2020 Ram 3500 — Paint Color Codes & Touch‑Up Guide

Quick reference

Note: Ram (FCA) uses three-character paint sales codes (often starting with “P”). If your color isn’t shown or your truck has special-order/two‑tone paint, confirm the exact code from your VIN with a Ram dealer or a paint supplier before ordering.

Where to find your paint code

On the 2020 Ram 3500, the factory paint code is printed on the driver’s side door-jamb certification label (B‑pillar). Look for a white or silver “Vehicle Safety Certification” label with barcodes. The paint code typically appears as “PAINT: PW7,” “PNT: PXJ,” or simply a three-character code near other build data. Details:

• Primary location: Driver’s door opening, B‑pillar label (most common).
• Two-tone trucks: You may see both “Primary” and “Secondary” paint codes. Record both if ordering touch-up for lower accent colors.
• Other confirmations: Your Ram dealer can pull the build sheet by VIN, which lists the paint sales code; many paint suppliers can decode it from the VIN as well.

Tip: The code is what matters, not the marketing name. For example, “Diamond Black Crystal” maps to PXJ.

Best touch-up paint sources

• Dupli‑Color: Widely available pens, bottles, and aerosols for common Ram colors. Good for quick chip and scratch repairs.
• AutomotiveTouchup: Mix-to-code paints in bottles, pens, aerosols, and ready-to-spray quarts. Offers primers and clears tuned for blending.
• Tcoat custom‑mix: Specialty mixer that can custom match by code and provide larger quantities for panel refinishing.
• Ram dealer/Mopar: OEM-branded touch-up pens and small bottles for the most popular factory codes; convenient for small fixes when you want Mopar packaging.

Always provide the exact paint code (e.g., PW7, PAU). If the supplier asks for your VIN, that’s a good sign—they’ll verify the correct code and finish.

How to use touch-up paint

1. Prep and clean: Wash the area with car shampoo, then wipe with isopropyl alcohol to remove waxes and oils. Carefully de-burr any lifted edges with a plastic razor or fine abrasive.

2. Rust control: For chips to bare metal, apply a rust converter or etch primer as needed. Let dry fully.

3. Prime (if needed): Use a compatible primer for exposed metal or deep sand-throughs. Light, even coats—don’t flood the chip.

4. Basecoat color: Shake well. Apply thin coats with a fine brush or pen tip, allowing several minutes between passes. Build the color just shy of flush with the surrounding clear.

5. Clearcoat: After the base flashes, seal with clear. For pens, dot lightly; for aerosol, use light overlapping passes. Clear should bring the repair level flush with surrounding paint.

6. Level and polish: Once fully cured (often 24–48 hours), lightly wet-sand with 2000–3000 grit only if needed to level, then polish by hand to restore gloss.

Color matching tips for pearls and tri-coats

• Pearl and metallic orientation: Colors like PXJ (Diamond Black Crystal Pearl) and PAU (Granite Crystal Metallic) rely on flake/pearl orientation. Apply lighter, misty coats and keep the gun/pen angle consistent to avoid dark/light patches.
• Blend zones: For visible scratches on a panel edge, extend the color a bit past the repair and blend the clear into the adjacent area. This hides slight shade differences common with pearls and metallics.
• Tri-coat systems: If your white is a tri-coat (base + pearl mid-coat + clear), you’ll need both the base and mid-coat layers. Keep mid-coat passes even and count your coats—one extra pass can shift the hue. When in doubt, do a spray-out card first.
• Temperature and lighting: Match in daylight. Warm temperatures help solvents flash evenly, which affects metallic laydown and final tone.
• Practice first: Do a test on a card or scrap to check color and effect before touching the truck.

If any color here differs from what your label shows, trust the code on your truck and confirm by VIN. Ram used the three-letter sales codes above across the HD line in 2020, but special editions and late availability colors can vary.

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