Originally Posted By: SIURXP
Looks like a Napa Gold Filter and conventional Penzoil will be going in for the first change. Thanks guys, if anyone else wants to add anything else about oils or the rams please do. So far i love it. We have a 2000 silverado 4x4 and that thing doesn't compare in any aspects to the ram.
What kind of MPG's are you guys seeing in your rams?
I. OIL:
Glad to see you are going to stick with the 5W-20. Don't mess around with other weights. MDS needs 20 weight oil. You can run a 0W-20 in winter if you live in a cold climate but stay with a 20 weight.
5K OCI's is within the max allowed 6 month/6000 mile time frame in the owner's manual. I too follow a 5K OCI schedule. I just ignore my OLM and reset it if it comes on early. You are aware that your 09, like my 08, has some form of Oil Life Monitor(OLM)right? The 09 has 2 different ways of alerting you that it is time for an OC, depending on what trim level you have, but they both will work the same way. Based on how you use the truck a message will flash telling you it is time. Don't be surprised if your OLM kicks on every 2500 up to 7500-10K or so. Seems to be how it was set up on the 08's by Dodge. Once it hits 7500-10K it starts to extend the mileage. I know my 08 tripped RIGHT AT 2500 and then 5000. I would just do your 5K OCI plan and reset the OLM if it trips.
As far as oil recommendations. You need a 5W-20 as said. The oil also must meet or exceed Chrysler oil spec MS6395 and it must carry the API Starburst symbol on the bottle. I personally would run one of these oils I will list below. They are all synthetic, all easy to find, are barely more than a premium conventional oil when purchased on sale( someone almost always has a sale )or at places like Wal-Mart in bulk( remember you need 7qts to do an OC so buying in bulk is a good thing
), and all meet/exceed your warranty requirements...
1 - Kendall GT1 Full Synthetic( $4.50-$4.99 regular price most places - less than $4 on sale )
2 - Valvoline Synpower
3 - Penzoil Platinum
4 - Quaker State( Horsepower or Ultimate Durability )
** - Amsoil XL 5W-20 meets all your warranty requirements as well but is more $$$ and harder to get. It is another option for you however.
If you want to run a conventional oil then I like these...
1 - Castrol GTX
2 - Valvoline
3 - Penzoil
For filters the Napa Gold( relabeled Wix )is a good filter and will do a good job for you if that is your choice. You can also look at a MOPAR filter which is fine for 5K and will be cheap at Wal-Mart. Purolator filters are affordable and excellent quality as are Bosch( Purolator made ). Basically any of the above for 5K is fine. If you want to step up to a premium filter the K&N, Mobil1, and Royal Purple filters are the ones to look at IMO.
NOTE - Be advised on the filter for your truck that starting in 2008 Dodge went to a metric thread filter on the 5.7L. The filter used on the 5.7L from 2003-2007 will not work( SAE thread )yet many parts stores continue to sell the old style filter to guys with 08 and 09 trucks. Here are some filter #'s that work for your truck. You can use any of these #'s and have the parts guy cross referrence them if you want to use a different brand...
Wix - 57899 or 51372
Napa Gold - 7899 or 1372
Purolator - L24651
Bosch - 3410
MOPAR - 4884899AB( OE # - don't have short aftermarket MOPAR # )
K&N - HP-2010
Mobil 1 - M1210
Royal Purple - 20-820( I use this filter on my 08 )
If you asked me to recommend a specific setup for a 5K OCI that is easy to come by and affordable then I would probably say the Kendall GT1 with the Napa/Wix filter. Would be a great choice.
II. GENERAL COMMENTS/FEEDBACK:
Congrat's on the new 09. I am very jealous. I wanted an 09( Deep Water Blue )but the deal I got on my 08 could not be passed up. The newest generation Rams are an amazing truck. Going to be hard for anyone to really give you much ""reliability" feedback though as the 09 is a brand new model in it's debut season. Kind of hard to give you much from the 02-08 Rams( previous model to yours )that can be applied to your truck as your truck is completely new from the ground up. Even the 5.7L HEMI has been reworked for a bump in power and fuel economy. Better handling, more power, better MPG( so they say ), more comfortable, much nicer interior, and on and on. Just can't really compare an 09 to earlier models.
Overall the previous model Ram was a great truck. I owned an 04 and now have an 08, both with the 5.7L, and they have been very reliable. No problems with either truck other than something very minor like a reflector lens falling out of the door( 04 ). NOTHING of substance with either truck.
Here are a few general obersvations however that can/may apply to your 09...
1 - MDS is VASTLY overrated. Real world on the 06-08 trucks that have MDS it does not seem to produce the MPG gains that they claim on paper. I don't know if that will translate to your 09 model? They carry a higher fuel economy rating than the 06-08 Rams with MDS but will it actually show up driving?
My 04 w/o MDS( same truck overall as my 08 )got better MPG than my 08 w/ MDS does.
2 - The tranny. On the 03-08 5.7L Rams it was really the one weak link in the truck. I would assume with the big power increase for 09 5.7L's Dodge reworked the tranny in the truck as well to take it? Not that everyone had problems in earlier years but when guys started increasing the power using handheld tuners that altered the factory tranny programming, beat on the trucks all the time( ie; burn out's, racing, etc... ), towed a lot without doing regular maintenance, etc.... the tranny's failed. Just be sure to keep an eye on the fluid and do regular ATF service( every 2 years or 30K is extremely wise )and you will be fine.
3 - LSD rear axles. On the earlier Rams that had the 9.25" rear LSD axle they have a real problem( or did - may have finally been corrected as I don't see much about it on 07-08 trucks??? ). Dodge uses 2 little clips to hold the LS clutches in place during assembly. Once everything is installed in the differential housing they are not needed. Over time these clips are known to work loose/break off and then fall out. They get cauught in the gears and trash the rear end. Many guys with the LSD are now pulling the rear diff covers off and pulling the clips out to prevent this from happening. I have never had a Ram with the LSD rear axle myself but it is a well known and common problem.
4 - The overhead console average MPG is not even close to accurate! Not sure if they are still using the same one they have since the 90's-08 but if they are don't believe what it tells you. I have had 5 Dodge trucks with the same basic overhead( 97/01/03/04/08 - my 94 may have had the same one too but can't recall )and not a one of them was even close to accurate. Anywhere from 1-3 MPG off and it varies as to whether or not it is high or low. Usually it shows high though. Just mentioning this because a lot of people see say 18 MPG on the overhead and think that is great but if you do the math it generally is more like 15.5-16.5 MPG actual. My 08 is no more accurate than my 97 was.
5 - If your truck has the 20" tire option than it is about 99% certain you have the Goodyear Wrangler HP tires. Dodge used a few others on rare occassions( like Michelin LTX M/S )but the overwhelming vast majority of 20" tires were the GYW HP's and they stink! Actually, they are HORRENDOUS.
Horrible on any kind of slick surface( ie; rain, snow, ice, sand, etc... )so watch out with the power you have in that HEMI Ram. The slightest tap of the throttle on a slick surface with those tires and you will be sideways and/or facing back the way you came.
Other issues are they give a poor ride and they wear out very, VERY, fast. Do what I did and swap them out right away for a better tire and sell them to recoup some of your money. They are HORRIBLE tires. Dodge has used them from day one of the 20" tire option and 99% of owner's with them hate them.
Well, there you go. Hope this helps you out? Shoot me a PM if you would like some addresses for some good Dodge truck web sites that can help you out further. Enjoy the truck and best of luck.