maintenance Ram 3500 2017 Diesel Supplement

Bulk Fuel Storage — Diesel Fuel
If you store quantities of fuel, good maintenance of the
stored fuel is also essential. Fuel contaminated with water
will promote the growth of “microbes.” These microbes
form “slime” that will clog the fuel filtration system and
lines. Drain condensation from the supply tank and change
the line filter on a regular basis.
NOTE:When a diesel engine is allowed to run out of fuel,
air is pulled into the fuel system.
If the vehicle will not start, refer to “Maintenance
Procedures/Priming If The Engine Has Run Out Of Fuel”
in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for further information.
WARNING!
Do not open the high pressure fuel system with the
engine running. Engine operation causes high fuel
pressure. High pressure fuel spray can cause serious
injury or death.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid Storage
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is considered a very stable
product with a long shelf life. If DEF is kept in tempera-
tures between 10° and 90°F (-12° and 32°C), it will last a
minimum of one year.
DEF is subject to freezing at the lowest temperatures. For
example, DEF may freeze at temperatures at or below
12° F (-11° C). The system has been designed to operate in
this environment.
NOTE: When working with DEF, it is important to know
that:
• Any containers or parts that come into contact with DEF
must be DEF compatible (plastic or stainless steel).
Copper, brass, aluminum, iron or non-stainless steel
should be avoided as they are subject to corrosion
by DEF.
• If DEF is spilled, it should be wiped up completely.
48 STARTING AND OPERATING

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 3.0L DIESEL ......54
 MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES .............55
▫ Engine Oil ............................55
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter ..................57
▫ Draining Fuel/Water Separator Filter .........60
▫ Underbody Mounted Fuel Filter Replacement ....61
▫ Priming If The Engine Has Run Out Of Fuel ....62
▫ Intervention Regeneration Strategy — Message
Process Flow ..........................64 ▫
Maintenance-Free Batteries ................64
▫ Cooling System ........................65
▫ Charge Air Cooler — Inter-Cooler ...........69
▫ Brake System ..........................69
 FLUID CAPACITIES ......................71
 FLUIDS, LUBRICANTS AND GENUINE PARTS . . .72
▫ Engine ...............................72
▫ Chassis ..............................75
5

MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
The pages that follow contain therequiredmaintenance
services determined by the engineers who designed your
vehicle.
Besides those maintenance items specified in the fixed
maintenance schedule, there are other components which
may require servicing or replacement in the future.
CAUTION!
• Failure to properly maintain your vehicle or perform
repairs and service when necessary could result in
more costly repairs, damage to other components or
negatively impact vehicle performance. Immediately
have potential malfunctions examined by an autho-
rized dealership or qualified repair center.
• Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of your
vehicle and also allow extended maintenance inter-
vals. Do not use chemical flushes in these compo-
nents as the chemicals can damage your engine,
transmission, power steering or air conditioning.
Such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
Limited Warranty. If a flush is needed because of
component malfunction, use only the specified fluid
for the flushing procedure.
Engine Oil
Engine Oil Selection
For best performance and maximum protection under all
types of operating conditions, the manufacturer recom-
mends engine oils that meet the requirements of FCA
Material Standard MS-10902, and that are API CJ-4 certified
and meet the requirements of FCA LLC.
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper lubrication of your vehicle’s engine, the
engine oil must be maintained at the correct level. Check
the oil level at regular intervals. The best time to check the
oil level is before starting the engine after it has been
parked overnight. When checking oil after operating the
engine, first ensure the engine is at full operating tempera-
ture, then wait for five minutes after engine shutdown to
check the oil.
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 55

