Fuel: Description and Operation
FUEL REQUIREMENTS - DIESEL ENGINE
WARNING: Do not use alcohol or gasoline as a fuel blending agent. They can be unstable under certain conditions and hazardous or explosive when mixed with diesel fuel.
Use good quality diesel fuel from a reputable supplier. It is recommended that purchase of diesel fuel should be made from a service station that is known to dispense a high volume of highway diesel fuel.
- Ultra Low Sulfur Highway Diesel Fuel (15 ppm of sulfur or less) is required to be used in Dodge Ram Trucks equipped with 6.7L diesel engine
Ultra Low Sulfur Highway Diesel Fuel (preferred) or Low Sulfur Highway Diesel Fuel (500 ppm of sulfur or less) are required to be used in Dodge Ram Trucks equipped with a 5.9L diesel engine.
- A maximum blend of 5% biodiesel, or less, is acceptable as long as the biodiesel mixture meets ASTM specification D-975.
A biodiesel fuel blend that is higher then 5% is not acceptable because these higher percentage biodiesel blends contain excess amounts of NUMBER: W14-12-6 GROUP
Fuel DATE: Approval Pending moisture which exceed the water stripping capability of the on-engine final fuel filter. Should higher percentage biodiesel fuels be used an auxilliary water stripping filter will be required.
No off-highway diesel fuel i.e. farm or marine use diesel fuel is acceptable due to unknown sulfur and water content and unknown cetane number. Unknown fuel quality may adversely effect the performance of the engine and fuel injection system.
Fuel conditioners (additives) are not recommended and should not be required if you buy good quality fuel and follow cold weather advice supplied in your Owners Manual.
Diesel fuel is seldom completely free of water. To prevent fuel system trouble, including fuel line freezing in winter, drain the accumulated water from the fuel/water separator using the fuel/water separator drain provided. If you buy good-quality fuel and follow the cold-weather advice above, fuel conditioners should not be required in your vehicle. If available in your area, a high cetane "premium" diesel fuel may offer improved cold starting and warm-up performance.
Proper Bulk (Off-Vehicle) Fuel Storage
Proper maintenance of stored fuel is essential. Diesel fuel is seldom entirely free of moisture. Fuel contaminated with moisture may develop a bacteria or "slime" that may restrict or block fuel filters and lines.
As diesel fuel is lighter than water, drain condensation no less than monthly from the diesel fuel supply/storage tanks.
Change the storage tank in-line filter regularly. This filter acts as a last filter prior to the diesel fuel entering the vehicle diesel fuel tank. Good quality diesel fuel is mandatory. If the storage tank does not have an in-line filter, then a in-line filter should be added.
Proper On-vehicle Fuel Storage And Filtering
Proper on-vehicle fuel storage that prevents fuel contamination is important.
Primary filtering of the diesel fuel is performed by the original (OEM) vehicle fuel tank pickup filter. The original (OEM) vehicle fuel tank module (fuel pickup) filter performs a primary filtering of the on-vehicle diesel fuel as the fuel leaves the fuel tank and enters the fuel lines.
On-vehicle auxiliary diesel fuel tanks are often added by the vehicle owner to extend vehicle driving range. Auxiliary fuel tank systems must protect the quality of the diesel fuel just as well as the originally equipped (OEM) fuel tank that came with the vehicle when it was new.
On-vehicle auxiliary diesel fuel storage tanks must have a primary fuel filter to prevent contamination and moisture accumulation.
The prevention of moisture in the fuel system, the prevention of fuel stagnation, and the use of a primary fuel filter should all be considered in the purchase, installation, and maintenance of any auxiliary on-vehicle diesel fuel tank.
Proper On-vehicle Final Fuel Filtering
The large fuel filter that is mounted on the engine is the final fuel filter, water separator, fuel heater, and water drain. This filter is the final "line of defense" when maintaining a high level of fuel quality. If the diesel fuel is contaminated or contains moisture, the engine mounted fuel filter system is the last chance to affect possible correction.
The quality of the fuel, its prior fuel storage, and fuel handling prior to the final filter all have a significant impact on the amount of contaminates and moisture entering the final fuel filter.
It is important to drain moisture/water at least monthly from the final fuel filter. Do not wait until the "Water In Fuel" indicator illuminates before performing this maintenance. Drain accumulated water frequently.
Maintenance on the final fuel filter / water separator is important. Follow the maintenance schedule per your Owners Manual. Replace the filter more frequently if highly contaminated or high moisture fuel is encountered.
On a 5.9L engine, if the final fuel filter is replaced due to a high moisture content diesel fuel, then verify that the water sensor in the final filter has been cleaned. Excessive moisture may contaminate the sensor sensing probes. The 6.7L engine includes a new water in fuel sensor with the new final fuel filter element.
The final fuel / water separator filter must meet or exceed OEM specifications. Some aftermarket filters may not meet OEM specifications.
The final fuel / water separator filter must meet or exceed the filtration specifications listed in the table below.
Final fuel / water separator filters that meet the above specifications in the table above are approved for use on Cummins 5.9L and 6.7L diesel engines.
The use of non-approved fuel filters will result in engine performance deterioration, and/or possible progressive damage to the engine from foreign particle ingestion, and/or fuel system component corrosion.
NOTE: DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE USE OF FUEL FILTERS NOT APPROVED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER MAY NOT BE COVERED BY THE NEW ENGINE WARRANTY.
It is recommended that customers use the MOPAR approved or Cummins Equivalent fuel filters to protect the engine from debris ingestions and water contamination.
The following final fuel / water separator filters are known to meet or exceed the specifications listed in the table above.
