V6 or V8?

Russ_M · Apr 3, 2023

I have had the 2017 RAM 1500 Big Horn with the 3.6L V6 for over two years now and have no complaints. I did replace the Oil Cooler that was leaking. It's a common issue with the V6. Other than that, for me the V6 has plenty of power. I do not tow, so it's not an issue. I would purchase another V6 if I ever need another truck in the future. Other RAM common issues to be aware of are the third brake lights that can leak and rear vents that can also leak. I replaced those parts before any issues could occur, since they are a cheap fix before anything happens.

Tracy in IL · Apr 3, 2023

I'm the same age as you. Today's V6 engines put out almost the twice horsepower of the V8's back in our early years. Driven both, V6 gets notably better MPG. Wish I'd got a V6 instead of my eco-diesel since towing plans have changed.

brad byron · Apr 3, 2023

indept said:
As stated the V6 should be good for your needs. The only issue they've had is the plastic oil filter housing. It tends to crack & leak. Others here in the forum have replaced it with a metal assembly. Other than that minor issue it's a great engine.

Dorman(p/n 926-876) makes the aluminum oil filter/oil cooler assembly. it is a fantastic upgrade if needed.

gnick · Apr 3, 2023

I recently got out of a 2011 Ram with the V8 and into a '22 with a V6. There are times I would like the 8cylinder for sure, but day to day I don't notice. What I love about the V6 is that I don't have to worry about the cam issue. My 2011 grenaded after being babied with 3k mile oil changes and without ever having the Hemi tick. I would always be stressed out on cold starts, when I had to let it idle (wife and the AC), and I would NEVER use the remote start to let it warm up in the winter. After years of losing sleep that the cam would fail, it finally did at only 90k miles. With the V6, you never have to worry about any of that nonsense.

the thing I miss the most is the sound of the V8, but i definitely don't miss the sound of the cam/lifter failure and the stress that went with it. Also, maintenance expenses are a lot less as the Hemi took a lot of oil and 16 spark plugs.

Dean2 · Apr 3, 2023

Tracy in IL said:
I'm the same age as you. Today's V6 engines put out almost the twice horsepower of the V8's back in our early years. Driven both, V6 gets notably better MPG. Wish I'd got a V6 instead of my eco-diesel since towing plans have changed.

Never tried the V6 in a pickup for long enough to know about comparative gas mileage but have tried them in the Grand Cherokee Summit, V6 vs V8, both 2020s. I found virtually no difference in gas mileage over 20,000 klms, same roads and driving conditions. The V8 actually got better mileage on the highway than the 6 did. Around town the 6 was a tad better. I can say however, the V8 is WAY more fun when you mash the go pedal. Still have the V8, 6 is gone.

PoMansRam · Apr 3, 2023

Tracy in IL said:
I'm the same age as you. Today's V6 engines put out almost the twice horsepower of the V8's back in our early years. Driven both, V6 gets notably better MPG. Wish I'd got a V6 instead of my eco-diesel since towing plans have changed.

That's true and I'm in the same age bracket.

Having owned both a 2017 Ram 1500, quad cab, 4x4 w/ pentastar and then a 2019 Ram 1500 classic crew cab, 4x4 with hemi, both with 3.21 gears, my average tank to tank fuel economy was very close.

The majority of my usage with both trucks was my 80 mile round trip work commute, which does allow for about the best average fuel economy you are going to get with any vehicle.

With my pentastar, I would average at best 21-22mpg tank to tank. With my hemi I got 20mpg tank to tank.

I currently own a 2022 Nissan Frontier crew cab, 4x4, with a 9spd AT, ~300hp V6 and 3.69 gears. I can't do better than ~21mpg with it tank/tank.

Atcer2018 · Apr 3, 2023

I have a 2018 BigHorn CC 4X4 with the V6. As all the others have said it’s a good power plant. Like you I have daughters and do a lot of moving stuff around for them as they are both in college. I don’t tow and haven’t in decades so I only needed my truck for hauling stuff and taking it camping and hiking. The V6 is pretty capable for what I need it for and when I purchased it used in 2019 no one wanted the V6 pre Covid. I got mine for cheap! Now I’m keeping it because I’m too cheap to buy something newer. Yes the Hemi may have cam/lifter issues and 16 spark plugs but the Pentastar has its issues too. Only six plugs but you have to pull the intake manifold to change them. If you aren’t a DIY person expect a substantial bill at the 100K maintenance when plugs, coolant, thermostat and realistically the oil cooler unit will need replacement. It makes sense to do all these things when you have the intake out and probably change the knock sensors too while it’s off. Other than the big 100k stuff not much else aside from fluid changes. The 8 speed transmission is well suited to the V6 and makes it feel robust for a low torque engine. If you’re not towing and can get the V6 for considerably less I’d highly recommend it.

