6.7 Cummins Oil Change Guide

6.7 Cummins Oil Change Parts List

^[1] Recommend Fleetguard LF16035 Stratapore premium oil filter; all listed filters applicable to 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel.
^[2] Includes integrated gasket; gasket not serviceable separately.
^[3] Supersedes MOPAR 5014704AC.
^[4] Required to install oil filter after it has been filled with clean engine oil. Recommended for filter removal, but not required. See alternative options in details below.

Oil Filter Cap/Plug

The oil filter on the 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel is mounted vertically towards the front, passenger side of the engine. It is accessible through a small opening between the passenger side inner fender (wheel well) and the frame. It must be positioned horizontally as it is removed through this gap, thus spillage is inevitable unless the oil filter is first capped off. Furthermore, both Ram Trucks and Cummins call for the replacement oil filter to be pre-filled with engine oil before being installed. A special cap (see Lisle 57180) is required to plug the oil filter so that it can be removed and installed without spilling engine oil on the lower half of the engine bay.

The cap is to be installed after unthreading the used oil filter, but before it is tipped on its side to remove it from the engine bay. This cap is cleaned and installed once more after the replacement lube oil filter is filled with new, clean engine oil. Once it is oriented in the engine bay, the cap is removed and the filter is installed on the engine oil filter adapter.

An alternative method to removing the oil filter is to place a plastic freezer-style bag around it after first breaking it loose from the adapter. With the oil filter resting in the bag, the filter is loosened completely and allowed to drop into the bag. It can then be positioned for removal and the bag will catch any engine oil.

This method works well for removing the filter in a pinch, but does nothing for installation; you really want to pre-fill the oil filter with clean engine oil prior to installation, and you'll need the appropriate tool for that. Both Cummins and Ram Trucks call for pre-filling the lube oil filter and thus we do not recommend installing the filter dry. The Lisle cap/plug listed above is reusable and relatively inexpensive; add it to your tool collection.

6.7 Cummins Engine Oil Viscosity Chart

Due to the exhaust aftertreatment system found on the 6.7L Cummins, a low ash engine oil meeting API CK-4 specifications is required. Note that API CJ-4 is superseded by the newer CK-4 specifications. Failure to meet these requirements may result in ash build-up in the diesel particulate filter.

6.7L Cummins Engine Oil Recommendations

Diesel Hub recommends the following Amsoil products for Dodge/Ram trucks equipped with the 6.7L Cummins I-6:

Amsoil Max Duty Signature Series 15W-40 diesel oil
Premium engine oil for maximum engine protection; use for 2007 to 2018 model year engines in ambient temps above 0° F.

Amsoil Max Duty Signature Series 10W-30 diesel oil
Premium engine oil for maximum engine protection; use for 2019+ model year engines in ambient temps above 0° F.

Amsoil Max Duty Signature Series 5W-40 diesel oil
Premium cold weather oil for maximum engine protection; compatible with all model years in ambient temps below 0° F.

Amsoil synthetic engine oils offer:

• Superior protection against fuel dilution and oil consumption

• Low ash engine oil meets or exceeds all applicable API ratings, protects EGR and exhaust aftertreatment systems

• Superior resilience against thermal, mechanical, and chemical breakdown of engine oil

• Improved oil flow and engine protection in sub-zero temperatures and during cold starts

Amsoil is a leading manufacturer of synthetic oils and lubricants, including a line of engine oils engineered to meet the stringent demands specific to diesel engines.

6.7 Cummins Oil Life Monitor, Oil Change Due Reset

Once an oil change is completed, the oil life monitor system will need to be reset to 100%. The methods for resetting the engine oil life monitor vary by model year.

2007.5 - 2014 6.7 Cummins Oil Change Due Reset

1) Turn the ignition switch to the "on" position; do not start the engine.

2) Fully depress the accelerator pedal slowly three times within a 10 second period (you have 10 seconds to fully depress the accelerator pedal three times).

3) Turn the ignition switch to the "off" position.

2015+ 6.7 Cummins Oil Life Monitor Reset

1) Turn the vehicle "on" by pressing the engine start/stop button without depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle will turn on, but the engine will not start. Note that the engine cannot be running while performing the reset.

2) Using the arrow keys on the steering wheel to control the instrument panel display, scroll to "Vehicle Info" then press the right arrow key to access the vehicle info section.

3) In the vehicle info section, scroll to "OIL Life" then press and hold the right arrow key to initiate a reset. When prompted, press the down arrow key to select "Yes", then press and release the right arrow key to reset the engine oil life monitor to 100%.

Alternative Method

1) Turn the vehicle "on" by pressing the engine start/stop button without depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle will turn on, but the engine will not start. Note that the engine cannot be running while performing the reset.

2) Fully depress the accelerator pedal slowly three times within a 10 second period (you have 10 seconds to fully depress the accelerator pedal three times).

3) Push the engine start/stop button once to return the ignition to the off position. Do NOT press the brake pedal anytime during the reset process or it will be canceled.

6.7 Cummins Oil Change Procedures

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• Place a suitable container below the engine oil pan to collect the engine oil as it drains (minimum 12 quart capacity).

• Remove the engine oil pan drain plug with a 3/8 square drive.

• Loosen, but do not remove the oil fill cap to help vent the crankcase and allow the engine oil to drain unrestricted.

• Locate the engine oil filter through the passenger side wheel well.

• Place several shop rags/towels beneath the oil filter to capture any oil that may drip.

• Loosen and remove the oil filter, lowering it but keeping it upright. Thread the oil filter plug into place, then maneuver the oil filter out of the engine bay through the wheel well opening (the filter plug will keep oil from spilling as the filter is tipped on its side).

• Clean and inspect the oil pan drain plug. The gasket is integrated into the drain plug and cannot be replaced separately; if the gasket is damaged, the drain plug needs to be replaced.

• Reinstall the oil pan drain plug, torque to 35 lb-ft.

• Pre-fill the oil filter approximately 3/4 full and lubricate the oil filter gasket with new motor oil.

• Thread the oil filter plug (Lisle 57180 shown) into the oil filter.

• Verify that the gasket from the old oil filter did not stick to the engine oil filter adapter. Clean the oil filter adapter flange with a clean, lint free cloth.

• Maneuver the oil filter through the wheel well and position it upright.

• Carefully remove the oil filter plug, then install the new oil filter snug. Do not use an oil filter wrench or equivalent to tighten the new oil filter, it should be snugged tight by hand.

• Add 12 quarts (minus what was added directly to the new oil filter) to the crankcase through the engine oil fill, then secure the oil fill cap.

• Verify the engine oil level using the oil dipstick.

• Check for oil leaks around the oil pan drain plug.

• Start the engine and check for leaks around the base of the oil filter and again at the oil pan drain plug.

• Reset the engine oil life monitor using one of the procedures outlined in the oil life monitor reset section above.

• Oil change intervals are the perfect opportunity to take an oil sample for analysis. Even infrequent analyses are a good practice that allows you to monitor engine condition and pinpoint possible problems that could worsen with time.

We highly recommend the services provided by Oil Analyzers Inc due to their low cost, quick turnaround, and comprehensive reporting.

• Our oil analysis results found a high concentration of wear metals. Since this is the vehicle's first oil change, this is to be expected during the engine break-in period. A subsequent analysis will be performed at the next oil change interval to verify that this condition has improved in addition to providing a general baseline for this vehicle's owner. Fuel dilution was notably low on this 2020 model, but excessive fuel dilution has been a moderate concern for owners of early models. The best way to monitor fuel dilution is through periodic oil analyses.