2015 Ram ProMaster fuel

ADDING FUEL .........................66
▫ Avoid Using Contaminated Fuel ............67
▫ Bulk Fuel Storage — Diesel Fuel ...........67
▫ Diesel Exhaust Fluid Storage ..............68
▫ Adding Diesel Exhaust Fluid ..............68
DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID .................71
▫ System Overview ......................71
 TRAILER TOWING ......................72
▫ Common Towing Definitions ..............72
▫ Towing Tips ..........................84
36 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, both inside
and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
The starter is allowed to crank for up to 10-second
intervals. Waiting a few minutes between such intervals
will protect the starter from overheating.
WARNING!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not leave the Key Fob in or near the vehicle (or
in a location accessible to children). A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move
the vehicle.
NOTE: Engine start up in very low ambient temperature
could result in evident white smoke. This condition will
disappear as the engine warms up.
CAUTION!
If the “Generic Warning Light” remains on and a
“Service Fuel Filter” message displays, DO NOT
START engine before you drain the water from the
fuel filter housing to avoid engine damage. Please
see your authorized dealer for draining the fuel
filter/water separator and fuel filter replacement.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 37

Normal Starting Procedure
The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL (N) position,
and the brake pedal must be pressed, to allow engine
cranking. Place the shift lever in NEUTRAL (N) and
apply the brake pedal BEFORE turning the key to the
START/AVV position; otherwise, the engine will not
crank and the key must be cycled OFF, then back on,
before cranking is allowed.
Observe the instrument panel cluster lights when starting
the engine.
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Place the shift lever into the NEUTRAL (N) position while keeping the brake pedal depressed. 3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN/MAR posi-
tion and watch the instrument panel cluster lights.
CAUTION!
If the “Generic Warning Light” remains on and a
“Service Fuel Filter” message displays, DO NOT
START engine before you drain the water from the
fuel filter housing to avoid engine damage. Please
see your authorized dealer for draining the fuel
filter/water separator and fuel filter replacement.
4. After the Glow Plug light turns off, turn the ignition switch to the AVV (START) position to start the engine.
Do not press the accelerator during starting.
5. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, release the ignition key so that it
turns back to the ON/RUN position.
38 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:The engine and transmission block heater cord is
a factory installed option. If your vehicle is not equipped,
heater cords are available from your authorized
MOPAR® dealer.
• A 12 Volt heater built into the fuel filter housing aids in
preventing fuel gelling. It is controlled by a built-in
thermostat.
• A Diesel Pre-Heat system both improves engine start-
ing and reduces the amount of white smoke generated
by a warming engine.
NORMAL OPERATION
Observe the following when the diesel engine is operat-
ing.
• All message center lights are off.
• Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is off.
• Generic Warning Light is off. •
Engine Oil Pressure telltale is not illuminated.
Cold Weather Precautions
Operation in ambient temperature below 32°F (0°C) may
require special considerations. The following charts sug-
gest these options:
Fuel Operating Range
NOTE: Use “Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuels” ONLY.
Fuel Operating Range Chart
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 41

*No. 1 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel should only be used
where extended arctic conditions (-10°F/-23°C) exist.
NOTE:
•Use of Climatized Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel or
Number 1 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel results in a
noticeable decrease in fuel economy.
• Climatized Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel is a blend of
Number 2 Ultra Low Sulfur and Number 1 Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel Fuels which reduces the temperature at
which wax crystals form in fuel.
• The fuel grade should be clearly marked on the pump
at the fuel station.
• The engine requires the use of “Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel Fuel”. Use of incorrect fuel could result in
engine and exhaust system damage. Refer to “Fuel
Requirements” in “Starting And Operating” for fur-
ther information. •
Commercially available fuel additives are not neces-
sary for the proper operation of your diesel engine.
However, if seasonably adjusted fuel is not available
and you are operating below 20°F (-6°C), MOPAR
Premium Diesel Fuel Treatment (or equivalent) may be
beneficial to avoid fuel gelling.
Engine Oil Usage
Refer to “Maintenance Procedures” in “Maintaining Your
Vehicle” for the correct engine oil viscosity.
Engine Warm-Up
Avoid full throttle operation when the engine is cold.
When starting a cold engine, bring the engine up to
operating speed slowly to allow the oil pressure to
stabilize as the engine warms up.
If temperatures are below 32°F (0°C), operate the engine
at moderate speeds for five minutes before full loads are
applied.
42 STARTING AND OPERATING

Engine Idling
Avoid prolonged idling, long periods of idling may be
harmful to your engine because combustion chamber tem-
peratures can drop so low that the fuel may not burn
completely. Incomplete combustion allows carbon and var-
nish to form on piston rings, cylinder head valves, and
injector nozzles. Also, the unburned fuel can enter the
crankcase, diluting the oil and causing rapid wear to the
engine.
Stopping The Engine
Idle the engine a few minutes before routine shutdown.
After full load operation, idle the engine three to five
minutes before shutting it down. This idle period will
allow the lubricating oil and coolant to carry excess heat
away from the combustion chamber, bearings, internal
components, and turbocharger. This is especially impor-
tant for turbocharged diesel engines.NOTE:
Refer to the following chart for proper engine
shutdown.
Driving
Condition Load
Turbo-
charger
Tempera- tureIdle Time
(min.) Be-
fore Engine Shutdown
Stop and GoEmpty CoolLess than One
Stop and GoMedium One
Highway Speeds Medium Warm Two
City Traffic Maximum GCWR Three
Highway Speeds Maximum
GCWR Four
Uphill Grade Maximum
GCWR Hot Five
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 43

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
• 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/TRANSMISSION HEATER — IF
EQUIPPED
To ensure reliable starting/operating at these tempera-
tures, use of an externally powered electric engine block/
transmission heater (available from your authorized
dealer) is recommended.
The engine block heater warms engine coolant and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. The transmission
heaters warm gearbox oil and hydraulic actuation system
oil to operate in cold weather. Connect the heater cord to
a ground-fault interrupter protected 110–115 Volt AC
electrical outlet with a grounded, three-wire extension
cord.
Its use is recommended for environments that routinely
fall below -10°F (-23°C). It should be used when the
vehicle has not been running overnight or longer periods
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 45

Towing The Vehicle
•The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle
with all four wheels OFFthe ground using a flatbed.
• Automated Manual transmission vehicles can also be
flat towed (all four wheels on the ground) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL. Ensure the transmission is
in NEUTRAL (N) (by checking that the vehicle moves
when pushed) and tow in the same way as a normal
vehicle with a manual transmission.
CAUTION!
• DO NOT flat tow any disabled vehicle if condition
is related to the clutch, transmission or driveline.
Additional damage to the drivetrain could result.
• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above re-
quirements can cause severe engine, transmission,
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
or drivetrain damage. Damage from improper tow-
ing is not covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
If it is not possible to shift the transmission to NEUTRAL
(N), do not flat tow the vehicle and contact your autho-
rized dealer.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Use good quality diesel fuel from a reputable supplier in
your vehicle. Federal law requires that you must fuel this
vehicle with Ultra Low Sulfur Highway Diesel fuel
(15 ppm Sulfur maximum) and prohibits the use of Low
Sulfur Highway Diesel fuel (500 ppm Sulfur maximum)
to avoid damage to the emissions control system.
60 STARTING AND OPERATING