Dodge Ram 1500 Oil Change: DIY Steps and Capacity

Why Regular Oil Changes Keep This Truck Alive

Engine oil does four jobs at once. It lubricates moving parts. It carries away heat. It traps dirt and metal before they score your bearings. It also helps the engine run efficient, which shows up at the pump.

Skip the interval and sludge starts building in the passages. Wear accelerates on the cam and rockers. Fuel economy drops, often without you noticing. Worst case, you’re looking at a seized engine and a five-figure rebuild.

Ram 1500 Oil Type and Capacity by Engine

This is where a lot of guides fall short. The Ram 1500 has run five different engines since 2013. The spec changed more than once along the way. Here’s what actually goes in each one.

The 5.7L HEMI took 5W-20 full synthetic from 2013 through 2021. Stellantis moved it to 0W-20 starting in 2022. That carries through the HEMI’s return for 2026. The 3.6L Pentastar followed a similar path, 5W-20 through 2018, then 0W-20 from 2019 on.

Shopping used? Then know this. Ram dropped the HEMI entirely for 2025 and sold the 1500 with the Hurricane I6 only. Enough customers pushed back that the 5.7L HEMI returned for 2026. So a 2025 truck and a 2026 truck can look identical. But they take completely different oil.

Running 5W-30 in a 5.7L HEMI isn’t a factory recommendation. But I get asked constantly, usually by guys towing heavy in July. The MDS system is calibrated for 5W-20 flow rates. Thicker oil can slow the lifter solenoids and trip a cylinder deactivation fault. Stick with the label. Our synthetic vs conventional oil guide covers the tradeoffs in depth.

Choosing the Right Oil Filter for Your Engine

Here’s the correction I most want Ram owners to see. Plenty of older guides point you toward the Mopar MO-090. Don’t buy it. That number is a legacy Chrysler filter built for 2000s-era minivans and sedans. It does not fit a modern 5.7L HEMI. Owners have returned it after it wouldn’t seat.

The correct OEM filter depends on your engine and, for the HEMI, your model year.

EcoDiesel and Hurricane trucks use a cartridge-style housing entirely. So pull up your VIN before ordering. Don’t guess off engine size alone.

OEM Pick

Oil Filter

Mopar MO-339 Oil Filter

★★★★★4.8 out of 5

$8 – $15

Check Price on Amazon

Best Value

Oil Filter

WIX 57060 Spin-On Oil Filter

★★★★☆4.6 out of 5

$7 – $12

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Editor’s Pick

Full Synthetic Oil

Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-20

★★★★★4.8 out of 5

$32 – $45

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Tools and Supplies You’ll Need

You don’t need a full shop to do this right. Here’s what I keep on the cart for a Ram 1500 oil change.

Compare that to a dealership or quick-lube shop. A full synthetic Ram 1500 oil change usually runs $80 to $140 depending on your region. That gap is why so many owners learn to do this themselves.

Step-by-Step: How to Change Your Ram 1500’s Oil

Warm up the engine

Run the truck two to three minutes first. Warm oil drains faster. It also carries more contaminants out with it than cold oil does.

Lift the truck safely

Use a floor jack paired with rated jack stands, or drive onto quality ramps. Never trust a jack alone to hold the weight.

Safety First

A dropped truck can be fatal. Rated jack stands or drive-on ramps only, every single time. No exceptions, no shortcuts.

Drain the old oil

Find the drain plug on the bottom of the pan. Slide the pan underneath. Loosen the plug counter clockwise with a 15mm socket, then finish by hand. Let it drain fully, about five to ten minutes.

Replace the oil filter

Spin off the old filter with a filter wrench. Wipe a thin layer of fresh oil on the new gasket. Thread the new filter on by hand until snug. Don’t wrench it tight.

Reinstall the drain plug

Hand-tighten first, then add a quarter turn with the socket. Spec is roughly 25 ft-lbs if you’re using a torque wrench. Overtightening strips the pan threads, and that repair hurts.

Refill with fresh oil

Pull the fill cap under the hood. Pour through a funnel, starting with six quarts. Check the dipstick, then top off slowly until you’re in the safe range.

Check for leaks

Start the engine and idle about a minute. Shut it off, then look under the truck near the plug and filter for drips. Clean up and you’re finished.

Watch Out for Overfilling

Overfilled by a quart? Drain the excess right away. Too much oil causes foaming, blue exhaust smoke, and a rough idle from damaged seals.

How to Reset the Oil Change Required Light

This light runs off a duty-cycle algorithm, not a live oil sensor. It estimates wear based on how you drive. Resetting it keeps that estimate accurate, but the method depends on your dash.

Pre-2019 trucks (gas pedal method)

Turn the key to ON without starting the engine. Press the accelerator fully to the floor three times within ten seconds. Press slowly rather than stabbing it. Turn the ignition off, then start normally. The message should clear.

2019 and newer trucks (Uconnect and EVIC method)

Press the start button once without touching the brake, so the truck sits in accessory mode. Use the steering wheel arrows to reach Vehicle Info, then Oil Life. Select Reset and confirm. The pedal trick often won’t register on digital clusters, so don’t fight it.

Pro Tips From the Shop

Don’t overtighten the drain plug. Hand-tight plus a quarter turn is plenty. I’ve seen more stripped pans from overtightening than from leaks.

Always lube the filter gasket before installing. A dry gasket won’t seat evenly. That’s a slow leak waiting to happen.

Recycle your used oil. AutoZone and O’Reilly both take it free. Never pour it down a drain or into the yard.

Change the filter every time, even when the oil still looks clean. A saturated filter bypasses dirty oil straight back into the engine. That defeats the whole point.