2019 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
CONTENTS
SCHEDULED SERVICING .................489
▫ Maintenance Plan ...................... .490
▫ Heavy Duty Use Of The Vehicle ............493
 ENGINE COMPARTMENT .................494
▫ 3.6L Engine With Stop/Start ...............494
▫ 5.7L Engine Without Stop/Start ............495
▫ 5.7L Engine With Stop/Start ...............496
▫ Checking Oil Level .....................497
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ...................497
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery .................497
 DEALER SERVICE ...................... .498
▫ Engine Oil — Gas Engine .................499
▫ Engine Oil Filter ...................... .501
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter .................501 ▫
Air Conditioner Maintenance ..............503
▫ Accessory Drive Belt Inspection ............508
▫ Body Lubrication ..................... .509
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades .................509
▫ Exhaust System ........................511
▫ Cooling System ....................... .513
▫ Brake System ........................ .519
▫ Automatic Transmission ..................520
▫ Rear Axle And 4x4 Front Driving Axle Fluid
Level .............................. .521
▫ Transfer Case ........................ .522
 HOISTING ........................... .522
 TIRES ............................... .522
▫ T

ire Safety Information ..................522
8

▫Tires — General Information ..............532
▫ Tire Types ........................... .538
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ................539
▫ Wheel And Wheel Trim Care ..............542
▫ Tire Chains (Traction Devices) .............543
▫ Tire Rotation Recommendations ............544
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES ..................545
▫ Treadwear ........................... .545
▫ Traction Grades ....................... .546
▫ Temperature Grades .....................546 
STORING THE VEHICLE ..................546
 BODYWORK .......................... .547
▫ Protection From Atmospheric Agents ........547
▫ Body And Underbody Maintenance ..........547
▫ Preserving The Bodywork .................548
 INTERIORS ........................... .550
▫ Seats And Fabric Parts ...................550
▫ Plastic And Coated Parts ..................552
▫ Leather Parts ......................... .552
▫ Glass Surfaces ........................ .553
488 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

SCHEDULED SERVICING
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic oil change
indicator system. The oil change indicator system will
remind you that it is time to take your vehicle in for
scheduled maintenance.
Based on engine operation conditions, the oil change
indicator message will illuminate. This means that service
is required for your vehicle. Operating conditions such as
frequent short-trips, trailer tow, and extremely hot or cold
ambient temperatures will influence when the “Oil Change
Required” message is displayed. Severe Operating Condi-
tions can cause the change oil message to illuminate as
early as 3,500 miles (5,600 km) since last reset. Have your
vehicle serviced as soon as possible, within the next 500
miles (805 km).
Your authorized dealer will reset the oil change indicator
message after completing the scheduled oil change. If a
scheduled oil change is performed by someone other than
your authorized dealer, the message can be reset by
referring to the steps described under “Instrument Cluster
Display” in “Getting To Know Your Instrument Panel”.NOTE:
Under no circumstances should oil change inter-
vals exceed 10,000 miles (16,000 km), twelve months or 350
hours of engine run time, whichever comes first. The 350
hours of engine run or idle time is generally only a concern
for fleet customers.
Severe Duty All Models
NOTE: Change Engine Oil at 4,000 miles (6,500 km) or 350
hours of engine run time if the vehicle is operated in a
dusty and off road environment or is operated predomi-
nantly at idle, or only very low engine RPM’s. This type of
vehicle use is considered Severe Duty.
Once A Month Or Before A Long Trip:
• Check engine oil level.
• Check windshield washer fluid level.
• Check tire pressure and look for unusual wear or
damage. Rotate tires at the first sign of irregular wear,
even if it occurs before the oil indicator system turns on.
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reservoir, brake
master cylinder, and fill as needed.
• Check function of all interior and exterior lights.
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 489

Maintenance Plan
Required Maintenance
Refer to the Maintenance Plan on the following pages for
required maintenance.
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By OilChange Indicator System:
•Change oil and filter.
• Rotate the tires. Rotate at the first sign of irregular
wear, even if it occurs before the oil indicator
system turns on.
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By Oil Change Indicator System:
•Inspect battery and clean and tighten terminals as
required.
• Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, and hoses.
• Inspect engine cooling system protection and hoses.
• Inspect exhaust system.
• Inspect engine air cleaner if using in dusty or
off-road conditions.
Mileage or time passed (which-
ever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
Additional Inspections
Inspect the CV/Universal joints. XX X X X
Inspect front suspension, tie rod
ends, and replace if necessary. XXX X X X X
490 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Mileage or time passed (which-ever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
Inspect the front and rear axle sur-
faces. If gear oil leakage is sus-
pected, check the fluid level. If us-
ing your vehicle for police, taxi,
fleet, off-road or frequent trailer
towing, change axle fluid. XX X X X
Inspect the brake linings, replace
as necessary. XXX X X X X
Inspect transfer case fluid. X X X
Additional Maintenance
Replace cabin air filter. X X X X X X X
Replace engine air filter. X X X X X
If equipped with Stop/Start replace
accessory drive belt with OEM
grade Mopar belt. X
Replace spark plugs. ** X
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 491

Mileage or time passed (which-ever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
Flush and replace the engine cool-
ant at 10 years or 150,000 miles
(240,000 km) whichever comes
first. XX
Inspect the transfer case fluid,
change for any of the following:
police, taxi, fleet, or frequent trailer
towing. XX
Change the transfer case fluid. X
Inspect and replace PCV valve if
necessary. X
** The spark plug change interval is mileage based only,
yearly intervals do not apply.
492 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

WARNING!
•You can be badly injured working on or around a
motor vehicle. Do only service work for which you
have the knowledge and the right equipment. If you
have any doubt about your ability to perform a
service job, take your vehicle to a competent me-
chanic.
• Failure to properly inspect and maintain your vehicle
could result in a component malfunction and effect
vehicle handling and performance. This could cause
an accident.
Heavy Duty Use Of The Vehicle
Change engine oil at 4,000 miles (6,500 km) or 350 hours of
engine run time if the vehicle is operated in a dusty and off
road environment or is operated predominately at idle or
only very low engine RPM’s. This type of vehicle use is
considered Severe Duty.
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 493

ENGINE COMPARTMENT
3.6L Engine With Stop/Start
1 — Motor Generator Unit Coolant Reservoir Pressure Cap
2 — Engine Coolant Reservoir
3 — Engine Coolant Reservoir Pressure Cap
4 — Engine Oil Dipstick
5 — Engine Oil Fill
6 — Brake Fluid Reservoir7 — Battery
8 — Power Distribution Center (Fuses)
9 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
10 — Air Cleaner Filter
11 — Motor Generator Unit Coolant Reservoir
494 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE