maintenance
30K Service
for 2014 Ram 2500 6.7L I6 Cummins Diesel · 4WD
Difficulty
Moderate
Time
3.2 h
Tools
13
Steps
14
Complete 30,000 mile maintenance service including oil change, filter replacements, fluid inspections, differential service, and full vehicle inspection for the 2014 Ram 2500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel engine.
Warnings
⚠️Diesel fuel and hot engine oil can cause severe burns. Allow engine to cool for at least 30 minutes before beginning service.
⚠The fuel filter housing contains diesel fuel under pressure. Open drain valve slowly to prevent fuel spray.
⚠Ensure vehicle is securely supported on jack stands rated for vehicle weight. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a floor jack.
ℹ️The 6.7L Cummins uses 5W-20 synthetic blend oil, NOT 15W-40. Using incorrect oil will void warranty and cause engine damage.
ℹ️Front and rear differentials require different gear oil specifications. Do not interchange fluids.
Tools required
Oil drain pan (14+ quart capacity)Essential
Oil filter wrenchEssential
3/8" drive socket set (metric)Essential
Torque wrenchEssential
Floor jack and jack stands rated for 8000+ lbsEssential
Wheel chocksEssential
Fluid transfer pump
Gear oil drain panEssential
Fuel filter drain bucketEssential
13mm socket for fuel filter housingEssential
Inspection mirror and flashlight
Tire pressure gaugeEssential
Grease gun with multi-purpose lithium greaseEssential
Parts
- Engine oil filter × 1 — Mopar 68197867AA or equivalent
- Fuel filter/water separator cartridge × 1 — Mopar 68157291AA
- Engine air filter × 1 — Mopar 68081019AA
- Cabin air filter × 1 — Mopar 68079487AA
- Drain plug washer - engine oil × 1 — Use OEM specification
- Drain plug washer - front differential × 1 — Use OEM specification
- Drain plug washer - rear differential × 1 — Use OEM specification
Fluids
- Mopar 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Engine Oil — 13 qt
- 75W-90 GL-5 Gear Oil (Front Differential) — 1.5 qt
- Mopar 75W-140 Synthetic Gear Lubricant (Rear Differential) — 2 qt
Preparation
- Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
- Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
- Allow engine to cool for minimum 30 minutes if recently operated
- Gather all required fluids, filters, and tools before beginning
- Raise vehicle with floor jack and support securely on jack stands at frame rails
- Remove skid plate if equipped to access oil pan and filters
Procedure
- 1Drain engine oilLocate oil drain plug on passenger side of oil pan. Position drain pan underneath. Remove drain plug and allow oil to drain completely (approximately 10-15 minutes). Inspect drain plug washer and replace if damaged. Clean drain plug threads and reinstall with new washer.
- 2Replace engine oil filterLocate oil filter on driver side of engine block near front. Use oil filter wrench to remove old filter (turn counterclockwise). Clean filter mounting surface on engine. Apply thin film of clean engine oil to new filter gasket. Hand-tighten new filter until gasket contacts mounting surface, then turn an additional 3/4 turn.
- 3Service fuel filter/water separatorLocate fuel filter housing on driver side of engine. Place drain bucket under housing. Open drain valve at bottom of housing and drain until clear fuel flows (approximately 1 quart). Close drain valve. Use 13mm socket to loosen housing cap. Remove old filter cartridge. Clean housing interior and cap sealing surface. Install new filter cartridge, ensuring O-ring is properly seated. Reinstall cap and hand-tighten.⚠Diesel fuel will drain from housing. Ensure drain bucket is positioned to catch fuel and dispose of properly.
- 4Prime fuel systemLocate hand primer pump on top of fuel filter housing. Pump primer 20-30 times or until firm resistance is felt. This removes air from fuel system after filter change. Start engine and check for fuel leaks around filter housing.
