engine Ram ProMaster 2015 Diesel Supplement
Page 42 of 130
WARNING!(Continued)
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
fob and lock your vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to
be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal
or the gear selector/shift lever. Do not leave the key
fob in or near the vehicle (or in a location accessible
to children), A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
Extreme Cold Weather
This vehicle has three heating elements; one engine block
heater (a resistance heater installed in the water jacket of
the engine) and two transmission heaters (one resistance heater installed under the oil reservoir of the hydraulic
actuation system and one on the differential cover of the
transmission). They require a 110–115 Volt AC electrical
outlet with a grounded, three-wire extension cord. Their
use is recommended for environments that routinely fall
below -10°F (-23°C). They should be used when the
vehicle has not been running overnight or longer periods
and should be plugged in two hours prior to start. Their
use is required for cold starts with temperatures under
-17°F (-27°C).
NOTE:
The engine is designed to work at an ambient
temperature ranging from -22°F to + 122°F (-30°C to +
50C°). Rubber, pipes, timing belt cover and electronic
devices are not designed to work out of this range.
In the case of LOW temperature after Starting, the Auto-
mated Manual Transmission may not be able to engage first
gear. In this case a message Shift not allowedappears. In
this situation use the engine block heater.
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NOTE:The engine and transmission block heater cord is
a factory installed option. If your vehicle is not equipped,
heater cords are available from your authorized
MOPAR® dealer.
• A 12 Volt heater built into the fuel filter housing aids in
preventing fuel gelling. It is controlled by a built-in
thermostat.
• A Diesel Pre-Heat system both improves engine start-
ing and reduces the amount of white smoke generated
by a warming engine.
NORMAL OPERATION
Observe the following when the diesel engine is operat-
ing.
• All message center lights are off.
• Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is off.
• Generic Warning Light is off. •
Engine Oil Pressure telltale is not illuminated.
Cold Weather Precautions
Operation in ambient temperature below 32°F (0°C) may
require special considerations. The following charts sug-
gest these options:
Fuel Operating Range
NOTE: Use “Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuels” ONLY.
Fuel Operating Range Chart
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STARTING AND OPERATING 41
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*No. 1 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel should only be used
where extended arctic conditions (-10°F/-23°C) exist.
NOTE:
•Use of Climatized Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel or
Number 1 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel results in a
noticeable decrease in fuel economy.
• Climatized Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel is a blend of
Number 2 Ultra Low Sulfur and Number 1 Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel Fuels which reduces the temperature at
which wax crystals form in fuel.
• The fuel grade should be clearly marked on the pump
at the fuel station.
• The engine requires the use of “Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel Fuel”. Use of incorrect fuel could result in
engine and exhaust system damage. Refer to “Fuel
Requirements” in “Starting And Operating” for fur-
ther information. •
Commercially available fuel additives are not neces-
sary for the proper operation of your diesel engine.
However, if seasonably adjusted fuel is not available
and you are operating below 20°F (-6°C), MOPAR
Premium Diesel Fuel Treatment (or equivalent) may be
beneficial to avoid fuel gelling.
Engine Oil Usage
Refer to “Maintenance Procedures” in “Maintaining Your
Vehicle” for the correct engine oil viscosity.
Engine Warm-Up
Avoid full throttle operation when the engine is cold.
When starting a cold engine, bring the engine up to
operating speed slowly to allow the oil pressure to
stabilize as the engine warms up.
If temperatures are below 32°F (0°C), operate the engine
at moderate speeds for five minutes before full loads are
applied.
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Engine Idling
Avoid prolonged idling, long periods of idling may be
harmful to your engine because combustion chamber tem-
peratures can drop so low that the fuel may not burn
completely. Incomplete combustion allows carbon and var-
nish to form on piston rings, cylinder head valves, and
injector nozzles. Also, the unburned fuel can enter the
crankcase, diluting the oil and causing rapid wear to the
engine.
Stopping The Engine
Idle the engine a few minutes before routine shutdown.
After full load operation, idle the engine three to five
minutes before shutting it down. This idle period will
allow the lubricating oil and coolant to carry excess heat
away from the combustion chamber, bearings, internal
components, and turbocharger. This is especially impor-
tant for turbocharged diesel engines.NOTE:
Refer to the following chart for proper engine
shutdown.
Driving
Condition Load
Turbo-
charger
Tempera- tureIdle Time
(min.) Be-
fore Engine Shutdown
Stop and GoEmpty CoolLess than One
Stop and GoMedium One
Highway Speeds Medium Warm Two
City Traffic Maximum GCWR Three
Highway Speeds Maximum
GCWR Four
Uphill Grade Maximum
GCWR Hot Five
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STARTING AND OPERATING 43
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Cooling System Tips — Automated Manual
Transmission
To reduce potential for engine and transmission over-
heating in high ambient temperature conditions, take the
following actions:
•City Driving
— When stopped, shift the transmis-
sion into NEUTRAL and increase engine idle
speed.
• Highway Driving— Reduce your speed.
•Up Steep Hills— Select a lower transmission gear.
•Air Conditioning— Turn it off temporarily. Do Not Operate The Engine With Low Oil
Pressure
If the low oil pressure warning light turns on while
driving, stop the vehicle and shut down the engine as
soon as possible. A chime will sound when the light turns
on.
NOTE:
Do not operate the vehicle until the cause is
corrected. This light does not show how much oil is in the
engine. The engine oil level must be checked under the
hood.
CAUTION!
