Last Updated on 9 January, 2026 by Robyn Dockendorf

There’s something uniquely satisfying about hitting the open road in your van, especially when it’s kitted out for those epic climbing trips, serene hiking escapades, and unforgettable journeys with our four-legged buddies. But to keep the engine running, you have to take care of your van’s maintenance.

Your DIY Ram Promaster 2500 oil change can be done in 8 steps and will save you from spending extra money at an auto shop. Plus, you’ll learn the ins and outs of your van, which can help you on the road!

So, whether you’re parked beside a babbling brook deep in the woods, gearing up for the next big climb, or simply taking a breather between adventures, this guide is for you. We’ll walk through the process together, sharing tips and tricks to make your Ram Promaster 2500 oil change as smooth as the road ahead. 

Ready to tackle this together? Great—grab your tools, and let’s get started!

This post includes affiliate links but rest assured that we only recommend items we would use ourselves. And if you choose to make a purchase, we receive a small commission. No sponsorships, just the truth about our favorite finds.

Tools Of The Trade

You’ll need a few tools to complete your Ram Promaster 2500 oil change. Don’t worry—you probably have them in a toolbox somewhere! 

14mm Socket Wrench

You will need a socket wrench with a 14mm socket to remove the drain plug underneath your van. If all you have available is a standard wrench, look for a 17/32 or a 9/16.

24mm Socket Wrench

You’ll need a 24mm socket to remove the oil filter housing. If you’re using a standard wrench, go for a 15/16. The area to reach the filter housing is pretty tight, so a socket wrench is preferred here.

Rags

No one goes through a Ram Promaster 2500 oil change without getting their hands dirty! Have some paper towels or oil rags handy to wipe your hands and clean up any small spills.

Tarp

Placing a tarp beneath your van will prevent oil from spilling into the environment. Changing the oil is messy, and spills and drips are bound to happen. Place the tarp down and drive the van over it to hold it down.

What To Buy

In addition to the tools you probably already have in your shed, there are some things to add to your shopping list the next time you’re near an auto parts store.

New Oil Filter

Several oil filters are on the market that can be used in a Ram Promaster 2500 oil change. Depending on the brand and quality of the filter, the price will range from around $10 to $20.

We used a Napa Gold Oil Filter 1000 10. However, you can use any oil filter that will fit a Ram Promaster 2500 van:

• Carquest Premium
• K & N Premium Oil Filter
• Purolator One
• Mobil 1
• Fram Titanium
• Mopar – OEM

Make sure to get a filter that works with synthetic oil. 

6 Quarts Of New Oil

The motor oil you should use for your Ram Promaster 2500 oil change is SAE OW-20 full synthetic. Although more expensive, full synthetic oil has advantages over conventional and synthetic blends.

The Universal Technical Institute says synthetic oil has fewer impurities and a higher oxidation resistance. It also performs better in extreme temperatures. All in all, synthetic oil will last longer and help keep your engine in better condition. This is huge for vanlifers who need to keep their mobile home in tip-top condition!

We used NAPA Motor Oil 0W20 Full Synthetic. Again, there are plenty of options. We chose NAPA because it was the closest automotive store to us. You can also use Mobil, Valvoline, Penzoil, etc. 

Make sure to get 6 quarts – you may have to combine a 5qt and 1qt jug to get the proper amount.

Oil Catch Pan

Oil catch pans are an essential piece of gear for your Promaster oil change. Plenty of options exist, but we recommend using a simple, cheap one. The fancy ones with bells and whistles are more difficult to use and easy to spill.

Walmart sells a 7-quart catch pan for under $3.

By the way, if you’re a bit intimidated by this list, don’t worry! This guide is very detailed so that even someone who has no idea about cars (*raises hand) can do it. If you’re looking for other ways to save money while vanlifing, such as changing your own engine oil, check out our guide on how to afford vanlife!

Ram Promaster 2500 Oil Change In 8 Steps

Now that we have our tools and supplies, it’s time to change your van’s oil. Keeping up with your van’s maintenance is critical for its longevity. After all, your van is your home! 

Keeping your campervan in tip-top shape is just one of many vanlife tips we recommend to make life easier. If you want more, check out our guide on 57 vanlife hacks for ways to save storage space, find free camping, and make the most of life on the road.

I’ll guide you through from beginning to finish so you can get back to your adventures!

Step 1: Pop The Hood

The latch to pop the hood is located on the driver’s side. Open the door, look for the latch on the side of the dash frame, and pull it. You’ll hear a ‘click’ that signals the hood is open.

Now, feel under the hood for a latch and pull it to release the hood. Open it and use the hood strut to prop it open.

Step 2: Drain The Old Oil

One of the first steps in your Ram Promaster 2500 oil change is draining the old oil. So, get your 14mm socket wrench and oil pan ready.

It’s easiest to access the oil drain plug from the front of the van, so grab your tools and shimmy under it. The oil drain plug location is closer to the passenger’s side. Look for the drain plug bolt facing toward the passenger side.

Use your 14mm wrench to loosen the bolt enough so that you can unscrew it by hand. Put your oil pan beneath the bolt and start to unscrew it by hand. Be careful; it’s hard to tell when the last revolution of the bolt is before the oil comes out, and it comes out fast!

Put the plug somewhere you’ll remember and shimmy out from under the van. Look under the hood and remove the oil cap – this will help the oil drain faster. While the oil is draining, we’ll go ahead and remove the old oil filter. 

Step 3: Remove Old Oil Filter

As you check under the hood, look just beyond the oil cap to a plastic bolt-shaped protrusion – this holds the oil filter.

I recommend placing some rags or paper towels down at the front of the hood. When you remove the oil filter, it will be dripping oil.

