engine overheat Ram 4500 Chassis Cab 2018 User Guide

NOTE:Check the automatic transmission fluid level be-
fore towing.
Tow/Haul Mode
To reduce potential for automatic transmission overheat-
ing, activate TOW/HAUL mode when driving in hilly
areas, or select a lower gear range (using the Electronic
Range Select (ERS) shift control) on more severe grades.
Speed Control — If Equipped
• Do not use on hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
• When using the speed control, if you experience speed
drops greater than 10 mph (16 km/h), disengage until
you can get back to cruising speed.
• Use speed control in flat terrain and with light loads to
maximize fuel efficiency.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission overheat-
ing, take the following actions:
City Driving
In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmission in
NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
Air Suspension System
To aid in attaching/detaching the trailer from the vehicle,
the air suspension system can be used. Refer to “Air
Suspension System” in “Starting And Operating” for fur-
ther information.
NOTE: The vehicle must remain in the engine running
position while attaching a trailer for proper leveling of the
air suspension system.
308 STARTING AND OPERATING

When plowing snow, to avoid transmission and drivetrain
damage, the following precautions should be observed.
•Operate with transfer case in 4LO when plowing small
or congested areas where speeds are not likely to exceed
15 mph (24 km/h). At higher speeds operate in 4HI. •
Vehicles with automatic transmissions should use 4LO
range when plowing deep or heavy snow for extended
periods of time to avoid transmission overheating.
• Do not shift the transmission unless the engine has
returned to idle and wheels have stopped. Make a
practice of stepping on the brake pedal while shifting the
transmission.
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
Towing Condition Wheels OFF The GroundTwo-Wheel
Drive Models Four-Wheel Drive Models
Flat Tow NONE NOT AL-
LOWED See Instructions
•
Automatic transmission in PARK
• Manual transmission in gear (NOT in NEU-
TRAL)
• Transfer case in NEUTRAL (N)
• Tow in forward direction
Dolly Tow FrontNOT AL-
LOWED NOT ALLOWED
Rear OK NOT ALLOWED
On Trailer ALLOK OK
6
STARTING AND OPERATING 311

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
CONTENTS
HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS ............320
 ASSIST AND SOS MIRROR — IF EQUIPPED . . . .320
 BULB REPLACEMENT ....................325
▫ Replacement Bulbs .....................325
▫ Replacing Exterior Bulbs ..................326
 FUSES ............................... .331
▫ Power Distribution Center ................332
 JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING ...........339
▫ 4500/5500 Models ..................... .339
▫ Preparations For Jacking ..................339
▫ Jacking Instructions 4500 And 5500 Series ......340
▫ To Stow The Flat Or Spare — If Equipped .....344
▫ Hub Caps/Wheel Covers — If Equipped ......344
JUMP STARTING ....................... .345
▫ Preparations For Jump Start ...............346
▫ Jump Starting Procedure ..................347
 IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS .............348
 GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE ..............349
 FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE ..............350
 TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE ............352
▫ Two-Wheel Drive Models .................353
▫ Four-Wheel Drive Models .................353
▫ Emergency Tow Hooks — If Equipped ........354
 ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
(EARS) .............................. .355
 EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) ............355
7

