Dodge Ramcharger Parts & Accessories

Why do they tell you that you should keep the gas tank at least half full most of the time, if not at all times? What could possibly go wrong if the Dodge Ramcharger is driven with gas below the half tank level or near the empty mark?

Driving a vehicle with near-empty gas or at low fuel level would allow moisture to form in the tank. Especially during winter, condensation can lead to freezing. The fuel lines could be clogged, and this would make it difficult to start the car and let the engine run smoothly. The fuel also acts some sort of coolant for the fuel pump motor. If the gas drops too low, air can easily get into the pump, and this can create some heat, which can lead to the premature failure of the pump. Dirt and rust that may occasionally be found in the tank can cause blockage to the fuel filter as the sediments collect. By driving with ample fuel or high levels of gas in the tank, these can be prevented. That's why they say that you should drive with a gas tank that's at least half full. It's ideal.

Something smells like a syrup, and I'm not sure what that means. Where could that sweet smell on my Dodge come from? Is this a sign of trouble?

The sweet syrup-y smell tells you that there's a coolant leak. Check underneath the vehicle—there could be a puddle of fluid there. The leak could be coming from a faulty component of the cooling system. Inspect the system for leaks. Start with the hoses that run through the coolant reservoir and radiator. The location of the puddle could give you a clue where the leak is probably coming from. Look for deposits and fluid stains around the radiator and other cooling system components. Be careful not to open the radiator cap when it's still hot. If you can't find the source of the leak, let a mechanic run some tests before your engine overheats and seizes up because of this.

What could be the ill effects of having a rich coolant mixture? I might have added a little bit more antifreeze than usual.

If there's too much antifreeze and not enough water, then the mixture would be thicker like some sort of a syrup. With this mixture, the flow rate will be adversely affected. The coolant won't be able to circulate around the engine as fast as it should, and this would reduce the cooling efficiency. Antifreeze doesn't absorb as much heat as water. So if there's more antifreeze to the mixture, then it wouldn't carry that much heat per cycle. Due to the over concentration of the antifreeze, the ability of the coolant to protect against boil over or freezing would be less. Refer to the recommended mixture from the manual or check the labels to get the needed cooling effect and other benefits from the mixture. If you messed up the ratio, you may have to flush the system and top it off with fresh coolant.

The Dodge Ramcharger was Chrysler’s first full-size sport-utility vehicle made to compete with the Chevrolet Blazer. During its development, Chrysler considered calling it Rhino. Ramchargers for the U.S. market were manufactured from 1974 to 1993 while those offered in Mexico started production in 1986 and lasted until 2001.

The first-generation Ramcharger rode on a short-wheelbase pickup truck chassis and was launched with a standard four wheel drive. It was basically a pickup truck with extended cab and a short bed, which could be covered by a cap or hard top especially designed for it. Initially, the Ramcharger only came with a standard front driver seat; all other seats were offered as an option.

An SE package was offered in 1975, offering carpet, deluxe bucket seats, cosmetic additions, and many other additional features. That same year, Dodge also offered a rear-wheel-drive Ramcharger with an independent coil spring front suspension.

Nothing much changed for the 1976 Ramcharger except for a re-engineered suspension to improve handling on- and off-road. For 1977, the Ramcharger got a new grille and rectangular parking lights. A year after, it got new bucket seats. And to welcome the new decade, the 1980 Ramcharger offered a part-time four-wheel-drive system.

For the 1981 model year, the non-removable top made the Ramcharger a modern SUV. Chrysler added a Royal SE package with more options and convenience features to meet the demands of buyers looking for an upscale SUV. In 1983, this Dodge SUV received more standard equipment including radial tires, maintenance-free battery, 35-gallon fuel tank, new front bumpers, as well as automatic locking hubs on all four-wheel-drive models.

In 1985, the four-wheel-drive system got an upgrade, allowing drivers to shift into four-wheel drive and back at speeds of up to 55 mph without a need to stop just to unlock the front hubs.

It was in 1988 when the Ramcharger D/W100 was introduced to be a value leader like the Ram 100 and Power Ram 100 pickups. It was also during this year when the 318 received fuel injection (one injector per throttle body) and the standard hydraulic lifters were replaced with a roller hydraulic lifter.

In 1989, the standard wheel became 15 inches and the engine got some updates. For 1990 model year, the Ramcharger continued to be sold in four trim levels—D100, D150, W100, and W150. The D models were rear wheel drive while the W models were 4x4; 100 stood for 318 or 5.2 engine while 150 was for the 360 or 5.9 power plant.

The last Ramchargers sold in the U.S. market got standard four-speed automatic tranny and the industry’s highest towing rating during that time—7,500 lbs. Among the standard features were full gauges, front stabilizer bar, power disc brakes, rear wheel antilock brakes, and dual exterior mirrors.