'17 CTD gauge wonkyness

[PNW-Ram]

'17 CTD 3500 4x4 Tradesman

I had an electrical issue, and when I got the truck back from the dealership I noticed two things:

1) The oil temp is never below 104*
I have a Tradesman, because you can't get high end singlecab trucks, so there's only a fuel, DEF, speedo & tach. The readout is on the text display when selecting "vehicle info".

The oil temp never goes below 104*. On a cold day, the trans temp will register 32*, but even before the truck is fired, the oil temp is "104". After 5-7 minutes of driving, it'll start to climb and display actual temps.

2) The voltage idiot light never comes on.
I had some work done (swapped an alternator) at the dealership, and i noticed that the battery light never lights up, even when the truck is off.

Are these normal?

 

[MADDOG]

Not normal as far as the oil temperature gauge.

Not sure about the voltage light. I don't think it would come on unless there was a failure in the charging system which draws the battery down too far.

 

[Jimmy07]

'17 CTD 3500 4x4 Tradesman

I had an electrical issue, and when I got the truck back from the dealership I noticed two things:

1) The oil temp is never below 104*
I have a Tradesman, because you can't get high end singlecab trucks, so there's only a fuel, DEF, speedo & tach. The readout is on the text display when selecting "vehicle info".

The oil temp never goes below 104*. On a cold day, the trans temp will register 32*, but even before the truck is fired, the oil temp is "104". After 5-7 minutes of driving, it'll start to climb and display actual temps.

2) The voltage idiot light never comes on.
I had some work done (swapped an alternator) at the dealership, and i noticed that the battery light never lights up, even when the truck is off.

Are these normal?

The 104 starting oil temp is normal. That’s as low as the basic instrument cluster will display on a CTD. You might also notice that the coolant temp won’t read below 100. Also, keep in mind, the oil temp is not real. It’s an algorithm and there is no actual oil temperature sensor.

 

[SouthTexan]

Odd, my engine oil temp will go below 104F.

 

[Jimmy07]

Odd, my engine oil temp will go below 104F.

Do you happen to have the premium 7” instrument cluster?

 

[SouthTexan]

Do you happen to have the premium 7” instrument cluster?

Yep.

 

[Jimmy07]

That’s why I said the basic cluster. Although on my 6.4 with premium cluster, the oil temp will only go as low as <122

 

[PNW-Ram]

Thanks Jimmy07

 

[chrisbh17]

The whole cluster thing seems like a .... cluster

I have the premium EVIC and it only shows "< 122" until the oil temp is 122 or higher.

Not sure if its a model year thing (mine is a 2017) or something else but it seems like there is no rhyme or reason as to who gets what.

 

[Arth]

Actually it seems to be a 2500 and up thing. My Hemi powered 1500 shows me exact temps at all times.

Though come to think of it the 16 Eco diesel Ram I drove didn't show oil temp below 104.

My 1500 has the premium cluster.

 

[PNW-Ram]

Actually it seems to be a 2500 and up thing. My Hemi powered 1500 shows me exact temps at all times.

Though come to think of it the 16 Eco diesel Ram I drove didn't show oil temp below 104.

My 1500 has the premium cluster.

Yes, it's a 2500/3500 thing because the truck has the Cummins 6.7, which would squish the front suspension of a 1500.

On the 2500/3500 trucks, a single cab means SLT or Tradesman - you simply can't get the premium gauges, heated seats, leather seats, center console, HID headlights, etc. Cloths seats and power windows are an option you have to pay extra for.

 

[JaredHerzog]

My past 14 tradesman and my current 15 tradesman both have the basic cluster. 100 is as low as it goes for coolant and 104 for oil. The Aisin registers its actual temperature. I also know the oil pressure is like the oil temp and just an algorithm.
In the old days of my 05 it just had a needle. Like the new trucks it would have to be driven for a while before the needle even started moving. It is the same thing here just with a digital readout.