oil temperature Ram 1500 2020 Owner's Manual

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 163
7. Temperature Gauge• The pointer shows engine coolant temperature. Thepointer positioned within the normal range indicates
that the engine cooling system is operating satisfacto -
rily.
• The pointer will likely indicate a higher temperature when driving in hot weather, up mountain grades, or
when towing a trailer. It should not be allowed to
exceed the upper limits of the normal operating range.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or others
could be badly burned by steam or boiling coolant. You
may want to call an authorized dealer for service if your
vehicle overheats. Refer to “Cooling System Pressure
Cap” in “Servicing And Maintenance” for further
information if you decide to look under the hood.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads “H,” pull
over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the air
conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back into
the normal range. If the pointer remains on the “H,” turn
the engine off immediately and call an authorized dealer
for service.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 165
3. Speedometer• Indicates vehicle speed.
4. Fuel Gauge
• The pointer shows the level of fuel in the fuel tankwhen the ignition is in the ON/RUN position.
• The fuel pump symbol points to the side of the vehicle where the fuel door is located.
5. Temperature Gauge
• The pointer shows engine coolant temperature. Thepointer positioned within the normal range indicates
that the engine cooling system is operating satisfacto -
rily.
• The pointer will likely indicate a higher temperature when driving in hot weather, up mountain grades, or
when towing a trailer. It should not be allowed to
exceed the upper limits of the normal operating range.WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or others
could be badly burned by steam or boiling coolant. You
may want to call an authorized dealer for service if your
vehicle overheats. Refer to “Cooling System Pressure
Cap” in “Servicing And Maintenance” for further
information if you decide to look under the hood.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads “H,” pull
over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the air
conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back into
the normal range. If the pointer remains on the “H,” turn
the engine off immediately and call an authorized dealer
for service.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 169
3. Push and release the right arrow button to access the ”Oil
Life” screen.
4. Push and hold the OK button to reset oil life. If conditions
are met, the gauge and numeric display will update to
show 100%. If conditions are not met a pop up message of
“To reset oil life engine must be off with ignition in run”
will be displayed (for five seconds), and the user will
remain at the Oil Life screen.
5. Push and release the up or down arrow button to exit the
submenu screen.
NOTE:
If the indicator message illuminates when you start the
vehicle, the oil change indicator system did not reset. If
necessary, repeat this procedure.
Display Menu Items
Push and release the up or down arrow button until the
desired selectable menu icon is highlighted in the instrument
cluster display.
Speedometer
Push and release the up or down arrow button until the
speedometer menu item is highlighted in the instrument
cluster display. Push and release the OK button to cycle the
display between mph and km/h. Vehicle Info
Push and release the
up or down arrow button until the
Vehicle Info menu icon is displayed in the instrument cluster
display. Push and release the left or right arrow button to
scroll through the information submenus and push and
release the OK button to select or reset the resettable
submenus.
