4 Year Ownership Report

[Revanoff2]

Mornin all,

Today marks the 4th anniversary of when I drove my 2016 Tradesman/Express Hemi QC 4x4 27J package off the showroom floor with 65 miles on it. It now has just over 62k miles on it. 5" RA3, factory trailer brake controller with 7 and 4 pin connectors; and the dealer was nice enough to toss in the RAM rubber floormats.

So far the only fault I have experienced is the fuel level sensor failure. I ordered the part from Allmoparparts and just haven't had a chance to pull the bed and replace it. I have gotten as high as 25 mpg on a Salem to Boise run (and back) and as little as 10mpg towing at close to the maximum towing capacity from Spokane to Salem. A solid 15,000 miles have been towing/hauling a not-insignificant amount of weight.

I run MotorKote in it every 4th oil change, which I perform at 7500 miles and have run Valvoline 5w-20 Full Synthetic in it since the first oil change. For more info on Motorkote, see the embedded video:


Every once in awhile a lifter will tick for a moment or two on startup after sitting for a few hours (say lunch time at work) but I have let it sit for more than 2 weeks at a time and haven't experienced a lifter tick from that period of sitting. Exhaust manifolds haven't snapped the bolts as yet. Transmission and Transfer case (44-45) have worked perfectly so far.

Upgrades I have made are: tri-folding tonneau cover, chrome tubular door to door side steps, manual rotating towing mirrors, Flowmaster Outlaw muffler, and most recently a Tesla 10.4" radio interface. Future modifications include: Powergo Shorty headers (so I don't snap manifold bolts), rear resonator delete and install 5" tips, steel front bumper with winch slot, addition of backup camera, rear seat fold-down mod, sliding rear window, front LED for off-roading, 4" lift/level kit, and some decent off-road wheels/tires. I also want to install the fancy EVIC, so if anyone has a decent one for a decent price, HMU lol.

I've been extremely pleased with the truck. It has worked hard and never failed me. The biggest issue I have with it isn't the truck itself, it's the stupid updates the Dealer has done on the ECU when they did the tailgate recall. I can't shift into gear with the door open, and I have to have my foot on the stupid brake to shift out of neutral if I accidentally shift to neutral instead of drive or reverse while slightly moving.

I'm looking forward to having this thing for a long time. I keep pretty strict maintenance on it as I have no intention of selling it on down the road. It's the first new rig I have ever purchased, and will likely be the last. Buying new rigs is expensive! lol

 

[Burla]

Just for your info in case you do not have it, your product has a lot of Chlorine in it, which is a risk for metal in long term use. Only Prolong has more Chlorine then Motorkote. It makes an engine sound very smooth, but there is risk there.

Chlorine as referenced in the following table.

Engine Treatment Product Chlorine, ppm (%)

Dura Lube Engine Treatment Booster 55,000 (5.5)

Motorkote Hyper Lubricant/Engine Treatment 272,000 (27.2)

Motorkote MK Million Mile Formula 207,000 (20.7)

Prolong Engine Treatment 304,000 (30.4)

 

[Villalobos]

Congrats!! Sounds like you’re having a good run. I’m interested in the Tesla radio. Love to hear your experience.

 

[Revanoff2]

It's been fun playing with it and figuring out the kinks. I've been working closely with @SitKneelBend to make it work as it should. We are very close and his support has been awesome.

There is a lengthy thread related to the tesla units you should read through. It'll take some time, I think it's almost 300 pages lol

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[GsRAM]

Glad it's been a good run for you. My experience has been similar, some quirks, but no real issues
It's been a great truck. My favorite to date. I'll be 4 yrs on 12/30/20

@Burla has done some very extensive research on oils for our hemis. More than anyone else I know of. I'd give some consideration to what he says, but your truck, your call.

 

[seabrook]

Just for your info in case you do not have it, your product has a lot of Chlorine in it, which is a risk for metal in long term use. Only Prolong has more Chlorine then Motorkote. It makes an engine sound very smooth, but there is risk there.

Chlorine as referenced in the following table.

Engine Treatment Product Chlorine, ppm (%)

Dura Lube Engine Treatment Booster 55,000 (5.5)

Motorkote Hyper Lubricant/Engine Treatment 272,000 (27.2)

Motorkote MK Million Mile Formula 207,000 (20.7)

Prolong Engine Treatment 304,000 (30.4)

So. Loooong time ago I worked for oxychem in a chlorine cell plant. They had a unit called chorowax that they added to industrial oils they said it would keep the oil from breaking down so this is probably the same stuff. I think it’s the same reaction you get on PCBs they just don’t break down that’s why they outlawed PCBs

 

[Murphy Slaw]

Glad to hear ya.

Mine is a 2016 as well. I've done all my oil changes except the first, and have used quality synthetics since. Just switched to Amsoil SS at 49,000.

Zero issues with mine. No ticks, no exhaust leaks, everything works like it should.

Mopar fan since way back.

 

[Dave2018]

If anyone is interested, boostedmotorsports did a video on the 5 things that go wrong with a 4th gen hemi over time.

 

[Richard Kim]

My 2016 (4 years old 1/2021) 2500 5.7 Megacab has 96,000 miles on it. Literally 0 issues other than the transmission solenoid pack recall. Most reliable vehicle I have owned to date. I have owned many vehicles over the years (15 or so?). I have put the most miles on this vehicle. I plan to drive it to 200K and then had the keys to my son and keep it in the family.

 

[seabrook]

Boosted did so many awesome videos!!!!!