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EcoDiesel Motor Oil: Confusion Still Reigns For Some Ram Owners

Dodge Ram EcoDiesel Logo

As many of you may know, Chrysler changed the motor oil recommendation for EcoDiesel engines back in July. The European 5W-30 motor oil (meeting the Chrysler MS 11106 spec) was dropped. It was replaced with 5W-40 heavy-duty diesel oil meeting the Chrysler MS 10902 and API CJ-4 specifications.

Confusion For Some Consumers And Chrysler Dealers

We are finding that many Ram and Jeep Grand Cherokee owners have been left in the dark. It is early December and we are still hearing from EcoDiesel owners who have never heard about this important change. There was even confusion at some Chrysler dealers for several months. Some were confused about whether this engine oil changeover also applied to 2014 and 2015 models. Some dealer employees believed that the motor oil spec change applied only to 2016 models.

As we documented in our August 4th article Is 5W-40 Motor Oil Now Suggested For EcoDiesel Engines?, Chrysler has changed the latest editions of the owner’s manuals for 2014, 2015 and 2016 EcoDiesel-equipped Rams and Grand Cherokees. The manuals now state (in no uncertain terms) that Chrysler MS 10902 and API CJ-4 5W-40 motor oil is the sole engine oil recommendation for all model-year EcoDiesel engines.

It is astounding that EcoDiesel owners have not received a letter from Chrysler informing them of this important change. As the initial European 5W-30 motor oil recommendation appears to have been a misstep, we’ll let you decide as to why Chrysler is trying to be as quiet a possible about this.

What To Do Now?

If you are currently using 5W-30 in your EcoDiesel and are unsure of which motor oil grade to use next, contact your Chrysler dealer before your next oil change. Make sure that you and your dealer are on the same page. Contact the Chrysler Care Line at 1-800-247-9753 (United States) or 1-800-465-2001 (Canada) if there is any further confusion.

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Aftermarket Oil Filter For Ram EcoDiesel Engine Now Available

WIX WL10060 Oil Filter For EcoDiesel Engines

Photo Credit: wixfilters.com

We can deliver this new EcoDiesel oil filter to any location in Canada or the USA.

We now sell an oil filter for the 3.0L EcoDiesel engine found on some Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee models. The WIX WL10060 oil filter fits the EcoDiesel-equipped 2014, 2015 and 2016 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee models. This WIX filter is a direct substitute for Chrysler’s Mopar 6822 9402AA oil filter.

Contact us for a wholesale price list using the form on this page and put “EcoDiesel” in the Questions or Comments section.

As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, Chrysler dealers have been charging a fortune for Ecodiesel oil changes and one of the biggest reasons was the outlandish price for the OEM Mopar oil filter. We can’t publish our price, but it is lower and WIX’s quality and reputation are beyond reproach.

When you couple our world-class API CJ-4 EcoDiesel engine oil with this new WIX oil filter, “do-it-yourselfers” can save hundreds of dollars per year over having their dealer perform the oil change.

Specifications For WIX WL10060 EcoDiesel Oil Filter

  • Style: Cartridge Lube Metal Free Filter
  • Service: Lube
  • Type: Full Flow
  • Media: Cellulose
  • Height: 4.893” (124mm)
  • Outer Diameter: 2.595” (66mm)
  • Inside Diameter Top: Closed
  • Inside Diameter Bottom: 0.7” (18mm)
  • Gasket Outer Diameter: 3.233” (82mm)
  • Inner Diameter: 2.947” (75mm)
  • Thickness: 0.143” (4mm)
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Is 5W-40 Motor Oil Now Suggested For EcoDiesel Engines?

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Dodge Ram EcoDiesel Logo

(photo credit: trucktrend.com)

EcoDiesel engines are being switched from 5W-30 motor oil to 5W-40 and apparently there is a good mechanical reason for it.

Update August 2016: We now offer an aftermarket oil filter for the Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee with the EcoDiesel engine

There’s an online commotion brewing regarding a technical service bulletin (TSB) released by Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) on July 20, 2016. The bulletin pertains to an engine oil upgrade from 5W-30 to 5W-40 for the 2016 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee models with the EcoDiesel engine. This bulletin directs Chrysler-Jeep dealers to drain the factory-fill 5W-30 motor oil and replace it with 5W-40 motor oil. You can view the official service bulletin here.

Addendum cards have also been shipped to dealers which are to be added to owner’s manuals. These cards recommend the use of synthetic 5W-40 engine oil that meets the FCA Material Standard MS-10902 and API CJ-4 specifications.

Some Dodge dealers we spoke to seem to think that this recommendation applies only to 2016 EcoDiesel models. Based on the language in the bulletin, it’s easy to arrive at that conclusion. But there is more to this story.

Why Is 5W-40 Now Recommended For The EcoDiesel Engine?

It took some digging, but we think we may have found the answer. We spoke to several Dodge dealers and also FCA Customer Care. Few had even heard of the engine oil changeover or they simply read back the bulletin. But a service manager at a Salt Lake City Dodge dealership had heard all about the reason for this oil switch from an FCA warranty official. Apparently the 3.0L EcoDiesel engine is experiencing an unsettling number of main bearing failures. FCA is laying the blame on the thin viscosity of 5W-30 engine oil. They believe that the thicker viscosity of 5W-40 engine oil will cure this issue. This service manager suggested that all model years will have a 5W-40 recommendation and that 5W-30 engine oil will be obsolete for the EcoDiesel engine.

Will 2014 And 2015 EcoDiesel Engines Require 5W-40 Motor Oil?

This seems to be all but official, but you wouldn’t know it if you called your local Jeep or Ram dealer. The latest revisions of the 2014 and 2015 owner’s models now suggest “SAE 5W-40 Synthetic, API CJ-4”. You can download a copy at this page. Pick a model year of the 1500 model and then click on download of the “Diesel Supplement”. See page 120 for the 2014 model and page 122 of the 2015 model.

If you own a 2014 or 2105 EcoDiesel model, press your dealer for a definitive engine oil viscosity recommendation before your next oil change.

An Updated AMSOIL EcoDiesel Motor Oil Recommendation

AMSOIL Synthetic 5W-40 API CJ-4 Diesel OilDue to the vague disclosure of this oil recommendation change by FCA, the AMSOIL application guide is not completely up to date (as of publication of this post). They are still showing the AMSOIL European Car Formula Improved ESP Synthetic 5W-30 for the 2014 and 2015 EcoDiesel Ram 1500 and Grand Cherokee. For 2016 EcoDiesel models, the application guide now suggests AMSOIL Premium 5W-40 Synthetic Diesel Oil. AMSOIL Premium Diesel 5W-40 meets the API CJ-4 and Chrysler MS-10902 specs. We can offer this synthetic diesel 5W-40 oil at wholesale prices shipped right to your door in Canada or the United States.

Questions? Contact us using the form on this page or call us at 1-800-748-5781.

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