2018 Ram 1500 differential fluid

Driving Through Water
Extreme care should be taken crossing any type of water.
Water crossings should be avoided if possible and only be
attempted when necessary, in a safe responsible manner.
You should only drive through areas which are designated
and approved. You should tread lightly and avoid damage
to the environment. You should know your vehicle’s
abilities and be able to recover it if something goes wrong.
You should never stop or shut a vehicle off when crossing
deep water unless you ingested water into the engine air
intake. If the engine stalls do not attempt to restart it.
Determine if it has ingested water first. The key to any
crossing is low and slow. You want to use first gear in 4L
(Low Range) and proceed very slowly with a constant slow
speed (3-5 mph [5–8 km/h] maximum) and light throttle.
Keep the vehicle moving; do not try to accelerate through
the crossing. After crossing any water higher than the
bottom of the axle differentials, you should inspect all of
the vehicle fluids for signs of water ingestion.
CAUTION!
Water ingestion into the axles, transmission, transfer
case, engine or vehicle interior can occur if you drive
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
too fast or through too deep of water. Water can cause
permanent damage to engine, driveline or other ve-
hicle components and your brakes will be less effec-
tive once wet and/or muddy.
• Before You Cross Any Type Of Water – As you ap-
proach any type of water you need to determine if you
can cross it safely and responsibly. If necessary, get out
and walk through the water or probe it with a stick. You
need to be sure of its depth, approach angle, current and
bottom condition. Be careful of murky or muddy waters,
check for hidden obstacles. Make sure you will not be
intruding on any wildlife and you can recover the
vehicle if necessary. The key to a safe crossing is the
water depth, current and bottom conditions. On soft
bottoms the vehicle will sink in, effectively increasing
the water level on the vehicle. Be sure to consider this
when determining the depth and the ability to safely
cross.
• Crossing Puddles, Pools, Flooded Areas Or Other
Standing Water – Puddles, pools, flooded or other
standing water areas normally contain murky or muddy
waters. These water types normally contain hidden
obstacles and make it difficult to determine an accurate
370 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:The presence of water in the gear lubricant will
result in corrosion and possible failure of differential
components. Operation of the vehicle in water, as may be
encountered in some off-highway types of service, will
require draining and refilling the axle to avoid damage.
Limited-Slip Differentials
1500 Model rear axles equipped with a Limited Slip
Differential require that 5 oz. (148 ml) Mopar Limited Slip
Additive be added to the gear lubricant. Refer to “Fluids
And Lubricants” in “Technical Specification” for further
information. The Mopar Limited Slip Additive should be
added to the gear lubricant whenever a fluid change is
made to an axle equipped with a Limited Slip Differential.
2500/3500 Model axles DO NOT REQUIREany limited
slip oil additive (friction modifiers).
NOTE: When refilling an axle with a Limited Slip Differ-
ential, (which requires a Limited Slip Additive), the Lim-
ited Slip Additive should be added before the gear lubri-
cant is added to insure proper additive fill.
Drain And Refill
Refer to the “Maintenance Plan” for the proper mainte-
nance intervals.
Transfer Case
Selection Of Lubricant
Use only the manufacturer’s recommended fluid. Refer to
“Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifications” for
further information.
Fluid Level Check
This fluid level can be checked by removing the filler plug.
The fluid level should be to the bottom edge of the filler
plug hole with the vehicle in a level position.
Drain And Refill
Refer to the “Maintenance Plan” for the proper mainte-
nance intervals.8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 557

Starting...............................289
Engine Oil Viscosity .....................529, 530
Engine Oil Viscosity Chart ....................529
Enhanced Accident Response Feature .........250, 514
Entry System, Illuminated .....................83
Ethanol ............................. .598, 600
Exhaust Gas Caution .....................279, 600
Exhaust System ........................279, 545
Exterior Lighting ............................73
Exterior Lights ..........................73, 281
Filters Air Cleaner ............................ .531
Air Conditioning .....................105, 534
Engine Oil ..........................530, 604
Engine Oil Disposal .......................530
Flashers Turn Signal .......................78, 198, 281
Flash-To-Pass ..............................76
Flat Tire Stowage .......................480, 497
Flexible Fuel Vehicles Cruising Range ..........................602
Engine Oil ............................ .601
Fuel Requirements ....................600, 601
Maintenance ............................602 Replacement Parts
........................602
Starting ...............................602
Flooded Engine Starting ..................... .293
Fluid, Brake ............................. .607
Fluid Capacities ............................603
Fluid Leaks ...............................282
Fluid Level Checks Brake .................................552
Power Steering ..........................394
Fluids And Lubricants .......................604
Fog Lights ..........................78, 197, 455
Fold Flat Load Floor ........................128
Folding Rear Seat ...........................44
Four-Way Hazard Flasher .....................447
Four Wheel

