Ram 1500 Classic · Model year 2021 · No longer built
2021 Ram 1500 Classic specs, maintenance & manuals
Everything the manufacturer published about the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic in one place: the maintenance schedule, fluid capacities and 12 manufacturer publications, and towing ratings up to 10,610 lb.
- Max towing
- 10,610 lb
- Schedule covers
- 150k miles
- Publications
- 12
2021 Ram 1500 Classic maintenance schedule
The factory schedule for normal driving. Oil changes follow the oil-change indicator on most models; severe use (towing, dusty roads, lots of idling) shortens some intervals.
A dot means the service is due at that mileage or after that many years, whichever comes first. Engines: see schedule title.
| Service | 20k2 yr | 30k3 yr | 40k4 yr | 50k5 yr | 60k6 yr | 70k7 yr | 80k8 yr | 90k9 yr | 100k10 yr | 110k11 yr | 120k12 yr | 130k13 yr | 140k14 yr | 150k15 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Inspections | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect the CV/Universal joints. | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect front suspension, tie rod ends, and replace if necessary. | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect the front and rear axle surfaces. If gear oil leakage is suspected, check the fluid level. If using your vehicle for police, taxi, fleet, off-road or frequent trailer towing, change axle fluid. | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect the brake linings, replace as necessary. | ||||||||||||||
| Adjust parking brake as necessary. | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect transfer case fluid. | ||||||||||||||
| Additional Maintenance | ||||||||||||||
| Replace cabin air filter. | ||||||||||||||
| Replace engine air cleaner filter. | ||||||||||||||
| Replace spark plugs. The spark plug change interval is mileage based only, yearly intervals do not apply. | ||||||||||||||
| Flush and replace the engine coolant at 10 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km) whichever comes first. | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect the transfer case fluid, change for any of the following: police, taxi, fleet, or frequent trailer towing. | ||||||||||||||
| Change the transfer case fluid. | ||||||||||||||
| Inspect and replace PCV valve if necessary. | ||||||||||||||
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By Oil Change Indicator System
- Change the oil and filter.
- Rotate the tires. Rotate at the first sign of irregular wear, even if it occurs before the oil indicator system turns on.
- Inspect the battery and clean and tighten terminals as required.
- Inspect the CV/Universal joints.
- Inspect the automatic transmission fluid if equipped with dipstick.
- Inspect the brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, hoses and parking brake.
- Inspect the engine cooling system protection and hoses.
- Inspect the exhaust system.
- Inspect the engine air cleaner filter if using in dusty or off-road conditions, replace engine air cleaner filter if necessary.
- Inspect and replace the Evaporative System Fresh Air Filter as necessary, replacement may be more frequent if vehicle is operated in extreme dusty conditions.
2021 Ram 1500 Classic fluids & capacities
Oil, coolant, transmission and axle fluids with their capacities and specifications, wheel torque and fuel requirements, from the owner's manual.
