Ram 2500 Oil Capacity Chart by Year: 2026 5.7, 6.4 & 6.7 Cummins

The Ram 2500 takes between 7 and 12 quarts of oil depending on which engine is under the hood. The 5.7L HEMI and 6.4L HEMI gas V8s both hold 7 quarts with a filter change, while the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel takes 12 quarts. Getting this number wrong on a diesel this size is not a minor mistake.

Overfilling causes oil aeration and foaming, while underfilling starves the turbo bearings and rod journals under load. This chart breaks down the exact capacity, oil type, and viscosity for every engine the Ram 2500 has offered since 2003, including the 2019 change that caught a lot of Cummins owners off guard.

Ram 2500 Oil Capacity Chart By Engine And Year

Find your engine and year in the table below, then read the section that matches for the viscosity details that change by climate and model year.

Here is what changed for each engine, and why the model year matters more than the number printed on your oil cap.

Ram 2500 5.7 HEMI Oil Capacity And Type By Year

The 5.7L HEMI was the standard gas engine in the Ram 2500 from 2003 through 2013, producing 383 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque in its later years. It takes 7 quarts of oil with a filter change, using 5W-20 across its entire run in the 2500.

This is the same fill spec used in the Ram 1500’s 5.7 HEMI, which makes sense since both trucks share the base engine architecture even though the 2500 gets a different oil pan and cooling setup for heavier-duty use.

Ram retired the 5.7 as the step-up gas option in the 2500 when the 6.4L HEMI arrived for the 2014 model year, though the 5.7 continued as the base engine on Tradesman-trim 2500s for several more years in some configurations.

If you are working on a Ram 1500 and 2500 side by side, the comparison of specs between the two trucks covers where the two engines actually differ beyond the oil pan.

Ram 2500 6.4 HEMI Oil Capacity Since 2014

Ram introduced the 6.4L HEMI for the 2014 model year as a gas alternative between the 5.7 HEMI and the 6.7 Cummins, rated at 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. It holds the same 7 quarts with a filter change as the 5.7 it replaced, but the oil type is different and gets confused constantly.

The 6.4L HEMI has required SAE 0W-40 full synthetic since it launched in 2014, not 5W-20. That spec has never changed on the viscosity itself, though the material standard behind it has.

Trucks from 2014 through 2021 need oil meeting Chrysler MS-12633, while 2022-and-newer trucks call for the updated MS-A0921 standard. Both are 0W-40 and MS-A0921 is backward compatible with earlier 6.4L HEMI applications, so the viscosity choice does not change by year, only the material standard printed on the bottle.

The diesel option holds nearly double what either HEMI takes, and its oil spec has changed more than once since the engine debuted.

Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins Oil Capacity And The 2019 Viscosity Change

The 6.7L Cummins has taken 12 quarts of oil with a filter change since it debuted in the Ram 2500 partway through the 2007 model year, and that capacity has never changed through current production. A drain-only service without a filter change pulls closer to 11 quarts.

The viscosity requirement is where owners get tripped up. Stellantis Technical Service Bulletin 09-013-23, issued in July 2023, confirms that any Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins operating in ambient temperatures below 0°F requires 5W-40 synthetic meeting Chrysler material standard MS-10902 and API CJ-4, regardless of model year.

Above 0°F, the requirement splits by generation. Trucks built through the 2018 model year can run 15W-40. Trucks from 2019 onward moved to a hydraulic-lifter valvetrain, and Cummins removed 15W-40 from the approved list for those engines entirely, calling instead for 10W-30 in normal climates or 5W-40 year-round.

Running old-generation 15W-40 in a 2019-or-newer Cummins is one of the most common oil mistakes reported on Ram forums, since it was the correct answer for over a decade before the switch.

For the full breakdown on a single model year, the 2020 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins oil capacity guide goes deeper on that specific truck.

Oil Filter And Drain Plug Torque For All Three Engines

Getting the quart count right only solves half the job. The wrong filter or an over-torqued drain plug creates its own problems on any of these engines.

For the 6.7L Cummins, the genuine Mopar oil filter is part number 5083285AA for 2013 through 2024 trucks, with 2025-and-newer trucks moving to Mopar part 68677810AA. The oil drain plug is Mopar part 68210509AA across 2013 through 2026 production.

Drain plug torque specifications vary across sources, with dealer service documentation and diesel maintenance guides citing figures between 35 and 37 ft-lbs.

Confirm the exact figure against your specific model year’s factory service manual before using a torque wrench, since over-tightening on this oil pan strips threads and turns a routine oil change into a pan replacement.

For the 6.4L HEMI, the Mopar oil filter is part number MO-090, and dealer service documentation lists drain plug torque at approximately 30 ft-lbs, again worth confirming against your owner’s manual by VIN.

If your 6.7 Cummins is also due for fuel filters at the same service interval, the Ram 2500 6.7 liter fuel filter guide covers the separate part numbers and torque specs for that job.

How To Check Ram 2500 Oil Level The Right Way

Once you have added oil to the correct capacity for your engine, confirm the level before driving.

1. Park on level ground and let the engine sit for 5 to 10 minutes so oil fully drains back into the pan.
2. Locate the dipstick, pull it out, wipe it clean, and reinsert it fully.
3. Pull it out again and check where the oil sits between the MIN and MAX marks.
4. If the level reads below MIN, add oil in half-quart increments using the correct spec for your engine, then recheck.
5. Never fill past MAX. Excess oil aerates at operating temperature and can cause pressure loss, especially under towing load where oil temperature runs highest.

If you are hauling regularly, keeping oil at the correct level matters even more once you are near your Ram 2500 towing capacity, where sustained high RPM and load put more stress on lubrication than daily driving does.

Getting Your Ram 2500 Oil Capacity Right By Engine

Both HEMI engines in the Ram 2500 take 7 quarts with a filter change, while the 6.7 Cummins takes 12 quarts, and that part has stayed consistent for years. What actually changes is viscosity. The 6.4 HEMI has always wanted 0W-40, and the 6.7 Cummins split into two different viscosity paths at the 2019 model year redesign.

Before your next oil change, confirm your exact build sheet or owner’s manual, especially if you own a 2019-or-newer Cummins and have been running 15W-40 out of habit. Getting the Ram 2500 oil capacity and type matched to your exact engine and year keeps a $10,000-plus engine protected instead of guessing from a sticker on the oil cap.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many quarts of oil does a Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins take?

The 6.7L Cummins takes 12 quarts (11.4 liters) with a filter change. This capacity has stayed the same since the engine launched in 2007.5 through current production.

Does the Ram 2500 5.7 HEMI and 6.4 HEMI take the same amount of oil?

Yes, both take 7 quarts with a filter change. The oil type is different, since the 5.7 uses 5W-20 while the 6.4 requires 0W-40.

What oil does a 2020 Ram 2500 Cummins need?

A 2020 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins needs 10W-30 for normal climates or 5W-40 for year-round and cold-weather use, both meeting Chrysler MS-10902. Do not use 15W-40, since Cummins removed that approval starting with the 2019 hydraulic-lifter redesign.

How often should you change oil on a Ram 2500 diesel?

Dealer service documentation lists a maximum interval around 15,000 miles for the 6.7 Cummins under normal duty, though many owners change closer to 7,500 to 10,000 miles for heavy towing or severe-duty use. Follow the oil life monitor as the primary guide.

Can you use 15W-40 in a 2021 Ram 2500 Cummins?

No. The 2019-and-newer 6.7 Cummins uses hydraulic lifters, and Cummins specifically removed 15W-40 from the approved viscosity list for these model years. Use 10W-30 or 5W-40 instead.