Services

PriceProtect™

Compare Car Insurance

Refinance Car Loan

DriveShield™

Drive Well, Earn Perks

GarageGuard™

Get Service Reminders

Insurance

Car Insurance

Compare Car Insurance with Jerry

2024 Car insurance quotes

Cheap car insurance

Best car insurance companies

Shopping for car insurance

Is Jerry a legitimate insurance broker?

Jerry’s Expert Advice

What factors affect car insurance rates?

How does car insurance work?

Types of car insurance

Full coverage car insurance

Car Insurance Estimates

Car insurance by car

Car insurance by location

Home & Renters Insurance

Home Insurance

Compare home insurance quotes

Home & auto insurance quotes

Renters Insurance

Compare renters insurance quotes

Repairs

Car Repair Estimates

Repair Estimates for Popular Services

Oil change cost estimate

Brake pad replacement cost estimate

Battery replacement cost estimate

Timing belt replacement cost estimate

Wheel bearing replacement cost estimate

Spark plugs replacement cost estimate

Rotate tires cost estimate

Transmission fluid service cost estimate

See all 300+ service estimates

Advice

Read Car Content

Browse Jerry Car Advice

How do I know if a mechanic is taking too long?

How to put antifreeze in your car?

What do you do if your car makes a noise?

Read 5,000+ more car advice articles

Check Out Expert Car QnA

Why does my car squeal when I drive?

Do driving warnings go on your record?

How long can you go past your oil change?

How much below MSRP is a good deal?

Learn from 30,000+ more questions

Learn About How We Create Content

Our Editorial Standards

Our Editorial Review Board

Jerry Data & Research

Recent Studies

State of the American Driver (2023)

Memorial Day (2023)

Android vs Iphone (2023)

Auto repairs (2023)

Auto loans study (2023)

Read all recent studies

Comprehensive Data Reports

Jerry Annual Data Report (2023)

Read all data reports

About

MenuIcon

What is the 2012 Ram 1500 oil type?

I’m trying to save some money on my Ram’s maintenance by doing its oil change myself this time. What type of oil do I need?

Shannon Fitzgerald · Updated on Mar 20, 2023

Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.

Kudos to you for

regularly maintaining

your Ram—changing your oil yourself is a great way to save while still keeping your pickup’s engine healthy.

The 2012

oil type is SAE 5W-20 for all operating temperatures. Your engine oil filler cap will also show you the recommended oil viscosity for your Ram in case you forget.

Here are some other helpful notes to keep in mind as you change out your pickup’s oil:

Do NOT use extra additives (other than leak detection dyes)—this will damage your engine

You may use synthetic engine oils

Be sure to change out your oil filter with your oil

You’ll want to change your 1500’s oil every 8,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first

You can refer to your owner’s manual for detailed instructions on how to change out its oil and oil filter. Remember, if you don’t feel up to the task at any point, it’s always a better idea to call in the professionals—performing an oil change wrong can severely damage your engine and end up costing much more than the oil change itself.

An easier way to save some money on your 2012 Ram 1500’s upkeep is to lower your car insurance rates with help from

. A car insurance comparison

, Jerry is free to use and instantly finds the cheapest rates available to you from over 55 top insurers.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

View full answer

WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY

Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Find insurance savings

You Might Also Be Interested

2012 Ram 1500 Engine Oil Capacity

Not sure how to find 2012 Ram 1500 engine oil capacity? We’ve got all the specs your owner’s manual has—plus some extra tips.

Kara Vanderbeek

2012 Ram 5.7 Engine Oil Capacity

We’ve got all the specs you need and bonus tips to find the 2012 Ram 5.7 engine oil capacity.

Talullah Blanco

2014 Ram 1500 5.7 Oil Capacity

Not sure how to find 2014 Ram 1500 5.7 engine oil capacity? We’ve got all the specs.

Katherine Duffy

Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry

The Best Hyundai Hatchback Models

From new to used, these are the best Hyundai hatchback models on the market right now.

Alexandra Maloney

Curious About What the Top 5 Best Porsches of All Time Are? Here's Our List

Porsche is one of the most famous legacy carmakers in the world, and they’ve earned their place in the world of sports cars. Here’s a list of our favorite Porsches of all time.

This European Car Show Is a Sight to Behold

Not every car show has a day-at-the-fair vibe. The Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance is open only to the super rich car enthusiast.

What Others Are Asking

What happens if you run out of DEF?

A warning light showed up on my dashboard this morning and after reading my manual, I learned that it means my car is low on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). I’ve never seen this light show up before and I don’t know what to do about it. What happens if my car runs out of DEF?

Kara Vanderbeek

Are U-turns legal in Delaware?

I’m headed to Newark to attend the University of Delaware’s MBA program. I’ve never been to Delaware before so I want to make sure I know all the driving laws before I arrive. Is a U-turn legal in Delaware?

How do I repair sun-damaged car paint?

Is there an easy way to repair sun-damaged car paint? I didn’t have a garage for several years, so my car sat in the sun almost all the time. Now the paint’s all faded.

Browse All Questions

Browse More Content

Car Repair Resources

Insurance for Your Car

Insurance in Your State

Insurance In Your City

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

No long forms

No spam or unwanted phone calls

Quotes from top insurance companies

Find insurance savings

Car Insurance by Make

Car Insurance by State

Car Repair by Service

AC Compressor Replacement Cost

Battery Replacement Cost

Fuel Injector Replacement Cost

Fuel Pump Replacement Cost

Ignition Coil Replacement Cost

Oil Change Cost

Oil Pan Replacement Cost

Car Insurance by Company

Aspire Advantage

Assurance America

National General