New Ram owner. I crossed over. I may have made the wrong choice

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kurek

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What oil filter you use? Im thinking stick with mopar but would like a full synthetic one.. Possible mobil one ext perform 20 k protection

I've been doing nothing special in terms of oil or filter. Every 5-6000 miles I see what premium brand synthetic 5w20 is on sale at autozone (usually mobil 1 or castrol syntec) and usually those have an oil filter bundled into the advertised special - most of the time that's a Mobil, Bosch or STP filter.

I don't worry too much about the filter quality because I'm changing the oil around 6k miles, it never has a chance to get dirty. I also don't bother with high mileage oil or extended service oil because my engine doesn't leak or burn oil and I'm not choosing to do extended service intervals.

Well as you know everyone has their own unique rituals around oil and I think everyone takes it too seriously. The most important factors I think for any engine are to change it frequently (~6k miles, or annually if you don't drive much) and don't spend a ton of time idling. Everything else is just each of us practicing religious rites :)

Hey enjoy your truck man! Believe it or not I came into owning one of these with a bad attitude (got a legit lemon Jeep, FCA offered me a deal to get out of that and into the Ram.. ) and I expected it to be a POS but in six years it's been about flawless, it works hard and it's comfortable and nothing's gone wrong with it. Very few complaints and none that are a big deal.
 

Travelin Ram

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Just go over to the GM forums and read all the ranting about lifter failures in recent engines. Then you’ll feel better.

Anything you see on social media is designed to drive “engagement “. Most successfully done by stoking fears and reinforcing polarizing thought patterns.

This is a social media platform. Take it with a heavy dose of salt.
 

Treburkulosis

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Honestly IMO the new LS motors are junk. Anything past about 06. I was a Ford guy all of my life as well. Bought my Ram. Loved it, sold it to my dad who needed something dependable. He drove it with no issues for 3 years and I bought it back in January. No issues every with mine. My last Ford F150 a 04.5 with a 5.4 3v went 192k before I sold it and it was still running perfectly. I never had any issues with it that were common like cam phasers. I did have the transmission let go around 70k, but was replaced by Ford under warranty. I think honestly with most vehicles in general if you take care of them and put the proper fluids in them, they last. I am not saying that they wont have issues like the hemi tick or knocking like the LS motors do, but in general take care of it and it will take care of you.
 

turkeybird56

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IDK, got MY 19, bought in August 2018 when they first came out. I have regular oil changes done, have dealer put in 5W 20 full synthetic. The Mopar filters are decent. Truck tows once in a while, and that be a stock 2150LB plus hay equal 6000-7000 lbs. All good, truck pulls no issues. Maintain, drive and enjoy yer new ride.
 

2012RAM1500RT

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Just go over to the GM forums and read all the ranting about lifter failures in recent engines. Then you’ll feel better.

Anything you see on social media is designed to drive “engagement “. Most successfully done by stoking fears and reinforcing polarizing thought patterns.

This is a social media platform. Take it with a heavy dose of salt.
Amen! 90% complain, 10% brags when everything is ok!
 

kurek

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. I think honestly with most vehicles in general if you take care of them and put the proper fluids in them, they last.
Yep not a lot of truly bad design gets past R&D these days. I got 404k miles from an ****** with nothing but oil changes, a Montero I sold with 325k miles is still in service with its new owner at 365k - I just did lifters and valve seals at 290k and otherwise regular routine maintenance. My 94 Mustang has 242k miles and I'd drive it cross country today without a thought about whether it would make it.

No real secret here just do the maintenance in the book before the specified interval and when something starts to show a little wear fix it right away before it can get out of hand.
 

kurek

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Hehe the forum censored the name of a car.. little ford econo box from the 80s that starts with E and rhymes with sport and I guess the forum censor thinks it's a professional title
 

IDSandman

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OP, nah, you made the right choice. My best buddy bought a Chevy Trail Boss 2 years ago. Went to visit him when I bought my Ram Sport Night. Let him drive it when I got there, he said he made a mistake and should have listened and bought a Ram. Way nicer interior, stronger motor and tranny. Rides just as nice or nicer than the chevy.
 

