2019 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab transmission fluid

STARTING AND OPERATING 359
(Continued)
Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive Models
DO NOT flat tow this vehicle. Damage to the drivetrain
will result.
Recreational towing (for two-wheel drive models) is allowed
ONLY if the rear wheels are OFF the ground. This may be
accomplished using a tow dolly or vehicle trailer. If using a
tow dolly, follow this procedure:
1. Properly secure the dolly to the tow vehicle, following the dolly manufacturer's instructions.
2. Drive the rear wheels onto the tow dolly.
3. Firmly apply the parking brake. Place automatic trans -
mission in PARK.
4. Properly secure the rear wheels to the dolly, following the dolly manufacturer's instructions.
5. Turn the ignition OFF and remove the key fob.
6. Install a suitable clamping device, designed for towing, to secure the front wheels in the straight position.
Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive Models
NOTE:
Both the manual shift and electronic shift transfer cases must
be shifted into NEUTRAL (N) for recreational towing. Auto -
matic transmissions must be shifted into PARK for recre -
ational towing. Refer to the following for the proper transfer
case NEUTRAL (N) shifting procedure for your vehicle. CAUTION!
• Towing with the rear wheels on the ground will cause severe transmission damage. Damage from improper
towing is not covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
• Do not disconnect the driveshaft because fluid may leak from the transmission, causing damage to internal
parts.
CAUTION!
• DO NOT dolly tow any 4WD vehicle. Towing with only one set of wheels on the ground (front or rear) will
cause severe transmission and/or transfer case damage.
Tow with all four wheels either ON the ground, or OFF
the ground (using a vehicle trailer).5

360 STARTING AND OPERATING
Shifting Into NEUTRAL (N)
Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for
recreational towing.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground, withthe engine running. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL.
• Tow only in the forward direction. Towing this vehicle
backwards can cause severe damage to the transfer case.
• Before recreational towing, the transfer case must be in NEUTRAL. To be certain the transfer case is fully in
NEUTRAL, perform the procedure outlined under
“Shifting Into NEUTRAL”. Internal transmission
damage will result, if the transfer case is not in
NEUTRAL during towing.
• The transmission must be placed in PARK for recre -
ational towing.
• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require -
ments can cause severe transmission and/or transfer
case damage. Damage from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
• Do not disconnect the rear driveshaft because fluid will leak from the transfer case, causing damage to internal
parts.
• Do not use a bumper-mounted clamp-on tow bar on your vehicle. The bumper face bar will be damaged. CAUTION!
(Continued)
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
NEUTRAL (N) position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL (N) position
disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the
powertrain, and will allow the vehicle to roll, even if the
automatic transmission is in PARK (or manual
transmission is in gear). The parking brake should
always be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle.
CAUTION!
It is necessary to follow these steps to be certain that the
transfer case is fully in NEUTRAL (N) before
recreational towing to prevent damage to internal parts.

STARTING AND OPERATING 365
CAUTION!
• Always check the depth of the standing water before driving through it. Never drive through standing water
that is deeper than the bottom of the tire rims mounted
on the vehicle.
• Determine the condition of the road or the path that is under water and if there are any obstacles in the way
before driving through the standing water.
• Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving through standing water. This will minimize wave effects.
• Driving through standing water may cause damage to your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Always inspect
your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, transmission, axle,
etc.) for signs of contamination (i.e., fluid that is milky
or foamy in appearance) after driving through standing
water. Do not continue to operate the vehicle if any
fluid appears contaminated, as this may result in
further damage. Such damage is not covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can cause it to lock up and stall out, and cause serious internal
damage to the engine. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
5

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 411
Once A Month Or Before A Long Trip:
• Check engine oil level.
• Check windshield washer fluid level.
• Check the tire inflation pressures and look for unusualwear or damage. Rotate at the first sign of irregular wear.
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reservoir, brake master cylinder, power steering and automatic transmis -
sion (six-speed only), and fill as needed.
• Check function of all interior and exterior lights.Maintenance Plan
Required Maintenance
Refer to the maintenance plan on the following pages for
required maintenance.
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By Oil Change 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.
• Inspect engine cooling system protection and hoses.
• Inspect exhaust system.
• Inspect engine air cleaner if using in dusty or off-road conditions.
• Inspect battery and clean and tighten terminals as required.
• Inspect automatic transmission fluid if equipped with dipstick.
• Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, hoses and park brake.
• Inspect front end, and lubricate — If equipped with serviceable fittings.
7

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 413

Flush and replace the engine
coolant at 10 years or 150,000 miles
(240,000 km) whichever comes first.
X
X