CAUTION!
Do not connect jumper cable to any of the fuses on the
positive battery terminal. The resulting electrical cur-
rent will blow the fuse.
6. Once the engine is started, remove the jumper cables in the reverse sequence:
Disconnecting The Jumper Cables
1. Disconnect the negative (-)end of the jumper cable from
the engine ground of the vehicle with the discharged
battery.
2. Disconnect the opposite end of the negative (-)jumper
cable from the negative (-)post of the booster battery.
3. Disconnect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable from
the positive (+)post of the booster battery.
4. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper
cable from the positive (+)post of the vehicle with the
discharged battery.
If frequent jump starting is required to start your vehicle
you should have the battery and charging system in-
spected at an authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle power outlets
draw power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not
in use (i.e., cellular devices, etc.). Eventually, if plugged
in long enough without engine operation, the vehicle’s
battery will discharge sufficiently to degrade battery
life and/or prevent the engine from starting.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmission in
NEUTRAL, but do not increase the engine idle speed
while preventing vehicle motion with the brakes.
NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down an
impending overheat condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C
system adds heat to the engine cooling system and
turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.
348 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated
by excessive wheel speeds may cause damage, or even
failure, of the axle and tires. A tire could explode and
injure someone. Do not spin your vehicle’s wheels
faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30
seconds continuously without stopping when you are
stuck and do not let anyone near a spinning wheel, no
matter what the speed.
CAUTION!
•Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead
to transmission overheating and failure. Allow the
engine to idle with the transmission in NEUTRAL
for at least one minute after every five rocking-
motion cycles. This will minimize overheating and
reduce the risk of clutch or transmission failure
during prolonged efforts to free a stuck vehicle.
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting between
DRIVE/SECOND GEAR and REVERSE, do not spin
the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drive-
train damage may result.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transmission overheating and failure. It
can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels
above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no transmis-
sion shifting occurring).
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 351

WARNING!
•Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO), which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing CO, refer
to “Safety Tips” in “Safety” for further information.
• 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
system. Do not park or operate your vehicle in areas
where your exhaust system can contact anything that
can burn.
CAUTION!
• The catalytic converter requires the use of unleaded
fuel only. Leaded gasoline will destroy the effective-
ness of the catalyst as an emissions control device
and may seriously reduce engine performance and
cause serious damage to the engine.
• Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. In
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
the event of engine malfunction, particularly involv-
ing engine misfire or other apparent loss of perfor-
mance, have your vehicle serviced promptly. Contin-
ued operation of your vehicle with a severe
malfunction could cause the converter to overheat,
resulting in possible damage to the converter and
vehicle.
Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic converter
will not require maintenance. However, it is important to
keep the engine properly tuned to assure proper catalyst
operation and prevent possible catalyst damage.
NOTE: Intentional tampering with emissions control sys-
tems can result in civil penalties being assessed against
you.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may suggest severe and
abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, stop the
vehicle, turn off the engine and allow it to cool. Service,
including a tune-up to manufacturer’s specifications,
should be obtained immediately.
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 383

•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 an 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 a local autho-
rized 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 engine coolant
(antifreeze) will return to the radiator from the coolant
expansion bottle/recovery tank if so equipped.
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
WARNING!
•
Do not open hot engine cooling system. Never add
engine coolant (antifreeze) when the engine is over-
heated. Do not loosen or remove the cap to cool an
overheated engine. Heat causes pressure to build up
in the cooling system. To prevent scalding or injury,
do not remove the pressure cap while the system is
hot or under pressure.
• Do not use a pressure cap other than the one speci-
fied for your vehicle. Personal injury or engine
damage may result.
386 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