If oil pressure falls to less than normal readings, shut
the engine off immediately. Failure to do so could
result in immediate and severe engine damage.
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Do Not Operate The Engine With Failed Parts
All engine failures give some warning before the parts
fail. Be on the alert for changes in performance, sounds,
and visual evidence that the engine requires service.
Some important clues are:
•engine misfiring or vibrating severely
• sudden loss of power
• unusual engine noises
• fuel, oil or coolant leaks
• sudden change, outside the normal operating range, in
the engine operating temperature
• excessive smoke
• oil pressure drop
ENGINE BLOCK/TRANSMISSION HEATER — IF
EQUIPPED
To ensure reliable starting/operating at these tempera-
tures, use of an externally powered electric engine block/
transmission heater (available from your authorized
dealer) is recommended.
The engine block heater warms engine coolant and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. The transmission
heaters warm gearbox oil and hydraulic actuation system
oil to operate in cold weather. Connect the heater cord to
a ground-fault interrupter protected 110–115 Volt AC
electrical outlet with a grounded, three-wire extension
cord.
Its use is recommended for environments that routinely
fall below -10°F (-23°C). It should be used when the
vehicle has not been running overnight or longer periods
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 45
Page 48 of 130
and should be plugged in two hours prior to start. Its use
is required for cold starts with temperatures under -17°F
(-27°C).
In the case of LOW temperature after Starting, the
Automated Manual Transmission may not be able to
engage first gear. In this case a messageShift not
allowed appears. In this situation use the engine block
heater.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110–115 Volt electrical cord could
cause electrocution.
NOTE: The block heater will require 110 Volts AC and
6.5 Amps to activate the heater element.
AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without fully applying the park-
ing brake. The parking brake should always be
applied when the driver is not in the vehicle.
The automated manual transmission is a conventional
six-speed manual transmission with an electronically-
controlled hydraulic system that controls the clutch and
gear shifting. In forward gears, this transmission offers
two modes of operation:
• MANUAL (M) Mode — where the driver controls the
transmission shifting.
• Automatic Mode (the DRIVE [D] position)
— where
the electronic system controls the gear shifts.
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NOTE:In either mode, there is no clutch pedal; the
electronic system always controls the clutch operation.
Shift Lever/Transmission Gear Position
The transmission shift lever has REVERSE (R), NEU-
TRAL (N), DRIVE (D) and MANUAL (M) positions.
In the MANUAL (M) position, the lever can be toggled
rearward or forward (+/-) to upshift or downshift the
transmission to the next gear.
With the key ON and the engine OFF the shift lever can
be moved freely from NEUTRAL (N) to DRIVE (D) or
REVERSE (R), however the transmission will not actually
shift unless the brake pedal is pressed. Therefore, the
shift lever and the Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) display may not correspond to the actual trans-
mission gear range. With the engine running transmis-
sion shifts are allowed even if the brake pedal is not
pressed. NOTE:
•
The Automated Manual Transmission must be in
NEUTRAL (N) to start the vehicle.
• The actual transmission gear range (R, N, D, 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, or 6) is displayed in the EVIC whenever the engine
is running.
• When the key is turned OFF the transmission remains
in its previous gear position, regardless of the shift
lever position.
• When the key is turned ON (engine off), the EVIC
display may indicate the shift lever position rather
than the actual transmission gear position.
To shift the transmission to a particular gear range (with
key ON/engine off), press and hold the brake pedal,
move the shift lever to NEUTRAL (N), then move the
shift lever to the desired position.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 47
Page 50 of 130
To drive, press the brake pedal and start the engine, then
move the shift lever from NEUTRAL (N) to the DRIVE
(D) position for automatic mode, the MANUAL (M)
position for manual mode or the REVERSE (R) position.Only shift into DRIVE (D) or REVERSE (R) when the
accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped. It
is necessary to keep your foot on the brake pedal when
shifting between these gears.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from NEUTRAL
into another gear range.
NOTE:
After selecting any gear range, wait to allow the
selected gear to engage before accelerating. This is espe-
cially important when the engine is cold.
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
To engage REVERSE (R):
• Press and hold the brake pedal.
• Move the shift lever to the REVERSE (R) position.Shift Lever
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NOTE:If the vehicle is moving, REVERSE engagement
will only occur if the vehicle speed is less than 2 mph
(3 km/h). Otherwise, a chime will sound, a Shift not
allowed message will be displayed in the EVIC, the
transmission will shift to NEUTRAL, and the REVERSE
request must then be repeated by returning the lever to
NEUTRAL then back into REVERSE one the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
• Release the brake pedal and gently press the accelera-
tor pedal.
NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged
periods with the engine running. The engine can only be
started in this range. Apply the parking brake, shift the
transmission into gear, and turn the engine OFF if you
must leave the vehicle. With the engine running, you may shift to NEUTRAL (N)
at any time if the accelerator pedal is released. Attempt-
ing to shift to NEUTRAL when the accelerator pedal is
depressed will display a
Shift not allowedmessage in
the EVIC, and will activate a continuous chime until the
shift lever is returned to its previous position.
DRIVE (D) (Automatic Mode)
This range may be used for both city and highway
driving. The transmission will shift gears automatically,
based on vehicle speed, engine RPM and accelerator
pedal position. There are some instances where this mode
may be necessary (climbing slippery slopes).
NOTE: Do not press the brake and accelerator pedals at
the same time. Use only one foot to operate the brake and
accelerator.
To operate in DRIVE (D) (Automatic mode):
• Press and hold the brake pedal.5
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