New member, looking for tips to keep my truck lasting a long time.

[Crv123]

Hi there I just bought a blacked out 2013 Ram Sport 2 months ago. My last truck was a 97 Silverado with a 350. I de-blacked all the emblems and grill cause I like a little chrome, for mods it has afe cold air intake and a flow master outlaw muffler. From stock the 5.7 hemi puts out 395hp I think? Website specs say the afe supposedly adds 15hp which seems hard to believe but whatever, not sure what the muffler adds if it does at all. It has 140,000km and I'm getting about 16L/100km or 12MPG. Ever since I got the exhaust I've been a little more heavy on the throttle. I almost never go WOT, maybe twice a week. 98% of the time I drive like an old man, always fully stop when going from drive to reverse and vice versa. I read some stuff about downshifting in fourth can be rough and I'm not really sure how to tell when it's downshifting but I would like to prevent that. So there's a little summary of how I drive, I'd appreciate some tips on keeping it in great shape, weak spots to look out for and some ways I can get better mileage. I always wipe it, dry it and use a spray detailer every time I wash it. I wax it once a month using various waxes, just found a black wax yesterday that works really nice! I paid an arm and a leg for this beauty and it needs to last a long time! I will have many more questions but will post in threads accordingly so I'll stop here. Thanks in advance.

 

[Gamester]

12MPG? I get around 19MPG even with a supercharger...

Anyways, at that mileage I would take it in for a full look over and tune up first. As far as up keep, just like any other vehicle; drive it nice, wax it a few times a year, and make sure to keep everything maintenanced regularly and you should be fine.

 

[Paluby]

When you go to pass a vehicle if you wide open throttle pass that'll more than likely be that downshift that is a tranny killer.
I'm a fan of a catch can for the life of your vehicle. Just my 2cents.

 

[Gamester]

When you go to pass a vehicle if you wide open throttle pass that'll more than likely be that downshift that is a tranny killer.

I've always driven like that with all my vehicles, never had any transmission issues. As long as the transmission is functioning properly, full throttle at any time on street tires isn't going to hurt anything...

 

[Paluby]

I've always driven like that with all my vehicles, never had any transmission issues. As long as the transmission is functioning properly, full throttle at any time on street tires isn't going to hurt anything...

Do what you'd like but it's well known in the hemi community that the 6spd fails more often because of WOT downshifts involving 4th gear, even on stock trucks with stock tires.

 

[Paluby]

http://www.ramforum.com/f44/6_speed_reliability-91056/

Here's some current education on the 6spd transmission.

 

[Gamester]

Hmm, never heard of that issue; but I guess I mostly pay attention to 8-speed posts since that's what I have. Anyways, the 8-speed seems to operate smoothly in all situations from my testing so far, even with a supercharged engine.

Wonder if the OP has a 6 or 8 speed?...

 

[DavidN]

I'll second the oil catch can.
As soon as installed I would run a tank with some good fuel system cleaner like BG44K.
An undercoating and a cavity treatment like fluid film couldn't hurt to prevent rust.
And if you like, do a search on RMI-25 to treat the cooling system.

 

[nickpohlaandp]

...Wonder if the OP has a 6 or 8 speed?...

It's a '13, so it should be 6spd.

 

[Gamester]

It's a '13, so it should be 6spd.

8-speeds started in '13 trucks

 

[crash68]

8 speed transmissions have the shift knob

 

[nickpohlaandp]

8 speed transmissions have 8 speeds

 

[NoveskeFan]

Regular oil changes with good oil & filter and keep tabs on your fluids & such. I have a '13 Sport 4x4 with the 8-speed and 3.21 gears and avg 19-20 mpg.

 

[blackbeautyhemi]

It's a '13, so it should be 6spd.

Early 13's had the 6 speed and late 13's have the 8 speed.

