Looking after your Ram 1500 enables you to get the most out of it. This can involve the simplest tasks, such as keeping the windscreen clean and checking the tread on your tires, or more complicated tasks, such as taking it for a service. View our inventory of New Vehicles, or if you have any questions, give us a call at (539)-766-8990 today!
Guide On How To Change Your Own Oil In Your RAM 1500
Changing the oil is one of those tasks that are in between, as it can be a little complicated if you're not sure what you're doing. However, it becomes relatively straightforward once you've done it a couple of times. This article will take you through some hints and tips on what to look for and how to tackle oil changes with your Ram 1500.
Preparation
Preparation is key when you're changing oil. You don't want to get halfway through and realize you've missed something. So, a good place to begin is getting together the following:
- New oil: Consider using synthetic oil, which has been manufactured to produce a specific performance in modern engines and has a greater propensity for withstanding higher temperatures and pressure. Make sure that the oil you use is recommended for your Ram truck and that it fits the FCA Material Standard MS-6395 for gasoline or MS-12991 for diesel engines.
- A funnel: This means you can pour the oil into the engine without making a mess.
- A new oil filter: Gunk in the oil can block up the oil filter and undermine the flow of oil through the engine, so it's a good idea to make sure you replace this when you change the oil.
- A 13mm socket and ratchet: These tools make it easier for you to change the oil.
- An oil catch basin: This is to catch the old oil on the other side of the engine when you change the oil.
- Flashlight: This makes it easier to see when you look under the vehicle.
- Rags: This means you can clean the different parts of any oil.
- Gloves: These keep the oil off your hands.
Once you have lined all this up, you can move on to the next stage.
Drain the Old Oil
The first thing you should do here is make sure you're parked on a flat surface and make doubly sure you've got the parking brake on because you don't want it to move when you're underneath the vehicle. Then, with the wrench, you need to find the drain plug under the engine. You'll find the flashlight useful when you're looking for it. Usually, the ground clearance of the Ram 1500 is large enough that you can do this without needing to use a lift or a jack.
Once you've found the drain plug, place the basin underneath and use the wrench to unscrew the cap. It should be 13 mm, but you may need to try different sizes in case the cap has been replaced in a previous oil change, so don't try and force it.
Once you've unscrewed it, let the old oil drain out. Once the flow has stopped, you can wipe off the drain plug with a rag and then replace the cap. Make sure you put the cap back on firmly but don't tighten it too much and break the thread.
Changing the Oil Filter
The next stage is to change the oil filter. The position of the oil filter may vary depending on which engine you're using, so there's no hard and fast rule about how to do this part; it's a case of checking the manufacturer's handbook. For example, in the 3.6-liter Ecodiesel, the oil filter is on the upper part of the engine, but in the 5.7-liter HEMI, you'll find it in the lower part.
To access the oil filter, you'll ideally need a strap wrench. Sometimes, it can be a little awkward to loosen the filter, particularly if it's the first time and it's tight. When you draw it out, there may be excess oil that will spill, so be prepared for that with some rags. Then, replace it with the new filter, which is pretty much following the reverse of what you just did.
Filling Up With New Oil
That was the hard part done. The next part is just to fill it up with new oil. To make sure you've got the right type, make sure that it's covered on the cap of the engine oil. Use the funnel, and then replace the cap tightly when you're done. You're pretty much done at this stage, but there are a couple of things worth doing to make sure that your truck runs beautifully.
The first thing is to start the engine and run it for 30 seconds or so. This warms up the new oil and makes sure it starts moving through the engine. Then, turn off the engine and check the oil level using the dipstick. Because some of the new oil should have moved through the engine, the level should have dropped a little, so you can keep topping it up to make sure you've got enough oil in the system. You can do this a few times to make sure that the engine is topped up and leveled out.
The final task is to reset the Ram truck's Oil Life system. This is a system that tracks when you need to change the oil, so resetting it means that it starts counting the miles from the new oil change. Press the start button, go to “vehicle info” on the steering info, and scroll to the “Oil Life” screen. If you press OK at this point, it'll reset back to zero. Then, you can press the “up” arrow and return to the driver display screen.
That's It, You're Done
Before you head off into the great wide yonder, make sure you haven't left anything underneath the vehicle before you move it and that you've tightened and tidied everything up. Remember that the first time you do this, it might be a little tricky to find the various oil plugs, but after the first time, it gets easier and becomes routine. This is one of those jobs that you can manage yourself, but for any advice or nudges in the right direction, just drop us a line at Chris Nikel , and we'll be delighted to lend a hand.