Treburkulosis

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Yep not a lot of truly bad design gets past R&D these days. I got 404k miles from an ****** with nothing but oil changes, a Montero I sold with 325k miles is still in service with its new owner at 365k - I just did lifters and valve seals at 290k and otherwise regular routine maintenance. My 94 Mustang has 242k miles and I'd drive it cross country today without a thought about whether it would make it.

No real secret here just do the maintenance in the book before the specified interval and when something starts to show a little wear fix it right away before it can get out of hand.
You are correct. My 02 Silverado work truck 4.8 LS has 336k on it. Leaks nothing and still hauls heavy loads with no issues. My dad threw a used transmission at it about 100k miles ago, but minus the paint coming off and it starting to rust in those spots, its solid. We had a 95 5.8 F150 lose a oil pump it was driven 30 miles or so with little to no oil pressure. Threw a new pump in it and it was still running strong at over 300k when it was sold. Body was falling apart, but solid motor and transmission.
 

Truck Fun

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I think you will grow to like the 8.4 screen. My priority in getting it was for a better backup camera view; but I also am really liking it for the Sirius music channels and handing phone calls or texts. Any chance chance you might reconsider your thoughts on the heated seats & steering wheel if you have any cool mornings during the middle of winter? Enjoy your truck. You can read bad things about any brand on the respective forums.
 

JJPMustang

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My experience has been better with my Ram than all my GM trucks (86, 92, 98) but still pales in comparison to my experience with Toyotas.

Here in the Rust Belt I’m starting to see an alarming amount of 4th gen bubbling up over the rear wheel wells and bottoms of tailgates. I apply Fluid Film bi-annually and spray underneath with a pressure hose about once a year to keep the rust at bay. I wish my 2014 had the ZF it’s been proven quite reliable compared to the garbage RFEs!
 

Burla

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What oil filter you use? Im thinking stick with mopar but would like a full synthetic one.. Possible mobil one ext perform 20 k protection
oil filter thread

Absent hemi tick the main consideration for lubrication is filtration due to the fact api oil specs have brought oil formulations close together. Royal Purple 20-820, amsoil ea filters, wix xp, are all 100% synthetic, m1 isnt. If you get hemi tick or dry lifter tick, we solved that too, let's us know if you get it. Fram ultra is now in part paper, so it is not the same as when tested.
 

ramffml

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3.21 gears. My chevey was a long bed with 3;42 and 4 speed. towed no issues. Camper 6000 lbs if fully loaded but you cant fit all that crap in it. its about 4500 max. tounge weight not even 500 lbs

had to put that curt hitch on it. I have the factory brake controller coming in to install. was 500 bucks ouch.

I tow that weight all the time, no issues with the 3.21. People still think you need a super low rear end with 8 and 10 speeds but that's not the case. When I'm towing my trailer, my truck doesn't go past 2000 rpms in first gear. Pulling in second gear same thing, rarely does it wind up. Third and fourth are where I think "yeah now I can see I'm pulling something heavy" and it shifts north of 3000 that's mainly because I need the most power in third and fourth for accelerating on a freeway on ramp. Once I'm cruising on the freeway it will sit in 6th or 7th, between 1900 to 2300 rpms depending on speed and it will eat up the miles. You come to a hill, it will downshift, and it has 6 gears to downshift into so again, no need for the 3.92.

So your current 3.21 with the 8 speed will have a deeper first gear than your old 3.42 with a 4 speed, and it now has more gears in between (closer ratios). Don't freak out about the rear end, your truck will not have any more trouble towing the load than the same truck with a 3.92. You have a better transmission, and a more powerful motor than your old chevy as well. Happy travels!
 

Docwagon1776

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Honestly IMO the new LS motors are junk. Anything past about 06.

I guess that's why LS swaps are so seldom done. Oh, right.

The LS3 in particular is a fantastic motor. Excellent reliability, great power, and strong enough for ridiculous power on a stock bottom.
 