Now, use your 15/16 wrench or 24mm socket to loosen the housing and then unscrew it the rest of the way by hand. The housing may feel stuck or nearly impossible to turn – they’re screwed on super tight from the factory, or if you have taken it to a shop before.

Pull the old filter and housing out and place them on the rags you set down earlier. If the oil is really leaking, you can move it to the tarp. Hold the housing with one hand and pull the filter with the other until they separate.

On the housing, there is an O-ring. Remove this and discard it.

Step 4: Installing The New Oil Filter

The old oil will take some time to drain completely, so we can prepare the new oil filter. Open the box, and remove the new O-ring. Use some of the old oil that dripped from the filter to coat the new O-ring and place it on the filter housing in the exact location where you removed the old one.

Next, take the new oil filter and attach it to the housing. This is done by pushing the new filter into the housing until it snaps in. Tug at it to make sure it’s installed properly.

Place the filter and housing back in the proper slot under the hood and tighten it as much as you can by hand. Then, take your wrench and tighten it further without overtightening.

Step 5: Reinstall The Drain Plug

At this point, the old oil should be just about drained into your oil catch pan. Shimmy back under the van and place the drain plug back in, screwing it by hand first. Use your 14mm wrench to tighten it further.

Remember to remove the oil catch pan as you get out from under the van! You don’t want to drive away and leave it behind. We’ll talk about how to properly dispose of the oil a little later…

Step 6: Add New Oil

This is the most straightforward step. Place a funnel in the oil reservoir under the hood and pour six quarts of new oil. Replace the oil cap when you’re finished. That’s it!

Step 7: Check The Oil Level

One of the last things to do is to check the oil level with the dipstick. To do this, locate the dipstick right near the oil cap. It is yellow and has a finger loop for easy pulling.

Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and place it back into the oil reservoir. Pull the dipstick back out and take a look at the far end. There will be two obvious dots. You want the oil level to be between those two dots.

• If the oil level is too low: Add more oil, a little bit at a time, until it reaches the correct level. This can happen if you spill a lot (like we did) while trying to pour through the funnel. 
• If the oil level is a little bit high: If there is less than a quart of extra oil, it’s not a problem.
• If the oil level is very high: If over a quart of extra oil is showing on the dipstick, you should drain some oil to get it back to normal levels.

Step 8: Reset The Change Oil Light

You may be done changing the engine oil, but nobody wants to drive with that annoying change oil light on. I’ll walk you through how to reset this:

1. Turn the vehicle to ‘ON‘ without turning the engine on.
2. Press the gas pedal slowly three times within 10 seconds.
3. Turn the vehicle off.
4. Turn the vehicle on.

If the light doesn’t turn off, repeat the steps. It took us a few tries to get the light to turn off, so don’t be discouraged!

How Often To Change Your Oil

Newer models of the Ram Promaster are equipped with the latest features to alert you when it’s time to change your oil. A message on the dashboard will read ‘Oil Change Required.’

Once this light comes on, it’s recommended to service your vehicle within the next 500 miles. 

While there is no specific Ram Promaster 2500 oil change interval, the time between oil changes should never exceed 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.

What Else To Do While Changing The Oil

While changing the oil in your Ram Promaster 2500, you can check off a few other maintenance items. These should be done at every oil change interval:

• Inspect the tires: Tires should be rotated at the first sign of irregular wear.
• Inspect the battery: Clean and tighten the terminals as needed.
• Inspect the CV joints: You can check these out while you’re under the van – they connect from your van’s tires to the drive shaft.
• Inspect the brakes: This includes the brake pads, shoes, hoses, rotors, drums, and parking brakes.
• Check hoses on the cooling system: Your coolant reservoir is on the right side, beneath the hood. Check the hoses and wire protection to ensure no wear and tear.

• Exhaust system: Check under your van’s back end and ensure the exhaust system is working correctly.
• Inspect the air filter: They always try to sell you one at the shop, so check it out to ensure it doesn’t need replacing. A Ram Promaster 2500 is equipped with two air filters. One under the hood and one behind the glove box.

What To Do With Old Oil

Engine oil is a hazard to the environment, so you definitely don’t want to dump it in a ditch or throw it in with the rest of your trash to be picked up on garbage day.

Here are a few options to get rid of your used engine oil responsibly:

• Auto Parts Store: Most auto parts stores will take used engine oil. Search for a local auto parts store and give them a call to see if they accept used motor oil.
• Curbside Recycling: Some townships have curbside recycling programs for hazardous materials like used motor oil. However, always check for specific packaging or labeling instructions to ensure your oil goes to the correct facility.
• Recycling Facility: If your township doesn’t offer curbside recycling of motor oil, they may offer it at a specific recycling facility in the area where you can drop it off.
• Oil Change Stations: Jiffy Lube and other oil change stations usually accept used motor oil. Again, simply call them to find out what the requirements are.

Place your oil in a container suitable for transportation. Polyethylene containers are the best, but other plastic containers may work just as well.

Ready To Go!

Wrapping up, we’ve navigated through the essentials of your Ram Promaster 2500 oil change, ensuring your van is always ready for the next big adventure. Remember, having the right tools, purchasing the correct oil and filter, and following our outlined steps are critical to a successful oil change.

We’re all about sharing experiences and tips in this community, so don’t be shy! Drop your thoughts, questions, or even your own oil-changing adventures in the comments section below. Whether you’re a seasoned vanlifer or just starting out, your insights can help fuel everyone’s spirit of adventure.

And with that, it’s time to hit the road once again. Keep exploring, keep adventuring, and never stop discovering new trails and tales with your trusty van and beloved travel companions. Safe travels, friends, and remember – every mile is a memory. Here’s to many more on the open road!

If you enjoyed this step-by-step guide, check out our vanlife blog for other guides and tips for your vanlife adventure!