1 — MAX Mark
2 — MIN Mark
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Add oil only
when the level on the dipstick is below the “MIN” mark.
The total capacity from the MIN mark to the MAX mark is
1.3 qts (1.2 L).
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will cause oil
aeration or loss of oil pressure. This could damage your
engine.
NOTE: It is possible for your oil level to be slightly higher
than a previous check. This would be due to diesel fuel that
may temporarily be in the crankcase due to operation of
the diesel particulate filter regeneration strategy. This fuel
will evaporate out under normal operation.
Never operate the engine with oil level below the “MIN”
mark or above the upper “MAX” mark.
Change Engine Oil
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper main-
tenance intervals.
Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade)
CAUTION!
Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced technology
Diesel Engine and an emission device designed to
limit Diesel Particulate Emissions from being released
(Continued)
Engine Oil Dipstick
56 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!(Continued)
into the atmosphere. The durability of your engine and
life expectancy of this diesel particulate filter emission
device is highly dependent on the use of the correct
engine oil.
We recommend you use 5W-40 syntheticengine oil such as
MOPAR or Shell Rotella that meets FCA Material Standard
MS-10902 and the API CJ-4 engine oil category is required.
Materials Added To Engine Oil
The manufacturer strongly recommends against the addi-
tion 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.
Engine Oil Filter
Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, And Genuine Parts” in “Main-
taining Your Vehicle” for further information. The engine
oil filter should be changed at every engine oil change.
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 your authorized dealer, service sta-
tion or governmental agency for advice on how and where
used oil and oil filters can be safely discarded in your area.
Engine Air Cleaner Filter
WARNING!
The air induction system (air cleaner, hoses, etc.) pro-
vides a measure of protection. Do not remove the air
induction system (air cleaner, hoses, etc.) unless such
removal is necessary for repair or maintenance. Make
sure that no one is near the engine compartment before
starting the vehicle with the air induction system (air
cleaner, hoses, etc.) removed. Failure to do so can result
in serious personal injury.
CAUTION!
All air entering the engine intake must be filtered. The
abrasive particles in unfiltered air will cause rapid
wear to engine components.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper main-
tenance intervals.
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 57

Intervention Regeneration Strategy — Message
Process Flow
This engine meets all required diesel engine emissions
standards. To achieve these emissions standards, your
vehicle is equipped with a state-of-the-art engine and
exhaust system. These systems are seamlessly integrated
into your vehicle and managed by the Powertrain Control
Module (PCM). The PCM manages engine combustion to
allow the exhaust system’s catalyst to trap and burn
Particulate Matter (PM) pollutants, with no input or inter-
action on your part.
Additionally, your vehicle has the ability to alert you to
additional maintenance required on your vehicle or engine.
Refer to “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Understanding
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
WARNING!
A hot exhaust system can start a fire if you park over
materials that can burn. Such materials might be grass
or leaves coming into contact with your exhaust sys-
tem. Do not park or operate your vehicle in areas where
your exhaust system can contact anything that can
burn.
Maintenance-Free Batteries
Your vehicle is equipped with a maintenance-free battery.
The top of the maintenance-free battery is permanently
sealed. You will never have to add water, nor is periodic
maintenance required.
WARNING!
Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories con-
tain lead and lead compounds. Always wash hands
after handling the battery.
CAUTION!
It is essential when replacing the cables on the battery
that the positive cable is attached to the positive post
and the negative cable is attached to the negative post.
Battery posts are marked (+) positive and negative (-)
and are identified on the battery case. Also, if a “fast
charger” is used while the battery is in vehicle, discon-
nect both vehicle battery cables before connecting the
charger to the battery. Do not use a “fast charger” to
provide starting voltage.
64 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Cooling System
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If you
see or hear steam coming from under the hood, do not
open the hood until the radiator has had time to cool.
Never try to open a cooling system pressure cap when
the radiator is hot.
Engine Coolant Checks
Check the engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every
12 months (before the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or
rusty in appearance, the system should be drained, flushed
and refilled with fresh coolant. Check the front of the A/C
condenser (if equipped) or radiator for any accumulation
of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently spraying water
from a garden hose vertically down the face of the A/C
condenser (if equipped) or the back of the radiator core.
Check the engine cooling system hoses for brittle rubber,
cracking, tears, cuts and tightness of the connection at the
coolant recovery bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire
system for leaks.With the engine at normal operating temperature (but not
running), check the cooling system pressure cap for proper
vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of engine
coolant (antifreeze) from the radiator drain cock. The
radiator drain cock is located in the lower radiator tank. If
the cap is sealing properly, the engine coolant (antifreeze)
will begin to drain from the coolant expansion bottle. DO
NOT REMOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN
THE COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
Cooling System — Drain Flush And Refill
If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or contains a
considerable amount of sediment, clean and flush with a
reliable cooling system cleaner. Follow with a thorough
rinsing to remove all deposits and chemicals. Properly
dispose of old engine coolant (antifreeze).
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper main-
tenance intervals.
Selection Of Coolant
Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, And Genuine Parts” in “Main-
taining Your Vehicle” for further information.
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 65

