Care Tips for Your Diesel-engined RAM Truck

Regular maintenance and good care in general are essential steps in making any car run properly and reliably for as long as possible. Although built to be tough and durable, this principle applies to your Dodge RAM as well. Especially if there is a modern Cummins engine under the hood. These things have really evolved over past decades, transforming noisy tractor-like machines into powerful and smooth engineering masterpiece. Naturally, such a sophisticated engine is very sensitive when it comes to care and does not tolerate negligence. In this article you can find all usual maintenance steps and procedure that will help keep your RAM on the road for a long time to come.

Regular service

Following a maintenance schedule is the most important step for keeping your truck running smoothly. It should be your top priority as not only that it increases reliability and improves fuel economy, but it will also make your truck last longer. All of this saves you money on a long run. As with any other vehicle, the maintenance schedule for your RAM depends on the year it was made. Here, you will find all the data needed for performing regular maintenance.

2001 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities

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2002 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2003 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2004 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2005 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2006 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2007 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2009 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2007 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2010 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2011 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2012 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2013 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2014 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2015 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2016 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2017 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities 2018 RAM 1500 maintenance schedule, fluid specifications and capacities

Note: all service intervals are the maximum recommended period before the service procedure should be performed. Severe driving conditions include any of the following:

• Excessive idling
• Frequent short trips where the engine does not reach full operating temperature
• Driving in dusty environments
• Driving off-road or in conditions that require the use of 4 wheel drive
• Frequent towing or hauling

Engine oil and filter should be replaced regularly in order to keep your engine components in optimum condition. Not only that engine oil lubricates and cools the moving components inside engine, but it also contains additives which prevent oil sludge and internal corrosion. Over time and use, engine oil deteriorates. Not changing your oil at a recommended time can lead to the formation of sludge deposits in internal oil passages. This reduces lubrication and causing increased wear on components. Please follow Dodge recommended service intervals.

Although being a rather simple job, there are several things to consider if you plan to perform the oil change yourself. First thing, as always, is safety. If you need to raise the truck to gain access to the oil drain plug, use jack-stands. In addition, a pair of thick rubber gloves will protect your hands from hot oil. Secondly, warm up the engine before changing the oil, as hot oil flows much better than cold one. This means it will drain out more efficiently. Lastly, prepare everything before you undo the drain plug, make sure that a drain pan is large enough, and double check if you have adequately positioned it.

After the job is finished, make sure you store the old in a canister that can be sealed and dispose of it to a designated collection site in your area.

Fuel injection system on modern diesel engine is one of the most important things to look after in terms of care and maintenance. Unfortunately, this is sometimes overlooked by truck owners. This is not a big problem on older 5.9 liter engines that were equipped with an old style rotary injection pump, as this system is quite robust. However, by the end of 2002, a common-rail injection system was introduced. This advanced system utilizes high fuel pressure to achieve optimized combustion and smoother power delivery, while keeping the consumption down. There is a downside, though, as these precise assemblies are made within very narrow tolerances. This makes them vulnerable to damages caused by poor maintenance or low quality fuel. To keep the fuel system in your RAM up to the job:

• Use premium quality fuel. Clean and water-free fuel is one of the most important factors for reliability and usable life of any diesel engines. Starting from 2007 most truck have Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), which means that they require Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). Using lower quality fuels in these trucks may result in damage to the engine or the exhaust treatment system.
• If using biodiesel, have in mind that 2007 - 2013 models are B5 Biodiesel compatible, while models from 2013 onwards are B20 biodiesel compatible.
• Replace fuel filters at specified intervals. This is especially important on common-rail engines. Your engine's fuel filter removes dirt, rust, water and other contaminants from the fuel entering the engine. Clean fuel is vital for your car's engine to perform efficiently. A clogged fuel filter can cause the high-pressure pump to overheat, causing various serious and expensive damages. Also, avoid cheap aftermarket fuel filters, as some of them cannot provide sufficient fuel flow.
• If your truck is used in severe driving conditions, replace the fuel filter more frequently than specified in maintenance intervals. Severe driving conditions include excessive idling, frequent short trips, frequent off-road driving or frequent towing or hauling.