Doug Ram · Apr 3, 2023

ramffml said:
...and Ram's quality isn't exactly best in class either. Yes the ZF is amazing, the rest of the truck... very much hit or miss.

Actually the Ram 1500 IS ranked best in quality in the full size 1500 or larger class. Members can see a chart at Consumer Reports, but to summarize for others the Ram 1500 has the highest road test score AND the highest quality ranking for all new full size trucks. https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/types/new/pickup-trucks/

Ram's 2500 and 3500 also share the 1500's ratings for reliability, but were not road tested.

What is disturbing is the FACT all other trucks in the full size segment are either below average or much below average for reliability.

BadHemi2014 · Apr 3, 2023

I had the 6 cyl in my Dakota. Different engine, but same idea. Never had any problem with it, motor was still going strong at 225K miles when the rfe tranny crapped out.
I have the hemi in my Ram, and it has been rebuilt due to lifter failure. I knew that was coming as it was an ex fleet truck with crazy high idle hours and a tick when I bought it. But I wanted the speed and power for fun and occasional quarter mile runs at the track.

For a reliable utilitarian truck, I would not hesitate to get the 6 cyl. I would test drive at least one of each and see how they feel.
In fact, when I bought my Dakota, I test drove another with the v8, and I actually preferred the v6, it was much peppier and more responsive.

ramffml · Apr 3, 2023

Doug Ram said:
Actually the Ram 1500 IS ranked best in quality in the full size 1500 or larger class. Members can see a chart at Consumer Reports, but to summarize for others the Ram 1500 has the highest road test score AND the highest quality ranking for all new full size trucks. https://www.consofumerreports.org/cars/types/new/pickup-trucks/

Ram's 2500 and 3500 also share the 1500's ratings for reliability, but were not road tested.

What is disturbing is the FACT all other trucks in the full size segment are either below average or much below average for reliability.

Those rankings don't look at the truck through the years, I believe they're "initial quality" type of rankings only. We all know these trucks have issues. What I've personally experienced on mine:
- leaking rear window
- clunking upon startup (doesn't clunk if you don't hold the brakes, but shouldn't clunk anyway)
- clunking when getting on the gas with a rolling start
- clunking when shifting from reverse to drive (these 3 clunks could all be the same issue, dunno)
- small creaks in the dash when going over bumps, noticable when its cold outside but hot sun heats the dash up much quicker than ambiant temp
- small creak right by my left ear in the headliner (could have started when they fixed my rear window and messed with the headliner)
- rear brakes moaning in reverse ("fixed" under warranty but still there slightly)
- front brakes creak and screech; attempted fix 3 times by dealer, does get fixed but comes back after 5 to 10k each time
- front center console lid latch has never worked right, latch sticks, probably never lubed correctly from factory
- door alignment issues; front right closes amazing, the others kind of bounce back a bit, back left door the bottom corner is clearly not "in" the door jamb as much as it should be

Things I haven't had happen yet but quite likely to happen based on statistics:
- busted manifolds
- leaking rear tail light, separate issue from leaking rear window
- hemi tick; hoping I don't get this due to my choice of oil, filter, and oci

Need I go on?

I do like my truck. That's not the point. However it is no shining beacon of quality that's for sure.

El Huapo · Apr 3, 2023

If you can get the V6 with the 3.55 gears, it will tow over 7,000# w/o any trouble. I speak from experience, towing a 5,000# AWD van on an open car trailer here in the hills, up and down. The 8-speed is the greatest and 305 hp is nothing to sneeze at unless you want to street race (?).

The V6 is all Aluminum and set back compared to the Iron V8 and I think it makes the truck handle quite well, being less front-end heavy. Here in the Foothills I drive lots of curvey mountain roads so that matters to me.

I never wonder if I'm going to get a "Hemi-Tick". But I doubt that I get very much if any, better gas mileage than the V8's.

Be aware that the V6 is an RPM-dependant engine, it's not a low-rev lugger, You must let it wind up for power, but it does so w/o any fuss. Going uphill from a stop I regularly see 4 to 5,000 rpm between shifts, but it's smoothly done, no problems. It will wind way past that if you give it lots of throttle.

This all just an honest opinion from an old guy that likes his truck smooth and quiet, not a heavy-pedal guy (anymore). Good hunting.

