Everyone with an RHO…stop & read this…it’s important (re: electronic oil level monitor)

[RHOfan]

Electronic oil level monitoring. I’ve attached the page in the PDF manual explaining how this works. Read & understand it. Why? Because it could save your engine.

The oil level shown on the display may NOT reflect the engine’s current oil level…especially after an oil change.

Any questions? I sure had some. It’s not all that straightforward, like the sensor only reads “occasionally”, unless the ignition is left in the “run” position with the engine off for 4 minutes & only if the oil is warm & the vehicle parked on “relatively” level ground. And, then the engine must be re-started!

Added note: I’m surprised it will NOT notify you if there is a sudden drop in oil level while driving, like if a rock takes out your oil pan…but, a dipstick wouldn’t notify you either…guess that’s the job of the oil pressure sensor. By the time that warning illuminates, your engine is close to done.

 

[RHOfan]

No questions? Really?

Guess I’m the only one who found the whole thing a little unintuitive.

 

[RamFan]

I dont like that it doesnt have a dipstick....just hope it works as well as my old 1990 5.0. I changed the oil every 3-5k miles on her and if I went long(approaching 5k) the oil level would let me know and that was when it a quart down. Dont know where the oil went, but it didnt leak and never saw anything out of the tailpipes.

Chris

 

[RADA]

I dont like that it doesnt have a dipstick....just hope it works as well as my old 1990 5.0. I changed the oil every 3-5k miles on her and if I went long(approaching 5k) the oil level would let me know and that was when it a quart down. Dont know where the oil went, but it didnt leak and never saw anything out of the tailpipes.

Chris

I had a 4.6 GT that would consume about a quart every 2.5 to 3 months.

I never smelled it burning; there were no drips, and the pipes were relatively clean.

Fords just consume oil is what a Mustang-oldtimer told me...

 

[Joe86]

I used to buy mopar oil change package, which would cost the same if I did it at home. At this point, I'll buy the same package and would hold the dealership liable incase something goes wrong.

I'm glad you are doing the digging and pointing stuff out. Thank you

 

[Cub Driver]

I'm with you @RHOfan
I am in the aviation piston engine business and preventative maintenance along with a good preflight saves the day and the wallet. The dipstick visually confirms how much and what condition the oil is in. I dont like the fact that we are hanging our hat on electrical oil sensors and the hopes of adequate technology in todays piston engines.
That said, when my 10k mile Cummins blew up in October, no dipstick nor any sensors let me know anything was going to hell. It was all perfect until it wasn't.

 

[atchmo]

First of all Thank You, I am waiting for a manual to arrive....
Second, Who the hell thought this procedure up???? Why is it that everything is unnecessarily over complicated these days? Is there a secret hand shake?????

 

[RHOfan]

First of all Thank You, I am waiting for a manual to arrive....
Second, Who the hell thought this procedure up???? Why is it that everything is unnecessarily over complicated these days? Is there a secret hand shake?????

Waiting on your manual? You mean the glossy, paper manual? Don’t bother…it’s a generic Ram 1500 manual & it’s incomplete (unless they’ve updated it or come out with an RHO specific version).

If you have the Ram app on your phone, it contains the most complete version of the Ram 1500 owner’s manual (although, it still doesn’t list the RHO transfer case & required fluid, last time I checked).

Also, don’t go by the oil life monitor on the RHO. Change it every 6months or 4000-6000 miles, whichever comes 1st.

 

[Lsujker]

I had a 4.6 GT that would consume about a quart every 2.5 to 3 months.

I never smelled it burning; there were no drips, and the pipes were relatively clean.

Fords just consume oil is what a Mustang-oldtimer told me...

Late 2000 jeeps with 3.8 did the same. About every 2k miles was a quart low. I figured was just blowing back into the manifold. What could go wrong taking an old design 3.3, boring it out and lowering the oil viscosity. Engineer smoking something that day.

 

[atchmo]

Waiting on your manual? You mean the glossy, paper manual? Don’t bother…it’s a generic Ram 1500 manual & it’s incomplete (unless they’ve updated it or come out with an RHO specific version).

If you have the Ram app on your phone, it contains the most complete version of the Ram 1500 owner’s manual (although, it still doesn’t list the RHO transfer case & required fluid, last time I checked).

Also, don’t go by the oil life monitor on the RHO. Change it every 6months or 4000-6000 miles, whichever comes 1st.

Thank you again......Yes! The glossy color book with the leather and suede wallet and key chain and pen! I will check my RAM APP.....
Good advice on oil changes! Although I change my oil more often than my underwear! ;-) I will change the oil at 2000 miles. I bought Castrol Edge 0W-40 because it states that it meets the special MOPAR spec. I can't wait!

