2021 RAM 2500 Owners Manual - REFUELING THE VEHICLE — DIESEL ENGINE

REFUELING THE VEHICLE — DIESEL ENGINE

Open the fuel filler door.

1 — Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Fill Location 2 — Diesel Fuel Fill Location

There is no fuel filler cap. A flapper door inside the filler pipe seals the system.

Insert the fuel nozzle fully into the filler pipe – the nozzle opens and holds the flapper door while refueling.

Fill the vehicle with fuel – when the fuel nozzle “clicks” or shuts off the fuel tank is full.

Remove the fuel nozzle and close the fuel door.

In the event that you run the vehicle out of fuel, once refueled, place the ignition in the ON posi- tion for 30 seconds, then turn the ignition OFF and wait 30 seconds. Repeat this procedure three times, prior to cranking the engine.

DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID

Your vehicle is equipped with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system to meet the very stringent diesel emissions standards required by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The purpose of the SCR system is to reduce levels of NOx (oxides of nitrogen emitted from engines) that are harmful to our health and the environment to a near-zero level. A small quantity of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is injected into the exhaust upstream of a catalyst where, when vaporized, it converts

smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) into harmless nitrogen (N2) and water vapor (H2O), two natural components of the air we breathe. You can operate with the comfort that your vehicle is contributing to a cleaner, healthier world environment for this and generations to come.

System Overview

This vehicle is equipped with a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) injection system and a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst to meet the emission requirements.

The DEF injection system consists of the following components:

DEF tank

DEF pump

DEF injector

Electronically-heated DEF lines

DEF control module

NOx sensors

Temperature sensors

SCR catalyst

UQS Sensor

For system messages and warnings

page 111. NOTE:

Your vehicle is equipped with a DEF injection system. You may occasionally hear an audible clicking noise. This is normal opera- tion.

The DEF pump will run for a period of time after engine shutdown to purge the DEF system. This is normal operation.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is considered a very stable product with a long shelf life. If DEF is kept in temperatures between 10°F and 90°F (-12°C and 32°C), it will last a minimum of one year.

DEF is subject to freezing at the lowest temperatures. For example, DEF may freeze at temperatures at or below 12°F (-11°C). The system has been designed to operate in this environment.

When working with DEF, it is important to know that:

Any containers or parts that come into contact with DEF must be DEF compatible (plastic or stainless steel). Copper, brass, aluminum, iron or non-stainless steel should be avoided as they are subject to corrosion by DEF.

If DEF is spilled, it should be wiped up completely.

The DEF gauge (located on the instrument cluster) will display the level of DEF remaining in the tank page 111.

Driving conditions (altitude, vehicle speed, load, etc.) will affect the amount of DEF that is used in your vehicle.

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Another factor is that outside temperature

can affect DEF consumption. In cold condi- tions, 12°F (-11°C) and below, the DEF gauge needle can stay on a fixed position and may not move for extended periods of time. This is a normal function of the system.

There is an electric heater inside the DEF tank that automatically works when neces- sary. And if the DEF supply does freeze, the truck will operate normally until it thaws.

For the correct fluid type page 481.

Remove cap from DEF tank (located on drivers side of the vehicle or in fuel door).

— Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Fill Location 2 — Diesel Fuel Fill Location

The DEF gauge may take up to five seconds to update after adding a gallon or more of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) to the DEF tank. If you have a fault related to the DEF system, the gauge may not update to the new level. See an authorized dealer for service.

The DEF gauge may also not immediately update after a refill if the temperature of the DEF fluid is below 12°F (-11°C). The DEF tank heater will possibly warm up the DEF fluid and allow the gauge to update after a period of run time. Under very cold condi- tions, it is possible that the gauge may not reflect the new fill level for several drives.

At 40°F (4°C) you could see some increase in the DEF gauge due to the tank thawing. The gauge and level sensor are working prop- erly and is just updating with proper thawed DEF.

Excessive overfilling of the DEF tank can result in a MIL lamp/fault code and inaccu- rate level readings.

You can fill up at any DEF distributor. Proceed as follows:

Insert the DEF nozzle in the filler, start refilling and stop refilling at the first shut-off (the shut-off indicates that the DEF tank is full). DO NOT proceed with the refilling, to prevent spillage of DEF.

Extract the nozzle.

Refilling With Containers Proceed as follows:

Check the expiration date.

Read the advice for use on the label before pouring the content of the bottle into the DEF tank.

After the indication appears on the instru- ment panel display page 111 fill the DEF tank with no more than 4 Gallons (15 liters).

(Continued)

Stop filling the DEF tank immediately if DEF splashes or wells back in the filler neck.

Reinstall cap onto DEF filler tube.

Since DEF will begin to freeze at 12°F (-11°C), your vehicle is equipped with an automatic DEF heating system. This allows the DEF injection system to operate properly at temperatures below 12°F (-11°C). If your vehicle is not in operation for an extended period of time with temperatures below 12°F (-11°C), the DEF in the tank may freeze. If the tank is overfilled and freezes, it could be damaged. Therefore, do not overfill the DEF tank.

Extra care should be taken when filling with portable containers to avoid overfilling. Note the level of the DEF gauge in your instrument cluster. You may safely add a maximum of

Gallons (7.5 Liters) of DEF from portable containers when your DEF gauge is reading

½ full.