Hemi vs EcoDiesel - Who's Made The Switch

[Sly Dvl]

I currently have a '14 Quad Cab 4x4 with the Hemi and occasionally tow our 6000# TT 1000km (600m) + on some summer trips. The Hemi does well and the 1500 handles it comfortably with a properly configured WDH, but it's a pig on fuel and it screams pretty good on some of the uphill climbs but that the nature of a gas engine since peak torque is near the top of the rev range. We are planning on doing much more travelling in the coming year (retiring) and I'm looking into a RAM that tows a with a little less struggle and hopefully better fuel economy since our trips are now going to be in excess of 10K km.
How many of you have switched to a 5th gen RAM (3rd gen ED) and found it was a move that paid off for towing and fuel savings? I would likely get a '21 or '22 and do a Green Diesel tune to alleviate the EGR and DPF issues that seem to plague the ED and other diesel engines.

 

[diymirage]

I went the other way, I went from a studded deleted 6.0 superdookie to a baby hemi

I don't haul, I push though

 

[oledirteh]

My friend has the 22 and loves it. he tows a 20ft car trailer with 2 side by sides on it plus everything needed for the camper his wife tows. he has done some stuff to it and i think he averages 25-26mpg on larger tires and a higher aero mode.

 

[nlambert182]

My buddy went the other way. He sold his 2017 ED and bought a 21 Hemi to tow his travel trailer and he swears it's much better. The only thing he said the ED beat out the Hemi on was fuel mileage when empty. Aside from that he said he much prefers his Hemi. YMMV.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Ram Eco Diesel Worst Engine Ever

Eco Diesel her system problems. I have seen this issue about a dozen times. It is common.Here is the link https://bankspower.com/TRUKSTUFInsane diesel discou...

youtu.be

 

[ramffml]

I hate to say it but if you want a small diesel I'd look at the GM 3.0 duramax in the 1500. The only real "issue" I'm aware of, is that you'll need to drop the transmission at 200k miles to service the oil pump belt, which is not a cheap thing to do.

Otherwise if you're doing this more often/full time, you could also check out the 2500 with a cummins. The problem with this specific truck is low payload vs other 3/4 tons, but if you're not planning to pull to heavy now or in the future it would still be a much bigger truck with far more payload than an eco diesel. Some of the ED trucks are between 970 and 1100 so just be careful with that too, the cheaper trims will give you move payload.

 

[HuskerRam]

I went from a 2018 1500 with the Hemi (3.92) to a 2022 with the Ecodiesel (3.21). Both were identically equipped trims. I didn't tow much with either setup, but between the two, I thought the Hemi handled getting up to speed much better. The ED did ok on level terrain and the low-end torque is very nice, but I did prefer the Hemi overall for towing. Unloaded, the ED does fantastic and I didn't miss the gas engine at all. You have to be patient with the ED because it's not as quick as the Hemi off the line and untuned, the turbo lag is awful. A pedal controller helps, but a tune really makes it a different driving experience. I got the GDE tune a couple months ago and after a little break in period, I can't imagine driving this stock again. GDE doesn't make it a racing monster where you're keeping up with Hellcats and such, but it does prevent you from wanting to drive the truck off a cliff. The tune doesn't eliminate, or bypass your EGR, but it does reduce the amount of soot reentering the intake.

Pros (to me):
- I like the 5th gen more than the 4th gen (exterior and interior). Obviously this is subjective, but I like the interior layout and comfort more of the 5th gens.
- Can't beat the fuel economy. I went from 18 MPG average to 28 unloaded.

Cons:
- Increased maintenance costs. Have you seen the price of oil filters?! Mama Mopar thinks their stuff is gold plated or something. There are aftermarket filters you can get instead, but they're still $30+ each. Keep your fuel system happy with a high-quality fuel filter.
- Standard diesel concerns...don't use this for short trips only. Make sure to drive it to keep the emissions system happy.
- While the 3d Gen ED is improved over the 2d Gen (2014-2018), replacement engine costs exceed $20k for some magical reason. Compared to a replacement Hemi, it can be cost prohibitive to replace if a catastrophic event happens and your engine decides to leave the chat.

Just my two cents...

 

[HuskerRam]

Ram Eco Diesel Worst Engine Ever

Eco Diesel her system problems. I have seen this issue about a dozen times. It is common.Here is the link https://bankspower.com/TRUKSTUFInsane diesel discou...

youtu.be

This references the 2d Gen Ecodiesel and the OP is looking at 3d Gens...very different engines. 2d Gen EDs are hit and miss...some blow up under 100k miles, where others are well over 200k without major issues.

 

[tjfdesmo]

This references the 2d Gen Ecodiesel and the OP is looking at 3d Gens...very different engines. 2d Gen EDs are hit and miss...some blow up under 100k miles, where others are well over 200k without major issues.

I get the whole generation/revision thing, but the ED was a foul ball from the start, and remained so right 'til the end. When you inherit an aborted GM diesel design, this is what happens.

 

[nlambert182]

I hate to say it but if you want a small diesel I'd look at the GM 3.0 duramax in the 1500. The only real "issue" I'm aware of, is that you'll need to drop the transmission at 200k miles to service the oil pump belt, which is not a cheap thing to do.

Otherwise if you're doing this more often/full time, you could also check out the 2500 with a cummins. The problem with this specific truck is low payload vs other 3/4 tons, but if you're not planning to pull to heavy now or in the future it would still be a much bigger truck with far more payload than an eco diesel. Some of the ED trucks are between 970 and 1100 so just be careful with that too, the cheaper trims will give you move payload.

