2018 DODGE CHALLENGER fuel

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING THE ENGINE ..................196
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped .........196
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ......196
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .197
▫ Cold Weather Operation
(Below –22°F Or 30°C) ..................199
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ..................199
▫ After Starting ......................... .199
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . . .199
 ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS . . . .200
 PARKING BRAKE ...................... .202
 MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED . . .204
▫ Six-Speed Manual Transmission .............204
▫ Shifting ............................. .205▫
Recommended Shift Speeds ................206
▫ 1–4 Skip Shift ........................ .207
▫ Downshifting ......................... .207
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION —
IF EQUIPPED ......................... .207
▫ Ignition Park Interlock ...................209
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . . .209
▫ Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission .........209
 SPORT MODE — WITHOUT PERFORMANCE
CONTROL ........................... .218
 FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY 5.7L AND
6.4L ONLY — IF EQUIPPED ................218
 POWER STEERING ..................... .218
 SPEED CONTROL — IF EQUIPPED ..........219
▫ To Activate .......................... .220
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REFUELING THE VEHICLE ................250
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message .............251
 VEHICLE LOADING .....................251
▫ Vehicle Certification Label ................251
▫ Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ........252
▫ Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) ..........252
▫ Overloading ......................... .252
▫ Loading ............................ .252
 TRAILER TOWING ..................... .253
▫ Common Towing Definitions ...............253
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ................256 ▫
Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight
Ratings) ............................ .256
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ...............257
▫ Towing Requirements ...................257
▫ Towing Tips ......................... .261
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ....................262
 DRIVING TIPS ......................... .263
▫ Driving On Slippery Surfaces ..............263
▫ Driving Through Water ..................264
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STARTING AND OPERATING 195

NOTE:If the ignition switch is left in the ACC or RUN
(engine not running) position and the transmission is in
PARK, the system will automatically time out after 30
minutes of inactivity and the ignition will switch to the
OFF position.
Cold Weather Operation (Below –22°F Or 30°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
• Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel
could enter the catalytic converter and once the
engine has started, ignite and damage the converter
and vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster cables
may be used to obtain a start from a booster battery
or the battery in another vehicle. This type of start
can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer to “Jump
Starting Procedure” in “In Case Of Emergency” for
further information.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically, and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a grounded,
three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 199

wear in with each other. This wearing in occurs mainly
during the first 500 miles (805 km) and continues through
the first oil change interval.
It is recommended for the operator to observe the follow-
ing driving behaviors during the new vehicle break-in
period:
0 to 100 miles (0 to 161 km):
•Do not allow the engine to operate at idle for an
extended period of time.
• Press the accelerator pedal slowly and not more than
halfway to avoid rapid acceleration.
• Avoid aggressive braking.
• Drive with the engine speed less than 3,500 RPM.
• Maintain vehicle speed below 55 mph (88 km/h) and
observe local speed limits.
100 to 300 miles (161 to 483 km):
• Press the accelerator pedal slowly and not more than
halfway to avoid rapid acceleration in lower gears (1st to
3rd gears).
• Avoid aggressive braking. •
Drive with the engine speed less than 5,000 RPM.
• Maintain vehicle speed below 70 mph (112 km/h) and
observe local speed limits.
300 to 500 miles (483 to 805 km):
• Exercise the full engine rpm range, shifting manually
(paddles or gear shift) at higher rpms when possible.
• Do not perform sustained operation with the accelerator
pedal at wide open throttle.
• Maintain vehicle speed below 85 mph (136 km/h) and
observe local speed limits.
For the first 1500 miles (2414 km):
• Do not participate in track events, sport driving schools,
or similar activities during the first 1500 miles (2414 km).
NOTE: Check engine oil with every refueling and add if
necessary. Oil and fuel consumption may be higher
through the first oil change interval.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 201

CAUTION!
Always make sure the vehicle comes to a complete stop
before shifting into REVERSE. Failure to do so may
result in transmission damage.
You must always use first gear (or REVERSE) when
starting from a standing position.
Recommended Shift Speeds
To utilize your manual transmission efficiently for fuel
economy, it should be upshifted as listed in recommended
shift speed chart.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION RECOMMENDED SHIFT SPEEDS — DODGE
Axle Ratio 1-44-5 5-6
3.90 mph 2037 48
(km/h) (32)(59) (77)
Earlier upshifts during cruise conditions (relatively steady
speeds) may result in increased fuel economy.
Higher upshift speeds may be used to obtain a desired
acceleration rate.
NOTE:
• Your vehicle is equipped with a transmission reverse
inhibitor system. Always depress the clutch pedal fully
to the floor before shifting into reverse. When vehicle
speed is greater than 3 mph (5 km/h), the reverse
inhibitor activates to help prevent shifts into REVERSE.
When at a complete stop, you may notice lighter shift efforts into REVERSE with the ignition switch in the ON
position (RUN position for Keyless Enter-N-Go), as
compared to the ignition LOCK position (OFF position
for Keyless Enter-N-Go). This is normal operation of the
transmission reverse inhibitor system.
• Due to the high performance nature of your drivetrain,
you may hear your transmission. This can be most
noticeable when the vehicle is idling in NEUTRAL with
the clutch engaged (clutch pedal released), but it may
also be heard when driving at low engine RPM. Also,
this may be more noticeable when the transmission is
206 STARTING AND OPERATING

