Viscosity for Dodge Ram

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Originally Posted By: Clevy
I had that exact truck last year. I don't know if mine had the mds option however my owners manual said the hemi needs 5w-20 and my oil fill cap said 5w-20.
I bought it privately so I doubt a dealer slapped a 20 grade cap on it although it is possible.

OP. My truck went to salvage,I totalled it. I bought it with 240k and totalled it at 280k. It got dealer bulk oil changes all its life according to the receipts that came with the truck.
It didn't consume a drop of oil between changes and honestly it felt just as torquey as my dads 2014 hemi ram.
I was always a thicker is better guy however mileage doesn't lie and my personal experience with a high mile hemi is that the 20 grades don't shorten engine life whatsoever.
That truck is already hard on fuel,why not try for a mpg or 2 with a 20 grade.
As far as thicker oil affecting mds it does. It will slow its engagement by 0.20 seconds meaning the engagement and disengagement will happen in under half a second with thicker oil.
It really doesn't matter what oil you use however a 20 grade will still enable your hemi to last longer than the body it's fitted in.


If you had a 2004 it did not have MDS. MDS was never an "option". It was 1st used in 2006 on the Rams and is standard equipment. Never has been an "option". I wish people would stop the false info on MDS being available before 2006 in the Rams. It was NOT!

If it was a 2004 it spec'd 30 weight as well not 20 weight. Are you sure you didn't have a 2005 which was the 1st year for 20 weight in the Rams? Oil cap means nothing unless you are sure it is the original one. Did you ever look to make sure it had the correct year owner's manual? The 2004 OM for the Ram trucks makes no mention of 20 weight oil for them at all.

ALL gas powered Rams, regardless of engine( not including the SRT10 trucks ), spec'd 30 weight in 2004. Direct copy of 2004 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual oil selection info...



I am not trying to be a jerk here but this thread is full of false info and it is getting out of hand.
 
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Originally Posted By: NHHEMI

I am not trying to be a jerk here but this thread is full of false info and it is getting out of hand.


I betcha after all that effort you put forth clearing things up, the OP goes and puts 5W-20 in there anyway. Wouldn't be the first time. People have their minds made up no matter what anybody else says.
 
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI

I am not trying to be a jerk here but this thread is full of false info and it is getting out of hand.


I betcha after all that effort you put forth clearing things up, the OP goes and puts 5W-20 in there anyway. Wouldn't be the first time. People have their minds made up no matter what anybody else says.


5W20 won't hurt anything if he does. Chrysler moved to it in 2005 before MDS anyway. Same motor in 05 as 04.

My main point is the talk of MDS being in an 04 which is false, or as an "option" which it wasn't, as well as the claims 5W20 was the spec'd oil for 04. Again it wasn't.

OP can put 20W50 in for all I care. I just want the info accurate for others who may read the thread and want the accurate info. A 2004 Ram, with a gas motor( except for SRT10 ), spec'd 5W30 or 10W30 period. Also no MDS in a HEMI Ram in 04. 2006 was 1st year.
 
Wow, Ok to begin with....I'm an idiot.
Right now I am so thankful I can remain somewhat anonymous on the internet.
My truck is an '06, the one I traded in was an '04. So, back to my OP. 0w-20 ok with a 5w-20 recommendation?
Also, I have moved but haven't updated my info. I am in central MT now, and the winters get considerably colder this side of the mountains.

P.S. Someone let me know where I can turn in my Man-Card for not even knowing what truck I drive!
 
Originally Posted By: tojo70
Wow, Ok to begin with....I'm an idiot.
Right now I am so thankful I can remain somewhat anonymous on the internet.
My truck is an '06, the one I traded in was an '04. So, back to my OP. 0w-20 ok with a 5w-20 recommendation?
Also, I have moved but haven't updated my info. I am in central MT now, and the winters get considerably colder this side of the mountains.

P.S. Someone let me know where I can turn in my Man-Card for not even knowing what truck I drive!


Not a problem. I kind of figured you were a little confused. You can keep your man card.

0W20 will be ok although I can assure you a good quality synthetic 5W20 will be fine. IT will be easier to find and cheaper too.
 
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Originally Posted By: tojo70
Wow, Ok to begin with....I'm an idiot.
Right now I am so thankful I can remain somewhat anonymous on the internet.
My truck is an '06, the one I traded in was an '04. So, back to my OP. 0w-20 ok with a 5w-20 recommendation?
Also, I have moved but haven't updated my info. I am in central MT now, and the winters get considerably colder this side of the mountains.

P.S. Someone let me know where I can turn in my Man-Card for not even knowing what truck I drive!


0w20 will be a perfect year-round oil for you, especially in Montana. It will provide smoother start-up as well as a possible increase in gas mileage.

I've been using Mobil 1 0w20 for awhile now, and my vehicle starts easy (no matter what the temperature), runs smoother than ever, and I've seen a slight increase in gas mileage as well.
 
Either is fine. I've run Mobil 1 0w20 in a Ford 4.6 3V during the winter, and it seemed to like it. I've never tried it in my Hemi yet.
 
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