Treburkulosis

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I guess that's why LS swaps are so seldom done. Oh, right.

The LS3 in particular is a fantastic motor. Excellent reliability, great power, and strong enough for ridiculous power on a stock bottom.
Nope the LS swap is a awful choice. Why would you want a reliable motor that gets good mpg and heck your muscle car can be modernized and have a T56. That is not at all what I was saying. I love the LS motors. I’ve had my share of LS1 and LS vehicles. All I am saying is The later ones from my personal experience have had issues. Just like any brand they all have issues. My personal work truck is a 02 4.8 on the original motor with 336k leaks nothing and still has plenty of power. I was a Ford guy coming from a very Chevy family and I know both are excellent. Dodge was always my dad telling me about the Muscle car era and some of the Hemi cars and 440 cars he road in. I grew up building foxbodies and racing LS1 cars. So late 90s early 00s. I went out on a freak buy. Needed a truck that would fit 3 kiddos at the time. I wanted a Silverado, it was small. Test drove my ram and was sold. I went through a time when I built a Z28 and a short bed Silverado. I even have my dad really considering a LS swap for his 69 camaro build that will eventually be mine. We are a FCA family. We have my Ram, My Charger R/T and my wife’s Pacifica which is about to be a Grand Cherokee L. Wife previously had a 10 traverse, and then a 16 srx.
 
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lAWROSA

lAWROSA

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I tow that weight all the time, no issues with the 3.21. People still think you need a super low rear end with 8 and 10 speeds but that's not the case. When I'm towing my trailer, my truck doesn't go past 2000 rpms in first gear. Pulling in second gear same thing, rarely does it wind up. Third and fourth are where I think "yeah now I can see I'm pulling something heavy" and it shifts north of 3000 that's mainly because I need the most power in third and fourth for accelerating on a freeway on ramp. Once I'm cruising on the freeway it will sit in 6th or 7th, between 1900 to 2300 rpms depending on speed and it will eat up the miles. You come to a hill, it will downshift, and it has 6 gears to downshift into so again, no need for the 3.92.

So your current 3.21 with the 8 speed will have a deeper first gear than your old 3.42 with a 4 speed, and it now has more gears in between (closer ratios). Don't freak out about the rear end, your truck will not have any more trouble towing the load than the same truck with a 3.92. You have a better transmission, and a more powerful motor than your old chevy as well. Happy travels!
Oh I know what this truck will do. Im far from worried. 400 ponies verses what my 5.4 had. And that chevy 4 speed had to overcome a 47% deficit from 1st to second. I towed in 3rd with that truck. It served me well. Many trips to disney with the camper and up in the NC mountains. Ashville. I had a biggercamper too befor I got this smaller one. Old one was 7000 lbs bunkhouse.

So with all these ponies the ram has I am not worried.

Ill get the sumo springs for the rear. I had them on the chevy
brake controller is coming in. I got it from infotainment .com

These mirrors are out there. Not sure if I need the towing mirrors. We will see when I get the camper back. Its in repair shop now as a Iowa jack ass reared me at the georgia SC border going to disnet back in august.


**********

Question.

When you town with tow haul mode do you leave in MDS on? Im sure TH mode will not let it go into high gears.

Just wondering the reaction of the MDS.

Or drop it in 6 or 7 and run with it?
 
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lAWROSA

lAWROSA

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The camper, and the old long bed. and my old S10. Im no stranger to towing with a 3 speed. ( with an overdrive) LOLOLOL Oh and my old 88 ( Yes I rolled it). Only 3 trucks I ever owned. Now I have a ram... go figure. Im not that loyal to chevy... ha ha ha


Truck was a NJ truck. Rusted bolts under. Had a split drive shaft and the carrier support bolts were rusted. Needed new U joints soon as I could here them turning. I would of opened up a big $$$$ if I tried to replace U joints. Plus front pumpking was leaking a bit. developed a exhaust manifold leak. ( went away after warmed up,) Pluse had a sticky left side lifter. ( qurt or two of tranny fluid added to the oil 500 miles befor oil change ususally fixed the lifter issue for about 5-6 month. Plus it was rusting at the doors and corner cab.