 

[RHOfan]

Thank you again......Yes! The glossy color book with the leather and suede wallet and key chain and pen! I will check my RAM APP.....
Good advice on oil changes! Although I change my oil more often than my underwear! ;-) I will change the oil at 2000 miles. I bought Castrol Edge 0W-40 because it states that it meets the special MOPAR spec. I can't wait!

Oil changes on this engine are too easy. I’ve posted my oil change procedure advice on this forum. Follow that advice for a trouble-free experience.

A 6” socket extension is a must!

 

[yoda33073]

You guys are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Change your oil every 5k and you honestly have nothing to worry about. The reset is very easy. Especially if you know how to use everything on the dash screen. I bought my own Pennzoil 0w-40 and Mopar filters and have my local family owned Firestone change my oil for like $35. Good luck.

 

[RHOfan]

You guys are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Change your oil every 5k and you honestly have nothing to worry about. The reset is very easy. Especially if you know how to use everything on the dash screen. I bought my own Pennzoil 0w-40 and Mopar filters and have my local family owned Firestone change my oil for like $35. Good luck.

Years ago, I used a K-Mart auto center for oil changes on my Corvette. Why? I could buy the Mobil 1 oil & GM filter in the store for super cheap, then head to the auto center for labor…it was less than $15, as I recall. And, I could watch!

Those were the good old days!

Now, I go to the dealer for a tire rotation & they under-torque the lugs…the lugs they actually tightened, that is. The others were gently hand torqued…HA!

 

[Myers1981]

You guys are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Change your oil every 5k and you honestly have nothing to worry about. The reset is very easy. Especially if you know how to use everything on the dash screen. I bought my own Pennzoil 0w-40 and Mopar filters and have my local family owned Firestone change my oil for like $35. Good luck.

My concern was what if the oil sensor is bad and it's not telling you you're low and there's no dipstick to check it yourself.

The idea of the sensor is good and I get the idea behind it but wouldnt it be better if they also had a dipstick to check it yourself for peace of mind? Or maybe im missing something.

 

[RHOfan]

My concern was what if the oil sensor is bad and it's not telling you you're low and there's no dipstick to check it yourself.

The idea of the sensor is good and I get the idea behind it but wouldnt it be better if they also had a dipstick to check it yourself for peace of mind? Or maybe im missing something.

Redundancy is expensive. Sure, a 747 had triple redundancy and was likely the safest machine ever designed, when you consider miles traveled & passengers delivered to their destination.

From an engineering perspective, a Ram doesn’t require oil level confirmation redundancy for its mission of moving 1-5 people 140K miles (the engine’s expected useful life).

 

[yoda33073]

My concern was what if the oil sensor is bad and it's not telling you you're low and there's no dipstick to check it yourself.

The idea of the sensor is good and I get the idea behind it but wouldnt it be better if they also had a dipstick to check it yourself for peace of mind? Or maybe im missing something.

I understand what you're saying and I know guys like the dipstick, but my point is you will NEVER be low, or have to worry about being low, if you change your oil, as recommended, every 5k miles. There is almost zero chance to burn through 7 quarts of oil driving 5k miles with new engine and synthetic oil. Good luck with your truck though. Loving mine.

 

[Myers1981]

I understand what you're saying and I know guys like the dipstick, but my point is you will NEVER be low, or have to worry about being low, if you change your oil, as recommended, every 5k miles. There is almost zero chance to burn through 7 quarts of oil driving 5k miles with new engine and synthetic oil. Good luck with your truck though. Loving mine.

I meant more of an oddity situation like you're offroading and a rock pokes a hole in your oil pan. But I guess you're screwed either way then.

 

[MGS172]

Seems like a silly point to worry about. BMW started phasing out dipsticks in 2005. By 2007 almost every BMW had no dipstick.

Also noted amongst manufactures, the amount of engine and transmission warranty claims have gone down considerably with electronics sensors.

 

[atchmo]

UPDATE:
At approximately 1200 miles the engine is noticeably faster. (Seat of my pants dynamometer is accurate to 1/10th.....;-))
Changed the oil at 1285 just cuz......Super easy! Oil in the drain pas was greenish.....Interesting......Took 7.5 Qts.
took it up past 100 MPH......I will definitely get a tuner......
Cheers!

 

[RHOfan]

UPDATE:
At approximately 1200 miles the engine is noticeably faster. (Seat of my pants dynamometer is accurate to 1/10th.....;-))
Changed the oil at 1285 just cuz......Super easy! Oil in the drain pas was greenish.....Interesting......Took 7.5 Qts.
took it up past 100 MPH......I will definitely get a tuner......
Cheers!

Greenish? Antifreeze? No, Ram antifreeze is red. What could cause a greenish color?

My 1st oil change smelled of gas, but color was normal.