2023 RAM CHASSIS CAB oil additives

354SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Engine Oil Selection — Diesel Engine
Use only the manufacturer's recommended fluid
Úpage 419.
American Petroleum Institute (API)
Approved Engine Oil
These symbols mean that the oil has been certified
by the API. The manufacturer only recommends API
trademark oils.
The API Starburst trademark certifies
0W-20, 0W-30 and 5W-30 engine oils.
The API Donut trademark certifies
0W-40 and 5W-40 engine oil.
For diesel engines, oils with a high ash
content may produce damaging
deposits on cylinder head valves and/or
after-treatment system damage. A maximum
sulfated ash content of 1.00 mass % is
recommended for all oil used in the engine.
The same oil change interval is to be followed for
synthetic oil as for petroleum-based oil. Also,
synthetic oil must meet the same performance
specifications as petroleum oil.
Synthetic Engine Oils
Your engine was designed for synthetic engine oils,
only use synthetic API approved engine oils.
Synthetic engine oils which do not have both the
correct API trademark and the correct SAE viscosity
grade numbers should not be used.
Materials Added To Engine Oil
The manufacturer strongly recommends against
the addition of any additives (other than leak
detection dyes) to the engine oil. Engine oil is an
engineered product and its performance may be
impaired by supplemental additives.
Disposing Of Used Engine Oil And Oil
Filters
Care should be taken in disposing of used engine
oil and oil filters from your vehicle. Used oil and oil
filters, indiscriminately discarded, can present a
problem to the environment. Contact an
authorized dealer, service station or governmental
agency for advice on how and where used oil and
oil filters can be safely discarded in your area.
ENGINE OIL FILTER
The engine oil filter should be replaced with a new
filter at every engine oil change.
Engine Oil Filter Selection
A full-flow type disposable oil filter should be used
for replacement. The quality of replacement filters
varies considerably. We recommend using a
Mopar® Engine Oil Filter. If a Mopar® Engine Oil
Filter is unavailable only use filters that meet or
exceed SAE/USCAR-36 Filter Performance
Requirements.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your engine oil as
the chemicals can damage your engine. Such
damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.

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372SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Special Additives
The manufacturer strongly recommends against
using any special additives in the transmission.
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is an
engineered product and its performance may be
impaired by supplemental additives. Therefore, do
not add any fluid additives to the transmission. The
only exception to this policy is the use of special
dyes for diagnosing fluid leaks in 6-speed
transmissions. Avoid using transmission sealers as
they may adversely affect seals.
Fluid Level Check — 8-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 transmission 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 — 6-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 transmission sump temperature in the
instrument cluster screen Ú page 89.
Use the following procedure to check the
transmission fluid level properly:

1. Monitor the transmission temperature using the instrument cluster display, and operate
the vehicle as required to reach the normal
operating temperature. If the transmission is
not functioning properly, or the vehicle cannot be driven, see the following Note and Caution
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 gear selector momentarily into each gear position (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
specified fluid Ú page 421. After adding any
quantity of oil through the dipstick tube, wait a
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.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS417
Fuel Water Separation — Must Use
Mopar®/Cummins® Approved Fuel Filter
Elements
You must use Mopar®/Cummins® approved fuel
filter elements in both your engine mounted filter
and frame mounted filter.
Biodiesel fuel has a natural affinity to water and
water accelerates microbial growth. Your Mopar®/
Cummins® filtration system is designed to provide
adequate fuel water separation capabilities.
Biodiesel Fuel Properties — Low Ambient
Temperatures
Biodiesel fuel may gel or solidify at low ambient
temperatures, which may pose problems for both
storage and operation. Precautions can be
necessary at low ambient temperatures, such as
storing the fuel in a heated building or a heated
storage tank, or using cold temperature additives.
Fuel In Oil Dilution — Must Adhere To
Required Oil Change Interval
Fuel dilution of lubricating oil has been observed
with the use of biodiesel fuel. Fuel in oil must not
exceed 5%. To ensure this limit is met your oil
change interval must be maintained to the
following schedule:
Ram 3500/4500/5500 Chassis Cab —
12,500 Miles (20,000 km)*
(*unless otherwise notified with a oil service
message)
CAUTION!
Under no circumstances should oil change
intervals exceed 12,500 miles (20,000 km) if
operation occurs with greater than 5%
biodiesel blends. Oil change intervals should
not exceed six months in either case. Failure
to comply with these Oil Change requirements
for vehicles operating on biodiesel blends up
to B20 may result in premature engine wear.
Such wear is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
B20 Biodiesel capable: The engine may suffer
severe damage if operated with concentra -
tions of Biodiesel higher than 20%.
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431

Enhanced Accident Response Feature
.. 302, 341
Ethanol.......................................................... 414Exhaust Brake............................................... 129Exhaust Gas Cautions.................................... 324Exhaust System.......................... 324, 367, 375Exterior Lighting............................................... 51Exterior Lights......................................... 51, 324
F
Family Alerts.................................................. 258Filters Air Cleaner................................................. 355Air Conditioning.................................. 65, 358Engine Fuel..................................... 360, 419Engine Oil........................................ 354, 419Engine Oil Disposal................................... 354FlashersTurn Signals..............................54, 110, 324Flash-To-Pass.................................................. 52Flat Tire Stowage........................................... 332Fluid Capacities............................................. 418Fluid Leaks.................................................... 324Fluid Level ChecksBrake........................................................ 371Power Steering.......................................... 148Fog Lights............................................... 54, 387Fold Flat Load Floor......................................... 68Fold-Flat Seats................................................. 31Forward Collision Warning............................. 278Four Wheel Drive........................................... 140
Four-Way Hazard Flasher.............................. 325Freeing A Stuck Vehicle................................ 338Front Axle (Differential)................................. 374Fuel............................................. 177, 413, 415Adding...................................................... 177Additives................................................... 413Clean Air................................................... 413Diesel.............................................. 177, 415Ethanol..................................................... 414Filler Cap (Gas Cap).................................. 177Filter................................................ 360, 419Gasoline................................................... 413Light......................................................... 107Materials Added....................................... 413Methanol.................................................. 414Octane Rating........................................... 413Requirements.................................. 413, 415Specifications........................................... 416Tank Capacity........................................... 418Fuses............................................................ 377
G
Garage Door Opener (HomeLink®).................. 47Gas Cap (Fuel Filler Cap).............................. 177Gasoline, Clean Air........................................ 413Gasoline, Reformulated................................ 413GaugesVoltage..................................................... 122Gear Ranges................................................. 135Gear Selector Override................................. 336
Glass Cleaning.............................................. 410Glove Compartment Storage............................65Gross Axle Weight Rating.............................. 182Gross Vehicle Weight Rating......................... 181GuideBody Builders...............................................10GVWR............................................................ 180
H
HazardDriving Through Flowing, Rising, Or Shallow Standing Water
.................................... 198Hazard Warning Flashers.............................. 325Head Restraints...............................................36Head Rests......................................................36Headlights..................................................... 386Automatic High Beam..................................52Cleaning.................................................... 408High Beam...................................................52Lights On Reminder.....................................54Passing........................................................52Switch..........................................................51Heated Mirrors.................................................46Heated Seats...................................................35Hill Descent Control...................................... 274Hill Descent Control Indicator....................... 274Hill Start Assist.............................................. 276HitchesTrailer Towing........................................... 185
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