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is a part of exhaust aftertreatment on all RAM trucks equipped with 6.7 liter engine, made from 2007. This is a quite simple device that removes ash and other fine particles from the exhaust gases. The particles collected within the filter are burned off periodically to regenerate the filter. Sometimes, this automatic filter regeneration does not work and the particulate filter gets blocked off. Regeneration failure can be caused by dirty fuel injection nozzles, residues in the exhaust gas recirculation system, poor quality fuel or unsuitable driving style. Older RAM trucks are more prone to this problem, as these models did not use diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). In order to keep the NOx down, these engines tend to operate with rich air-fuel mixture. However, this generates significantly more particulates and loads-up the DPF much quicker. As of 2013, all RAM trucks utilize DEF system, significantly reducing the number of trucks affected by repeated DPF problems. Here are few advices and tips on how to keep your DPF un-clogged:

• Refill the fuel tank only with Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). Lower quality fuels have significantly higher amount of sulfur, which damages the DPF and the precious-metal catalysts on the surface of the ceramic.
• Always use CJ-4 low-ash engine oil. If older oil types are used, ash build up in the DPF will be faster. This can result in serious damage to the exhaust aftertreatment system. Be sure to purchase engine oil that meets CES 20081 standards.
• Engine related problems, such as excessive oil consumption or fuel injection issues, will increase the amount of ash.
• When your RAM triggers the automatic regeneration process, it will inform you with a message on the dashboard.
• Avoid unfavorable driving habits, such as excessive idling or frequent short trips where the engine does not reach full operating temperature. In such scenarios, automatic DPF regeneration is usually not possible. Try taking longer motorway trips occasionally.
• The amount of DPF blockage can be checked with a special diagnostic tool, which can also manually engage the regeneration process.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid or DEF system is a part of all RAM trucks from 2013 onwards. DEF, also known as reductant, is a combination of purified deionized water and urea. It is used to reduce the harmful NOx emissions from diesel exhaust. Using the engine control unit to control the process, the supply module draws the reductant up from the DEF tank and supplies pressurized fluid to the injector. The injector sprays the reductant into the exhaust stream. When injected into the exhaust, the DEF mixes with the NOx gasses from the engine, converting them into more environmentally friendly nitrogen gas and water vapor. As DEF would freeze in low outside temperatures, heater element is installed into the tank to prevent this. Although this system is quite simple, it still requires some care. Several points to be aware:

• Generally, a DEF tank needs to be refilled at every oil change. However, driving conditions that increase fuel consumption, will increase the rate of DEF usage.
• Be careful not to overfill the DEF tank in cold climates, as it may freeze. If this happens, it will expand and cause damage to the components.
• To avoid contamination be careful when filling the DEF tank. Also, as DEF and diesel fuel filler openings are side-by-side, bear in mind that the DEF filler has the blue cab.
• Do not put additives of any kind into the DEF system at any time, as this would easily render the entire system inoperable.

Cooling system, being one of the vital components in your truck, need to be impeccable at all times. It consists of several main components. A coolant pump, consisting of an impeller, pulley flange and an o-ring, is the heart of the cooling system. The pump is driven by the engine drive belt through a pulley. The radiator is a heat exchanger used to transfer the excess heat developed by engine to the atmosphere. Next, we have a thermostat, which is a valve which regulates the flow of the coolant and helps to maintain the proper operating temperature for the engine. Finally, the coolant temperature sensor is used to monitor the engine temperature. The ECU uses this data to manage fuel injection and other parameters. Always keep an eye on temperature gauge, as the information it provides can be very helpful. Here are several tips:

• Check the coolant level periodically (weekly or monthly) and refill with antifreeze if needed. Always add same type of antifreeze as one that is in the cooling system. You can identify different types by color, as they can be blue, pink or yellow.
• If frequently refills are required, the coolant is either leaking out of the system, or entering the engine where it gets burned during combustion process.
• If you suspect that there is an external coolant leak, there are several usual spots to check. First thing to look for are spliced radiator hoses and loose hose clamps. Visually inspect the radiator for cracks or traces of corrosion. Coolant pump can develop a leak during operation, so check that with the engine running. Lastly, if there are no visible leaks, check inside the cabin, as you might have a broken cabin heater.
• There are several ways the coolant can enter the combustion chamber. Most of them are related to engine internal issues, such as broken head-gasket or cracked cylinder liners. However, it is also possible for an EGR cooler to develop a leak, which will allow coolant going into the engine through the intake.
• Pay attention on how long it takes for the engine to reach operating temperature. Elongated warm-up periods are an usual sign of a stuck-open thermostat. Although this will not cause immediate damage, driving like this can cause damage to exhaust aftertreatment systems.
• You may have a situation where your RAM runs at normal engine temperature under moderate driving conditions, but builds up high temperature on long uphills or when towing a trailer. This can be caused by a dirty radiator or a weak coolant pump.
• With the engine warmed up to operating temperature, check how tense the radiator hoses are. Cooling system is designed run with a certain amount of pressure. This can vary from 5 to 15 psi, depending on the current engine temperature. Hoses that are very soft may indicate a faulty expansion tank cap.