MMT In Gasoline
Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl (MMT) is
a manganese-containing metallic additive that is blended
into some gasoline to increase octane. Gasoline blended
with MMT provides no performance advantage beyond
gasoline of the same octane number without MMT. Gaso-
line blended with MMT reduces spark plug life and
reduces emissions system performance in some vehicles.
The manufacturer recommends that gasoline without
MMT be used in your vehicle. The MMT content of
gasoline may not be indicated on the gasoline pump;
therefore, you should ask your gasoline retailer whether
the gasoline contains MMT. MMT is prohibited in Federal
and California reformulated gasoline.
Fuel System Cautions
CAUTION!
Follow these guidelines to maintain your vehicle’s
performance:
•The use of leaded gasoline is prohibited by Federal
law. Using leaded gasoline can impair engine perfor-
mance and damage the emissions control system.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•An out-of-tune engine or certain fuel or ignition
malfunctions can cause the catalytic converter to
overheat. If you notice a pungent burning odor or
some light smoke, your engine may be out of tune or
malfunctioning and may require immediate service.
Contact your authorized dealer for service assistance.
• The use of fuel additives, which are now being sold
as octane enhancers, is not recommended. Most of
these products contain high concentrations of metha-
nol. Fuel system damage or vehicle performance
problems resulting from the use of such fuels or
additives is not the responsibility of the manufac-
turer and may void or not be covered under the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
NOTE: Intentional tampering with the emissions control
system can result in civil penalties being assessed against
you.
432 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Door Ajar Light........................... .153
Door Locks, Automatic .......................40
Door Opener, Garage ....................... .102
Driver’s Seat Back Tilt ........................43
Driving Through Flowing, Rising, Or Shallow Standing
Water ................................ .317
Dual Rear Wheels ....................343, 417, 427
Electrical Power Outlets ..................... .123
Electronically Shifted Transfer Case ..............260
Electronic Brake Control System ................165
Anti-Lock Brake System ....................164
Electronic Roll Mitigation ...................173
Traction Control System ....................168
Electronic Range Select (ERS)..................254
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) .........270
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ...............169
Electronic Throttle Control Warning Light .........152
Emergency Brake .......................... .245
Emergency, In Case Of Freeing Vehicle When Stuck .................350
Hazard Warning Flasher ...................320
Jacking ............................... .339
Jump Starting .......................... .345Emission Control System Maintenance
............160
Engine ................................. .364
Air Cleaner ............................ .368
Break-In Recommendations .................244
Compartment Identification .................364
Coolant (Antifreeze) ..................... .435
Exhaust Gas Caution ...................233, 433
Fails To Start ........................... .243
Flooded, Starting ........................ .243
Fuel Requirements ....................... .429
Jump Starting .......................... .345
Oil .............................. .367, 435
Oil Filler Cap ....................... .364, 368
Oil Filter .............................. .368
Oil
Selection ........................... .367
Oil Synthetic ........................... .368
Overheating ........................... .348
Engine Oil Viscosity ........................ .368
Enhanced Accident Response Feature .........206, 355
Entry System, Illuminated .....................78
Ethanol ................................. .431
Exhaust Gas Caution .....................233, 433
Exhaust System ....................... .233, 382
Exterior Lighting ............................69
12
INDEX 515

Occupant Restraints........................ .183
Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel) .................429
Oil, Engine ........................... .367, 435
Capacity .............................. .434
Change Interval ........................ .367
Dipstick .............................. .365
Disposal .............................. .368
Filter ............................. .368, 435
Filter Disposal .......................... .368
Identification Logo ...................... .367
Materials Added To ...................... .368
Pressure Warning Light ....................152
Recommendation ........................ .367
Synthetic ............................. .368
Viscosity .............................. .368
Oil Filter, Change ......................... .368
Oil Filter, Selection ......................... .368
Oil Pressure Light ......................... .152
Onboard Diagnostic System ...................159
Operating Precautions ...................... .159
Operator Manual (Owner’s Manual) ...............5
Outside Rearview Mirrors .....................62
Overdrive ............................... .255
Overdrive OFF Switch ...................... .255
Overheating, Engine ....................... .348Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual)
...........5,510
Paint Care ............................... .420
Panic Alarm ...............................22
Parking Brake ............................ .245
ParkSense System, Rear ...................273, 280
Passive Entry ..............................37
Pedals, Adjustable ...........................59
Personalized Menu Bar ..................... .441
Personal Settings .......................... .144
Pets ................................... .233
Placard, Tire And Loading Information ...........400
Power Distribution

Center (Fuses) ..................332
Door Locks ..............................37
Mirrors ................................63
Outlet (Auxiliary Electrical Outlet) .........123, 127
Seats ..................................46
Steering ........................... .268, 269
Take-Off Adapter ........................ .266
Take-Off Operation ...................... .266
Windows ...............................99
Power Seats Down .............................. .46, 48
Forward ............................ .46, 48
520 INDEX