CAUTION!
•Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than
specified Organic Additive Technology (OAT) en-
gine coolant (antifreeze), may result in engine dam-
age and may decrease corrosion protection. Organic
Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant is differ-
ent and should not be mixed with Hybrid Organic
Additive Technology (HOAT) engine coolant (anti-
freeze) or any “globally compatible” coolant (anti-
freeze). If a non-OAT engine coolant (antifreeze) is
introduced into the cooling system in an emergency,
the cooling system will need to be drained, flushed,
and refilled with fresh OAT coolant (conforming to
MS.90032), by an authorized dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
• Do not use water alone or alcohol-based engine
coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use additional
rust inhibitors or antirust products, as they may not
be compatible with the engine coolant and may plug
the radiator.
• This vehicle has not been designed for use with
propylene glycol-based engine coolant (antifreeze).
Use of propylene glycol-based engine coolant (anti-
freeze) is not recommended.
Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant (OAT coolant conforming to MS.90032) that allows
extended maintenance intervals. This engine coolant (anti-
freeze) can be used up to ten years or 150,000 miles
(240,000 km) before replacement. To prevent reducing this
extended maintenance period, it is important that you use
the same engine coolant (OAT coolant conforming to
MS.90032) throughout the life of your vehicle.
Please review these recommendations for using Organic
Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant (antifreeze)
that meets the requirements of FCA Material Standard
MS.90032. When adding engine coolant (antifreeze):
• We recommend using MOPAR Antifreeze/Coolant 10
Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT (Organic Additive
Technology) that meets the requirements of FCA Mate-
rial Standard MS.90032.
• Mix a minimum solution of 50% OAT engine coolant
that meets the requirements of FCA Material Standard
MS.90032 and distilled water. Use higher concentrations
(not to exceed 70%) if temperatures below 34°F (37°C)
are anticipated. Please contact your authorized dealer
for assistance.
66 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

ComponentFluid, Lubricant, or Genuine Part
Fuel Selection Use good quality diesel fuel from a reputable supplier in your vehicle. Federal law requires that you must fuel this vehicle with Ultra Low Sulfur Highway Diesel fuel (15 ppm Sulfur maximum)
and prohibits the use of Low Sulfur Highway Diesel fuel (500 ppm Sulfur maximum) to avoid
damage to the emissions control system.
For most year-round service, No. 2 diesel fuel meeting ASTM specification D-975 Grade S15 will
provide good performance. We recommend you use a blend of up to 5% biodiesel, meeting ASTM
specification D-975 with your diesel engine.This vehicle is compatible with biodiesel blends
greater than 5% but no greater than 20% biodiesel meeting ASTM specification D-7467
provided the shortened maintenance intervals are followed as directed.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid MOPAR Diesel Exhaust Fluid (API Certified) (DEF) or equivalent that has been API Certified to the ISO 22241 standard. Use of fluids not API Certified to ISO 22241 may result in system damage.
NOTE: If climatized or diesel Number 1 ULSD fuel is not
available, and you are operating below (20°F/-6°C), in
sustained arctic conditions, Mopar Premium Diesel Fuel
Treatment (or equivalent) is recommended to avoid gell-
ing.
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 73

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
CONTENTS
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ...............78
▫ Maintenance Chart — Diesel Fuel Up To B5
Biodiesel .............................79 ▫
Additional Maintenance — B6 To B20 Biodiesel . .82
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