Ram 2500 2014 Diesel Supplement

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, both inside
and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
The starter is allowed to crank for up to 30-second
intervals. Waiting a few minutes between such intervals
will protect the starter from overheating.
WARNING!
•When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the
ignition is in the OFF position, remove the Key Fob
from the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Leaving children 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
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the trans-
mission gear selector.
•Do not leave the Key Fob in or near the vehicle (or
in a location accessible to children), and do not
leave the ignition (of a vehicle equipped with
Keyless Enter-N-Go™) in the ACC or ON/RUN
mode. A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
NOTE:Engine start up in very low ambient temperature
could result in evident white smoke. This condition will
disappear as the engine warms up.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 59

CAUTION!
•The engine is allowed to crank as long as 30
seconds. If the engine fails to start during this
period, please wait at least two minutes for the
starter to cool before repeating start procedure.
•If the “Water in Fuel Indicator Light” remains on,
DO NOT START engine before you drain the water
from the fuel filters to avoid engine damage. Refer
to “Maintenance Procedures/Draining Fuel/Water
Separator Filter” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for
further information.
Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a warm or cold engine is
obtained without pumping or pressing the accelerator
pedal. Turn the key fob to the START position and releasewhen the engine starts. If the engine fails to start, turn the
key fob to the OFF position, wait five seconds, then
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the transmission gear selector in the
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting to any
driving range.
Tip Start Feature
Do notpress the accelerator. Cycle the ignition switch
briefly to the START position and release it. The starter
motor will continue to run but will automatically disen-
gage when the engine is running.
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Keyless Enter-N-Go™
This feature allows the driver to oper-
ate the ignition switch with the push
of a button, as long as the Remote
Start/Keyless Enter-N-Go™ Key Fob
is in the passenger compartment.
Normal Starting Procedure — Keyless
Enter-N-Go™
Observe the instrument panel cluster lights when starting
the engine.
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal
1. Always apply the parking brake.2. Press and hold the brake pedal while pressing the
ENGINE START/STOP button once.
NOTE:A delay of the start of up to five seconds is
possible under very cold conditions. TheWait to Start
telltale will be illuminated during the pre-heat process,
When the engine Wait To Start light goes off the engine
will automatically crank.
CAUTION!
If the “Water in Fuel Indicator Light” remains on, DO
NOT START the engine before you drain the water
from the fuel filters to avoid engine damage. Refer to
“Maintenance Procedures/Draining Fuel/Water Sepa-
rator Filter” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for fur-
ther information.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 61

3. The system will automatically engage the starter to
crank the engine. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter
will disengage automatically after 30 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to
the engine starting, press the button again.
5. Check that the oil pressure warning light has turned
off.
6. Release the parking brake.
Extreme Cold Weather
The engine block heater is a resistance heater installed in
the water jacket of the engine. It requires a 110–115 Volt
AC electrical outlet with a grounded, three-wire exten-
sion 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 longerperiods and should be plugged in two hours prior to
start. Its use is required for cold starts with temperatures
under -20°F (-28°C).
NOTE: The engine block heater cord is a factory in-
stalled 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.
Starting Fluids
The engine is equipped with a glow plug preheating
system. If the instructions in this manual are followed,
62 STARTING AND OPERATING

the engine should start in all conditions and no type of
starting fluid should be used.
WARNING!
•Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
•When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the
ignition is in the OFF position, remove the key fob
from the vehicle, and lock the 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 transmission gear selector. Do not leave the
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
key fob in or near the vehicle (or in a location
accessible to children), and do not leave the igni-
tion (of a vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N-
Go™) in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move
the vehicle.
NORMAL OPERATION
Observe the following when the diesel engine is operat-
ing.
•All message center lights are off.
•Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is off.
•Engine Oil Pressure telltale is not illuminated.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 63

•Voltmeter operation:
The voltmeter may show a gauge fluctuation at various
engine temperatures. This is caused by the glow plug
heating system. The number of cycles and the length of
the cycling operation is controlled by the engine control
module. Glow plug heater operation can run for several
minutes, once the heater operation is complete the volt-
meter needle will stabilize.
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.*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.
Fuel Operating Range Chart
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•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.
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.
Engine Idling
Avoid prolonged idling, long periods of idling may be
harmful to your engine because combustion chamber
temperatures can drop so low that the fuel may not burn
completely. Incomplete combustion allows carbon and
varnish 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.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 65

Stopping The Engine
After full load operation, idle the engine for a few
minutes before shutting it down. This idle period will
allow the lubricating oil and coolant to carry excess heat
away from the turbocharger.NOTE:Refer to the following chart for proper engine
shutdown.
Driving Condition LoadTurbocharger
TemperatureIdle Time (min.) Before
Engine Shutdown
Stop and Go Empty Cool None
Stop and Go Medium 0.5
Highway Speeds Medium Warm 1.0
City Traffic Maximum GCWR 1.5
Highway Speeds Maximum GCWR 2.0
Uphill Grade Maximum GCWR Hot 2.5
NOTE:Under certain conditions the engine fan will run
after the engine is turned off. These conditions are under
high load and high temperature conditions.
66 STARTING AND OPERATING

Cooling System Tips — Automatic Transmission
To reduce the potential for engine and transmission
overheating in high ambient temperature conditions,
take the following actions:
•City Driving — When stopped, shift the transmission
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.
NOTE:If the coolant temperature is too high the A/C
will automatically turn off.
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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STARTING AND OPERATING 67

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 HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms engine coolant and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the heater
cord to a ground-fault interrupter protected 110–115 Volt
AC electrical outlet with a grounded, three-wire exten-
sion 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 for long periods of time and
should be plugged in two hours prior to start. Its use is
required for cold starts with temperatures under -20°F
(-28°C).
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
68 STARTING AND OPERATING