Dodge›RAM 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis›2009›Overview/dodge/ram-4500-5500-cab-chassis/2009/base/

DM platform

2009 Dodge RAM 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 RAM 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis.

The 2009 Dodge RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis are heavy-duty work platforms built on the DM chassis, designed around an engine requiring 12 quarts of 5W-40 API CJ-4 oil with filter. In the context of the model's reliability history, this year presents a low but notable service profile, marked by just four owner complaints alongside three recalls. The top complaint area centers on the steering, meaning that while the platform's overall issue rate is modest, researchers should prioritize steering system integrity when evaluating this specific model year.

Model year2010 2009 2008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity12 qt w/ filterOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-40 API CJ-4OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 DIESEL · 750 DIESEL CCA battery, OE oil filter 05083285AA. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 DIESEL · 750 DIESEL CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	05083285AA
Engine air filter	53034051AB
Fuel filter	68061634AA
Front wiper blades	55077100AE
Serpentine belt	53041138AE alt 53041139AE
Thermostat	68534176AA alt 05086740AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	218.9 in
Overall width	71.7 in
Overall height	68.5 in
Wheelbase	131.1 in
Curb weight	4295 lb
Track (front / rear)	63 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	58/42

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 12 qt w/ filter of 5W-40 API CJ-4 engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.2
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.4 Pints,
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	10.8 Pints
Engine Coolant	HOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 5W-40 · API · MS-10902

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts	100 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	32 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	360.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	360.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	160.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	317.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order

1-5-3-6-2-4

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Standard BCI Group Number	65 DIESEL
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	750 DIESEL cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Engine Compression	350

Brakes

Minimum Pad Thickness

Front: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 44 ft. lbs., Step 3: 60

22 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil.

1	52.0 ft. lbs.	52 ft. lbs
2	Loosen bolts 360 degrees	360 degrees
3	77.0 ft. lbs.	77 ft. lbs
4	Recheck torque of 77.0 ft. lbs.	77 ft. lbs
5	90 degrees	90 degrees

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep If using old bolts, use the following procedure:

1	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	59 ft. lbs.	59 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees; If using new bolts, use the following procedure:	90 degrees
1	89 ft. lbs.	89 ft. lbs
2	Loosen all bolts 360 degrees	360 degrees
3	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
4	63 ft. lbs.	63 ft. lbs
5	120 degrees	120 degrees

Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

6 ft. lbs., Step 2: 21

6 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi.

Every 6,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Tie Rod (lubricate) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 45,000 mi	Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 67,500 mi	EGR Valve (clean) · EGR Valve Cooler (clean) · Engine Breather Filter (replace)
At 105,000 mi	Power Steering System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified

Tool required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module

Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified

When needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2009 Dodge RAM 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis dominate in one area — the steering, 2 of 4 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the steering, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the steering pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Steering2

Electrical System1

Electrical System,Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V352000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 24/05/2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM… Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be…

15V313000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 27/05/2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010… Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 27 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
S1203000003 REV.A	2026-06-26	Service Brakes	Trac-Rite Operation Diagnosis, Chatter, Shudder, Moving From A Stop And Turning
9100226	2023-09-15	Electrical System	Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
9100226	2023-09-15	Electrical System	Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
9004009	2021-04-07	Power Train	Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles…
23-015-20	2020-04-30	Equipment	Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RAM 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 65 battery Vehicles taking 12 qt w/ filter DM-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 05083285AA Engine air filter 53034051AB Fuel filter 68061634AA Front wiper blades 55077100AE

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 RAM 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis take?

12 qt w/ filter of SYNTHETIC 5W-40 API CJ-4 MEETING CHRYSLER SPECIFICATION MS-10902, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 RAM 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.