coolant temperature Ram 2500 2017 Diesel Supplement

Programmable Maximum Vehicle Speed (Chassis
Cab Only)
This feature allows the owner to set a maximum vehicle
speed for the vehicle. The 3500 Series maximum vehicle
speed can be set between 40 mph (64 km/h) and 87 mph
(140 km/h). The 4500/5500 Series maximum vehicle speed
can be set between 40 mph (64 km/h) and 85 mph
(136 km/h). See your local authorized dealer to enable this
feature.
NOTE:DO NOT set the maximum vehicle speed to a value
greater than what the vehicle tires are rated for.
Operating Precautions
Avoid Overheating The Engine
The temperature of the engine coolant (antifreeze) (a
mixture of 50% ethylene-glycol and 50% water) must not
exceed the normal range of the temperature gauge 240°F
(116°C) with a 21 psi (145 kPa) coolant pressure cap.
Usually the engine coolant (antifreeze) temperature indi-
cated during operation will be to the left of center in the
normal range of the gauge.
Avoid Low Coolant Temperature Operation
Continual operation at low engine coolant (antifreeze)
temperature below the normal range on the gauge 140°F
(60°C) can be harmful to the engine. Low engine coolant
(antifreeze) temperature can cause incomplete combustion
which allows carbon and varnish to form on piston rings
and injector nozzles. Also, the unburned fuel can enter the
crankcase, diluting the lubricating oil and causing rapid
wear to the engine.
Cooling System Tips — Automatic Transmission
To reduce potential for engine and transmission overheat-
ing 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.
136 STARTING AND OPERATING

Do Not Operate The Engine With Low Oil Pressure
When the engine is at normal operating temperature, the
minimum oil pressures required are:
Idle 700 to 800 RPM 10 psi (69 kPa)
Full speed and load 30 psi (207 kPa)
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.
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 electri-
cal outlet with a grounded, three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater cord is routed under the hood to
the right side and can be located just behind the grille near
the headlamp.
NOTE: The engine block heater cord is a factory installed
option. If your vehicle is not equipped, heater cords are
available from your authorized MOPAR dealer.
The block heater must be plugged in at least one hour to
have an adequate warming effect on the coolant.5
STARTING AND OPERATING 137

pressure from the accelerator pedal. Exhaust braking is
most effective when the engine RPM is higher. The auto-
matic transmission will downshift more aggressively in
TOW/HAUL mode when the exhaust brake is enabled to
increase brake performance.
CAUTION!
Use of aftermarket exhaust brakes is not recommended
and could lead to engine damage
WARNING!
Do not use the exhaust brake feature when driving in
icy or slippery conditions as the increased engine
braking can cause the rear wheels to slide and the
vehicle to swing around with the possible loss of
vehicle control, which may cause an accident possibly
resulting in personal injury or death.
NOTE: For optimum braking power it is recommended to
use the exhaust brake while in TOW/HAUL mode. The exhaust brake feature can also be used to reduce the
engine warm up time. To use the exhaust brake as a
warm-up device, the vehicle must be stopped or moving
less than 5 mph (8 km/h), the
Exhaust Brake Indicator
must be on, and the coolant temperature must be below
180°F (82°C) and ambient temperature below 60°F (16°C).
Automatic Smart Exhaust Brake (Auto)
Automatic Exhaust Brake technology delivers smoother,
less aggressive exhaust braking characteristics during
downhill descents. Although it can apply full exhaust
braking force if needed, Automatic Exhaust Brake may not
apply obvious braking if the vehicle speed is not increas-
ing. Automatic Exhaust Brake is intended to maintain
vehicle speed, while Full Exhaust Brake is intended to
reduce vehicle speed.
Automatic Exhaust Brake can be enabled by pushing the
exhaust brake button again anytime after the normal Full
Exhaust Brake has been turned on. The “Exhaust Brake
Indicator” in the instrument cluster display will change
from Yellow to Green when Automatic Exhaust Brake is
enabled. Pushing the exhaust brake button again will
toggle the exhaust brake mode to off.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 139

