5.7 or 6.4 2500 4x4?

[RWW]

What are the pros and cons of the 6.4 over the 5.7 in a new 2500 4x4? The 5.7 are cheaper currently, but I wonder why? I don't modify my truck, and I want the best possible fuel mileage since I would only be towing between 4-6,000 miles a year. This truck would be a daily driver though.

 

[Skrap]

I will give my $.02 worth but there are other with more experience and knowledge than I.

I just got my 2015 2500 Mega Cab. I had it built/ordered and and never even considered the 5.7. I don't have a lot of need to tow big and heavy and still went with the 6.4 Hemi. Several reasons for me going with the 6.4. I wanted the biggest engine with most stock HP/TQ I could get in the MC without going diesel. Second, my father has a 2012 MC with the 5.7 Hemi and while it gets up and goes nicely I can tell the difference in power. Third, when it comes time to sell or trade in my truck in 6-8 years it will have better resale value. I don't commute in y truck and the best MPG so far was an EVIC avg of 17.3 mpg on a round trip from Socal to Vegas and back. The last 70 miles home was a lot of down-hill and is where it got a good bump in MPGs. Otherwise the rest of the trip was about 16.4.

You said you will only tow 4K-6K per year. That seem like a lot of towing any way you slice it. How heavy is your trailer? It may be better for the longevity of your truck to pull that many miles with the 6.4 over the 5.7. Also, if you go with the 5.7 your GCVWR will only be 9000 lbs compared to the 10k with the 6.4. Maybe you don't need the extra capacities but in my opinion it's good to have and not need than.......you get it. Just my opinion, again, is if you only think you need the 5.7 then you may not need the 2500. You would save a fair amount of fuel with a 5.7 1500 with 8 speed and stock setup.

Personally, I drive my 2500 4x4 as an after work and weekend truck while I drive a stock 1500 4x2 5.7 SLT as a work truck. They is worlds of difference between the two so your choice should be a fun one.

 

[xrsman]

Yeah in a heavy truck like that..6.4 all the way. I'd imagine the 6.4 would get better mikeage too because it doesn't have to work as hard to get that heavy truck rolling! Lol

That's a decent amount of towing though..why not 6.7? You'll recoup the cost of it very easily when you sell the truck, plus it's a monster! Lol

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Informal]

My 5.7 is 4x4 and it moves around great...
I had a 4x4 2500 a few months ago as a rental.. and I couldn't believe what a gutless **** it was, not sure what gears it had, I just remember going up the hill near my house and thinking how it reminded me of a 4 banger Nissan I had decades ago lol.

 

[stoney]

What are the pros and cons of the 6.4 over the 5.7 in a new 2500 4x4? The 5.7 are cheaper currently, but I wonder why? I don't modify my truck, and I want the best possible fuel mileage since I would only be towing between 4-6,000 miles a year. This truck would be a daily driver though.

5.7
Cheaper (more cost effective) option
More aftermarket options available (if you decide your mind on modifications)

6.4
More power & torque
I am guessing that it must get better fuel mileage seeing as it has the MDS system
Greater towing capacity
Motor is tuned based on being used in a HD truck application


When I was shopping for my truck and I learned about the 6.4, I had zero interest in the 5.7 engine.

And make sure you go with the 4:10 gear option.

 

[theviking]

The 6.4 motor is built with a lot of HD components compared to the 5.7. Forged pistons and crank, sodium filled exhaust valves, piston cooling jets, etc. Cheap insurance for the extra money spent.

 

[cptwing]

2014 was the first year that Fiat put the 6.4L in the Fiat trucks. That said, and I have the 6.4, there have been several recalls on the engine for various issues the most recent being the oil filter adapter. Speaking of oil the motor requires 0w40 oil full synthetic from day one not cheap and everything I read says use anything else and Fiat will flush your warranty down the can (don't worry it wont clog your toilet its printed on Charmin anyway).

There have been more than a few issues of motors crapping out and having some type of low oil or metal clacking noise on cold / overnight startups which even Fiat admitted to and in some cases replaced the engines, lucky for those folks this happened during early warranty period.

As far as resale based on this motor that could go either way, and will depend on the reputation it achieves good or bad. For me with the 3500 dually I wanted the bigger motor, but not sure if it was a wise decision for anytime something new comes out the first few years can be riddled with problems, only time will tell I guess.

 

[drittal]

^^^ Bitter much^^^ sheesh.

 

[SouthTexan]

Wait for it.........

 

[bighorn2500]

Go 6.4 your your torque band is gonna be 1000 rpms lower than on the 5.7. I have the 6.4 and its strong for a gasser. The local tractor dealership has started using the 6.4 9n their service trucks the are satisfied so far and they are not easy on their trucks at all.

 

[cptwing]

^^^ Bitter much^^^ sheesh.

Not bitter just stating the facts, oh there have been a lot of early engine failures on the 6.4lL engines. Apparently some group of rocket scientist built a crap load of them with undersized wrist pins, which has led to many engines failing before thier first oil change. The good news about that is Fiat has in many of these cases sent replacement engines to the dealerships so the owners could have thier engines replaced by the best of incompetent techs who despite thier best intentions lack the skill set to perform the task. Anytime you do a transplant like that the vehicle will never be the same. And let's face it most Fiat dealers, service deptments and the techs that work at them are under skilled, undertrained, incompetent and when it comes to someone's else vehicle just don't give a ****. Fiat should in good faith buy back or replace all these affected trucks and crush them,

 

[stoney]

Not bitter just stating the facts, oh there have been a lot of early engine failures on the 6.4lL engines. Apparently some group of rocket scientist built a crap load of them with undersized wrist pins, which has led to many engines failing before thier first oil change. The good news about that is Fiat has in many of these cases sent replacement engines to the dealerships so the owners could have thier engines replaced by the best of incompetent techs who despite thier best intentions lack the skill set to perform the task. Anytime you do a transplant like that the vehicle will never be the same. And let's face it most Fiat dealers, service deptments and the techs that work at them are under skilled, undertrained, incompetent and when it comes to someone's else vehicle just don't give a ****. Fiat should in good faith buy back or replace all these affected trucks and crush them,

Some very valid points!!

 

[drittal]

Yeah, because when I talk about the Ram brand, I refer to them affectionately as Fiat... repeatedly.

The wrist pin recall affects trucks manufactured from June 16th to October 7th, 2014.

 

[SlightlyTweaked]

When i was shopping in 2014 for a truck I went with the 5.7 based on the reputation that the engine has. More than likely that engine will outlast everything else on the truck. The 5.7 in the 2500 does NOT have MDS, which for me was a good thing. I'm probabaly just paranoid but the thought of the computer disabling and enabling 1/2 the engine constantly made me leary. Also, the fact that the 6.4 was in its first year of production I didnt want to buy an engine that had no history or reputation. Didnt wanna have a Ford 6.0 issue. In hind sight I still though, a year later kick my self in the ass for not at least driving and considering the 6.4. Im happy with my truck, but live with the what ifs.