RAM 3500 HD Truck 4WD L6-6.7L DSL Turbo (2008)
Fuel: Description and Operation
FUEL REQUIREMENTS - DIESEL ENGINE
WARNING: Do not use alcohol or gasoline as a fuel blending agent. They can be unstable under certain conditions and hazardous or explosive
when mixed with diesel fuel.
Use good quality diesel fuel from a reputable supplier. It is recommended that purchase of diesel fuel should be made from a service station that is
known to dispense a high volume of highway diesel fuel.
- Ultra Low Sulfur Highway Diesel Fuel (15 ppm of sulfur or less) is required to be used in Dodge Ram Trucks equipped with 6.7L diesel engine
Ultra Low Sulfur Highway Diesel Fuel (preferred) or Low Sulfur Highway Diesel Fuel (500 ppm of sulfur or less) are required to be used in Dodge Ram
Trucks equipped with a 5.9L diesel engine.
- A maximum blend of 5% biodiesel, or less, is acceptable as long as the biodiesel mixture meets ASTM specification D-975.
A biodiesel fuel blend that is higher then 5% is not acceptable because these higher percentage biodiesel blends contain excess amounts of NUMBER:
W14-12-6 GROUP
Fuel DATE: Approval Pending moisture which exceed the water stripping capability of the on-engine final fuel filter. Should higher percentage biodiesel
fuels be used an auxilliary water stripping filter will be required.
No off-highway diesel fuel i.e. farm or marine use diesel fuel is acceptable due to unknown sulfur and water content and unknown cetane number.
Unknown fuel quality may adversely effect the performance of the engine and fuel injection system.
Fuel conditioners (additives) are not recommended and should not be required if you buy good quality fuel and follow cold weather advice supplied in
your Owners Manual.
Diesel fuel is seldom completely free of water. To prevent fuel system trouble, including fuel line freezing in winter, drain the accumulated water from
the fuel/water separator using the fuel/water separator drain provided. If you buy good-quality fuel and follow the cold-weather advice above, fuel
conditioners should not be required in your vehicle. If available in your area, a high cetane "premium" diesel fuel may offer improved cold starting and
warm-up performance.
Proper Bulk (Off-Vehicle) Fuel Storage
Proper maintenance of stored fuel is essential. Diesel fuel is seldom entirely free of moisture. Fuel contaminated with moisture may develop a bacteria or
"slime" that may restrict or block fuel filters and lines.
As diesel fuel is lighter than water, drain condensation no less than monthly from the diesel fuel supply/storage tanks.
Change the storage tank in-line filter regularly. This filter acts as a last filter prior to the diesel fuel entering the vehicle diesel fuel tank. Good quality
diesel fuel is mandatory. If the storage tank does not have an in-line filter, then a in-line filter should be added.
Proper On-vehicle Fuel Storage And Filtering
Proper on-vehicle fuel storage that prevents fuel contamination is important.
Primary filtering of the diesel fuel is performed by the original (OEM) vehicle fuel tank pickup filter. The original (OEM) vehicle fuel tank module (fuel
pickup) filter performs a primary filtering of the on-vehicle diesel fuel as the fuel leaves the fuel tank and enters the fuel lines.
On-vehicle auxiliary diesel fuel tanks are often added by the vehicle owner to extend vehicle driving range. Auxiliary fuel tank systems must protect the
quality of the diesel fuel just as well as the originally equipped (OEM) fuel tank that came with the vehicle when it was new.
On-vehicle auxiliary diesel fuel storage tanks must have a primary fuel filter to prevent contamination and moisture accumulation.
The prevention of moisture in the fuel system, the prevention of fuel stagnation, and the use of a primary fuel filter should all be considered in the
purchase, installation, and maintenance of any auxiliary on-vehicle diesel fuel tank.
Proper On-vehicle Final Fuel Filtering
The large fuel filter that is mounted on the engine is the final fuel filter, water separator, fuel heater, and water drain. This filter is the final "line of
defense" when maintaining a high level of fuel quality. If the diesel fuel is contaminated or contains moisture, the engine mounted fuel filter system is the
last chance to affect possible correction.
The quality of the fuel, its prior fuel storage, and fuel handling prior to the final filter all have a significant impact on the amount of contaminates and
moisture entering the final fuel filter.
