2015 Ram with Cummins oil change interval

Here is a good link on turbo diesel register (clicky) that should help give you a pictorial on what to expect when you pop the intake off. Also, be sure to doubly check that all 3 connections (or more if you take the intake apart further) are all bolted together. The last thing you want to do is dust your engine :).

Jus2shy, thanks for the info.

I've had the local dealership change oil on mine the one time it has been done.

But, as I was not very wild about the wheel well route to begin with, I am surely going to give your Take off the intake route. I do like changing oil myself.

Appreciate the detail given in your posting.

jus2shy wrote:
In all honesty, I've changed my oil about 4 times already on my truck. I decided to adopt the "Take of the intake" method. You're supposed to inspect the air filter element anyways. First time was a bear, took roughly 1.5 hours. I only remove the mid-section of the intake and leave the air filter clamped in the air box. 2 8mm bolts and a hose clamp and it's free. I typically perform the following:
1 - start draining oil
2 - remove intake
3 - remove old oil filter (never spill a drop going through the top, no need for a garbage bag or ziploc). Oil filter never seems too hot, I can handle it fine with no gloves, but it does get uncomfortable so I wear some thing mechanics gloves
4 - install fresh oil filter pre-filled with a quart of oil
5 - inspect backside of air filter to ensure no bunching or dust getting through. Also wipe the little bit of oil residue from the CCV filter on the turbo. It isn't much but I like things as clean as possible
6 - re-install intake assembly
7 - re-install oil pan bolt
8 - re-fill engine oil and fire it up

not that big of a deal. The extra time spent un-doing the intake is long enough to get a great drain out of the oil. If I rushed, I can do it in less than 20 minutes. However, taking my time, it takes 40 minutes to an hour to change the oil and perform other inspections (I tend to check my magnetic diff plug as well, the shavings have decreased significantly so I figure it's broken in pretty well now).

Note - I don't like the wheel-well method because of a few things I take issue with. First Off, the clearances or ridiculously tight to work a filter through with an automatic equipped truck. Second, there's a good bit of dirt buildup in the wheel-well and you already have tight clearances to work with. Not an issue when removing the old filter, but possibly an issue should the glad seal tear, or even if you're putting an empty filter through that tiny hole, it can get some bits of dirt in there. Lastly, you don't have a good way to reach in and clean off the oil filter head to ensure the old oil filter o-ring is not there and that it's wiped clean of debris. From the top, you get a good vantage point to wipe that area down and ensure that things are clean before installing your new filter. You also get more leverage to line things up and spin the new filter on. Some RAM guys don't see these as issues, but for me personally I see them as possible issues.

Thank you very much for the great detailed post. I am going to try this method on my next change which is coming up in the next month or so.

In all honesty, I've changed my oil about 4 times already on my truck. I decided to adopt the "Take of the intake" method. You're supposed to inspect the air filter element anyways. First time was a bear, took roughly 1.5 hours. I only remove the mid-section of the intake and leave the air filter clamped in the air box. 2 8mm bolts and a hose clamp and it's free. I typically perform the following:
1 - start draining oil
2 - remove intake
3 - remove old oil filter (never spill a drop going through the top, no need for a garbage bag or ziploc). Oil filter never seems too hot, I can handle it fine with no gloves, but it does get uncomfortable so I wear some thing mechanics gloves
4 - install fresh oil filter pre-filled with a quart of oil
5 - inspect backside of air filter to ensure no bunching or dust getting through. Also wipe the little bit of oil residue from the CCV filter on the turbo. It isn't much but I like things as clean as possible
6 - re-install intake assembly
7 - re-install oil pan bolt
8 - re-fill engine oil and fire it up

not that big of a deal. The extra time spent un-doing the intake is long enough to get a great drain out of the oil. If I rushed, I can do it in less than 20 minutes. However, taking my time, it takes 40 minutes to an hour to change the oil and perform other inspections (I tend to check my magnetic diff plug as well, the shavings have decreased significantly so I figure it's broken in pretty well now).

