The 2018 Ram 1500 Pickup equipped with the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine is a robust workhorse designed for a wide variety of tasks, from daily commuting to heavy towing. To maintain the performance, fuel economy, and longevity of this specific engine and its associated systems, using the correct lubricants is essential. AMSOIL synthetic lubricants provide superior protection against wear, thermal breakdown, and contaminants, ensuring your truck handles the most demanding conditions with ease. Whether you are extending service intervals or simply seeking the highest level of protection for your investment, choosing the right fluids for your vehicle is a critical maintenance step.
Recommended AMSOIL Products
For the 2018 Ram 1500 Pickup 3.6L, the engine requires a 5W-20 viscosity motor oil. The factory capacity is 5.9 quarts when a filter change is included. Below are the top-rated synthetic options to keep your engine running smoothly:
- AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-20 100% Synthetic Motor Oil – Offers unsurpassed protection against horsepower loss and wear, providing up to 25,000 miles of service between changes under normal driving conditions.
- AMSOIL Extended-Life 5W-20 100% Synthetic Motor Oil – An excellent choice for 20,000 miles of protection, featuring superior cleaning power to keep the engine running smoother and reduce deposits.
- AMSOIL OE 5W-20 100% Synthetic Motor Oil – A cost-effective option that still provides 100% synthetic protection, fighting sludge and deposits effectively to maintain engine health.
- AMSOIL 5W-20 100% Synthetic High-Mileage Motor Oil – Formulated with enhanced detergents and anti-wear additives for vehicles with over 75,000 miles, helping to reduce sludge and extend engine life.
- AMSOIL Oil Filter (EA15K19) – Designed with 100% synthetic media to filter 99% of particles at 20 microns, offering greater capacity for contaminants and extended service life to match the oil changes.
- WIX Oil Filter (WL10010) – A premium aftermarket filter option that offers improvements over standard OEM filters, ensuring efficient oil flow and contaminant capture.
Complete Fluid Protection for Your Ram 1500
Moving beyond the engine, the 2018 Ram 1500 features complex transmission and differential systems that require precise lubrication to function correctly. The truck is equipped with an 845RE 8-speed automatic transmission, which has a total fill capacity of 9 quarts. For this transmission, AMSOIL offers specialized synthetic automatic transmission fluids designed to withstand the rigors of towing, elevated operating temperatures, and challenging terrain. The AMSOIL Signature Series Fuel-Efficient 100% Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid provides exceptional protection and remains fluid in sub-zero temperatures, ensuring smooth shifting and reducing wear on clutches and gears.
For those seeking a value-oriented yet high-performance alternative, the AMSOIL OE Fuel-Efficient 100% Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid offers robust protection against wear and sludge, promoting shudder-free shifts. Both options are formulated to meet or exceed original equipment manufacturer specifications while providing the added benefits of synthetic stability.
The drivetrain also includes transfer cases and differentials that require heavy-duty gear lubricants. For the transfer case (BW 44-45), a capacity of 3 pints is required. The AMSOIL Signature Series Multi-Vehicle 100% Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid is recommended for this application to ensure reliable performance. For the front standard differential (215FD), which requires 2.3 pints of 75W-85 gear lube, the AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR 75W-85 100% Synthetic Gear Lube delivers advanced protection against rust, corrosion, and thermal runaway. The rear differential, whether equipped with a limited-slip (C235 with LSD) or standard setup, benefits from the AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR 75W-90 100% Synthetic Gear Lube. This heavy-duty lube contains friction modifiers essential for limited-slip differentials and is designed to reduce operating temperatures, extending the life of seals and gears.
Coating and Cooling Systems
Proper cooling system maintenance is vital for the durability of the 3.6L engine. The 2018 Ram 1500 coolant capacity is 13.7 quarts. The AMSOIL Passenger Car & Light Truck Antifreeze & Coolant is an excellent choice, offering protection for 150,000 miles or 5 years. Its unique poly-organic acid technology is compatible with a wide variety of vehicles and protects all cooling system metals, gaskets, and hoses without the need for additives. For those who prefer a concentrated solution that can be mixed to exact specifications, the AMSOIL Propylene Glycol Antifreeze and Engine Coolant provides exceptional corrosion protection and high boiling points for extreme conditions.
