Question about 5.7L Hemi MDS VVT engine

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rog007

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5.7 Hemi MDS VVT v 8
Im a looking at the new 2022 Ram Longhorn Limited, it has that V8 with the MDS VVT engine. I am used to the V6 Eco Boost in the F150, had some terrible times with the 10 speed transmissions in the F150 of late and looking to switch to the 8 speed V8 in the Ram . I was just curious if anyone has one of the new Ram trucks with that engine and any comments about it and or that 8 speed transmission.
 

ramffml

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My truck is as smooth as butter, and I don't have etorque which is supposed to be even smoother. I do notice MDS when it switches on/off, but many do not or may notice a very slight tug but don't even care. BUT: with MDS, you can disable it if you don't like how it works. My truck as 55,000 KM on it and 54,900 are with MDS disabled.

Every manufacturer puts out trucks that one or more people are very unhappy with. I love mine, but it doesn't mean you will get a problem free Ram if you switch, there are problem trucks everywhere.

But every truck also seems to have "that issue" which is more common to the truck. Your story is quite common with the F150, the Ram is very smooth (that ZF is awesome and used in some very exotic and high end European sports cars). The Ram will have other hotspots, notably hemi tick and manifold bolts snapping. My truck has neither of those to date, and thankfully the manifold issue can be easily solved with new bolts and/or running shorty headers, but you can't really fix a jerking truck. The GM twins have issues with failing lifters in the 5.3 and 6.2 right now so I'd avoid them.
 

pacofortacos

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8 speed trans is hands down the best transmission I have ever had.
No complaints on the hemi either.
 

Ram Night

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Go with the 5.7 engine and 8 speed trans. you will really like the power and the the way the trans shifts. I have been running the Hemi since they first came out and have never had any problems.
 

turkeybird56

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Happy with MY 19 RAM with 5.7L VVT (no E-torque). I would go no E-torque if U have the option and stated above: 8 speed smooth and there are just the known issues with the 5.7: Some times Hemi Tick and Manifold Bolts. Wateva U do, if U go with the 5.7, Good MX with Good Oil and Good filters a must and regular MX a plus also. All above IMHO...
 

HEMIMANN

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I love the Hemi, tick and all. I'm on my 2nd one, because I upgraded from half ton to 3/4 ton truck. I still have the Chrysler 6 speed, which I haven't had any trouble with.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. I left GM / Chevy after decades, as many members here have. Ford's been too inconsistent, per always. Ram has the best ride of the bunch, which becomes really important as you get older.

The exhaust manifold bolt breaking is annoying, but not disabling. The tick, on the other hand, can destroy the engine, so one needs to pay attention to top notch engine oil and filter. These have been proven mitigation strategies. See the Synthetic Oil thread. The limited data available in the Forum indicates around a 5-10% failure rate for Hemi engines.

My truck has exactly the right combination of power, comfort, and economy I want.
 

Dodge 1500 4X4

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I came from a 2018 F150 EB 10 speed nightmare, reason i got ride of it, bought my 2019 1500 Ram 5.7 non eTorque hemi 8 speed ZF the best combo i've had in a long time I highly recommend it, 2019 5th gen they redesigned the exhaust manifolds.
 
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ThunderMug95

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The 8spd is a beast. Just look at what versions of it power Ram/Dodge models. It is hands down a great trans. As for the 5.7…its pure naturally aspirated V8 power. If I had it to do all over again I wouldn’t change anything but trim level!
 

CanuckRam1313

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Just curious......how do you turn off the MDS??
Firstly, I've a 19' with the HEMI and 8spd ZF trans and love it (my first truck ever in 23 to 25 vehicles in my 33+ year driving career) - I'll never, ever go back a a car, it just won't happen!

The factory Uconnect radio is a known PITA, but who cares. It if becomes and issue you no longer wish to deal with, just toss in something like a Kenwood double-din with the CanBus interface and you're good to go, and still maintain all the factory touch-screen goodies, and then some.