I got 6k for it on trade in. Had 140K mikes.

im glad I got the ram. I have not driven it much but am slowly getting used to it
 

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ramffml

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Question.

When you town with tow haul mode do you leave in MDS on? Im sure TH mode will not let it go into high gears.

Just wondering the reaction of the MDS.

Or drop it in 6 or 7 and run with it?

When you use TH, the truck will not let MDS engage. Doesn't matter how little power you are using at the moment, even coasting down hill, MDS will stay off. The other way to prevent MDS from engaging is to use the +/- gear limiter buttons on your steering wheel. Press down once, it will hold your current gear. So if you're in (say) 6th and you press "-" then you get gears 1 to 6 only. But press the "+" twice at any time after that to bump the limiter up to 8th gear, and the truck will shift from 1-8 but prevent MDS in any gear and under any load.

So either of those two options can be used to keep MDS off. I've used the gear limiter in my truck since I bought it new. If it has slipped into MDS 50 times by accident over the life of my truck I'd be surprised. Can't stand it, first thing I do after getting into "Drive" is mash the two buttons, force of habit.

When I'm towing, I use TH and also limit it to 6th or 7th. Technically not needed to use gear limiter when towing with TH, but I like to use it anyway because there are times the truck will sometimes hunt too often between 6 and 7 and I will lock it out to 6th to stop the shifting. It's not bad at all to be honest, this transmission does a really good job of being exactly where it is needed for the most part.

And sometimes when I see a long hill coming up, I will use the "-" to drop from 6 to 5, build a little speed, and climb the hill at 2600+ rpms all the way without losing steam, whereas if the truck did it by itself it would first lose power before downshifting, and then maybe require 4th to get back up to speed. Can't blame the truck, it doesn't know the hill is up ahead, sometimes we just have to be a little smarter about it but overall the truck tows really well.
 

ramffml

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The camper, and the old long bed. and my old S10. Im no stranger to towing with a 3 speed. ( with an overdrive) LOLOLOL Oh and my old 88 ( Yes I rolled it). Only 3 trucks I ever owned. Now I have a ram... go figure. Im not that loyal to chevy... ha ha ha


Truck was a NJ truck. Rusted bolts under. Had a split drive shaft and the carrier support bolts were rusted. Needed new U joints soon as I could here them turning. I would of opened up a big $$$$ if I tried to replace U joints. Plus front pumpking was leaking a bit. developed a exhaust manifold leak. ( went away after warmed up,) Pluse had a sticky left side lifter. ( qurt or two of tranny fluid added to the oil 500 miles befor oil change ususally fixed the lifter issue for about 5-6 month. Plus it was rusting at the doors and corner cab.

I got 6k for it on trade in. Had 140K mikes.

im glad I got the ram. I have not driven it much but am slowly getting used to it

I like the Puma! Nice size for traveling and not too long to prevent camping in small/tight spots.

I used to be a Chevy guy too, still am (somewhat). Had a Jeep GC before my Ram and before that it was all GM cars. That 3800 v6 was legendary, solid motor and lots of power, generally if maintained the car would rot under it first. Needless to say I was worried about jumping brands to Jeep but it was a great SUV and cost me 85 bucks for a brake pedal sensor in non maintenance repairs over the years that I owned it. Interior was really well done, put my GM cars to shame and kind of opened my eyes to how stupid I was for being brand loyal.

Now I just buy where the deal is; what do I get for the little I pay, and Ram in 2019 came out on top by a huge margin. Next year, might be a tougher decision with the GM refresh and the new Tundra. Not going to lie, that new GM interior with a 3.0 straight six diesel has me very very interested. But nothing beats the ride and handling and value of Ram at this point, so, here I am! And really, I love my truck, I'm not looking to sell it anytime soon. I'm sure you'll love yours too :)
 
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