1996 Dodge Ram 1500 Engine Oil Capacity

Not sure how to find 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 engine oil capacity? We’ve got all the specs your owner’s manual has—plus some extra tips.
Written by Ethan Moser
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
The 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 is a rusty, yet trusty pickup that, despite being more than 25 years old, still offers plenty of enviable features that you can continue to savor for years to come by keeping the pickup in tip-top shape. To do that, however, you’ll need to know your Ram 1500’s engine oil capacity. 
Owning and driving an older vehicle like the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 tends to come with more frequent maintenance and repair costs compared to owning a twenty-first-century model. That being said, you can keep your maintenance costs as low as possible by performing simple procedures—like changing your oil—at home. Before you can, however, you’ll need to check your owner’s manual to find out what type of oil you’ll need as well as your engine’s oil capacity. 
If you’ve lost or misplaced your owner’s manual over the course of the last 25 years, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
Jerry
, the
insurance comparison super app
that lowers your
Ram car insurance costs
, is here to walk you through everything you’ll ever need to know about the engine oil capacity and ideal oil type for your 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. 
Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
Get ahead of my car maintenance
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

1996 Dodge Ram 1500 engine oil capacity

First things first: just how much oil does a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck need? 
Well, that’s going to depend on which engine your Ram 1500 is equipped with. Dodge offered two engine options on the 1996 Ram 1500—a 3.9-liter V6 engine and a 5.2-liter V8 engine. These engines will require 4.0 quarts (3.8 liters) and 5.0 quarts (4.75 liters), respectively. 
Keep in mind that your
engine’s displacement
—the 3.9 or 5.2-liter volume its cylinders take up—is not the same as your engine’s oil capacity, which refers to the amount of oil you’ll need to complete an oil change. Despite the fact that both of these measurements can be done in liters, never assume that the two are interchangeable

What kind of oil does a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 need?

Regardless of your 1996 Dodge Ram 1500’s engine size or oil capacity, you’ll need to use the same oil in both. Your Ram 1500’s owner’s manual can tell you that Dodge recommends using SAE 0W-20 motor oil.
But what exactly does that mean? The numbers in the oil grade are a reference to its viscosity—how thick it is—at any given temperature. The “W” in the grade name refers to winter, while the zero preceding indicates that the oil has a low viscosity at 0°F. 
The 20 at the end of the grade, then, suggests that the oil is also relatively thin at 212°F—the temperature at which water boils. SAE simply stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, the entity that codes oil viscosity. 
All of this is to say that this particular oil type will perform well in your 1996 Dodge Ram 1500’s engine regardless of cold weather conditions. Similarly, its low viscosity rating means that your Dodge will experience less wear and tear, allowing it to stay on the road for as long as possible. 
What about synthetic motor oil? You can use synthetic motor oil in your Ram 1500 so long as it meets the same viscosity requirements. We recommend using a premium-grade 5W-20 full synthetic motor oil if you can’t find 0W-20. 

How often to change the oil on a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500

Now that you’re an expert on your 1996 Dodge Ram 1500’s oil capacity and type: it’s time to
change your oil
Or is it? Dodge recommends changing your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles if you choose to use conventional oil. If you’re driving your Ram 1500 less frequently as it ages, you can probably plan on needing to change your oil once every six months
That being said, if you’re using synthetic motor oil, experts recommend changing your oil less frequently—around every 7,500 to 10,000 miles
That’s a pretty wide range. To ensure that you’re changing your oil at the right time, you’ll want to perform regular oil checks—about once a month. Similarly, you can keep an eye, ear, and nose out for the following signs that you might need to change your oil ahead of schedule: 
  • Motor oil that needs changing is dark brown or black. Clean oil is light brown or amber, like a cup of tea. Dirty oil is like a cup of soda.
  • Motor oil feels coarse or gritty 
  • Unfamiliar noises coming from the engine 
  • New smells, especially anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning
  • Changes in your vehicle’s performance

How to change your oil and oil filter

Thankfully, the process of actually changing the oil in your 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 is nothing special. That being said, before you get started, you’ll need to gather all of the necessary materials to perform your oil change, including a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench designed to remove the old oil filter. Of course, you’ll also need a replacement filter and four or five quarts of premium 0W-20 engine oil, depending on whether your Ram 1500 has a V6 or V8 engine. 
To make changing your oil as quick and painless as possible, you’ll want to let the engine idle for a few minutes before starting. This will allow your engine’s oil to reach its normal operating temperature and drain faster once you remove the oil drain bolt. Once you’re all warmed up, it's time to shut off the engine, pop the hood, and follow these steps: 
  • Remove the oil fill cap
  • Get underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, draining the old oil into the drain pan 
  • Remove the old oil filter and continue to let the oil drain 
  • Install the new filter
  • Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft
  • Refill the engine with your new oil and replace the fill cap 
You can now use your dipstick to ensure that you’ve filled your engine up with enough new oil. When you’re finished, let your engine idle for a few more minutes and keep an eye out for any leaking oil—if all goes well, your dashboard’s
oil pressure light
should turn off. 
Finally, you’ll want to empty your old used oil into a sealed container. You can deliver this to your local recycling center to be properly disposed of—do not empty your old oil onto the ground or into a garbage bin!

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

While your pickup might be 25 years old, investing in a reliable policy that also lowers your
Dodge Ram 1500 car insurance costs
is as vital as an oil change. Thankfully, you can update your insurance in as little as 45 seconds when you download the
Jerry
super app. 
As America's top-rated insurance app, Jerry makes it easy for car owners to avail of custom competitive quotes on
car insurance
from 55+ of the nation’s top insurance providers without the hassles of traditional comparison shopping methods. That means no pesky emails, no annoying phone calls, and no lengthy paperwork. Instead, Jerry focuses on saving you money on car insurance without sacrificing the coverage you need. 
How much money, exactly? The average Jerry user saves upwards of $800 a year after switching their insurance with our #1-rated super app. 
Best of all, Jerry will perform regular price maintenance to make sure you’re still getting the best price on the coverage you need. 
“I just had to buy a new car, and I needed quick help to get insurance before I could get my plates. Because I work so many hours,
Jerry
was the ideal choice for getting things done without long phone calls and waiting periods.”  —Rosa G.
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees
icon4.717k Ratings
5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged
Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™
Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.
Try GarageGuard™

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings