2016 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab checking oil

WARNING!(Continued)
•If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running, adjust your heating or cooling
controls to force outside air into the vehicle. Set the
blower at high speed.
The best protection against carbon monoxide entry into
the vehicle body is a properly maintained engine exhaust
system.
Whenever a change is noticed in the sound of the exhaust
system, when exhaust fumes can be detected inside the
vehicle, or when the underside or rear of the vehicle is
damaged, have a competent mechanic inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent body areas for broken,
damaged, deteriorated, or mispositioned parts. Open
seams or loose connections could permit exhaust fumes
to seep into the passenger compartment. In addition,
inspect the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace as required.
Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle
Seat Belts
Inspect the seat belt system periodically, checking for
cuts, frays, and loose parts. Damaged parts must be
replaced immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the
system.
Front seat belt assemblies must be replaced after a
collision. Rear seat belt assemblies must be replaced after
a collision if they have been damaged (i.e., bent retractor,
torn webbing, etc.). If there is any question regarding seat
belt or retractor condition, replace the seat belt.
Air Bag Warning Light
The Air Bag warning lightwill turn on for four to
eight seconds as a bulb check when the ignition switch
is first turned to ON/RUN. If the light is either not on
during starting, stays on, or turns on while driving, 2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 115

CAUTION!(Continued)
•Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of your
vehicle and also allow extended maintenance inter-
vals. Do not use chemical flushes in these compo-
nents as the chemicals can damage your engine,
transmission, or air conditioning. Such damage is
not covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
If a flush is needed because of component malfunc-
tion, use only the specified fluid for the flushing
procedure.
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, such as every fuel stop. The best time to check the engine oil level is about five
minutes after a fully warmed up engine is shut off.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Always
maintain the oil level within the SAFE zone on the
dipstick. Adding one quart of oil when the reading is at
the bottom of the SAFE zone will result in a reading at the
top of the safe zone on these engines.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will cause
oil aeration or loss of oil pressure. This could damage
your engine.
564 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

EVIC/DID display (refer to “Electronic Vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC)/Driver Information Display (DID)” in
“Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for further in-
formation).
Use the following procedure to check the transmission
fluid level properly:
1. Monitor the transmission temperature using theEVIC/DID display, and operate the vehicle as re-
quired to reach the normal operating temperature. If
the transmission is not functioning properly, or the
vehicle cannot be driven, see the NOTE and CAU-
TION below about checking the fluid level at colder
temperatures.
2. Park the vehicle on level ground.
3. Run the engine at normal idle speed for at least 60 seconds, and leave the engine running for the rest of
this procedure. 4. Fully apply the parking brake and press the brake
pedal.
5. Place the shift lever momentarily into each gear posi- tion (allowing time for the transmission to fully en-
gage in each position), ending with the transmission in
PARK.
6. Wipe the area around the dipstick clean to prevent dirt from entering the transmission.
7. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean and reinsert it until seated.
8. Remove the dipstick again and note the fluid level on both sides. The fluid level reading is only valid if there
is a solid coating of oil on both sides of the dipstick.
Note that the holes in the dipstick will be full of fluid
if the actual level is at or above the hole. The fluid level
should be between the “HOT” (upper) reference holes
on the dipstick at normal operating temperature. If the
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 595

fluid level is low, add fluid through the dipstick tube
to bring it to the proper level.Do not overfill.Use
ONLY the specified fluid (see Fluids, Lubricants, and
Genuine Parts for fluid specifications). After adding
any quantity of oil through the dipstick tube, wait a
minimum of two minutes for the oil to fully drain into
the transmission before rechecking the fluid level.
NOTE: If it is necessary to check the transmission below
the operating temperature, the fluid level should be
between the two “COLD” (lower) holes on the dipstick
with the fluid at 60-70°F / 16-21°C for 66RFE transmis-
sion, or 68-86°F / 20-30°C for AS66RC transmission. Only
use the COLD region of the dipstick as a rough reference
when setting the fluid level after a transmission service
or fluid change. Re-check the fluid level, and adjust as
required, once the transmission reaches normal operating
temperature.CAUTION!
If the fluid temperature is below 50°F (10°C) it may
not register on the dipstick. Do not add fluid until
the temperature is elevated enough to produce an
accurate reading. Run the engine at idle, in PARK, to
warm the fluid.
9. Reinsert the dipstick. Check for leaks. Release the parking brake.
NOTE: To prevent dirt and water from entering the
transmission after checking or replenishing fluid, make
sure that the dipstick cap is properly reseated. It is
normal for the dipstick cap to spring back slightly from
its fully seated position, as long as its seal remains
engaged in the dipstick tube.
596 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Bulb Replacement........................ .615
Bulbs, Light ..........................117,614
Cab Top Clearance Lights ...................619
Camera, Rear ........................... .201
Capacities, Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ..........621
Capacities, Fluid ......................... .621
Caps, Filler Oil (Engine) .......................... .566
Power Steering ........................ .434
Radiator (Coolant Pressure) ................587
Carbon Monoxide Warning ...............114,498
Cargo Light ............................ .168
Car Washes ............................ .598
Center High Mounted Stop Light ..............618
Center Seat Storage Compartment .............218
Certification Label ........................ .500
Chart, Tire Sizing ........................ .457
Check Engine Light (Malfunction Indicator Light) . .561 Checking Your Vehicle For Safety
..............114
Checks, Safety ............................114
Child Restraint ............................82
Child Restraints Booster Seats ...........................87
Child Restraints .........................82
Child Seat Installation .................99, 102
How To Stow An Unused ALR Seat Belt ........98
Infants And Child Restraints ................84
Install A LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint ....97
Installing Child Restraints Using The Vehicle Seat
Belt ..................................99
Locating The LATCH Anchorages ............94
Lower Anchors And Tethers For Children .......89
Older Children And Child Restraints ..........86
Seating Positions ........................88
Cigar Lighter ............................211
Clean Air Gasoline ....................... .494
648 INDEX