The recommended 5.7 Hemi oil capacity is 7 quarts. Knowing how much and when your engine needs oil is critical to the vehicle. Putting off an oil change can lead to undesired results, including engine failure and high engine temperature.
If you don’t know much about engine oil, this is your guide. Below, you’ll find why oil matters and what type you should use for the 5.7 Hemi. And last but not least, we’ve made a simple but useful DIY to change the oil.
Contents
What is Engine Oil and Why Does it Matter?
Modern engine oil powers the vehicle. It allows the car to perform smoothly on the road. But adding more oil isn’t just going to make your car ride better.
Adding more oil will protect the engine. For instance, there are several parts inside your engine, which need oil. Without it, all those parts wouldn’t work correctly.
Many car problems are caused by lack of oil, including but not limited to increased engine noise, abnormal vehicle exhaust, and higher mileage.
In other words, oil is vital to any engine, and you should frequently change it, that is, according to your owner’s manual.
How Often Should I Change the Oil On the 5.7 Hemi?
Engine oil change should be consistent if you want to get the most out of your vehicle.
Failing to keep the oil capacity for 5.7 Hemi at the suggested level consistently can results in more costly repairs over time.
Hence it’s recommended to change the oil every 10,000 miles on 1500 models. But if you a got 2500 or 3500, you should change the oil after nearly 8,000 miles.
Moreover, most manufacturers suggest checking the oil levels when the vehicle is on level ground and after the engine has fully cooled down. That way, you won’t burn yourself in the process.
Finally, you should never overfill or underfill the crankcase. Otherwise, you will ruin into loss of oil pressure issues, which could damage the engine in the long run.
How Often Should I Check the Oil Level?
You should know that new engines tend to consume more oil than they are supposed to.
This is not an issue and shouldn’t raise any red flags—it’ll be like this for the first thousand miles.
That said, you should check the engine oil level once a month or before going on a long trip.
You could also check the engine oil level after you’ve shut off the vehicle, although you must wait for the engine to get cooler.
What Type of Engine Oil Should I Use 5.7 Hemi?
You could say that the oil is the backbone of the engine. Without it, the engine wouldn’t work.
So, it’s not hard to see why choosing the right type of engine oil is essential for the 5.7 Hemi and pretty much any other engine.
That said, you should use 5W-20 engine oil for the 5.7l Hemi. And you should never, under any circumstances, use straight mineral on this engine.
Otherwise, you could blow your car’s motor. Seriously, using the wrong type of oil will make your engine louder and not in a good way.
Moreover, the manufacturer suggests replacing the oil filter after every engine oil change.
You could change it without replacing the old oil filter. However, just know that the old oil filter won’t be able to screen out contaminants from the oil.
Finally, your vehicle is equipped with an oil change reminder, meaning the car will let you know when it’s running low on engine oil. Alternatively, check the dipstick.
How to use a Dipstick 5.7l Hemi
The 5.7 Hemi has a monitor on the truck to check the engine oil. However, if you don’t want to rely on a computer, you should learn how to check the dipstick.
It’s easy and straightforward. That said, here’s how to use it:
1. Find the Oil Dipstick
The first thing you want to do is locate your engine’s oil dipstick. Typically, the dipstick is yellow or orange.
Next, please make sure that the engine is off when checking the engine oil. After that, get ready to pull out the dipstick. Next up, get a rag to clean the dipstick.
That said, wipe the excess oil. Finally, put the dipstick back inside the dipstick tube.
2. Check The Dipstick
Here, you want to pull out the dipstick again. After that, you’ll notice a couple of marks on the dipstick.
There’s a safety level and add level mark. Your oil level should always be in the safe zone.
If the level is below that, you must add more oil to get to the secure area again. Be careful, though. You don’t want to go above the safe zone.
Adding more oil than necessary could do some nasty stuff to the vehicle’s engine.
To double-check the oil level, we suggest cleaning off the excess oil again, put back in, and then pull it out. That way, you’ll know for sure that the oil is at the recommended level.
For more information about oil change, please refer to your owner’s manual. Finally, here’s a video we suggest watching if you need help:
DIY Guide: How to Change Engine Oil on 5.7 Hemi Like a Pro
Feeling pretty confident after learning about 5.7 Hemi oil capacity? Well, it’s time to learn how to change the oil on the 5.7L Hemi. That said, here’s the procedure for this job:
1. What You Will Need
To change the engine oil, get the following tools:
- A bucket—you need a container to catch all the oil that will come out after removing the drain plug.
- A piece of cardboard—it’s up to you if you want to place a piece of cardboard underneath to work comfortably.
- A 12mm socket—to remove the drain plug, get a 12mm socket.