Gary2 · Apr 3, 2023

Eventually you will be getting rid of it so think about trade in value also, standard or optional engine . I personally prefer Hemi 8 speed 3.92s and RCSB Sport , it gets it ... Trade in value is 7K more than I paid 3 years ago .

indept · Apr 3, 2023

ramffml said:
Those rankings don't look at the truck through the years, I believe they're "initial quality" type of rankings only. We all know these trucks have issues. What I've personally experienced on mine:
- leaking rear window
- clunking upon startup (doesn't clunk if you don't hold the brakes, but shouldn't clunk anyway)
- clunking when getting on the gas with a rolling start
- clunking when shifting from reverse to drive (these 3 clunks could all be the same issue, dunno)
- small creaks in the dash when going over bumps, noticable when its cold outside but hot sun heats the dash up much quicker than ambiant temp
- small creak right by my left ear in the headliner (could have started when they fixed my rear window and messed with the headliner)
- rear brakes moaning in reverse ("fixed" under warranty but still there slightly)
- front brakes creak and screech; attempted fix 3 times by dealer, does get fixed but comes back after 5 to 10k each time
- front center console lid latch has never worked right, latch sticks, probably never lubed correctly from factory
- door alignment issues; front right closes amazing, the others kind of bounce back a bit, back left door the bottom corner is clearly not "in" the door jamb as much as it should be

Things I haven't had happen yet but quite likely to happen based on statistics:
- busted manifolds
- leaking rear tail light, separate issue from leaking rear window
- hemi tick; hoping I don't get this due to my choice of oil, filter, and oci

Need I go on?

I do like my truck. That's not the point. However it is no shining beacon of quality that's for sure.

Wow that's a lot. How many miles on it? My '17 is fine so far, just under 45000 miles and none of the issues you stated except a minor brake squeal when first starting out, usually after not being driven for a few days & the 1st couple brake applications wear the rust off the rotors then quiet.

Doug Ram · Apr 3, 2023

ramffml said:
Those rankings don't look at the truck through the years, I believe they're "initial quality" type of rankings only. We all know these trucks have issues......

Consumer Reports predicted reliability ratings for new vehicles are not just "initial quality" rankings for a particular year, make and model. Consumer Reports ratings are based on multiple years data and they do separate analysis for each new model when it is updated/redesigned. It's the most comprehensive large scale survey of automobile owners there is.

The major criticism that I have of Consumer Reports ratings is that the predictions often do NOT catch new model/major redesign year screw ups. The predictions are forward looking, but they use past owner problem reports (survey data) and manufacturer history for introducing new models. As a result they totally missed the major first year reliability issues in the latest Toyota Tundra, because they assumed that Toyota would continue its good record of having few first year redesign problems. Which was obviously wrong. However CR's survey data has caught up, and the Tundra's reliability rating is now less than average. I learned a lesson years ago. Never buy the first year new model or redesign. Never.

ramffml · Apr 3, 2023

indept said:
Wow that's a lot. How many miles on it? My '17 is fine so far, just under 45000 miles and none of the issues you stated except a minor brake squeal when first starting out, usually after not being driven for a few days & the 1st couple brake applications wear the rust off the rotors then quiet.

I have about 50K miles on it. All these issues were there either from the beginning or within the first 20K miles. I bought new (factory order).

Doug Ram said:
Consumer Reports predicted reliability ratings for new vehicles are not just "initial quality" rankings for a particular year, make and model. Consumer Reports ratings are based on multiple years data and they do separate analysis for each new model when it is updated/redesigned. It's the most comprehensive large scale survey of automobile owners there is.

The major criticism that I have of Consumer Reports ratings is that the predictions often do NOT catch new model/major redesign year screw ups. The predictions are forward looking, but they use past owner problem reports (survey data) and manufacturer history for introducing new models. As a result they totally missed the major first year reliability issues in the latest Toyota Tundra, because they assumed that Toyota would continue its good record of having few first year redesign problems. Which was obviously wrong. However CR's survey data has caught up, and the Tundra's reliability rating is now less than average. I learned a lesson years ago. Never buy the first year new model or redesign. Never.

Predicted reliability is still a useless metric when predicting the reliability of a completely new truck. Some of these issues can take a few years to show up. Bottom line, I don't look at any of them.

My truck is a 2019 but purchased at the end of the model year, so they had a good 10+ months of production before mine was built. And if you look at the forums (5th gen) you can see how pretty much all my issues are still there in new trucks today. The clunking, the brake moaning, the leaking window, the leaking brake light, the hemi tick, the broken manifolds - extremely common across the 5th gen years and the hemi specific issues, well, that goes back a decade and a half now.