The stock cast iron exhaust manifolds are a real choke point in these engines, and when yours crack and/or leak from broken bolts, toss in a set of shorty JBA headers, or go long tube headers. Either way, not a real big issue. You also then net real torque gains and better flow of your HEMI.

On your steering wheel you may have a couple of buttons that say -Gear and +Gear. When you're in drive, press the -Gear button once and you'll see the number 1 on your center cluster. Then repeatedly press the +Gear button until it goes to 8. If you press too many times, who cares, do it again and when in 8, head out.

This allow the transmission to shift up and down through all 8 gears as it sees fit to. All the while eliminating the MDS mode. 8-cylinders all the time is a happy HEMI and transmission!

Be aware though, every time you shift out of Drive, you'll have to do this, but it becomes second nature to do this sequence after a while. I've got almost 120,000Km's on my baby, and maybe a couple to few thousand KM's were using that awful system right after I bought her. Then I got educated, especially after feeling the effects of the MDS ruining my personal driving experiences.

As many have said, MDS does zero to benefit ones ownership experiences. And as I know many have attested to, it actually impedes performance and stresses the vehicle, per se. When in MDS one can experience a shudder like feeling as the transmission is shifting up and down. The kickdown, especially when on the highway also lags if in MDS when you go to step on it and let your HEMI open up.

And quite frankly, there is pretty much zero fuel economy gain whatsoever with it activated. It's fluff and BS, in my opinion.

The majority consensus is to keep it off, and pretend like it doesn't exist :)
 

Maryland_Man

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Simply a great truck, smooth shift, power when I need it. Luxury ride.
 

pacofortacos

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I don't know of any majority consensus to keep MDS off lol.

Mine is on and has been on probably 90% of the miles driven.
It can increase mpg significantly under the right driving conditions - it's just most people don't drive in the perfect conditions. I get an 6-10 mpg boost when in the florida keys - flat, pretty wind protected, 45-55 mph speeds in 4 cyl. mode most of the time.

It's generally most annoying with an aftermarket louder exhaust.
 

Coosawjack

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Thanks Guys!!

It seems just selecting TOW feature keeps it off.......will check today!!
 

coobie

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Happy with MY 19 RAM with 5.7L VVT (no E-torque). I would go no E-torque if U have the option and stated above: 8 speed smooth and there are just the known issues with the 5.7: Some times Hemi Tick and Manifold Bolts. Wateva U do, if U go with the 5.7, Good MX with Good Oil and Good filters a must and regular MX a plus also. All above IMHO...
Curious what is good MX ??
 

ThunderMug95

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Thanks Guys!!

It seems just selecting TOW feature keeps it off.......will check today!!
It actually does not…And if you have an “ECO” light on the EVIC it does not mean iMDS is engaged either, its coincidental.
The only way with out tuning is to run the selector up to 8. Lived with it since 2018 until last month.
 

Jerrybob

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I love my truck.....best riding truck I've ever owned. Love the 5.7 power.....love the trans.....love the tow package.......I just drive the darn truck.....I don't turn off anything.....just run it as designed......also love the mileage........even when towing our small TT. Great truck....and real purdy.
 

turkeybird56

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Curious what is good MX ??
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, filters, Good Oil Filters, Good Quality Oil (I do synthetic on both), timely oil changes, U know the regular stuff PPL should know to do, instead of waiting for the idiot light or the oil message "change oil soon" type of stuff. All IMHO.
 

coobie

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Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, filters, Good Oil Filters, Good Quality Oil (I do synthetic on both), timely oil changes, U know the regular stuff PPL should know to do, instead of waiting for the idiot light or the oil message "change oil soon" type of stuff. All IMHO.
Got it you are talking good on time maintenance ..:)
 

pacofortacos

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It actually does not…And if you have an “ECO” light on the EVIC it does not mean iMDS is engaged either, its coincidental.
The only way with out tuning is to run the selector up to 8. Lived with it since 2018 until last month.
Tow doesn't turn it off on most gen4, but different years do different things.
It might actually turn it off on an 08.

If he can turn if off putting his selector in 8, he will be one happy camper ;)
 
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