- 5Replace engine air filterOpen hood and locate air filter housing on passenger side of engine bay. Release housing clamps and remove cover. Remove old air filter element. Clean interior of housing with dry cloth. Install new air filter element ensuring proper seating. Reinstall housing cover and secure clamps.
- 6Replace cabin air filterOpen glove box and remove contents. Squeeze sides of glove box to release stops and lower fully. Remove cabin air filter access door. Slide out old cabin air filter noting airflow direction arrow. Install new filter with arrow pointing in same direction (toward rear of vehicle). Reinstall access door and glove box.
- 7Drain and refill front differentialLocate front differential drain plug on bottom of housing. Position drain pan underneath. Remove drain plug and allow fluid to drain completely. Remove fill plug on front of differential housing. Clean drain plug and install with new washer. Using fluid pump, add 1.5 quarts of 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil through fill hole until fluid reaches bottom of fill hole. Reinstall fill plug.
- 8Drain and refill rear differentialLocate rear differential drain plug on bottom of housing. Position drain pan underneath. Remove drain plug and allow fluid to drain completely. Remove fill plug on front of differential housing. Clean drain plug and install with new washer. Using fluid pump, add 2.0 quarts of Mopar 75W-140 synthetic gear lubricant through fill hole until fluid reaches bottom of fill hole. Reinstall fill plug.ℹ️Rear differential requires Mopar 75W-140 synthetic, which is different from front differential specification.
- 9Inspect transfer case fluid levelLocate transfer case fill plug on driver side of transfer case housing. Remove fill plug. Fluid should be at bottom of fill hole. If low, add Mopar Transfer Case Fluid until it reaches fill hole level. Reinstall fill plug. At 30K miles, drain and fill is not required unless fluid appears contaminated.
- 10Fill engine with oilLower vehicle to ground. Remove engine oil fill cap on top of valve cover. Using funnel, add 12 quarts of Mopar 5W-20 synthetic blend oil. Install fill cap. Start engine and allow to run for 2 minutes. Shut off engine and wait 5 minutes. Check oil level on dipstick and add remaining oil to bring level to full mark (approximately 1 additional quart).
- 11Lubricate chassis componentsUsing grease gun, lubricate all grease fittings on suspension and steering components including: upper and lower ball joints, tie rod ends, drag link ends, track bar ends, U-joints on front and rear driveshafts. Pump grease until new grease appears at boot seals. Wipe excess grease clean.
- 12Perform fluid level inspectionsCheck and top off the following fluids as needed: brake fluid reservoir (Mopar DOT 4), power steering reservoir (ATF+4), coolant overflow tank (Mopar purple OAT coolant), windshield washer reservoir. Inspect transmission fluid level with engine at operating temperature and in Park (ATF+4).
- 13Inspect belts, hoses, and componentsVisually inspect serpentine belt for cracks, glazing, or fraying. Check all coolant hoses for leaks, cracks, or soft spots. Inspect brake lines for corrosion or damage. Check exhaust system for leaks or damage. Inspect CV boots and steering boots for tears or grease leaks.
- 14Check tire pressure and conditionCheck all four tires plus spare tire pressure and adjust to specification on door jamb label (typically 60-70 PSI front, 60-70 PSI rear for this vehicle). Inspect tires for uneven wear, damage, or low tread depth. Rotate tires if needed per maintenance schedule.
Reassembly
- Reinstall skid plate if equipped
- Remove jack stands and lower vehicle to ground
- Reset oil life monitoring system through instrument cluster menu if equipped
- Record service date and mileage in maintenance log
Verification
- Start engine and verify oil pressure gauge shows normal pressure within 5 seconds
- Check under vehicle for any fluid leaks from oil pan, differentials, or fuel filter housing
- Verify no warning lights are illuminated on instrument cluster
- Test drive vehicle 5-10 miles and recheck all fluid levels after cool-down
- Verify fuel filter housing shows no leaks after test drive
- Confirm proper differential fluid levels by rechecking fill plugs after test drive