Note - I don't like the wheel-well method because of a few things I take issue with. First Off, the clearances or ridiculously tight to work a filter through with an automatic equipped truck. Second, there's a good bit of dirt buildup in the wheel-well and you already have tight clearances to work with. Not an issue when removing the old filter, but possibly an issue should the glad seal tear, or even if you're putting an empty filter through that tiny hole, it can get some bits of dirt in there. Lastly, you don't have a good way to reach in and clean off the oil filter head to ensure the old oil filter o-ring is not there and that it's wiped clean of debris. From the top, you get a good vantage point to wipe that area down and ensure that things are clean before installing your new filter. You also get more leverage to line things up and spin the new filter on. Some RAM guys don't see these as issues, but for me personally I see them as possible issues.

FishOnOne wrote:

blofgren wrote:

HouseApe wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"The oil change indicator is useless if you like your warranty.
From the book"

Please explain what point you are trying to make?

If you go by the indicator only and don't drive much you will surpass the 6 month time limit. The indicator doesn't account for time other than engine hours.
Don't gave Ram any excuse to denie warranty because you changed it based on the in dash indicator.

I noticed that clause in the manual too. I did my first change just under 5k miles (8k kms) and I forget exactly what the monitor said but I believe it was still almost 70%. This mileage was what I was at right around the 6 month mark of ownership so I figured it was time given that it was still the original factory fill.

As a side note, make sure you are prepared either to disassemble the air ducting above the oil filter or have a large ziplock bag ready to drop the old oil filter into before performing an oil change. These trucks are really beefy and access to the oil filter is very limited! I am also going to have the Glad press and seal ready to go on the new oil filter seal so that it can be prefilled with oil before having to turn it on it's side to get it between the frame rail and wheel liner.

That Glad press on with a pre filled oil filter sounds like a mess waiting to happen.

Yes changing the oil on my 6.0L was much easier than on this truck. I see a filter relocation kit in my future....

Here's the press and seal demonstration.

Link

I'm at the 6 month mark with 5600 km's will find out how bad it is to change this next weekend.

blofgren wrote:

HouseApe wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"The oil change indicator is useless if you like your warranty.
From the book"

Please explain what point you are trying to make?

If you go by the indicator only and don't drive much you will surpass the 6 month time limit. The indicator doesn't account for time other than engine hours.
Don't gave Ram any excuse to denie warranty because you changed it based on the in dash indicator.

I noticed that clause in the manual too. I did my first change just under 5k miles (8k kms) and I forget exactly what the monitor said but I believe it was still almost 70%. This mileage was what I was at right around the 6 month mark of ownership so I figured it was time given that it was still the original factory fill.

As a side note, make sure you are prepared either to disassemble the air ducting above the oil filter or have a large ziplock bag ready to drop the old oil filter into before performing an oil change. These trucks are really beefy and access to the oil filter is very limited! I am also going to have the Glad press and seal ready to go on the new oil filter seal so that it can be prefilled with oil before having to turn it on it's side to get it between the frame rail and wheel liner.

That Glad press on with a pre filled oil filter sounds like a mess waiting to happen.

HouseApe wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"The oil change indicator is useless if you like your warranty.
From the book"

Please explain what point you are trying to make?

If you go by the indicator only and don't drive much you will surpass the 6 month time limit. The indicator doesn't account for time other than engine hours.
Don't gave Ram any excuse to denie warranty because you changed it based on the in dash indicator.

I noticed that clause in the manual too. I did my first change just under 5k miles (8k kms) and I forget exactly what the monitor said but I believe it was still almost 70%. This mileage was what I was at right around the 6 month mark of ownership so I figured it was time given that it was still the original factory fill.

As a side note, make sure you are prepared either to disassemble the air ducting above the oil filter or have a large ziplock bag ready to drop the old oil filter into before performing an oil change. These trucks are really beefy and access to the oil filter is very limited! I am also going to have the Glad press and seal ready to go on the new oil filter seal so that it can be prefilled with oil before having to turn it on it's side to get it between the frame rail and wheel liner.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"The oil change indicator is useless if you like your warranty.
From the book"

Please explain what point you are trying to make?

If you go by the indicator only and don't drive much you will surpass the 6 month time limit. The indicator doesn't account for time other than engine hours.
Don't gave Ram any excuse to denie warranty because you changed it based on the in dash indicator.