 

[Wild one]

Hi there I just bought a blacked out 2013 Ram Sport 2 months ago. My last truck was a 97 Silverado with a 350. I de-blacked all the emblems and grill cause I like a little chrome, for mods it has afe cold air intake and a flow master outlaw muffler. From stock the 5.7 hemi puts out 395hp I think? Website specs say the afe supposedly adds 15hp which seems hard to believe but whatever, not sure what the muffler adds if it does at all. It has 140,000km and I'm getting about 16L/100km or 12MPG. Ever since I got the exhaust I've been a little more heavy on the throttle. I almost never go WOT, maybe twice a week. 98% of the time I drive like an old man, always fully stop when going from drive to reverse and vice versa. I read some stuff about downshifting in fourth can be rough and I'm not really sure how to tell when it's downshifting but I would like to prevent that. So there's a little summary of how I drive, I'd appreciate some tips on keeping it in great shape, weak spots to look out for and some ways I can get better mileage. I always wipe it, dry it and use a spray detailer every time I wash it. I wax it once a month using various waxes, just found a black wax yesterday that works really nice! I paid an arm and a leg for this beauty and it needs to last a long time! I will have many more questions but will post in threads accordingly so I'll stop here. Thanks in advance.

If it has 140,000 kilometers and you're talking litres per kilometer,i'm guessing you're in Canada. Where abouts are you CRV. I have a spare Moroso catch can if these guys talk you into one,lol. There's the odd Canuck on here,

 

[RamWagon]

If it has 140,000 kilometers and you're talking litres per kilometer,i'm guessing you're in Canada. Where abouts are you CRV. I have a spare Moroso catch can if these guys talk you into one,lol. There's the odd Canuck on here,

wherr are you located

 

[Ram Man]

Early 13's had the 6 speed and late 13's have the 8 speed.

It was an add on option. 6 speed was standard on my build sheet and I had the add on of an 8 speed. So it could be either one

 

[MANual_puller]

OP-if you're in an area that uses salt on the roads it is a MUST every fall to get the paint touched up. Doesn't matter if it's perfectly matched it'll be way better than rust. I do a 3 year cycle, 2 years I touch up myself with the "color match" crap off the shelf at my local carquest every 3rd year it goes to a body shop for a professional's touch. Most of the defects are along the bottom and rarely seen anyway so I'm not too upset if it doesn't match perfectly. Beats the heck out of iron oxide cab corner vents

 

[Gamester]

Hmm, wonder if we scared the OP off, lol...

 

[Tray Burge]

Hi there I just bought a blacked out 2013 Ram Sport 2 months ago. My last truck was a 97 Silverado with a 350. I de-blacked all the emblems and grill cause I like a little chrome, for mods it has afe cold air intake and a flow master outlaw muffler. From stock the 5.7 hemi puts out 395hp I think? Website specs say the afe supposedly adds 15hp which seems hard to believe but whatever, not sure what the muffler adds if it does at all. It has 140,000km and I'm getting about 16L/100km or 12MPG. Ever since I got the exhaust I've been a little more heavy on the throttle. I almost never go WOT, maybe twice a week. 98% of the time I drive like an old man, always fully stop when going from drive to reverse and vice versa. I read some stuff about downshifting in fourth can be rough and I'm not really sure how to tell when it's downshifting but I would like to prevent that. So there's a little summary of how I drive, I'd appreciate some tips on keeping it in great shape, weak spots to look out for and some ways I can get better mileage. I always wipe it, dry it and use a spray detailer every time I wash it. I wax it once a month using various waxes, just found a black wax yesterday that works really nice! I paid an arm and a leg for this beauty and it needs to last a long time! I will have many more questions but will post in threads accordingly so I'll stop here. Thanks in advance.

Take it from somebody that's had several (15 or so) new vehicles, rules to keep it new.
1. NEVER eat or drink in the vehicle, water is the exception. It will keep its new car smell for years. Keep it vacuumed. This is the hardest, people always think its okay to dine in your car and I've had major fights with the wife (especially on trips) over this, but stick to your guns. NO exceptions.
2. NEVER use spray or touchless washer, they will eventually mess something up.
3. ALWAYS use auto soap when washing, w/wo wax type is okay, always by hand, and from top to bottom. NEVER wash in the sun and only when the paint is cool (prevents spotting).
4. ALWAYS dry (squeegees are great for majority of water) with 100% cotton, anything else will put spider web scratches in the clear coat. Dry ALL door/trunk jams and engine compartment and wipe down engine.
5. Clay bar once a year and keep it waxed.
6. Keep all black trim detailed from beginning.
7. ONLY use detailing spray to dust off a "clean" vehicle, if its dirty, it'll scratch the paint.
8. California dusters are a great way to keep it dusted off.

I've kept cars as long as 14 years from buying new, and some still had a new car smell by adhering to these rules.
My truck is an '03, and it still looks new.
Good luck