DodgeRAM Pickup, Ramcharger, RAM Cab and Chassis19933.9L/dodge/ram-pickup-ramcharger-ram-cab-and-chassis/1993/3-9l/
AD platform

1993 Dodge RAM Pickup, Ramcharger, RAM Cab and Chassis — 3.9L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 RAM Pickup, Ramcharger, RAM Cab and Chassis 3.9L.

Body TRUCKEngine 3.9LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

Built on the AD platform, the 1993 Dodge RAM Pickup, Ramcharger, and RAM Cab and Chassis are truck configurations powered by a 3.9L engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission. These vehicles deliver an EPA fuel economy of 11/14/12 mpg and utilize 4 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil when serviced with a filter. This model year's reliability profile includes one recall and 66 total owner complaints, with the primary area of concern being the hydraulic service brakes.

Model year19931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy11/14/12 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter05016646AA discontinued · alt 04300787
Fuel filter04549712 discontinued
Spark plug68305411AA discontinued
Front wiper blades4334667
Serpentine belt53010286AB discontinued · alt Q4070975
Thermostat52028185AC alt 53021051AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height69.7 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight4189 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined11 / 14 / 12 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt w/ filter of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil85W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.5 Pints,
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.5 Pints, mvc Rear, non_mvc
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity7 Pints,
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL

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; coolant every 6,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 6,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Air Intake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 12,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 24,000 miAir Injection System Air Pump Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (clean)
Every 30,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 50,000 miFuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)

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 requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter 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 neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe 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 1993 Dodge RAM Pickup, Ramcharger, RAM Cab and Chassis lead in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 14 of 66 reports (21%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the service brakes, hydraulic, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 4 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic 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.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
18
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
66
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 66 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic14
Power Train10
Steering7
Structure6
Engine & Engine Cooling5
Visibility3
Electrical System3
Vehicle Speed Control3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

93E034001Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 07/12/1993

BOSCH DISTRIBUTOR-TYPE FUEL PUMPS HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN CAUSE THE BALL PIN, WHICH IS PART OF THE PUMP'S CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY, TO BREAK CAUSING THE LINK BETWEEN THE CONTROL SLEEVE AND THE CONTROL LEVER… Remedy: THE FUEL PUMPS WILL BE INSPECTED, AND IF NECESSARY, REPAIRED OR REPLACED.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 18 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
R2118796A2016-02-26Engine And Engine CoolingValve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
09004012001-05-18Engine And Engine CoolingCUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, GREY OIL SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST…
21006012001-03-16Power TrainAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ
0800600REV2000-12-29Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB
0806002000-02-25Electrical SystemTHIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT

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 Pickup, Ramcharger, RAM Cab and 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 RAM Pickup, Ramcharger, RAM Cab and Chassis 3.9L take?

4 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 0 degrees F 10W-30 API, BELOW 32 degreesF 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 RAM Pickup, Ramcharger, RAM Cab and Chassis have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.9L get?

EPA figures are 11 city / 14 highway / 12 combined mpg.