• Tire Pressure
• Trans Temp (Automatic only)
• Oil Temperature
• Oil Life
• Air Suspension — If Equipped
• Coolant Temperature — If Equipped
• Oil Pressure — If Equipped
• Battery Voltage — If Equipped
• Gauge Summary — If Equipped
• Engine Hours
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 173
Screen Setup Driver Selectable Items
Upper Left
• None
• Compass (default setting – Premium)
• Outside Temp (default setting – Base)
• Time
• Range To Empty
• Average Econ
• Current Econ
• Trip A Distance
• Trip B Distance
• Trailer Trip – If Equipped
• Trailer Brake – If Equipped
• Oil Pressure – If Equipped
• Coolant Tempt – If Equipped
• Oil Temperature – If Equipped
• Battery Voltage – If Equipped
• Transmission Temperature – If Equipped
• Oil Life – If EquippedCenter
• None
• Compass
• Outside Temp
• Time
• Range To Empty
• Average Econ
• Current Econ
• Trip A Distance
• Trip B Distance
• Trailer Trip – If Equipped
• Audio
• Speedometer (default setting)
• Menu Title
Upper Right
• None
• Compass (default setting – Base)
• Outside Temp (default setting – Premium)
• Time
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174 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
• Range To Empty
• Average Econ
• Current Econ
• Trip A Distance
• Trip B Distance
• Trailer Trip – If Equipped
• Trailer Brake – If Equipped
• Oil Pressure – If Equipped
• Coolant Temp – If Equipped
• Oil Temperature – If Equipped
• Battery Voltage – If Equipped
• Transmission Temperature – If Equipped
• Oil Life – If Equipped
Left Side – If Equipped
• None
• Range To Empty
• Average Econ
• Oil Temp
• Transmission Temp• Coolant Temp
• Oil Life
• Menu Icon (default setting)
Right Side – If Equipped
• None
• Range To Empty
• Average Econ
• Oil Temp
• Transmission Temp
• Coolant Temp
• Oil Life
• Menu Icon (Default)
Lower Left – If Equipped
• None
• Compass
• Outside Temp
• Time
• Range To Empty
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 175
• Average Econ
• Current Econ
• Trip A Distance
• Trip B Distance
• Trailer Trip
• Trailer Brake
• Oil Pressure
• Coolant Temperature
• Oil Temperature
• Battery Voltage (default setting)
• Transmission Temperature
• Oil Life
Lower Right – If Equipped
• None
• Compass
• Outside Temp
• Time
• Range To Empty
• Average Econ• Current Econ
• Trip A Distance
• Trip B Distance
• Trailer Trip
• Trailer Brake
• Oil Pressure (default setting)
• Coolant Temperature
• Oil Temperature
• Battery Voltage
• Transmission Temperature
• Oil Life
Favorite Menus
• Speedometer
• Vehicle Info
• Driver Assist (show/hide) – If Equipped
• Fuel Economy (show/hide)
• Trip Info (show/hide)
• Stop/Start
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 181
— Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
This warning light warns of an overheated engine condition.
If the engine coolant temperature is too high, this indicator
will illuminate and a single chime will sound. If the tempera -
ture reaches the upper limit, a continuous chime will sound
for four minutes or until the engine is able to cool: whichever
comes first.
If the light turns on while driving, safely pull over and stop
the vehicle. If the A/C system is on, turn it off. Also, shift the
transmission into NEUTRAL (N) and idle the vehicle. If the
temperature reading does not return to normal, turn the
engine off immediately and call for service.
Refer to “If Your Engine Overheats” in “In Case Of Emer -
gency” for further information.
— Battery Charge Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate when the battery is not
charging properly. If it stays on while the engine is running,
there may be a malfunction with the charging system.
Contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible.
This indicates a possible problem with the electrical system
or a related component. — Oil Pressure Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate to indicate low engine oil
pressure. If the light turns on while driving, stop the vehicle,
shut off the engine as soon as possible, and contact an autho -
rized dealer. A chime will sound when this light turns on.
Do not operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected. This
light does not indicate how much oil is in the engine. The
engine oil level must be checked under the hood.
— Oil Temperature Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate to indicate the engine oil
temperature is high. If the light turns on while driving, stop
the vehicle and shut off the engine as soon as possible. Wait
for oil temperature to return to normal levels.
— Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Warning Light

This warning light will illuminate to indicate a problem with the
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) system. If a problem is
detected while the vehicle is running, the light will either stay on
or flash depending on the nature of the problem. Cycle the igni -
tion when the vehicle is safely and completely stopped and the
transmission is placed in the PARK position. The light should
turn off. If the light remains on with the vehicle running, your
vehicle will usually be drivable; however, see an authorized
dealer for service as soon as possible.

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182 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
NOTE:
This light may turn on if the accelerator and brake pedals are
pressed at the same time.