2. Let the Engine Cool Down
Before getting started, please let the engine cool down for at least an hour.
You really don’t want to change the oil if the engine is too hot. You could hurt yourself in the process. So, watch out for that.
3. Cover Your Working Area
One thing to note is that you should cover the surface under your vehicle. You’ll have to take off the drain bolt.
So, it would help if you placed a piece of cardboard to work underneath the car.
4. Take off The Drain Bolt
Now that you’ve set up everything, crawl underneath the vehicle, and find the drain bolt. Generally speaking, the drain bolt should be behind the front tire.
Once you have located the drain bolt, please place a bucket underneath. Oil will come out of it after pulling the drain bolt out.
After that, proceed to remove the drain bolt using a 12mm socket. Typically, it doesn’t take much time for the oil to be completely drained out.
However, if you don’t mind spending extra time, let it drip for a few minutes. After that, put the drain plug back in.
5. Remove the Oil Filter & Install the New One
Now that you’ve drained the drain bolt, remove the oil filter. The oil filter is typically located just above the front axle on the passenger side.
After locating the oil filter, place the bucket underneath. That said, go ahead and remove the oil filter with your bare hands. As you’re spinning it around, let the oil drain first.
Once that’s done, keep loosening up the oil filter until you can pull it out.
Keep in mind that more oil will come out as soon as you take it off. After that, put the new one in and make sure to snug it down.
6. Put The New Oil
After replacing the oil filter and draining the old engine oil, you’re all set to pour the new oil.
That said, pop the hood of your truck and add fresh oil. Remember, the oil capacity of 5.7 Hemi is 7 quarts of oil.
When pouring the new oil, make sure not to overfill the system. That said, use your dipstick to make sure you used enough oil. Finally, put the dipstick back in and the oil fill cap.
7. Start Up The Truck
Now you have to start the car to fill the oil filter. And as you’ll soon notice, starting the vehicle will bring the oil level down a little bit. But even then, do not go above the recommended level.
8. Reset The Oil Indicator
Next up, reset the oil indicator on the dashboard. To do this, cycle up and down until you see the oil life screen.
Once you’ve found the oil life setting, hold the “play” button on your steering wheel.
Now the engine must be off with the ignition in run. After that, you should hear a beeping sound.
Once again, cycle up and down until you find the oil life section and then hold the “play” button and click “OK.”
9. Recheck The Oil Level
Finally, check the dipstick. If the oil level is at the bottom of the safe zone, please add more oil until you’re at the top of the safe mark.
And that’s it. You’ve securely changed the oil level. Those sure were a lot of steps, but once you get it down, it’ll be a walk in the park next time. If you’re more of a visual learner, watch this video:
How Much Does it Cost to Change the Engine Oil?
We get this asked all the time, “how much should I be paying for an oil change.” Well, it’s hard to say since any price is subject to change depending on your location and dealer.
However, on average, you should expect to pay a whopping $30-70 for this job.
Typically, most drivers do it themselves since it’s pretty easy, and saving up some money is always great.
But, you want to be careful since in some places any car repair is strictly banned. So ask around in your neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Keeping the 5.7 liter Hemi oil capacity at the recommended level is critical and should be consistent.
That said, here’s some information to keep your engine healthy for as long as possible:
Can you use 5w30 in a 5.7 Hemi?
Dodge recommends using 5W20 for the 5.7 Hemi. Any other engine oil might affect your vehicle’s operation, and the manufacturer makes it very clear on the manual.
If you use 5W30 oil on the 5.7L Hemi, run it at your own risk.
Does 5.7 Hemi require synthetic oil?
Yes! You can use synthetic oil on your 5.7 Hemi. But it must be 5W20 engine oil. And you should never use non-detergent engine oil or straight mineral oil.
What kind of oil does a Dodge Ram 1500 use?
Never go past the 10,000 interval. Otherwise, you could run into significant issues with your truck. That said, use 5W20 on the 5.7L Hemi.
How much oil pressure should a 5.7 Hemi have at idle?
The oil pressure gauge should always indicate oil pressure when your vehicle is running.
Moreover, the pointer should indicate 25 to 66 PSI. If your oil pressure gauge is not displaying any pressure, there’s something wrong with the car.
Conclusion
That was a lot of information, wasn’t it? But knowing all these things is necessary to understand the 5.7 Hemi oil capacity.
Once you’ve truly understood the basics and what goes behind the scenes, you’ll get the most out of this engine.
Moreover, your engine will be healthy for many years to come. Just keep in mind that you should change your oil after 10,000 miles to keep your car in great shape.
Otherwise, taking the vehicle to the dealer will be a frequent occurrence.