I don't have much experience with the 3.0 Duramax, but I have a co-worker who bought his wife a new Suburban with the 3.0L back in Aug/Sept. So far they've logged about 20k miles on it. It went into the shop at ~10k with a high pressure pump failure. Got that fixed and it is in the shop now for EGR issues (hasn't said specifically what's going on yet).

Maybe it's a fluke, but it didn't inspire much confidence (for me and him) in that platform.

 

[ramffml]

I don't have much experience with the 3.0 Duramax, but I have a co-worker who bought his wife a new Suburban with the 3.0L back in Aug/Sept. So far they've logged about 20k miles on it. It went into the shop at ~10k with a high pressure pump failure. Got that fixed and it is in the shop now for EGR issues (hasn't said specifically what's going on yet).

Maybe it's a fluke, but it didn't inspire much confidence (for me and him) in that platform.

You have to keep an eye on the forums, it along with the 2.7 is their best engine, by far.

 

[Sly Dvl]

I went from a 2018 1500 with the Hemi (3.92) to a 2022 with the Ecodiesel (3.21). Both were identically equipped trims. I didn't tow much with either setup, but between the two, I thought the Hemi handled getting up to speed much better. The ED did ok on level terrain and the low-end torque is very nice, but I did prefer the Hemi overall for towing. Unloaded, the ED does fantastic and I didn't miss the gas engine at all. You have to be patient with the ED because it's not as quick as the Hemi off the line and untuned, the turbo lag is awful. A pedal controller helps, but a tune really makes it a different driving experience. I got the GDE tune a couple months ago and after a little break in period, I can't imagine driving this stock again. GDE doesn't make it a racing monster where you're keeping up with Hellcats and such, but it does prevent you from wanting to drive the truck off a cliff. The tune doesn't eliminate, or bypass your EGR, but it does reduce the amount of soot reentering the intake.

Pros (to me):
- I like the 5th gen more than the 4th gen (exterior and interior). Obviously this is subjective, but I like the interior layout and comfort more of the 5th gens.
- Can't beat the fuel economy. I went from 18 MPG average to 28 unloaded.

Cons:
- Increased maintenance costs. Have you seen the price of oil filters?! Mama Mopar thinks their stuff is gold plated or something. There are aftermarket filters you can get instead, but they're still $30+ each. Keep your fuel system happy with a high-quality fuel filter.
- Standard diesel concerns...don't use this for short trips only. Make sure to drive it to keep the emissions system happy.
- While the 3d Gen ED is improved over the 2d Gen (2014-2018), replacement engine costs exceed $20k for some magical reason. Compared to a replacement Hemi, it can be cost prohibitive to replace if a catastrophic event happens and your engine decides to leave the chat.

Just my two cents...

This is the kind of feedback/input I was looking for.

Thanks Husker.

 

[Forsakentalon]

Have you considered a 2500 or 3500 with a larger gas engine?

"Modern diesel" is epa slang for expensive pain in the ****.

I always wanted a diesel for my own truck. Test drove some of them. After driving a modern diesel for work for 15 years, I cannot recommend a diesel to any one. Unless you are doing a job that genuinely needs a diesel. Such as towing a 15000# work trailer and backhoe. You know, where someone else is eating the associated costs!

 

[LouM]

My 2015 1500 had the eco diesel, at 98000 I traded it towards my current 2019 1500 with the 5.7 hemi. The hemi is more fun to drive and has a nicer exhaust note. I miss the torque of the little 3.0 eco diesel and the mileage and just generally nice driveability of the little diesel.
I got over wanting a high reving gas engine a long time ago, I'd prefer the eco-diesel over the hemi.

 

[ramffml]

I drove an ED recently... no offense to those that like them, but holy latency. Hit the pedal and I swear it mails the request in for extra power. Combination of tune and turbo lag.

I did not find the low end torque any better than my hemi either, but I wasn't towing. It always seemed to be at the same rpms as mine running around with a passenger or two.

I don't remember it being this bad when I drove it a number of years ago, no doubt the emissions scandal and cleanup caused this little diesel to get neutered somewhat.

 

[mikeru]

I went from an ecodiesel (2015) to a Hemi in late 2016 and never looked back. The fuel economy was great with the oil burner but I hated the driving experience. Not to mention the anxiety about all the engine failures that people were experiencing with them, and of course the whole EPA issue that was going on at the time. I lost my shirt trading it in for a 2017 Rebel but it was worth it to me at the time.

 

[Mando Mark]

My buddy went the other way. He sold his 2017 ED and bought a 21 Hemi to tow his travel trailer and he swears it's much better. The only thing he said the ED beat out the Hemi on was fuel mileage when empty. Aside from that he said he much prefers his Hemi. YMMV.

That was my experience as well. I had a 2016 ED 1500 with a trailer tow package. It became part of those trucks affected by the emissions lawsuit and the EGR carbon burning component cracked and lost coolant - initially cost me $2300 to fix. (I did get reimbursed for that as part of the lawsuit settlement.) Anyway, after they re-flashed the computer for the alleged emissions issue, it turned it into a gutless wonder. Turbo-lag was so severe, I didn't dare pull out into any kind of traffic with our RV. I got so frustrated, I traded it in for a 2019 Bighorn 1500 Classic with the 5.7L hemi and trailer-tow package. Highway mileage (empty) is about what the ED got after the 'flash' (~ 22mpg) and while it only gets about 10-11 mpg pulling the trailer (the ED was about 12 mpg after the flash) I have no complaints. I know Stellantis is on what - the 2nd or 3rd generation of the ED? Supposedly it's better, but with diesel in my area often $1 more per gallon than gasoline, and the higher initial cost to get the ED, I figure I'll be further ahead for many years to come. Had it 5+ years now with no issues.