What oil does a Ram 2500 take?

The manual's Engine Fluid And Lubricants tables list the oil for each engine:

For the 6.7L diesel, the manual says the oil may be a brand such as Mopar, Shell Rotella or Shell Rimula, that products meeting Cummins CES 20081 may also be used, and that these oil identifications are typically on the back of the oil container. It also says oils with a high ash content may produce damaging deposits on cylinder head valves and/or after treatment system damage in diesel engines, and recommends a maximum sulfated ash content of 1.00 mass % for all oil used in the engine.

From the 2026 Ram 2500/3500 owner's manual (Engine Fluid And Lubricants, 6.4L gasoline and 6.7L diesel; Engine Oil Selection), read November 8, 2026.

Ram 2500 oil capacity

The manual's Fluid Capacities tables list engine oil with filter as 7 qt (6.6 L) for the 6.4L engine and 12 qt (11.4 L) for the 6.7L engine.

It cautions that overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will cause aeration or loss of oil pressure, which could damage your engine. Always keep the oil level within the minimum and maximum range on the dipstick.

From the 2026 Ram 2500/3500 owner's manual (Fluid Capacities, 6.4L gasoline and 6.7L diesel; Adjusting The Oil Level), read November 8, 2026.

How often should a Ram 2500 get an oil change?

The truck has an engine oil change indicator system that shows Oil Change Due in the instrument cluster display. It is duty cycle based, so the interval may fluctuate depending on your personal driving style.

6.4L gasoline: under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 8,000 miles (13,000 km), 12 months or 350 hours of engine run time, whichever comes first.

6.7L diesel: the Maintenance Plan says to change engine oil every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 12 months or 500 hours, or sooner if prompted by the oil change indicator system, whichever comes first. With biodiesel blends greater than 5%, intervals must not exceed 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 500 hours, and should not exceed 6 months.

Severe service (high ambient temperature, short trips, heavy loading, trailer towing, off-road, or law enforcement use) may reduce oil change intervals. If a scheduled oil change is performed by someone other than an authorized dealer, the oil change message can be reset from the instrument cluster display.

From the 2026 Ram 2500/3500 owner's manual (Engine Oil Change Indicator System; Maintenance Plan, 6.7L Diesel Engine; Biodiesel Fuel Requirements), read November 8, 2026.

How to check the Ram 2500 oil level

The manual recommends checking the oil at regular intervals, such as every fuel stop, on level ground. Its steps are:

1. Bring the engine up to maximum operating temperature.
2. Shut the engine off and wait five minutes to allow the oil to drain back into the oil pan.
3. Remove the oil dipstick and wipe it clean.
4. Insert the oil dipstick and remove it again to check the oil level.

From the 2026 Ram 2500/3500 owner's manual (Checking Oil Level; Adjusting The Oil Level), read November 8, 2026. Adding 1 qt (1 L) of oil when the reading is at the minimum end of the range will raise the level to the maximum end. The maintenance section also recommends checking the oil level every 3,000 miles (4,800 km), at least 30 minutes after a fully warmed engine is shut off, and setting it at the full mark for off-road use.

Ram 2500 oil filter

The manual says the engine oil filter should be replaced with a new filter at every engine oil change, for both engines. It recommends a Mopar filter, prefers bproauto filters as an alternative, and says that if neither is available, to use only filters that meet or exceed SAE/USCAR-36 Filter Performance Requirements.

The 6.7L diesel uses a full-flow disposable filter cartridge in a housing. To remove it, the manual says to clean around the housing lid, loosen and remove the lid, replace the lid o-ring, lift the element about 1/2 inch to open the drain at the bottom of the housing and let it rest for 3-5 minutes so oil drains back to the oil pan, then lift the element out with a shop towel to catch any remaining oil.

From the 2026 Ram 2500/3500 owner's manual (Engine Oil Filter, Gasoline; Diesel Engine Oil Filter Service Procedure, 6.7L), read November 8, 2026.

Additives, flushes and 6.4L engine tick

The manual strongly recommends against adding any additives (other than leak detection dyes) to the engine oil, and cautions not to use chemical flushes in the engine oil, as the chemicals can damage the engine and such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Never use non-detergent oil or straight mineral oil.

Hemi engines (6.4L) at times can tick right after startup and then quiet down after approximately 30 seconds; the manual says this is normal and will not harm the engine. It lists short drive cycles, extended non-use, incorrect oil, extended oil changes and extended idling as possible causes. If the engine continues to tick or the Malfunction Indicator Light comes on, see an authorized dealer.

From the 2026 Ram 2500/3500 owner's manual (Materials Added To Engine Oil; Engine Oil Selection note; Engine Break-In Recommendations), read November 8, 2026.

Ram 2500 service at Elgin CDJR

If your Ram 2500 is showing Oil Change Due, our Ram service center can change the oil and filter with the grade the manual calls for. Our service department is open Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is closed Sunday. Elgin CDJR is at 1500 W. Lake St. in Streamwood. Get directions.