If the light continues to flash when the vehicle is running,
immediate service is required and you may experience
reduced performance, an elevated/rough idle, or engine
stall and your vehicle may require towing. The light will
come on when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN or
ACC/ON/RUN position and remain on briefly as a bulb
check. If the light does not come on during starting, have the
system checked by an authorized dealer. — Electric Power Steering Fault Warning Light

This warning light will turn on when there's a fault with the
Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. Refer to “Power Steering”
in “Starting And Operating” for further information.
— Tailgate Open Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate when the tailgate is open.
NOTE:
If the vehicle is moving, there will also be a single chime.
— Trailer Brake Disconnected Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate when the Trailer Brake has
been disconnected.
— Transmission Temperature Warning Light — If
Equipped
This warning light will illuminate to warn of a high transmis -
sion fluid temperature. This may occur with strenuous usage
such as trailer towing. If this light turns on, stop the vehicle
and run the engine at idle or slightly faster, with the trans -
mission in PARK or NEUTRAL, until the light turns off.
Once the light turns off, you may continue to drive normally.
WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced assist could pose a
safety risk to yourself and others. Service should be
obtained as soon as possible.
WARNING!
If you continue operating the vehicle when the
Transmission Temperature Warning Light is illuminated
you could cause the fluid to boil over, come in contact
with hot engine or exhaust components and cause a fire.
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482
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULED SERVICING
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic oil change indi-
cator system. The oil change indicator system will remind
you that it is time to take your vehicle in for scheduled main -
tenance.
Based on engine operation conditions, the oil change indi -
cator message will illuminate. This means that service is
required for your vehicle. Operating conditions such as
frequent short-trips, trailer tow, and extremely hot or cold
ambient temperatures will influence when the “Oil Change
Required” message is displayed. Severe Operating Condi -
tions can cause the change oil message to illuminate as early
as 3,500 miles (5,600 km) since last reset. Have your vehicle
serviced as soon as possible, within the next 500 miles
(805 km).
An authorized dealer will reset the oil change indicator
message after completing the scheduled oil change. If a
scheduled oil change is performed by someone other than your authorized dealer, the message can be reset by referring
to the steps described under “Instrument Cluster Display” in
“Getting To Know Your Instrument Panel”.
NOTE:
Under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed
10,000 miles (16,000 km), 12 months or 350 hours of engine
run time, whichever comes first. The 350 hours of engine run
or idle time is generally only a concern for fleet customers.
Severe Duty All Models
NOTE:
Change Engine Oil at 4,000 miles (6,500 km) or 350 hours of
engine run time if the vehicle is operated in a dusty and off
road environment or is operated predominantly at idle, or
only very low engine RPM. This type of vehicle use is consid
-
ered Severe Duty.
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490 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
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, such as every fuel stop. The best
time to check the engine oil level is about five minutes after
a fully warmed up engine is shut off.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Always main-
tain the oil level within the SAFE zone on the dipstick.
Adding one quart of oil when the reading is at the bottom of
the SAFE zone will result in a reading at the top of the safe
zone on these engines.
Adding Washer Fluid
The fluid reservoir is located under the hood and should be
checked for fluid level at regular intervals. Fill the reservoir
with windshield washer solvent only (not radiator anti -
freeze). When refilling the washer fluid reservoir, take some
washer fluid and apply it to a cloth or towel and wipe the
wiper blades clean. This will help blade performance. To prevent freeze-up of your windshield washer system in
cold weather, select a solution or mixture that meets or
exceeds the temperature range of your climate. This rating
information can be found on most washer fluid containers.
After the engine has warmed up, operate the defroster for a
few minutes to reduce the possibility of smearing or freezing
the fluid on the cold windshield. Windshield washer solu-
tion used with water as directed on the container, aids
cleaning action, reduces the freezing point to avoid line clog
-
ging, and is not harmful to paint or trim.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling will cause oil aeration or loss
of oil pressure. This could damage your engine.
WARNING!
Commercially available windshield washer solvents are
flammable. They could ignite and burn you. Care must
be exercised when filling or working around the washer
solution.
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