New to Ram... thoughts..

[69GWC]

Octane question: If i were to use 87 in a Ram 1500 Hemi 5.7L... would it break my truck? Just give it worse gas milage?

No it will be fine the computer will adjust for the cheaper fuel/lower octane But it pulls the timing back so it does not have preignition which pulls power from the motor.
How much power I dont know probably not much as you cant feel the difference.

I run 89 in my 5.7 and if you do any towing I would recommend running 89 or better.

 

[Shawn226]

Octane question: If i were to use 87 in a Ram 1500 Hemi 5.7L... would it break my truck? Just give it worse gas milage?

I ran 87 in my hemi when I had one for 3 years with no problem. But i was also cheap AF because I filled that ***** up like 3 times a week usually

 

[af2018]

I'm using either 89 or 93 top tier gasoline.

The higher octane will help prevent knocking/pinging over the 87 octane.

Wow. 93! you sir must be rich.

 

[Schultzestrength]

93 at costco is 5-15 cents cheaper than 89 at local stations.

 

[Pull Ya]

I bought a Hemi full well knowing that the mileage was not going to be the best, or depending on how I drive, not anywhere close to the best. I bought it so when I get the urge I can step on the gas and feel and hear the power. I bought it because I knew, worst case, that if I got 10mpg I could afford it. I might not like it but I decided I'd take that chance. I'm not a 6 cylinder guy, I'm not a electric car guy, and I'm not a *** crap guy. I thought, if I don't have a truck, who in the hell in the family is going to help everyone move ****, no one else has a truck. I used to drag race and I guess I still have some of it in my blood. When I step on the gas, I want something to happen, and happen fast, I'll deal with the mileage problem tomorrow.
Jay

 

[jasonw]

For the first question regarding the V6...

I would go so far as to say the majority of half-ton truck buyers, across all brands, do not need a V8. Most half-ton truck buyers like the status symbol of owning a truck with a decent engine, or just like trucks with V8s, even though they don't need the ones with bigger engines. The V6 would be just fine. What it usually comes down to is those that are more practical with their wants/needs and those of us that love that little extra oomph. My father-in-law is looking at V6 Rams (2016-2017), so I've rode with him on a few test drives. It works, not bad at all, but I will never trade my Hemi for one.

Second question, octane...

As others stated, 87 will not hurt the engine. Just not the best power/MPG with it, especially if it gets laced with ethanol. Mine consistently gets one or two MPG less when I use the 10% ethanol stuff. I can frequently get better MPG on straight 87, vs 89/91 that has 10% ethanol.

 

[af2018]

For the first question regarding the V6...

I would go so far as to say the majority of half-ton truck buyers, across all brands, do not need a V8. Most half-ton truck buyers like the status symbol of owning a truck with a decent engine, or just like trucks with V8s, even though they don't need the ones with bigger engines. The V6 would be just fine. What it usually comes down to is those that are more practical with their wants/needs and those of us that love that little extra oomph. My father-in-law is looking at V6 Rams (2016-2017), so I've rode with him on a few test drives. It works, not bad at all, but I will never trade my Hemi for one.

Second question, octane...

As others stated, 87 will not hurt the engine. Just not the best power/MPG with it, especially if it gets laced with ethanol. Mine consistently gets one or two MPG less when I use the 10% ethanol stuff. I can frequently get better MPG on straight 87, vs 89/91 that has 10% ethanol.

Thanks. gas without ethanol here is VERY expensive in PA. ill have to run numbers and play around to find the best fit

 

[af2018]

Has anyone ever mixed octanes? half 87 / half 89? or is that just a no-no 'don't be a loser' thing to do?

..because, correct me if I'm wrong, but at a gas station, midrange gas is simply a mixture of the underground 87 and 93 octanes.

 

[69GWC]

Has anyone ever mixed octanes? half 87 / half 89? or is that just a no-no 'don't be a loser' thing to do?

It wont really matter. Pretty sure they get 89 from mixing 87 and 91.

 

[Schultzestrength]

FYI: most gas stations only have 2 storage tanks. One would be the regular and one the premium. They mix these to get the mid grade.

I said most! Not all.

 

[Shawn226]

Thanks. gas without ethanol here is VERY expensive in PA. ill have to run numbers and play around to find the best fit

Where in PA are you?

 

[mohemipar]

Right now I own two 6.4L Hemi’s (Ram & Charger) and the smiles per gallon is way worth it. If you can afford it then you can’t go wrong with a V8. Especially a Hemi. Recently the wife and I were driving in a four cyl sedan and even she says to me “wow this thing just doesn’t go anywhere”. Spoiled by a 392 Charger. Even the big Ram pulls like a pissed off son of a *****.

