Ram Service in the Columbia Basin
Cummins Diesel Service in Moses Lake, WA
Bud Clary Moses Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram services the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel in Ram 2500, 3500 and chassis cab trucks, working from the maintenance plan in Ram's 2026 owner's manuals. Here is what that plan asks for, and how harvest dust, low-speed field work and Basin winters change the picture, from our service department at 12174 N Frontage Rd, just off I-90.
- 15,000 miOil change limit, or 12 months or 500 hours
- Front and rearFuel filters, both due every 15,000 miles
- $369ClaryCare package for diesels
- Mon to FriService open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Ram's 2026 maintenance plan for the 6.7L Cummins
This is the plan in the 2500/3500 pickup manual; whichever comes first, miles or time, sets the due date. Towing, dust and off-road use move some items up, as the sections below explain.
| Item | When Ram calls for it |
|---|---|
| Engine oil and filter | Every 15,000 miles, 12 months or 500 engine hours, whichever comes first, or sooner if the oil change indicator says so |
| Front and rear fuel filters | Replace both every 15,000 miles. Ram specifies a 3 micron front filter and a 5 micron rear filter. |
| Diesel Exhaust Fluid | Check the tank every 7,500 miles and refill it if needed; Ram warns against topping off a full tank |
| Engine air filter | Inspect every 15,000 miles; replace no later than 30,000 miles or 24 months |
| Automatic transmission fluid | Change at 60,000 and 120,000 miles |
| Transfer case fluid (4x4) | Inspect every 30,000 miles and change it then if you tow often; change it regardless at 60,000 and 120,000 miles |
| Crankcase ventilation (CCV) filter | Replace at 75,000 and 150,000 miles. A Perform Service message on the cluster means emissions maintenance is due, and that may include this filter. |
| Engine coolant | Flush and replace at 150,000 miles or 10 years |
Source: 2026 Ram 2500/3500 Owner's Manual, Maintenance Plan for the 6.7L Diesel Engine. The 2026 Ram Chassis Cab manual sets the same 15,000-mile, 12-month or 500-hour ceiling on oil changes, but its schedule and biodiesel rules differ in places. Where your truck's manual differs, follow the manual.
Oil, fuel and the specs Ram lists
Ram's manual makes the API CK-4 category a requirement and recommends oil that meets its MS-10902 standard. Above 0 degrees F that means 10W-30, and below 0 degrees F a 5W-40 synthetic. For the 10W-30, products meeting Cummins CES 20081 may also be used.
Both engine-mounted fuel filters double as water separators, and Ram points out that diesel is seldom completely free of water. If the Water in Fuel light stays on, the manual says not to start the engine until the water has been drained. Federal law requires Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, 15 ppm sulfur at most, in this engine.
Running a biodiesel blend from a farm tank or a card-lock pump? Ram allows up to B20 meeting ASTM D-7467 on B20-capable trucks. Above B5, biodiesel can dilute the oil, so the pickup manual holds oil changes to 15,000 miles or 500 hours, the chassis cab manual holds them to 12,500 miles or 400 hours, and neither allows more than six months between changes. Ram also requires Mopar or Cummins approved fuel filter elements.
Harvest dust and field roads
A Basin work truck can spend harvest on gravel and field roads in a cloud of dust. Ram's schedule tells owners in dusty or off-road use to inspect the engine air filter at every oil change and replace it when it needs it, and it calls for axle fluid changes on trucks that work off road or tow often.
- Air filter: checked at each oil change in dusty conditions, and never left past 30,000 miles or 24 months
- Axles: inspected every 22,500 miles, with the gear oil changed if the truck works off road or tows often
- Front end: lubricated every 7,500 miles on trucks with serviceable fittings
- Tires: rotated every 7,500 miles, or sooner at the first sign of uneven wear
Low-speed work, idling and the exhaust filter
The diesel particulate filter cleans itself. Once it is about 40% full of soot, the truck starts looking for a chance to burn it off without any input from you. Short hops between fields and long stretches at idle can keep that from ever happening, and at 70% the cluster asks you to drive at highway speeds to clear it. A steady run out I-90 is the fix. By Ram's numbers, a filter left to reach 90% usually takes around 45 minutes of steady driving to clean out.