Your point about Toyota Tundra basically proves my point.

I think we can agree that its usually much safer to buy at the end of a generation, but I'm active on a number of different truck forums and they all got their issues. That's why I still own my truck, because it's all a game of finances and probability, and all you do is trade one set of troubles for the next while losing money on the trade, taxes, and depreciation every time you do it.

FLFBSManiac · Apr 3, 2023

Well thanks to all of you I’m more open to either now. That 100k mile service is an eye opener but so be it.
I’m still bouncing around ‘14 thru ‘18
model years. I’m finding a lot of Express models but the radio and steering wheel controls are lacking in those. I did find a ‘14 Outdoorsman with about 75k on a Pentastar engine
with a nice options but it needs a new half shaft on the right front. Not sure what else it may need. Dealer wants $20k.

indept · Apr 3, 2023

ramffml said:
I have about 50K miles on it. All these issues were there either from the beginning or within the first 20K miles. I bought new (factory order).

Predicted reliability is still a useless metric when predicting the reliability of a completely new truck. Some of these issues can take a few years to show up. Bottom line, I don't look at any of them.

My truck is a 2019 but purchased at the end of the model year, so they had a good 10+ months of production before mine was built. And if you look at the forums (5th gen) you can see how pretty much all my issues are still there in new trucks today. The clunking, the brake moaning, the leaking window, the leaking brake light, the hemi tick, the broken manifolds - extremely common across the 5th gen years and the hemi specific issues, well, that goes back a decade and a half now.

Your point about Toyota Tundra basically proves my point.

I think we can agree that its usually much safer to buy at the end of a generation, but I'm active on a number of different truck forums and they all got their issues. That's why I still own my truck, because it's all a game of finances and probability, and all you do is trade one set of troubles for the next while losing money on the trade, taxes, and depreciation every time you do it.

So your Ram is a 5th gen or Classic?

ramffml · Apr 3, 2023

indept said:
So your Ram is a 5th gen or Classic?

5th gen.

Doug Ram · Apr 4, 2023

ramffml said:
I have about 50K miles on it. All these issues were there either from the beginning or within the first 20K miles. I bought new (factory order).

Predicted reliability is still a useless metric when predicting the reliability of a completely new truck. Some of these issues can take a few years to show up. Bottom line, I don't look at any of them.

My truck is a 2019 but purchased at the end of the model year, so they had a good 10+ months of production before mine was built. And if you look at the forums (5th gen) you can see how pretty much all my issues are still there in new trucks today. The clunking, the brake moaning, the leaking window, the leaking brake light, the hemi tick, the broken manifolds - extremely common across the 5th gen years and the hemi specific issues, well, that goes back a decade and a half now.

Your point about Toyota Tundra basically proves my point.

I think we can agree that its usually much safer to buy at the end of a generation, but I'm active on a number of different truck forums and they all got their issues. That's why I still own my truck, because it's all a game of finances and probability, and all you do is trade one set of troubles for the next while losing money on the trade, taxes, and depreciation every time you do it.

Yeah, I would agree that predicted reliability is usually useless for a new model. And no, 10 months is not enough time to correct most new model year issues because the corrections have to surface, parts and procedures redesigned, ordered and installed.

Over my lifetime I've had two new model year cars. A 1978 Ford Fairmont and a 2003 Toyota 4Runner. Both were lemons. The Fairmont was too heavy for its standard new, carburated 2.3 liter 4 cylinder engine and 3 speed automatic. On mine the engine had to be rebuilt with only about 40,000 miles (which Ford quickly did and paid for). When equipped with the older 6 cylinder it was a decent car.

The 4Runner was worse. It had a modified V-8 engine and brand new 5 speed electronic automatic transmission. Within only 25,000 miles the transmission and complete exhaust system, including the catalytic converter were dead. Toyota kept the car for weeks because they had trouble figuring what caused the problem. They put a rebuilt transmission in. Which failed within 500. Because they really did not know why it failed the first time. Turned out the problem was with the computer controlling the engine and transmission, but it took Toyota a full year, two transmissions and 3 catalytic converters to figure it out. All covered by the Toyota warranty, but what a PITA!

At least your Ram doesn't seem to have left you dead on the side of the road.

No, I will never buy the first year of a new or redesigned model again.

Doug Ram · Apr 4, 2023

If I were in the original owner's place, I think I'd buy the 3.6 liter V6. He's not towing anything heavy and the V6 engine is really reliable. I'd even consider the 1500 Classic to save some more cash.

V6 or V8?

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