Fluid newbie

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Lenny K

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Hello,

I just purchased a New (only 59 miles) 2023 RAM 1500 Big Horn! My first new truck and my first RAM. I'm not a gear head, but I take care of my vehicles.

Fluids have been sitting in the truck for 2 years. What should I change as a precaution to nip possible issues down the road?
Any other Pro Tips would be appreciated.

Peace,
Lenny
 

rzr6-4

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Most people who do trans and diff fluids typically do so every 50-100K miles, and to drive that amount would take years. Some people never change those fluids and get away with it just fine. All that to say, 2 years really isn't a long time for those if you think about it so I wouldn't worry.

Engine oil, the rule of thumb was always "every 3k miles or 6 months, whichever comes first" as there are things that break down in engine oil. That is a decades old saying and oil technology has come a long way since then so that's not really a thing anymore, but if you really wanted to do something then that's what I'd do first. Not to say you need it done asap by any means, just that it would be first.
 

JHoward

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IMHO, having fifty nine miles on a two year old truck, I'd run it up to a thousand miles and change the oil/filter. It's probably not necessary being that it is still new.

Congratulations to you and for your new RAM truck, hammer down and Happy motoring!
 

MrBonez

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IMHO, having fifty nine miles on a two year old truck, I'd run it up to a thousand miles and change the oil/filter. It's probably not necessary being that it is still new.

Congratulations to you and for your new RAM truck, hammer down and Happy motoring!
To the OP:
First off, according to your location you're in a place temps can get cold in the Winter and that's why I'm saying all this.

I do agree with the above - It's probrably OK BUT also check and make sure the oil it does have in it isn't moisture-contaminated from sitting during that time.
A simple oil level/dipstick check can be sampled to gauge if it is or not.

It's not a deal with oil being "Old" (Or worn out as some say) since it's not by useage itself.

Seasonal swings in temp can cause things like an engine block to attract condensation, like a cold drink does sitting on a table.

If the weather warmps up but the engine itself is still cool to cold, that will draw moisture from atmosphere to it, nothing you can do about it except keep the engine warm or ran and in your case it's been sitting.

Since I used to work on industrial/heavy equipment, I've seen some really nasty (Snotty!) oil in a few engines over time from that very effect because most equipment simply isn't "Garage Kept", esp stuff that's sat outside for a time and I had the task of getting it going again and the first thing I always had to do was check that and in most cases just change it.

That's a thing if it's been sitting outside or in a place where it's exposed to outside air, such as in a carport that's not fully enclosed for example.

In an enclosed garage it's not as bad but it can still happen, but 2 years in that kind of place isn't bad and it's probrably fine anyway. Some don't realize it but running the engine gets it hot and in turn it boils off the moisture it does attract and sitting is just.... Sitting.

Also remember if it only has 59 miles on it, you're still running it's original break-in oil so if it's bothering you go ahead and just change the oil itself using the correct oil and after break-in mileage has been met, I'd suggest using Lucas Oil Stabilizer at the suggested 10% ratio it says on the bottle.

The filter should be OK with no need to change it and I'd run it like it should be ran for break in from here.

As for Lucas, it's good stuff and will help the engine to last so if possible I'd use it with every oil change and be done with it. Just follow the directions on the bottle and it will work.

I've posted a pic of the exact stuff to get - It is more expensive per oil change to use it but worth it and as an example, my old 91 S10 with a 4.3Ltr currently has over 300,000 miles and still running strong after 28 years of using it, so I can testify to it's worth in that sense.

Good luck with it! :cool:

Lucas OIl Stabilizer.jpg
 

JHoward

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To the OP:
First off, according to your location you're in a place temps can get cold in the Winter and that's why I'm saying all this.

I do agree with the above - It's probrably OK BUT also check and make sure the oil it does have in it isn't moisture-contaminated from sitting during that time.
A simple oil level/dipstick check can be sampled to gauge if it is or not.

It's not a deal with oil being "Old" (Or worn out as some say) since it's not by useage itself.

Seasonal swings in temp can cause things like an engine block to attract condensation, like a cold drink does sitting on a table.

If the weather warmps up but the engine itself is still cool to cold, that will draw moisture from atmosphere to it, nothing you can do about it except keep the engine warm or ran and in your case it's been sitting.

