How to Take Care of Your Hurricane Engine

The new 2025 Ram 1500 is ready to rock you like a Hurricane. The new 3.0L Hurricane engine is a well-tuned machine that can do with six cylinders what other engines need eight to accomplish, providing both incredible strength and helpful efficiency. But of course, like any engine, it can only do its job well in the long term if it's properly maintained.

That means bringing your truck to our Ram service center regularly for inspections and routine maintenance. If you're wondering how often you need to come in for service and why, you've come to the right place. So, let's take a look at what vital services need to be done when so that you can keep your Hurricane running smoothly for miles and miles to come.

Hurricane Engine 101

There are two different turbocharged "Hurricane" engines available on the 2025 Ram 1500, both of which are more powerful than the base 3.6L Pentastar V6 that comes standard on lower trims. The standard-output 3.0L Hurricane produces up to 420 hp and 469 lb-ft of torque, allowing a properly-equipped truck paired with this powertrain to tow up to 11,550 lbs (compared to the 8,110-lb towing capacity of the Pentastar V6).

Meanwhile, the 3.0L Hurricane High Output can tow up to 9,920 lbs, but it's not so much concerned with work as it is with play. That's because this engine is what comes standard on the rugged off-road RHO variant, which can tackle any terrain and help you get your adrenaline pumping with its 540 hp and 521 lb-ft of torque. A Hurricane engine can also be found under the hood of the latest Jeep Wagoneer, where it produces 420 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque, providing up to 10,000 lbs of towing capacity.

Monthly Check-In

Keeping an eye on your vehicle's health is the best way to catch small issues before they can snowball into large (and potentially expensive) problems. Like any other engine, the Hurricane can get damaged, and noticing damage early is always best. So once a month, or before you leave for a long drive, you should check the oil level to make sure that you're not burning through oil too quickly, which may happen if there's a leak or an issue with overheating.

The Hurricane engine doesn't have a traditional dipstick; you can check the oil level through your vehicle's digital instrument cluster. On a similar note, it's also a good idea to check the coolant fluid, which you can do manually by popping open the hood. (While you're there, make sure you have enough windshield wiper fluid.) During this monthly check, you should also make sure that your interior and exterior lights are all functioning; it's better to take a little time each month to check than to get pulled over by a cop for a busted taillight.

Oil Changes

Motor oil is the lifeblood of your Hurricane engine, and it needs to be changed regularly in order to do its job. Generally, you can count on your vehicle's oil change indicator to let you know when it's time to come in for service. However, even if you don't get a warning message, you should make sure that you don't go 6,000 miles or six months without getting an oil change if you have a Hurricane High Output, and do not go more than 10,000 miles or 12 months without an oil change if you have the standard-output version.

Coming in twice a year is good practice to keep your vehicle in good health. In addition to actually changing out the oil, we also use this visit to take care of other upkeep and inspect your vehicle to ensure everything is in good working order. Come for an oil change, and you'll also get a fresh oil filter, a tire rotation, and an inspection that covers your battery, brake system, engine cooling system, exhaust system, and specialty systems like the power side steps.

At the end of the inspection, we'll give you an easy-to-understand report that lets you know what parts and systems are good to go for the foreseeable future, which (if any) need to be addressed ASAP, and which are worth keeping an eye on.

Beyond the Oil

Not every element of routine maintenance needs to be done twice a year. There are plenty of systems that are longer-lasting and only need to be addressed yearly, every other year, or even less often than that. For instance, you should have your brake lines checked and your front suspension system inspected yearly if you have a Ram 1500 RHO, or do so every other year if you have the standard-output Hurricane under the hood. With either Hurricane engine, you should get your cabin air filter changed every 12,000 miles.

Every two years, you should get your front and rear axle fluid inspected and get it changed if you're frequently off-roading or towing a trailer. Every 30,000 miles or 2.5 years (whichever comes first), the RHO needs to have its transfer case drained and refilled. This fluid doesn't need to be changed nearly so often on models with the standard-output Hurricane (every 15 years or 150,000 miles), but it should be at least inspected every three years or 30,000 miles.

Then there are the truly long intervals, which you might not even get to if you like to upgrade to a new vehicle somewhat often. Spark plugs, for instance, need to be replaced every 60,000 miles. (There is no monthly interval for this one, as it's strictly done by the odometer.) Every decade or 100,000 miles, your engine's PCV valve should be inspected and replaced if necessary. (If you drive a Ram 1500 RHO, this should instead be done every 7.5 years or 90,000 miles.) And every ten years or 150,000 miles, you need to get your engine coolant flushed and replaced.

We'll Keep You Moving Like Clockwork

All of that might sound complicated, especially if you don't consider yourself a "car person." But don't worry-you don't have to keep track of all these intervals on your own! For one thing, any vehicle equipped with a Hurricane engine is new enough that it's sure to be equipped with advanced systems that will warn you when certain services are needed. But beyond that, you also have us on your side.

We want to help you keep your vehicle in great condition for years to come. As long as you come in regularly for your oil changes, we'll have you and your vehicle in our system and can keep track of what services you're due for. You'll notice that most intervals line up neatly with oil changes, so all you really need to remember is to swing by our service center twice a year. Our skilled technicians know what your vehicle needs and can catch any issues or parts that are wearing down ahead of schedule during your inspections so you can stay ahead of the game.

We make it easy to schedule service, so it's not a chore to come in regularly. You can make an appointment here on our website at a time that works for you, and you'll rest easy knowing that you'll have a smooth and stress-free experience once you get here. Stick with us, and you'll be able to keep your Hurricane running strong for a good, long while.