Auxiliary belt drive system powers accessories such as alternator, power steering pump or AC compressor. Each of them need a smooth and steady source of drive power. When the auxiliary belt drive system is working properly, all accessories are running as they should. There are several failure points, and here is what you should look for:

• Belt slip happens when the tensioner does not ensure sufficient tension to power the accessories. Resulting slippage will create noise, excessive heat at the accessory pulleys and reduce accessory performance.
• Misaligned pulleys will cause the tensioner pivot bushing to wear and tensioner arm moving out of alignment. This causes the belt to run uphill on the pulley, damaging the belt and causing noise. Misaligned pulley assembly will also generate excessive heat on the belt and accessory bearings, leading to accessory failure.
• Belt and pulley must mate properly to provide the necessary friction needed for proper accessory function. With just 5% belt wear the belt will not mate properly with the pulley, losing traction in the ridges. The belt just slips over the pulley, while the evacuation channel gets larger, allowing water to get between the pulley causing it to hydroplane on the pulley.
• The effect of a worn tensioner can be very damaging, as the damping mechanism is critical for vibration control. A worn damper cannot effectively limit tension or arm movement. This will result in belt slapping against the next accessory, causing it to fail prematurely.

In the past, a crankcase ventilation has been a relatively simple device. This is probably why it is often overlooked today, even though modern crankcase breathing systems do require some maintenance. With emission control regulation being stricter every year, oil vapors have been recognized as one of the major contributors in overall exhaust emission. During the combustion cycle, leakage between the piston rings and cylinder walls causes combustion gases to enter the crankcase. These blow by gases, which are similar to exhaust gas and are enriched with oil, are not eco-friendly. Still, they need to be continually removed from the crankcase to prevent a rise in pressure. To lower emissions, a state-of-the-art closed crankcase ventilation system is used. Blow-by gases pass through the filter, where small oil droplets collect on the fibers and eventually flow back to the oil sump. The cleaned blow by gases then flow through the air intake and into the engine.

Additional maintenance steps:

• Air filters play a vital role in prolonging the life of an engine, as the intake air contains a multitude of particles of different shapes and sizes. The air filter stops these particles from entering the engine and causing quite a lot of damage. Every air filter has a limited life, as dirt particles are deposited with every mile traveled. Eventually, the flow resistance rises, and the engine performance is impacted. This is why it's so important to replace the air filter regularly. Sufficient clean air means maximum performance. However, avoid cheap aftermarket filters. In most cases, not only that they will not seal properly, but are also made from paper that is too coarse. All this allows fine particles to pass through, causing incorrect mass airflow metering and damage to engine.
• Cabin air filters provide clean air to your truck interior through the ventilation system. Over time cabin air filters fill up with dirt and contaminants. These can include dust dirt road soot exhaust fumes and major allergens. If you are noticing a musty smell, haze on the windows or low ventilation system performance, it is probably time for a cabin air filter change. After replacing a dirty cabin air filter, you will notice improvements in driving comfort and in the heating and cooling systems efficiency. Additionally, a new cabin air filter will also help keep the interior clean and remove musty odors. A good rule of thumb is to replace your cabin air filter every 15.000 miles or once a year. Replacing the cabin filter is a simple job and takes no more than 15 minutes.

Special maintenance

Additional special maintenance steps should be taken for trucks that operate under severe or extreme conditions.

Your Dodge RAM is designed with great towing and hauling capabilities. Still, frequent heavy load towing in difficult conditions may call for additional care. In situations such as start-stop or prolonged slow driving, your drivetrain mounts as well as the gearbox take the most beating. To avoid premature gearbox damage, change gearbox oil more frequently. You also may consider installing an additional transmission oil cooler with a fan. This will help keep the oil temperature down.

If you drive predominantly in extremely dusty areas, such as deserts, farms or on unpaved roads, you need to be aware of dust and dirt related problems. Obviously, engine and cabin air filters need to be constantly checked, and replaced more frequently. Other potential problems are dirt build-ups on radiators and intercoolers, as the outside air contains high amount of dust. This reduces the cooling capability, and can lead to engine overheating or power reduction. To prevent this, wash the radiator, intercooler and AC condenser regularly.

Installing an additional fuel filter is a quite common modification that owners install on their trucks. This provides the fuel system with an additional layer of protection, as it removes water from the diesel more effectively. If you use your truck in very cold areas, this may prove to be very helpful.