All the smack talked about Mopars being too heavy… well look how fast they are even with all the weight. Imagine a 3000 pound car with a 392 Hemi in it. Pretty much stock Scat Packs can run low 11's.

Having said that, there are some good V6’s out there today and the Pentastar is one of the best. It will do you plenty fine in and around town but when you want to stretch it’s legs it will run out of steam well before a V8. Passing on the highway is effortless with a Hemi.

 

[MADDOG]

87 will work better at higher altitudes for sure. You may find that the truck seems a bit lifeless with 87 octane fuel vs. using 89 octane fuel.

My 2007 5.7L powered MegaCan refused to run well on 87 and I got crappy mileage. With 89 the performance was OK but the mileage did improve some. Not enough to justify the additional expense but well worth it in driveability.

Once I started using 92 octane and a 91 octane tune, it ALL got better.

Oh, and I'm not going to by a V6 anything anymore. I6 or V8 is all I own at this point and I'm soooo good with that.

 

[Shawn226]

87 will work better at higher altitudes for sure. You may find that the truck seems a bit lifeless with 87 octane fuel vs. using 89 octane fuel.

My 2007 5.7L powered MegaCan refused to run well on 87 and I got crappy mileage. With 89 the performance was OK but the mileage did improve some. Not enough to justify the additional expense but well worth it in driveability.

Once I started using 92 octane and a 91 octane tune, it ALL got better.

Oh, and I'm not going to by a V6 anything anymore. I6 or V8 is all I own at this point and I'm soooo good with that.

next 6 cylinder I have will be an In-line 6 as well I hope. Although, I’m gonna try and see through this v6 diesel and make it work for me. Time will tell

 

[Clever]

I came from driving a Durango, a Jeep Commander, my previous truck and to my current truck, so i’m used to budgeting and paying more for gas. Maybe down the road I’ll get a V6 truck, way way way down the road. I don’t think I can give up my hemi anytime soon. We are currently in the market for another vehicle and it was up to me it would be a v8 something, but the wife get’s to pick this time.

 

[17Delmonico]

A V6 isn't always guaranteed to get better mpg than a V8. When I bought my 2000 Dakota, the V8 got slightly better mpg than the V6. The V6 was always revving higher, and trying harder to do the same work that the V8 could without breaking a sweat.
With the Ram, when you're worrying about 15mpg vs 17mpg in the V8 vs V6, I don't think fuel economy is really an issue...

I have no regrets buying V8s.

 

[gypsy400]

The V6 is fine for most people who 90% of the time have an empty bed and don't tow heavy.. I could be satisfied with the v6 with what I do..i went with the v8 in regards to resale value and it was $1000 cheaper to buy.. my one regret is not getting the 8 speed. My buddy has a V6, he is happy with it and the mileage is considerably less.

In regards to octane.. 87 is ok. I have an app on my phone to track mileage. I do get better mileage with 91 non-ethanol, but the cost per mile is not cheaper, no matter what grade I run I'm still paying about 22 cents per kilometer.

Sent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk

 

[Roberto Mercado]

I had a 2014 v6 for almost a year. Gas was great and everything but Then my dad bought a v8. Fell inlove with the v8, that 2 months later traded in mine for a V8. There’s a bit of difference on gas but not much honestly

 

[atom13]

I traded in a 2011 Honda pilot for my 2018 Ram sport with 5.7 Hemi. Pilot had a 3.5 ltr 260 horse engine. I got 11-12 around town, 15-16 on my work commute and 19-21 on long highway trips. The Hemi with the 8 speed tranny is getting the exact same mileage for me. Its still stock tho. The only cost difference i see is using 89 octane vs 87 and the fact its a 32 gallon tank! Fill ups hurt more with that, just alot less often

Thanks for confirming my suspension. I have always thought it to be surprising to hear posts about 17 mpg city or 19 mixed in the hemi. I understand ymmv. I have the pentastar and get 17.5 city and 20 on mixed with windy backroads. Comparisons like yours shows the real world loss or gain. I don't tow and I'm very happy with the power of the v6. It can still get up and go. I probably would not buy it if not for the 8 speed.

My wife drives a 16 odyssey same motor as your pilot but with less weight and long average is 16.5. I have a fiberglass cover with roughly 500-600 lbs of tools in the bed.

I drive it moderately more hard now that I have a pedal commander. Mileage didn't change. What I don't feel is the money falling out of my wallet when my foot gets heavy. Lol. I owned a Yukon denali prior. That 6.0 awd was a gas monster. I also owned a 5.7 tbi longbed when gas skyrocketed. It was terrible because it guzzled fast and trouted real slow. lol.

 

[tincup]

I use 87 in my 5.7 and it’s fine. I’ll get 89 if I’m going on a long trip or something for better mileage but usually it doesn’t justify the extra cost (for me). It won’t hurt the engine or anything.