WARNING!
Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories con-
tain lead and lead compounds. Always wash hands
after handling the battery.
Battery Blanket Usage
A battery loses 60% of its cranking power as the battery
temperature decreases to 0°F (-18°). For the same decrease
in temperature, the engine requires twice as much power to
crank at the same RPM. The use of 120 Volt AC powered
battery blankets will greatly increase starting capability at
low temperatures. Suitable battery blankets are available
from your authorized MOPAR dealer.
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.
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 191

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.
• Use only high purity water such as distilled or deionized
water when mixing the water/engine coolant (anti-
freeze) solution. The use of lower quality water will
reduce the amount of corrosion protection in the engine
cooling system. NOTE:
•
It is the owner’s responsibility to maintain the proper
level of protection against freezing according to the
temperatures occurring in the area where the vehicle is
operated.
• Some vehicles require special tools to add coolant prop-
erly. Failure to fill these systems properly could lead to
severe internal engine damage. If any coolant is needed
to be added to the system, please contact your local
authorized dealer.
• Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze) types is not recom-
mended and can result in cooling system damage.
If HOAT and OAT coolant are mixed in an emergency,
have a authorized dealer drain, flush, and refill with
OAT coolant (conforming to MS.90032) as soon as pos-
sible.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of engine
coolant (antifreeze), and to ensure that the engine coolant
(antifreeze) will return to the radiator from the coolant
expansion bottle.
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 193

MS.90032) and distilled water for proper corrosion pro-
tection of your engine which contains aluminum com-
ponents.
• Make sure that the coolant expansion bottle overflow
hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
• Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is
equipped with air conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean.
• Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install ONLY
the correct type thermostat. Other designs may result in
unsatisfactory engine coolant (antifreeze) performance,
poor gas mileage, and increased emissions.
Charge Air Cooler — Inter-Cooler
The charge air cooler is positioned below the radiator and
the air conditioner condenser. Air enters the engine
through the air cleaner and passes through the turbo-
charger, where it is pressurized. This pressurized air rap-
idly reaches high temperature. The air is then directed
through a hose to the charge air cooler and through another
hose to the intake manifold of the engine. The air entering the engine has been cooled by about 50° to 100°F (10° to
38°C). This cooling process enables more efficient burning
of fuel resulting in fewer emissions.
To guarantee optimum performance of the system, keep
the surfaces of the charge air cooler, condenser and radiator
clean and free of debris. Periodically check the hoses
leading to and from the charge air cooler for cracks or loose
clamps resulting in loss of pressure and reduced engine
performance.
Brake System
Brake Master Cylinder — Brake Fluid Level Check
The fluid level of the master cylinder should be checked
when performing under the hood service, or immediately
if the “Brake System Warning Light” indicates system
failure.
The brake master cylinder has a translucent plastic reser-
voir. On the outboard side of the reservoir, there is a
“MAX” mark and a “MIN” mark. The fluid level must be
kept within these two marks. Do not add fluid above the
full mark because leakage may occur at the cap.7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 195

FLUIDS, LUBRICANTS AND GENUINE PARTS
Engine
ComponentFluid, Lubricant, or Genuine Part
Engine Coolant We recommend you use MOPAR Antifreeze/Coolant 10 Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT (Organic Additive Technology).
Engine Oil In ambient temperatures above 0°F (-18°C), we recommend you use 15W-40 engine oil such as
MOPAR, Shell Rotella and Shell Rimula that meets FCA Material Standard MS-10902 and the
API CJ-4 engine oil category is required. Products meeting Cummins CES 20081 may also be
used. The identification of these engine oils is typically located on the back of the oil container.
In ambient temperatures below 0°F (-18°C), we recommend you use 5W-40 syntheticengine oil
such as MOPAR, Shell Rotella and Shell Rimula that meets FCA Material Standard MS-10902
and the API CJ-4 engine oil category is required.
Engine Oil Filter We recommend you use MOPAR Engine Oil Filters.
Fuel Filters We recommend you use MOPAR Fuel Filter. Must meet 3 micron rating. Using a fuel filter that
does not meet the manufacturers filtration and water separating requirements can severely
impact fuel system life and reliability.
Crankcase Ventilation
Filter We recommend you use MOPAR CCV Filter.
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 205