UPDATE! Picking up the 2015 Eco-Diesel Friday/Saturday! :)

Don,
I've been running a C3 spec motor oil since, oh, Feb, 2012. Been there, done that. Still running it. 10k miles between oil changes, not a problem.

this is the cap I ordered rollinsmokediesel.com I think it is the sameone you were talking about Rangergress. I just got an e-mail that it will be delivered Monday the 22. :)

Don

OK how about we not keep quoting and requoting and requoting each other, guys. Maybe if you feel the need to quote someone just snip their last response, sure would make for an easier read!

Ninesbiker any oil that meets the ACEA C3 spec can be used in the VM 3.0 diesel engine. Just because an oil does not call out the "Chrysler
Material Standard MS-11106" spec that does not exclude it from being used. Again this is a direct quote from the 2015 Ram Diesel Supplement Book under the 3.0 section "the manufacturer recommends
engine oils that meet the requirements of Chrysler
Material Standard MS-11106, and that are approved to
ACEA C3."

For peace of mind I will have a buddy call the Ram Dealer Tech Line and ask them what they think and if what I have posted is correct. This may take a little time as I'm not sure my guy will be in the plant this week. If he's not, he won't be back until after the holidays.

Don

I would assume you need correct OBDII port access and correct software to monitor it. Here is how it is done on a Volkswagen since 2009. Perhaps VCDS software and a $250 hex CAN bus cable can do likewise on the RAM? This is probably Bosch monitoring systems on the whole exhaust system. Could be identical, I suspect, being a Bosch System for the ECU and gathering/storing the data in memory.

measuring Ash content of DPF via VCDS cable and software.

NinerBikes wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:

BenK wrote:
Admit to knowing little on diesels, but this oil spec is interesting

You guys have some good links explaining why the particulate is so important?

Am reading up on GDICI and think when they come on line...their oil spec maybe
similar. Gasoline has less stuff to mitigate from the tailpipe, but still think
the level of particulates might be similar

Am guessing the blow-by from compression ignition forces more particulates into
the oil.

Opinions on extended engine oil changes via analysis?

What does the manual say for oil/filter change intervals? Standard
duty, severe duty, etc ?

What is happening down in the oil pan that dictates this? Can see
folks who don't follow the maintenance schedule will have issues with
the warranties if something goes south

Almost all US DPF's have a clean out port built in to the design. European light diesels, while having the DPF built in to the exhaust system, do not have this plumbing feature or clean out or flush the ash port access. Which means that instead, they went with low sulfated ash motor oil, a recurring high $ expense per oil change, to make more profit, to cut costs on the exhaust system. Then, when the operator cheaps out on the motor oil and cuts corners, using the wrong motor not to spec, the DPF loads up with ash faster, and the pressure sensors fore and aft of the DPF show too great a differential in pressure, and you get to buy a $4000 exhaust system for R&Ring what you screwed up by using the wrong motor oil in the first place. Penny wise and pounds foolish for cheap, corner cutting consumers.

This diesel and it's filter and oil changes are not going to be cost effective or cheap, compared to gas motors.

You may be a new diesel truck owner, but forget about Wal Mart or Jiffy Lube oil changes with this baby... ain't gonna happen. Very, very specialized oil requirements... like a MB sprinter, or a Porsche, or Audi Q7 TDI, or any common rail diesel VW TDI and it's oil needs, European spec motor oil for this Italian Stallion. This motor was originally designed and is used in ROW in a Maserati. There's your sign. If you can afford a Mas... you can afford expensive motor parts in your RAM too.

Chrysler Maserati article on Vitori motor

I've never heard of a DPF having a clean out port.

Are you saying that the 3.0 VM Motor powered RAM has a Euro DPF installed on these trucks?

A Low Sulphate Ash oil is indicative of preventing ash build up from motor oil being burned, due to no clean out port in the DPF. They manage the ash content in the oil to prevent buildup in the DPF.

Open up a service manual on a RAM truck and find out what the recommended mileage is to inspect total ash content of the DPF. I know it's 130k miles on my TDI's.

Since I don't have a RAM service manual in front of me how do you inspect "total ash content" on a DPF?

Thank you for showing a perfect example of why the owner needs to be smarter than the service writer and the techs in the service dept that service your "free" oil changes.

NinerBikes wrote:

RangerGress wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:

I've read this motor takes 8 liters and I've read it takes 10 liters of motor oil. At $10 to 13 a liter, plus a $65 oil filter, it's going to be close to 130 to $160 in parts alone, for the right oil. C3 oil is hard to find, period.

This has all been discussed to death in other forums. The tribologists seemed to be saying that the initial excitement re. oil choices was overwrought. There seems to be some consensus that inexpensive Rotella T5 or T6 have low enough ash content that they'll be fine. Those that get Turbo Diesel Register should check their most recent issue (#86) for one such article.

Ram seems to be paying for 4 oil changes for everyone. So at 50k miles, buy 3x jugs of Rotella and DIY. Hopefully by then the cost of this unicorn oil filter will be <$10.

