How to Choose the Oil and Fluids for a Dodge Ram

The Dodge Ram is both a pickup truck and a full-sized van. These steps apply to the Dodge Ram pickup truck with a gasoline engine, all model years. The Dodge Ram pickup is also available with a diesel engine, which won't be addressed here.

Instructions

1

Change your oil regularly, using SAE 5W30 API certified engine oil that meets material standard MS-6395. If 5W30 isn't available or if your engine has heavy wear, you may substitute 10W30.

2

Use Mopar Antifreeze in the 5-year formula with hybrid organic additive technology. This is comparable to almost every Dodge and Chrysler vehicle recommendation, and as with almost every other vehicle the antifreeze should be diluted 50-50 with distilled or soft mineral-free drinkable water.

3

Maintain your power steering, transfer case and automatic transmission levels with Mopar ATF+4 automatic transmission fluid. The NV 3500 manual transmission requires Mopar manual transmission fluid, part number 4874464, while the NV 4500 manual transmission requires synthetic Mopar gear oil, 75W85 API grade GL-4, part number 4874459.

4

Lubricant your clutch linkage with multipurpose grease, NLGI grade 2 E.P.

5

Top off your brake fluid reservoir with Mopar DOT 3, SAE J1703 brake fluid. You may substitute DOT 4 brake fluid if DOT3 isn't available.