Let it reach 100% and engine power drops, the check engine light comes on and the message tells you to see a dealer. At that point the filter can no longer clean itself and needs a manual cleaning, and Ram warns that a completely full filter can damage the exhaust system. Long idling has a second cost: unburned fuel can dilute the oil. More than two hours of idling or slow driving also triggers an emissions mode that lifts idle speed to 900 RPM to look after the filter.
Cold mornings in the Basin
Each of these comes from the cold-weather sections of the 2026 Ram 2500/3500 owner's manual:
- Block heater: Ram recommends plugging it in below 0 degrees F and requires it below minus 20 degrees F. It needs at least an hour on a standard outlet to do its job.
- Fuel: below 20 degrees F, use climatized No. 2 diesel or a 50/50 mix with No. 1 so the filters don't gel or wax up. A built-in heater in the fuel filter housings helps too.
- DEF: it can freeze at 12 degrees F or below. A heater in the tank deals with it, and the truck runs normally until the fluid thaws. Don't overfill the tank in winter, because an overfilled tank can be damaged if the fluid freezes.
- Cold starts: between 10 degrees F and minus 10 degrees F, the cluster may show Engine Power Reduced During Warm-up. That is the engine protecting itself, not a fault.
What a diesel service visit covers
Ram lists these items for every oil change on a 2026 Ram 2500 or 3500. Ask your service advisor which mileage items are also due on your visit.
- Oil and filterCK-4 oil and a new filter, then the oil change indicator is reset.
- Exhaust and batteriesAn exhaust system inspection and a battery check with the terminals cleaned and tightened. A diesel Ram may carry two batteries.
- Brakes, joints and coolingBrake pads, rotors, hoses and the parking brake, the CV and universal joints, and the cooling system and its hoses.
- Tires and front endTire pressure and wear, a rotation when wear starts to show, and grease for any serviceable front-end fittings.
Our free courtesy shuttle can give you a ride while the truck is in the shop. Bigger repair bill? Service and parts financing spreads it out, and Clary Repair Protection covers qualifying repairs for 2 years with unlimited miles (regular maintenance and warranty work excluded).
Your Cummins and Ram's warranty
When a 2026 Ram 2500, 3500 or chassis cab is bought or leased new, its original owner gets Ram's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage, with fleet purchases left out. Mopar's list of covered diesel parts includes the fuel injection pump and injectors, the turbocharger housing and internal parts, and the glow plugs and all sensors (Mopar terms). Our Ram 10-year powertrain warranty guide explains who qualifies.
Keep every receipt. Mopar's terms say FCA will require proof of proper maintenance if there is ever a dispute over how the truck was maintained.
ClaryCare for diesels: $369
The diesel version of our ClaryCare package bundles three oil changes, three tire rotations and three multi-point inspections. Some exclusions apply; see service specials for details.
Visit our service department
Bud Clary Moses Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram12174 N Frontage Rd
Moses Lake, WA 98837
Sales
- Mon - Fri
- 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
- Saturday
- 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sunday
- 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Service
- Mon - Fri
- 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Sat - Sun
- Closed
Frequently asked questions
How many miles between oil changes on a 6.7 Cummins?
On a 2026 Ram 2500 or 3500, every 15,000 miles, 12 months or 500 engine hours, whichever comes first, or sooner if the oil change indicator says so. Running biodiesel above B5 also caps it at six months, and chassis cabs on biodiesel above B5 drop to 12,500 miles or 400 hours.
How often do you change the fuel filters on a 6.7 Cummins?
Ram's 2026 schedule replaces both the front and rear engine-mounted fuel filters every 15,000 miles. Drain the water separators whenever the Water in Fuel light comes on.
What kind of oil goes in the 6.7 Cummins on a 2026 Ram?
An API CK-4 oil that meets Ram's MS-10902 standard: 10W-30 above 0 degrees F, or a 5W-40 synthetic below 0 degrees F. For the 10W-30, oils meeting Cummins CES 20081 are also allowed.
What does Exhaust Filter Nearing Full mean on my Ram?
The particulate filter is about 70% full and hasn't had the steady driving it needs to clean itself. Drive at highway speed for a while. If it ever reaches 100%, power drops and the truck needs a dealer to clean the filter.
Does DEF freeze in a Moses Lake winter?
It can, at 12 degrees F or below. The tank has a heater, and the truck runs normally until the fluid thaws. Avoid overfilling the tank in cold weather.
When do I need to plug in my Cummins block heater?
Ram recommends it below 0 degrees F and requires it below minus 20 degrees F. Plug it in for at least an hour before you start the truck.