5 — Battery 11 — Engine Oil Fill
6 — Aux Power Distribution Center 12 — Air Cleaner Filter
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ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 6.7L DIESEL — SIX-SPEED AS69RC HD (3500/CHASSIS CAB MODELS)
1 — Battery 7 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
2 — Engine Coolant Reservoir 8 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3 — Automatic Transmission Dipstick 9 — Power Distribution Center
4 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 10 — Engine Oil Dipstick
5 — Battery 11 — Engine Oil Fill
6 — Aux Power Distribution Center 12 — Air Cleaner Filter 290 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE