what oil to use 3.6L (2016)
- Thread starter b3nny
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2013
- Posts
- 309
- Reaction score
- 469
- Location
- Tucson, AZ
- Ram Year
- 2022
- Engine
- 3.0 Ecodiesel
Yeah, you’re good with 0w-20. It’ll work just fine for your engine.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2018
- Posts
- 1,491
- Reaction score
- 2,649
- Location
- Southeast WI
- Ram Year
- 2015 Sport 4x4
- Engine
- Hemi 5.7
If the cap says 5w-20 that's what it calls for. If you're going to change weights, you'd be safer jumping up to a 5w-30, or a high quality 0w-30.
Here's from the manual for your truck:
Here's from the manual for your truck:
.
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2012
- Posts
- 23,208
- Reaction score
- 44,752
- Ram Year
- 2010 Hemi Reg Cab 4x4
- Engine
- Hemi
You have to talk brands and specs they carry when you are trying to compare 5w20 versus 0w20, in many cases the 0w20 will out perform the 5w20 in cold and warm properties, or in cold and the same warm properties. if it were my 3.6 I'd be looking for the best 0w30 dexos oil was out there regardless where I lived. I wouldn't use a boutique as I see no need for it, no conditions facing that engine such as we see with the hemi, and no heavy rpm's either. If I had a costco near me I'd settle for 5w30 in kirkland.
The reason for 5w20 has to do with CAFE and not what is best for the engine longevity. There is an outside chance a 30 weight would throw a code, especially in the cold, but it would be a harmless code p0520 or p1521 if it even did.
The reason for 5w20 has to do with CAFE and not what is best for the engine longevity. There is an outside chance a 30 weight would throw a code, especially in the cold, but it would be a harmless code p0520 or p1521 if it even did.
1999 White C5 Coupe
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2016
- Posts
- 261
- Reaction score
- 304
- Ram Year
- 2014
- Engine
- Hemi 5.7
Not really - the OP just has to follow Ram’s recommendation for oil that is contained in his vehicle owner’s manual (including viscosity and specification).
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2018
- Posts
- 1,491
- Reaction score
- 2,649
- Location
- Southeast WI
- Ram Year
- 2015 Sport 4x4
- Engine
- Hemi 5.7
Right, that's why there's 4000ish pages discussing oil choices, cause we all use what the manual says, it's a boring thread.
star_deceiver
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 18, 2019
- Posts
- 565
- Reaction score
- 963
- Location
- Airdrie, Alberta
- Ram Year
- 2021
- Engine
- 3.6 Pentastar
Ultra platinum. 0w20 for winter. 5w30 for spring-fall. When it goes on sale, buy a bunch.
howie12
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2023
- Posts
- 16
- Reaction score
- 10
- Location
- Iron RIver, Wi 54847
- Ram Year
- 2020
- Engine
- Pentastar V6 gas
I have a 2020 PEntastar and the cap says 0w-20. the 20 indicates the viscosity at high temps and the 0w or 5w at cold temps. I don't believe 0w-20 oils were readily available in 2016 and as oil technology got better they became more readily available. I would expect 0w20 to be an inprovement over 5w-20. It will provide easier starting and better lubrication when cold and be the same when it is hot. I have used 0w20 in my 2018 PAcifica Pentastar and my 2020 Ram 1500 Pentastar for a total of about 85,000 miles and done oil analysis on each change. Once I ran to 15,000 miles to test and see what it looked like and it was fine. Likewise all the nominal 10,000 test results were good with viscosity fine, wear particles fine , base number fine, fuel dilution minimal and residual additive markers fine. I am using AMsoil Signature in the Pacifica and Shell gas engine truck rotella and no significant variation in life or performance that I can see.
If I were you I'd use a high quality name brand 0w-20 full synthetic.
If I were you I'd use a high quality name brand 0w-20 full synthetic.
2016outdoorsman
Member
Why would you base your choice on what some guys on-line think? Who makes them experts? Do you own research, and make an informed decision 
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2018
- Posts
- 1,491
- Reaction score
- 2,649
- Location
- Southeast WI
- Ram Year
- 2015 Sport 4x4
- Engine
- Hemi 5.7
If you can find a better place to research oil than a forum filled with people with your exact same truck and engine, who regularly post test results, have at it.Why would you base your choice on what some guys on-line think? Who makes them experts? Do you own research, and make an informed decision
Different Drummer
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2020
- Posts
- 542
- Reaction score
- 540
- Location
- North East
- Ram Year
- 2017
- Engine
- Pentastar V6
Where are you finding the Rotella Gas Truck? Well, maybe I should ask, where are you finding the Rotella Gas truck at a reasonable price? I had settled on it s my oil of choice and suddenly I could not find it locally. My understanding was that Shell had stopped producing it.
06 Dodge
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2022
- Posts
- 1,912
- Reaction score
- 1,806
- Location
- Forest Grove, Oregon
- Ram Year
- 2022
- Engine
- 6.7L CTD
My understanding its now called Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic Multi-Vehicle 5W-30 diesel oil, its also API rated SN for gas engines and can be found on Amazon for $33 gallon, Napa for $36. or Walmart.com for $33
Different Drummer
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2020
- Posts
- 542
- Reaction score
- 540
- Location
- North East
- Ram Year
- 2017
- Engine
- Pentastar V6
I think that Rotella T6 multi-vehicle vehicle was around long before Rotella Gas Truck. I have not researched any oils in quite some time and perhaps my memory deceives me on that.
I also recall ( perhaps mistakenly) that the Moly in RTG far exceeded the Moly in the Rotella T6. I think I posted a while ago somewhere on the forum that VOA of RTG and QSUD were very near to being identical. Both of course made by Shell. And, I believe both using GTL technology. Additionally both having been removed from production. Under those names at least. Who knows! The oil business seems to be in constant change.
I do see what is apparently NOS RTG on the usual internet venues. However, the prices are often comical.