Interesting, Dependable Dodge by me, service dept said only the first oil change is on them? So which is it?

When tribologists start honoring warrantys on $15,000 common rail diesel motors, maybe then I can listen. Until then, on this motor and truck, I'd play it by the book, not the internet. Read the Manual for oil specifications and take it from there.

Find a single example anywhere of a warranty dispute lost by an owner solely because he used a high quality oil supported by a consensus of tribologists for his application, vs. the OEM oil. That would mean that the dealer has an oil sample analyzed and after thousands of miles it's certain that it was oil B instead of the extremely similar OEM recommended oil A. Then the dealer proved in small claims court to the judge's satisfaction.

When I took my ED in for it's first oil change I took great pains to ensure the dealer used the right oil. The idea that there was a special oil that the ED needed was uncharted ground for them. They pretty much disregarded my request re. confirming oil until I forced the issue and dragged the service manager into his own database. The dealer said that they didn't have any. I told them I'd wait until they got some, and that I'd want to see the empty quarts of oil when they were done. Their idea of different oils were 5W20 vs. 5W30 and their understanding of oils ended there.

Also, there's been one case already of a dealer that put the wrong oil in an ED. The owner figured it out because his cold oil pressure was too high. The dealer swore right and left that no error had been committed but the swapped out the oil load and suddenly OP's were correct.

My point is the dealers don't know oil from a hole in the ground.

A Low Sulphate Ash oil is indicative of preventing ash build up from motor oil being burned, due to no clean out port in the DPF. They manage the ash content in the oil to prevent buildup in the DPF.

Open up a service manual on a RAM truck and find out what the recommended mileage is to inspect total ash content of the DPF. I know it's 130k miles on my TDI's.

NinerBikes wrote:

BenK wrote:
Admit to knowing little on diesels, but this oil spec is interesting

You guys have some good links explaining why the particulate is so important?

Am reading up on GDICI and think when they come on line...their oil spec maybe
similar. Gasoline has less stuff to mitigate from the tailpipe, but still think
the level of particulates might be similar

Am guessing the blow-by from compression ignition forces more particulates into
the oil.

Opinions on extended engine oil changes via analysis?

What does the manual say for oil/filter change intervals? Standard
duty, severe duty, etc ?

What is happening down in the oil pan that dictates this? Can see
folks who don't follow the maintenance schedule will have issues with
the warranties if something goes south

Almost all US DPF's have a clean out port built in to the design. European light diesels, while having the DPF built in to the exhaust system, do not have this plumbing feature or clean out or flush the ash port access. Which means that instead, they went with low sulfated ash motor oil, a recurring high $ expense per oil change, to make more profit, to cut costs on the exhaust system. Then, when the operator cheaps out on the motor oil and cuts corners, using the wrong motor not to spec, the DPF loads up with ash faster, and the pressure sensors fore and aft of the DPF show too great a differential in pressure, and you get to buy a $4000 exhaust system for R&Ring what you screwed up by using the wrong motor oil in the first place. Penny wise and pounds foolish for cheap, corner cutting consumers.

This diesel and it's filter and oil changes are not going to be cost effective or cheap, compared to gas motors.

You may be a new diesel truck owner, but forget about Wal Mart or Jiffy Lube oil changes with this baby... ain't gonna happen. Very, very specialized oil requirements... like a MB sprinter, or a Porsche, or Audi Q7 TDI, or any common rail diesel VW TDI and it's oil needs, European spec motor oil for this Italian Stallion. This motor was originally designed and is used in ROW in a Maserati. There's your sign. If you can afford a Mas... you can afford expensive motor parts in your RAM too.

Chrysler Maserati article on Vitori motor

I've never heard of a DPF having a clean out port. The only clean out port I know of is on the 6.7 cummins turbo.

Are you saying that the 3.0 VM Motor powered RAM has a Euro DPF installed on these trucks?

RangerGress wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:

I've read this motor takes 8 liters and I've read it takes 10 liters of motor oil. At $10 to 13 a liter, plus a $65 oil filter, it's going to be close to 130 to $160 in parts alone, for the right oil. C3 oil is hard to find, period.

This has all been discussed to death in other forums. The tribologists seemed to be saying that the initial excitement re. oil choices was overwrought. There seems to be some consensus that inexpensive Rotella T5 or T6 have low enough ash content that they'll be fine. Those that get Turbo Diesel Register should check their most recent issue (#86) for one such article.

Ram seems to be paying for 4 oil changes for everyone. So at 50k miles, buy 3x jugs of Rotella and DIY. Hopefully by then the cost of this unicorn oil filter will be <$10.

Interesting, Dependable Dodge by me, service dept said only the first oil change is on them? So which is it?

When tribologists start honoring warrantys on $15,000 common rail diesel motors, maybe then I can listen. Until then, on this motor and truck, I'd play it by the book, not the internet. Read the Manual for oil specifications and take it from there.