warm. This is a normal condition and is not an indica-
tion of a problem with your clutch or transmission.
1–4 Skip Shift
In Auto Drive Mode, Default, or Street Drive Modes, there
are times when you must shift the transmission directly
from first gear to fourth gear instead of from first gear to
second gear. This is to help you get the best possible fuel
economy from your vehicle. This occurs when the engine
coolant (antifreeze) is higher than 106°F (41°C), vehicle
speed is greater than 19 mph (30 km/h) but less than
21 mph (34 km/h), and the transmission is in first gear, and
the accelerator is at ¼ throttle or less.
NOTE:The1-4Skip Shift feature is disabled when
selecting Sport Mode. Refer to “Performance Pages — If
Equipped” in the “Multimedia” section for further descrip-
tions of this mode.
After you shift the transmission to fourth gear, you can
press the clutch in and shift to another forward gear.
Downshifting
To maintain a safe speed and prolong brake life, downshift
to maintain a safe speed when descending a steep grade.
WARNING!
Skipping more than one gear while downshifting,
could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. You
could have a collision.
CAUTION!
• If you skip more than one gear while downshifting
or downshift at too high an engine speed, you could
damage the engine, transmission, or clutch.
• Do not downshift into first gear when the vehicle is
moving faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), as you could
damage the engine and/or clutch.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
WARNING!
• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the
parking brake. Always apply the parking brake fully
when exiting the vehicle to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or damage.
(Continued)
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STARTING AND OPERATING 207

DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and downshifts,
and the best fuel economy. The transmission automatically
upshifts through all forward gears. The DRIVE position
provides optimum driving characteristics under all normal
operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as when
operating the vehicle under heavy loading conditions, in
hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds, or while
towing a heavy trailer), use the AutoStick shift control (if
equipped, refer to “AutoStick” in this section for further
information) to select a lower gear. Under these conditions,
using a lower gear will improve performance and extend
transmission life by reducing excessive shifting and heat
buildup.
During extremely cold temperatures (-22°F [-30°C] or be-
low), transmission operation may be modified depending
on engine and transmission temperature as well as vehicle
speed. Normal operation will resume once the transmis-
sion temperature has risen to a suitable level.MANUAL (M)
The MANUAL (M, +/-) position (beside the DRIVE posi-
tion) enables full manual control of transmission shifting
(also known as AutoStick mode; refer to “AutoStick” in this
section for further information). Toggling the gear selector
forward (-) or rearward (+) while in the MANUAL
(AutoStick) position will manually select the transmission
gear, and will display the current gear in the instrument
cluster as M1, M2, M3, etc.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electronically for ab-
normal conditions. If a condition is detected that could
result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home
Mode is activated. In this mode, the transmission may
operate only in certain gears, or may not shift at all. Vehicle
performance may be severely degraded and the engine
may stall. In some situations, the transmission may not
re-engage if the engine is turned off and restarted. The
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may be illuminated. A
message in the instrument cluster will inform the driver of
the more serious conditions, and indicate what actions may
be necessary.
214 STARTING AND OPERATING

SPORT MODE — WITHOUT PERFORMANCE
CONTROL
Your vehicle is equipped with a Sport Mode feature. This
mode is a configuration set up for typical enthusiast
driving. The engine, transmission (when equipped with
automatic transmission), and steering systems are all set to
their SPORT settings. Sport Mode will provide improved
throttle response and modified shifting for an enhanced
driving experience, as well the greatest amount of steering
feel. This mode may be activated and deactivated by
pushing the Sport button on the instrument panel switch
bank.
NOTE:If equipped with a manual transmission, th e1-4
Skip Shift Feature is disabled in SPORT Mode.
For vehicles equipped with Drive Modes or a “SUPER
TRACK PAK” button, refer to “Performance Pages — If
Equipped” in “Multimedia” for further information.
FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY 5.7L AND 6.4L ONLY
— IF EQUIPPED
This feature offers improved fuel economy by shutting off
four of the engine’s eight cylinders during light load and
cruise conditions. The system is automatic with no driver
inputs or additional driving skills required. NOTE:
This system may take some time to return to full
functionality after a battery disconnect.
POWER STEERING
The electric power steering system will give you good
vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability in
tight spaces. The system will vary its assist to provide light
efforts while parking and good feel while driving. If the
electric steering system experiences a fault that prevents it
from providing assist, you will still have the ability to steer
the vehicle manually.
WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced assist could pose a
safety risk to yourself and others. Service should be
obtained as soon as possible.
Alternate electric power steering efforts can be selected
through the Uconnect System. Refer to ”Customer Pro-
grammable Features” within “Uconnect Settings” in “Mul-
timedia” for further information. If the Electric Power Steering warning icon is
displayed and the “SERVICE POWER STEER-
ING” or the “POWER STEERING ASSIST OFF –
218 STARTING AND OPERATING