The 2018 Ram 2500 6.7 gives you a diesel engine option, great towing capacity, and the choice of an automatic or manual transmission, among a lot of other perks. One thing that will help you keep your truck running is to know more about its engine oil capacity, which is 12 quarts (11.4 liters).

Any truck owner knows a truck comes with its own costs, from filling up at the pump to maintenance. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer who wants to change the oil yourself, make sure you know what oil the owner’s manual recommends before you start.

Of course, that means you have to remember where the manual ended up the last time you had it, so if you want to skip digging around or just want to know more about your engine, we can help you out!

We have the info you need on how much oil your 2018 Ram 2500 6.7 takes, which type of oil to use, and even a quick how-to on changing the oil—all in the article below.

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2018 Ram 2500 6.7 engine oil capacity

So how much oil will you need for your 2018 Ram 2500 6.7 engine?

For this particular 2500, it’ll take 12 quarts (11.4 liters) anytime you change the oil. While the engine specs label it as a

6.7-liter 6-cylinder diesel engine

, you don’t want to use this number since the 6.7 refers to displacement, which is different.

The engine’s oil capacity tells you how much engine oil it takes to fill your motor, while the 6.7 is the displacement, which means how much volume the six cylinders take up—avoid mixing the two numbers up since they are tied two completely different things.

What kind of oil does a 2018 Ram 2500 6.7 need?

Okay, beyond knowing that you need 12 quarts, you also want to get the correct type of oil, especially since you have a diesel engine.

If the temperature is above 0° F, then you want to use SAE

15W-40 synthetic

for diesel engines. However, if you’re hitting that winter weather and it’s getting below 0° F, you should switch to SAE

5W-40 full synthetic

. You want an oil with an SAE seal, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the official group that rates oil viscosity.

The numbers tell you the oil’s viscosity from cold to hot, or how thick it is, while the “W” tells you the oil’s winter viscosity. You want the 5W-40 oil during the winter because it flows better thanks to being thinner—it won’t clog as easily in the cold.

This is also why you want to change your motor oil based on the weather conditions. You need an oil that flows easily when it’s cold so it can still move through your engine before it reaches operating temps, but oil can get too thin when it’s hot out, so you need thicker oil during the summer.

If you’re looking for some specific recommendations, we recommend going with either

Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil

Mobil 1 98HM64 Turbo Diesel Truck 5W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil

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How often to change oil on a 2018 Ram 2500 6.7

Okay, besides how much oil and which type to use, you need to know when to change the oil.

Since your 2018 Ram 2500 6.7 is a diesel engine, you’ll follow different rules than a gasoline vehicle. Ram states that you should NEVER go beyond 8,000 miles, 12 months, or 350 hours of operation—whichever is first.

If you regularly use your truck for towing, you’ll change your oil more often, about every six months or 5,000 miles. If you use your Ram for a lot of towing or end up idling quite a bit, like in city driving, you’ll want to go every three months or about every 3,000 miles.

You’ll want to check your oil level about once a month or every other time you have to fill up to keep an eye on things. Watch for the following as well:

The engine oil light turns on

You notice the oil looks dark brown/blackish or gritty

The engine starts making odd noises or sounds louder

Smoke comes from the exhaust

The engine produces a smoky or oily smell

When in doubt, it’s better to change the oil since diesel engines are more susceptible to wear and tear, and engine oil is an important part of keeping them running.

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How to change your oil and oil filter

If it’s time to change that oil, you’ll need some tools. You’ll want a socket wrench, a drain pan, a replacement filter, and twelve quarts of oil. Extras like a funnel, gloves and paper towels are a good idea.

If the temperature is cold, run your engine to warm things up (about five minutes). Then, open

the hood

and move on to the main event:

Take off your oil fill cap to help the oil drain faster

Once you’re under the engine, you’ll take off the drain bolt – have your drain pan ready to go because the oil won’t wait for you; let the old oil drain out

For the filter, go to the passenger side wheel well and reach through the gap to the oil filter; unscrew it and take the filter out (having a large Ziploc bag ready to place it in doesn’t hurt)

Install the new filter and screw it in place

Once the old oil is done draining, put the oil drain bolt back on – make sure you don’t forget the washer or gasket (whichever one your drain bolt used); tighten it to 35 lb-ft

Refill the engine with all that new engine oil and put the fill cap back on

It’s a good idea to run your truck for a bit to check for leaks, then make sure there’s enough oil in the engine by

checking the level with the dipstick

. The

oil pressure light

should switch off once you’re done.

As for the cleanup—don’t just toss the used oil outside or add it to your regular trash. Instead, you’ll need to put it in a sealed container and

take it to a recycling facility

to avoid creating a safety and fire hazard.

And that’s pretty much it! You can save some money by changing your oil, plus avoid a trip to your mechanic at the same time.

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