Ram 1500 3.6 Oil Capacity: DS vs. DT
1500 3.6L Pentastar oil-capacity chart with filter-included values, generation breaks, refill procedure, dipstick checks, FAQs, cautions.
The 2013–2018 Ram 1500 DS 3.6L uses 6.0 US qt (5.7 L) with filter; the redesigned 2019-and-newer DT 3.6L uses 5.0 US qt (4.7 L).
The 2013–2018 Ram 1500 DS 3.6L uses 6.0 US qt (5.7 L) with filter; the redesigned 2019-and-newer DT 3.6L uses 5.0 US qt (4.7 L). That published capacity is a service starting point, not permission to empty the last fraction of a bottle into the crankcase. Drain time, oil temperature, cooler volume, filter construction, vehicle angle, and residual oil all affect the amount required to reach the dipstick's full mark.
The platform code is the clean separator: DS uses the earlier six-quart service quantity, while DT uses five quarts. Exterior trim names and registration year can overlap. This guide separates the generations in the table, keeps filter-included and filter-excluded figures distinct, and explains a repeatable refill check. Do not average the two capacities or assume that every Pentastar vehicle uses the Ram truck amount. Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and minivan installations have their own pans and manuals.
Refill below the listed total first, start the engine long enough to fill the filter, inspect for leaks, shut it down, wait on level ground, and finish by dipstick. That process protects against both an underfilled engine and the aeration, leakage, or catalyst trouble that overfilling can cause.
Interactive Ram 1500 3.6L Pentastar oil-service workflow
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Follow the workflow from vehicle identification through final dipstick verification. Published capacities are starting quantities, not a substitute for the level check.
Ram 1500 3.6 Oil Capacity
| APPLICATION / ITEM | SPECIFICATION | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–2018 DS 3.6L | 6.0 US qt | 5.7 L with filter |
| 2019+ DT 3.6L | 5.0 US qt | 4.7 L with filter |
| 2019+ 1500 Classic | Use DS manual | Do not apply DT capacity |
| 2020 DT oil | SAE 0W-20 | API certified; FCA MS-6395 |
Ram sold the carryover DS as the 1500 Classic beside the newer DT. A 2019-or-later registration therefore does not prove that the five-quart DT row applies.
The generation break that matters for 1500 3.6L Pentastar
The platform code is the clean separator: DS uses the earlier six-quart service quantity, while DT uses five quarts. Exterior trim names and registration year can overlap. Read the model-year and engine row together; a badge, displacement, or oil cap by itself may span more than one internal engine revision. The values below are drain-and-refill quantities with the filter unless the row says otherwise.
Do not average the two capacities or assume that every Pentastar vehicle uses the Ram truck amount. Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and minivan installations have their own pans and manuals. Use the oil grade and manufacturer approval from the same model-year manual as the capacity. Capacity, viscosity, and approval are three separate specifications.
Oil-capacity chart for 1500 3.6L Pentastar
Use the chart as an application lookup. The platform code is the clean separator: DS uses the earlier six-quart service quantity, while DT uses five quarts. Exterior trim names and registration year can overlap. A capacity printed beside the wrong engine code is not “close enough”; even engines sharing the same displacement can have different pans, filters, coolers, or drain-back behavior. If the vehicle has been swapped, rebuilt, or fitted with an aftermarket pan, use the installed hardware manufacturer's capacity and calibration marks.
The most common current application begins near 6.0 US qt. Begin below that amount and finish by measurement. The difference between the add and full marks is often about one quart, but do not assume that relationship when the dipstick is aftermarket, damaged, or paired with a non-original tube. Investigate a reading that remains absent or implausibly high.
Do not average the two capacities or assume that every Pentastar vehicle uses the Ram truck amount. Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and minivan installations have their own pans and manuals.
Common causes of a capacity mismatch
Ram sold the carryover DS as the 1500 Classic beside the newer DT. A 2019-or-later registration therefore does not prove that the five-quart DT row applies. If the verified dipstick result and the expected quantity disagree materially, stop and identify the cause instead of choosing whichever number is more convenient.
- The lookup used the model name but not the model year or engine code.
- The quoted figure excluded the filter while the filter was replaced.
- The vehicle was not level or the oil had not drained back before checking.
- An oil cooler, remote filter, aftermarket pan, engine swap, or incorrect dipstick changed the system.
- The old filter gasket remained on the housing or a leak began after startup.
- The crankcase was filled to the advertised capacity without a final dipstick check.
Ram 1500 3.6L Pentastar specifications can change by model year, engine, platform, wheel, and installed component. Confirm the VIN or engine identity, part numbers, fastener condition, and the current manufacturer instructions before service.
Procedures used with this specification
These steps are the same for every vehicle in this family, so they are documented once rather than repeated on each page. The values above remain specific to this Ram 1500 3.6L Pentastar.
Ram 1500 3.6 Oil Capacity: DS vs. DT FAQs
How much oil does the 1500 3.6L Pentastar take?+
The 2013–2018 Ram 1500 DS 3.6L uses 6.0 US qt (5.7 L) with filter; the redesigned 2019-and-newer DT 3.6L uses 5.0 US qt (4.7 L). Confirm the year/engine row and finish by the dipstick rather than treating the capacity as an exact pour-in amount.
Technical sources
TorqueSheet favors engine- and component-specific manufacturer instructions over unsourced universal values.
12018 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual — 3.6L fluid capacitiesPrimary Ram DS-platform manual used to verify the earlier 3.6L oil-and-filter capacity and platform boundary.↗22020 Ram 1500 DT Owner's Manual — gasoline-engine fluid capacitiesPrimary Ram manual listing 5.0 qt (4.7 L) with filter and SAE 0W-20 meeting FCA MS-6395 for the DT-platform 3.6L.↗3Mopar vehicle information libraryPrimary Ram, Dodge, and Jeep owner-manual lookup.↗