Fluid capacities
| System | Applies to | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel tank (approximate) | Regular Cab Shortbed/Crew Quad Cab models | 26 gal | 98 L |
| Regular Cab Longbed/Crew Quad Cab models (optional) | 32 gal | 121 L | |
| Engine oil with filter | 3.6L engine | 6 qt | 5.6 L |
| 5.7L engine | 7 qt | 6.6 L | |
| Cooling system | 3.6L engine | 13.7 qt | 13 L |
| 5.7L engine | 18.3 qt | 17.3 L |
Engine fluids
| Component | Fluid / grade | Standard | Mopar product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine coolant | OAT (Organic Additive Technology) antifreeze/coolant, 10 year/150,000 mile (240,000 km) formula | — | Mopar Antifreeze/Coolant 10 Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT |
| Engine oil (3.6L engine) | SAE 5W-20, API certified | MS-6395 | Mopar, Pennzoil or Shell Helix (examples); Mopar SAE 5W-30 to MS-6395 acceptable if 5W-20 unavailable |
| Engine oil (5.7L engine) | SAE 5W-20, API certified | MS-6395 | Mopar, Pennzoil or Shell Helix (examples) |
| Engine oil filter | Mopar engine oil filter, or a filter meeting SAE/USCAR-36 performance requirements | SAE/USCAR-36 | Mopar Engine Oil Filter |
Chassis fluids & lubricants
| Component | Fluid / grade | Standard | Mopar product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic transmission | ZF 8 and 9 speed ATF, or equivalent | — | Mopar ZF 8 & 9 Speed ATF |
| Transfer case | Mobil LT | — | — |
| Front axle | GL-5 synthetic axle lubricant, SAE 75W-85 | — | Mopar GL-5 Synthetic Axle Lubricant SAE 75W-85 |
| Rear axle | Synthetic gear lubricant, SAE 75W-90 | MS-A0160 | Mopar Synthetic Gear Lubricant SAE 75W-90 |
| Rear axle limited-slip additive (Limited-slip rear axles) | Limited slip additive, 5 oz (148 ml) added | MS-10111 | Mopar Limited Slip Additive |
| Brake master cylinder | DOT 3 | — | Mopar DOT 3 |
Fuel
| Engine | Minimum | Ethanol / biodiesel |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6L engine | 87 octane Regular unleaded | 0-15% (up to E15) |
| 5.7L engine | 87 octane Regular unleaded (89 for optimum performance and fuel economy) | 0-15% (up to E15) |
Wheel lug nut torque
| Wheels | Torque | Thread | Socket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lug nuts/bolts | 130 ft-lb (176 N·m) | M14 x 1.50 | 22 mm |
- Not a flex-fuel vehicle: E85 and methanol blends are not approved.
- Reformulated gasoline and TOP TIER detergent gasoline are recommended.
- Re-check lug nut/bolt torque after 25 miles (40 km).
Source: Owner's manual on Mopar.com. Always confirm with the manual for your exact vehicle.
2021 Ram 1500 Classic owner's manuals & publications
The manufacturer's owner's manual, quick guides, radio manuals, supplements and warranty booklets for the 2021 model year.
Owner's manuals
Quick guides
Supplements
On Mopar.com
- Owner's manual on Mopar.com
- Maintenance schedule on Mopar.com
- Warranty information on Mopar.com
- How-to videos on Mopar.com
Manuals and guides are hosted by the manufacturer on vehicleinfo.mopar.com and open as PDFs. Mopar.com's owner site also has VIN-specific manuals and recall lookups.
2021 Ram 1500 Classic questions
How much oil does the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic take?
With a filter change: 3.6L engine, 6 qt / 5.6 L and 5.7L engine, 7 qt / 6.6 L. Capacities are from the owner's manual; check the dipstick or oil-life display after filling.
What kind of oil does the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic use?
3.6L engine: SAE 5W-20, API certified (MS-6395); 5.7L engine: SAE 5W-20, API certified (MS-6395); and Engine oil filter: Mopar engine oil filter, or a filter meeting SAE/USCAR-36 performance requirements (SAE/USCAR-36).
When is the first scheduled maintenance on the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic?
At 20,000 miles or 2 years: inspect the cv/universal joints; inspect front suspension, tie rod ends, and replace if necessary; inspect the brake linings, replace as necessary; adjust parking brake as necessary; replace cabin air filter. Oil changes in between follow the oil-change indicator.
Where can I find the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic owner's manual?
The manufacturer publishes it free on Mopar.com as a PDF (linked in the manuals section above), along with quick guides, radio manuals and the warranty booklet.
Specifications come from the manufacturer's spec comparison and its media-site specification sheets; maintenance schedules, fluids and publications come from Mopar's owner site and owner's manuals. Equipment and ratings vary by configuration; check the owner's manual or a dealer for a specific vehicle. This model is no longer sold new.