Brake fluid is another critical safety component that often goes unnoticed until it is too late. The Ram 1500 uses hydraulic brake fluid meeting MS-4574 specifications. AMSOIL DOT 3 and DOT 4 100% Synthetic Brake Fluid offers a stable viscosity across a wide temperature range, ensuring excellent ABS and traction-control responsiveness even during hard stops. This synthetic formulation resists moisture absorption, preventing the brake fluid from boiling and maintaining consistent pedal feel.
Performance Enhancers and Storage
To maximize the efficiency of the fuel system, the AMSOIL P.i. Performance Improver is a powerful gasoline additive that restores up to 14% of lost horsepower and cleans GDI fuel injectors to 100% flow rate. This product helps prevent carbon buildup, which can be a concern in modern direct-injection engines, and improves overall fuel economy.
For owners who store their trucks seasonally, preventing corrosion and fuel degradation is key. The AMSOIL Gasoline Stabilizer keeps fuel fresh for up to 12 months, protecting against varnish and ethanol corrosion. Additionally, the AMSOIL Engine Fogging Oil provides a highly effective rust preventive coating on internal engine components during long periods of inactivity, ensuring your truck starts up smoothly when spring arrives.
The AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant Corrosion Inhibitor further protects the fuel system and upper cylinders, offering a comprehensive approach to engine maintenance and preservation. Together, these fluids and additives create a complete lubrication ecosystem that supports the 2018 Ram 1500 Pickup in every driving scenario.
Vehicle Background: The 2018 Ram 1500
The 2018 Ram 1500 Pickup represents a significant milestone in the evolution of full-size American trucks. Launched as part of the fifth generation of the Ram 1500, this vehicle marked a shift toward lighter construction and advanced engineering, utilizing a high-strength steel body and aluminum hood to reduce weight without sacrificing payload or towing capacity. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, specifically the engine code G ERB Flex, serves as the standard powertrain for the majority of these vehicles, balancing fuel efficiency with sufficient power for most daily driving and moderate towing tasks.
Owners of the 2018 Ram 1500 often praise its ride quality, which was significantly improved over previous generations thanks to a new independent front suspension system. This engineering choice provides a more car-like handling experience, making the truck a popular choice for those who need a vehicle for work but also use it as a daily driver. The cabin is spacious and well-appointed, with a reputation for having one of the most comfortable interiors in the segment. The truck’s market position is strong, competing directly with the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, but distinguishing itself with a focus on utility and a user-friendly infotainment system.
While the 2018 model is known for its reliability, there are specific mechanical considerations that owners should be aware of. One common issue reported in this generation involves the 8-speed automatic transmission, which can sometimes exhibit hesitation or rough shifting during initial software calibration periods or under heavy load. Using a high-quality synthetic transmission fluid like the AMSOIL Signature Series can help mitigate these issues by ensuring smoother clutch engagement and better thermal stability under heavy towing conditions.
Another area of attention for the 3.6L engine is the potential for oil dilution when used frequently for short trips or in cold climates, particularly when towing. This dilution can occur when unburned fuel enters the crankcase, thinning the oil and reducing its lubricating properties. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are formulated to resist this dilution more effectively than conventional oils, maintaining their protective film strength even when diluted with small amounts of fuel. Additionally, some owners have reported issues with the fuel system, specifically carbon buildup on intake valves in the GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engines. Regular use of a top-tier fuel additive like AMSOIL P.i. can help clean and prevent these deposits, maintaining optimal airflow and engine performance.
Finally, the rear suspension on some models equipped with the 2.3L or 4.4L fluid fill options for the rear differential may be prone to leaks or seal failures over time if the gear lube breaks down due to heat. The AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR 75W-90 is specifically designed to handle the extreme pressures and temperatures generated in these differentials, offering superior resistance to thermal breakdown compared to standard mineral oils. By addressing these potential vulnerabilities with premium synthetic lubricants, Ram 1500 owners can extend the service life of their vehicles and ensure they remain reliable companions for years to come.
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