Since I used to work on industrial/heavy equipment, I've seen some really nasty (Snotty!) oil in a few engines over time from that very effect because most equipment simply isn't "Garage Kept", esp stuff that's sat outside for a time and I had the task of getting it going again and the first thing I always had to do was check that and in most cases just change it.

That's a thing if it's been sitting outside or in a place where it's exposed to outside air, such as in a carport that's not fully enclosed for example.

In an enclosed garage it's not as bad but it can still happen, but 2 years in that kind of place isn't bad and it's probrably fine anyway. Some don't realize it but running the engine gets it hot and in turn it boils off the moisture it does attract and sitting is just.... Sitting.

Also remember if it only has 59 miles on it, you're still running it's original break-in oil so if it's bothering you go ahead and just change the oil itself using the correct oil and after break-in mileage has been met, I'd suggest using Lucas Oil Stabilizer at the suggested 10% ratio it says on the bottle.

The filter should be OK with no need to change it and I'd run it like it should be ran for break in from here.

As for Lucas, it's good stuff and will help the engine to last so if possible I'd use it with every oil change and be done with it. Just follow the directions on the bottle and it will work.

I've posted a pic of the exact stuff to get - It is more expensive per oil change to use it but worth it and as an example, my old 91 S10 with a 4.3Ltr currently has over 300,000 miles and still running strong after 28 years of using it, so I can testify to it's worth in that sense.

Good luck with it! :cool:

View attachment 567375

Well, IMHO I wouldn't use Lucas Heavy Duty oil stabilizer ...

I would suggest reading/asking questions about the use of Lucas Oil additives in the engine oil for the troublesome HEMI engine over in the synthetic oil thread, as I'm not the expert for advise, but know it's not a good idea from reading RAMforum members expertise on the subject.
 

MrBonez

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Good point about asking, nothing wrong with doing that.

I'm not aware of it causing problems myself and it does say on the bottle it won't void engine warranties BUT at the same time your point is a good one.
I'll dig into that for myself and see what's said and suggest the OP do the same.

I just know from personal experience, over time it's never caused a problem since I only use it at it's suggested 10% useage and that's in every engine I've ever ran it in, including imports and so on - Even in my old motorcycle (2003 Honda Shadow ACE 750) which I still have and yes, it runs but does need some work of course.
I also did a quick calculation and for 7 qts, it's about 22oz you'd use out of 224 oz/7qts (10%) so it's not like it's really thickening up the oil anyway because it doesn't. Some might use too much and that's when it WILL cause problems, thinking they can use "This or that" much (Guessing) when you really can't.
 

JHoward

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... not that Lucas Oil Additives causes problems, but rather it isn't an popular approach for an oil lubrication strategy for the troublesome HEMI, lol.
 

MrBonez

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You still made a good point and it's worth digging into.
After 40+ years of doing this kind of work I've seen alot, just not all and I'll never say that with seriousness. Not too long ago when working on a 1930 Model A for a friend, I discovered a few things that sounds crazy but it's true - One being the "Oogah" horn it had needing to be lubed at times.
There is no one solution that fits all, that's why it's good and I do suggest some research "Just in case". ;)
 
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Wow, congrats on finding a 2023 with that low miles on it!

I change oil on my vehicles every 5K. For my daughters Lexus and my wife's Sienna that means an oil change about every 3 months. I work from home so my truck only goes about 6-7k miles per year. It gets two oil changes per year. I don't let it go past 6 months. I use Valvoline Restore & Protect 5w30 with Royal Purple filter.

I would recommend an oil change. The other stuff can wait. Transfer case and differentials I do every 30K or 3 years. same with brake fluid. Coolant I'll wait until 100K. Transmission...I might not even do it. I don't like messing with these sealed transmissions. Do I believe all the lifetime transmission nonsense? hell no. But I figure I won't put enough miles on my truck before i get a new one to have to worry about it. I don't see myself going past 125K (I'm at 57K now) The Sienna though, I plan to run that half a million miles. it's got 102K and I've already done trans fluid and will do it again every 3 years or so.
 

c_diesel2

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Change the oil for sure........All the other fluids should be fine.....
 
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