You might recognize the Dodge Sprinter 2500 as the van your local FedEx driver uses to deliver your packages, but if you’re the proud owner of your own 2003 Sprinter 2500 and want to change the van’s oil at home, you’ll first need to determine its oil capacity. The 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500’s oil capacity is 9.5 quarts or 9.0-liters

Staying on top of your vehicle’s regular

maintenance schedule

and performing small mechanical procedures—like an oil change—at home, can help you save both time and money. It’s fairly simple to change the oil in a 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500, but before getting started, you’ll want to crack open the van’s owner’s manual and look up the engine oil capacity and recommended oil type.

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2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 engine oil capacity

Before you can even think about changing your own oil at home, you’re going to need to determine exactly how much oil it’s going to take to fill up your 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500’s 2.7-liter I-5 engine after you drain the old oil.

The Sprinter 2500 has an oil capacity of 9.5 quarts or 9.0 liters. That’s a good bit of oil compared to other vehicles! That being said, it’s vital that you don’t confuse your

engine’s displacement

—the 2.7-liter volume that its five cylinders take up—with its oil capacity, which refers to the amount of oil you’ll need to complete an oil change. While both of these are referred to in terms of liters, these numbers are not interchangeable and should not be thought of as such.

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Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

What kind of oil does a 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 need?

Now that you know how much oil you’ll need to fill up your 2033 Dodge Sprinter 2500, it’s time to determine the exact kind of oil you should purchase. Unfortunately, you can’t just use any old oil while performing an oil change, as certain oil types create unnecessary amounts of

wear and tear

on your engine. According to the owner’s manual for the 2003 Sprinter 2500, Dodge recommends the use of

RAVENOL VST 5W-40 motor oil

But what does 5W-40 mean in terms of motor oil? The numbers on either end of an oil grade are a reference to its cold viscosity and hot viscosity—i.e. the thickness of the oil at 0°F and 212°F respectively. Meanwhile, the “W” in the grade name refers to winter, meaning that the oil type functions well regardless of weather conditions.

This specific oil type was chosen by Dodge for the Sprinter 2500 because its viscosity levels reduce the amount of wear and tear on the engine. If you can’t find RAVENOL VST motor oil or are just interested in knowing what you’re other options are, you can also use motor oils with comparable viscosity ratings, such as

Castrol Edge 5W-40 A3/B4 Advanced Synthetic

motor oil or

Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic SAE 5W-30

motor oil.

How often to change the oil on a 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500

Once you’ve got 9.5 quarts of your 5W-40 motor oil of choice in hand, you’re ready to

change your oil

Dodge recommends that you change the oil in a 2003 Dodge Sprinter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. However, some experts suggest that changing your oil every six months is a better barometer.

That being said, you should be performing regular maintenance checks on your Sprinter 2500 at least once a month—or after every other refueling. This way you can actively monitor how much oil you’re using and how soon you’re going to have to perform an oil change.

In the meantime, here are some signs that you might need to change your oil early:

Dark brown or black motor oil (clean oil should be light brown or amber in color)

The oil is coarse or gritty

Strange or unfamiliar sounds coming from the engine

Burning, smoke, or oil smells

Change in vehicle performance

MORE:

How to build a custom Dodge Ram 2500

How to change your oil and oil filter

Changing the oil in a 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 is par for the course, meaning that performing an oil change on the van is similar to most other vehicles. Before getting down and dirty, however, you’ll need to gather all of the necessary materials, including a filter wrench and socket wrench, a replacement oil filter and oil drain pan, and, finally, 9.5 quarts of your 5W-40 motor oil of choice.

Idling the engine of your 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 for a few minutes before beginning the oil change process will allow the old oil to drain more quickly. On an average day, it should only take a few minutes to get the Sprinter 2500’s old oil up to its normal operating temperature. Once you’re engine’s all warmed up, you can shut off the engine, open up the hood, and follow the necessary steps to complete your oil change:

Locate and remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath the engine, remove the oil drain bolt and washer, and use a drain pan to catch the old oil

Remove the old oil filter and replace it with a new one

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Refill the engine with 9.5 quarts of your 5W-40 motor oil of choice

When you’re done, use the dipstick to check your new oil level. You can then ensure that there are no oil leaks by running your engine for a few minutes. If all of this has been done correctly, the

oil pressure light

on the Sprinter 2500’s dashboard should turn off.

Ensure that you do not discard your old oil on the ground or in a garbage bin. Instead, pour the used oil into a sealed container and deliver it to a local recycling facility so they can properly dispose of it.

Key Takeaway Old motor oil that is not disposed of properly can pose a hazard to the water table and local wildlife. Never pour old motor oil on the ground—instead, take it to a recycling center in a sealed container.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Changing your 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500’s oil at home is the perfect way to save time and money on maintenance costs. You can save even more money, however, when you update your

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