Drive ..........................324
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle ..................... .509
Front Axle (Differential) ..................... .556
Fuel ................................... .596
Adding ...............................413
Additives ............................. .597
Clean Air ............................. .597
Ethanol ............................598, 600
Filler Cap (Gas Cap) ..................... .414
Gasoline ...............................596
Light .................................196
686 INDEX

Daytime Running.........................74
Engine Temperature Warning ................191
Exterior ...............................281
Fog ............................78, 197, 455
Four-Wheel Drive Indicator .................327
Hazard Warning Flasher ...................447
Headlights ..............................73
High Beam ..............................74
High Beam/Low Beam Select .................74
Hill Descent Control Indicator ...............214
Illuminated Entry .........................83
Interior ............................. .80, 82
Low Fuel ............................. .196
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) ..........192
Park ................................. .198
Passing ................................76
Seat Belt Reminder .......................189
Security Alarm ..........................191
Service ............................... .452
Side Marker ............................460
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) ..........194, 216
Traction Control ........................ .212
Transfer Case .......................... .327
Turn Signal ................78, 198, 281, 454, 456
Warning (Instrument Cluster Description) . . . .191, 198 Limited-Slip Differential
..................375, 557
Loading Vehicle ............................414
Tires................................. .564
Load Shed Battery Saver Mode .......................187
Battery Saver On ........................ .187
Electrical Load Reduction ...................187
Intelligent Battery Sensor ...................187
Locks Automatic Door ..........................42
Child Protection ..........................43
Power Door .............................38
Low Tire Pressure System .....................216
Lubrication, Body ..........................541
Lug Nuts ............................... .594
Maintenance Fr

ee Battery.....................526
Maintenance Schedule .......................517
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) . . . .192, 201
Manual, Service ............................680
Manual Transmission Fluid Level Check ........................557
Lubricant Selection .......................607
Memory Feature (Memory Seat) .................44
Memory Seat ............................44, 49
12
INDEX 689

Passive Entry..............................39
Pedals, Adjustable ...........................62
Personalized Menu Bar ......................611
Personal Settings .......................... .182
Pets ................................... .278
Pickup Box ........................139, 141, 156
Placard, Tire And Loading Information ...........564
Power Distribution Center (Fuses) ..................461
Door Locks ..............................38
Mirrors ................................67
Outlet (Auxiliary Electrical Outlet) .........133, 137
Seats ..................................46
Steering ........................ .392, 393, 394
Sunroof ...............................110
Windows ............................. .107
Power Seats Down ...............................47, 49
Forward ............................ .47, 48
Rearward ............................47, 48
Recline .................................47
Tilt .................................47, 49
Up .................................47, 49
Power Steering Fluid ........................607
Pregnant Women And Seat Belts ................234Pretensioners
Seat Belts ............................. .234
Programmable Electronic Features ...............182
Radial Ply Tires ............................570
Radiator Cap (Coolant Pressure Cap) .........547, 549
Radio Frequency General Information ................27, 33, 35, 42
Radio Operation .......................... .654
Rain Sensitive Wiper System ...................85
Ramp Travel Index ........................ .363
Rear Axle (Differential) ..................... .556
Rear Cargo Area Utility Rails ..................151
Rear ParkSense System ...................398, 404
Rear Seat, Folding ..................... .44, 55, 56
Reclining Rear Seats .........................46
Recreational Towing ........................ .436
Shifting Into

Transfer Case Neutral (N) .........438
Shifting Out Of Transfer Case Neutral (N) .......440
Reformulated Gasoline .......................597
Refrigerant ...............................534
Release, Hood .............................112
Reminder, Seat Belt ........................ .224
Remote Keyless Entry ........................22
Panic Alarm .............................23
12
INDEX 691