Change the automatic transmission
fluid (AS66RC Transmission Only).
X
X X

Change the automatic transmission
fluid and sump filter (AS66RC
Transmission Only).
X
X
Inspect the transfer case fluid,
change for any of the following:
police, taxi, fleet, or frequent
trailer towing. X
X X X X
Change the transfer case fluid. X
Inspect and replace PCV valve if
necessary. X
1. The spark plug change interval is mileage based only, yearly intervals do not apply.
Mileage or time passed
(whichever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,00050,000
60,000
70,000
80,00090,000
100,000
110,000120,000130,000140,000150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000 48,000
64,00080,000
96,000
112,000
128,000144,000160,000
176,000192,000208,000224,000240,000
7

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 439
Automatic Transmission
Selection Of Lubricant
It is important to use the proper transmission fluid to ensure
optimum transmission performance and life. Use only the
manufacturer’s specified transmission fluid. Refer to “Fluids
And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifications”. It is
important to maintain the transmission fluid at the correct
level using the recommended fluid. No chemical flushes
should be used in any transmission; only the approved lubri-
cant should be used. Special Additives
The manufacturer strongly recommends against using any
special additives in the transmission. Automatic Transmis
-
sion Fluid (ATF) is an engineered product and its perfor -
mance may be impaired by supplemental additives.
Therefore, do not add any fluid additives to the transmis -
sion. The only exception to this policy is the use of special
dyes for diagnosing fluid leaks in six-speed transmissions.
Avoid using transmission sealers as they may adversely
affect seals.
• Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts, causing the
brake fluid to catch fire. Brake fluid can also damage
painted and vinyl surfaces, care should be taken to
avoid its contact with these surfaces.
• Do not allow petroleum based fluid to contaminate the brake fluid. Brake seal components could be damaged,
causing partial or complete brake failure. This could
result in a collision.
WARNING! (Continued)CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other than the manufacturer’s
recommended fluid may cause deterioration in
transmission shift quality and/or torque converter
shudder, and (for six-speed transmissions) will require
more frequent fluid and filter changes. Refer to “Fluids
And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifications” for fluid
specifications.
7

440 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Fluid Level Check — Eight-Speed Transmission
The fluid level is preset at the factory and does not require
adjustment under normal operating conditions. Routine
fluid level checks are not required, therefore the transmis-
sion has no dipstick. An authorized dealer can check your
transmission fluid level using special service tools.
If you notice fluid leakage or transmission malfunction, visit
an authorized dealer immediately to have the transmission
fluid level checked. Operating the vehicle with an improper
fluid level can cause severe transmission damage. Fluid Level Check — Six-Speed Transmission
It is best to check the fluid level when the transmission is at
normal operating temperature (158-176°F / 70-80°C). This
normally occurs after at least 15 miles (25 km) of driving. At
normal operating temperature the fluid cannot be held
comfortably between the fingertips. You can read the trans
-
mission sump temperature in the instrument cluster screen
(refer to “Instrument Cluster Display” for further informa -
tion).
Use the following procedure to check the transmission fluid
level properly:
1. Monitor the transmission temperature using the instru -
ment cluster display, and operate the vehicle as required
to reach the normal operating temperature. If the trans-
mission is not functioning properly, or the vehicle cannot
be driven, see the NOTE and CAUTION 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.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your transmission as the
chemicals can damage your transmission components.
Such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
CAUTION!
If a transmission fluid leak occurs, visit an authorized
dealer immediately. Severe transmission damage may
occur. An authorized dealer has the proper tools to adjust
the fluid level accurately.

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 441
5. Place the gear selector momentarily into each gear posi-
tion (allowing time for the transmission to fully engage in
each position), ending with the transmission in PARK.
6. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean and reinsert it until seated.
7. 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 fluid
level is low, add fluid through the dipstick tube to bring
it to the proper level. Do not overfill. Use ONLY the spec -
ified fluid (see "Fluids And Lubricants" for fluid specifica -
tions). 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 oper -
ating 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. Only use the COLD region of the dipstick as a rough reference when setting the fluid level after a trans
-
mission service or fluid change. Re-check the fluid level, and
adjust as required, once the transmission reaches normal
operating temperature.
8. Reinsert the dipstick. Check for leaks. Release the parking brake.
NOTE:
If it is necessary to check the transmission below the oper -
ating temperature, the fluid level should be between the two
COLD (lower) holes on the dipstick with the fluid at 68-86°F
/ 20-30°C. Only use the COLD region of the dipstick as a
rough reference when setting the fluid level after a transmis -
sion 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.
7