Ram Hurricane engine chief engineer explains: Why Hemi 5.7L V8 was replaced

Ram Hurricane engine chief engineer explains: Why Hemi 5.7L V8 was replaced, stop changing oil every 3,000 miles​

Story by Tim Esterdahl


The replacement of the Hemi 5.7L V8 as Ram’s top engine remains one of the most controversial decisions in recent Ram truck history. Yet according to the Ram Hurricane engine chief engineer responsible for both the Hemi engine and the new Hurricane inline-six, the move wasn’t simply about emissions regulations.

In an interview, Stellantis Director of Propulsion Systems Alan Falowski explained why the company developed the 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six, how it was engineered to replace the Hemi and why many common concerns about turbocharged engines may be rooted in outdated thinking.

Why Ram Chose an Inline-Six Instead of Another V8​

Falowski said the Hurricane program began with a simple objective: create an engine that could outperform the Hemi in every meaningful category.

According to Falowski, engineers established three primary targets:

• More horsepower
• More torque
• Better fuel economy

After determining those goals, the engineering team concluded a turbocharged engine offered the best path forward. The next question became what engine configuration would deliver those results.

Rather than developing another V8, Stellantis chose a 3.0-liter inline-six because it could meet power targets while also offering inherent balance advantages.

“In an inline six they’re perfectly balanced,” Falowski explained. “They’re smooth, they feel great whether you’re idling or racing all the way to redline.”

He also noted the smoother operation fit well with luxury-oriented trucks like the Ram 1500 Tungsten, where refinement is increasingly important to buyers.

Stellantis Says Turbo Reliability Concerns Are Based on Old Technology​

One of the biggest criticisms of the Hurricane engine has been its twin turbochargers.

Falowski acknowledged many consumers still view turbocharged engines as less reliable than naturally aspirated engines, but said that perception largely comes from earlier turbo applications where manufacturers simply bolted turbos onto engines that were never designed for boost.

The Hurricane, he said, was engineered from the beginning as a turbocharged engine.

Engineers modeled cylinder pressures, temperatures, cooling requirements and material specifications before production began. The same durability and design principles used for decades in turbocharged diesel engines were applied to the Hurricane gasoline engine.

Extreme Durability Testing Includes Simulating a Race Track​

Falowski provided new details on how Stellantis validates Hurricane durability.

Rather than simply accumulating miles, engineers use damage accumulation models that simulate the stress customers place on engines throughout their ownership experience. The company then creates accelerated tests that generate the same amount of wear in significantly less time.

One example involves running the engine at sustained high output for hundreds of hours, far beyond what most owners would ever experience.

Stellantis also uses a specialized gimbal-mounted dynamometer capable of tilting the engine to simulate extreme cornering conditions while monitoring oil flow.

The goal is to ensure the engine never experiences oil starvation even under aggressive driving conditions.

How Stellantis Solved a Common Turbo Problem​

Another interesting detail involved turbocharger cooling.

Falowski said the Hurricane uses a dedicated low-temperature cooling circuit that not only cools compressed intake air but also continues cooling the turbochargers after the engine is shut off.

The system uses an electric water pump to continue circulating coolant after shutdown when necessary.

According to Falowski, this helps prevent oil coking inside the turbochargers, which was a common failure point on older turbocharged engines.

Hurricane Oil Requirements and 10,000-Mile Oil Changes​

Perhaps the most controversial topic involved oil.

Falowski confirmed the Hurricane Standard Output engine uses 0W-20 full synthetic oil, while the High Output version requires 0W-40 because of its higher boost pressures and bearing loads.

He also defended the engine’s 10,000-mile oil change interval.

According to Falowski, modern synthetic oils and additive packages are dramatically more advanced than oils available even a decade ago. The Hurricane’s oil life monitoring system continuously evaluates engine operation and can request earlier service if the vehicle experiences severe use.

He went even further near the end of the interview, calling the 10,000-mile recommendation a conservative number.

“The 10,000 miles that we recommend, it’s a very safe number,” Falowski said.

No Dipstick? Stellantis Thinks That’s Better​

Another surprising revelation involved engine oil monitoring.

While many truck buyers dislike the disappearance of traditional dipsticks, Falowski said newer Stellantis vehicles, like the 2025 Ram 1500 with the Hurricane engine, use oil level sensors that continuously monitor oil levels. If the oil level falls below a specified threshold, the system alerts the driver immediately.

His argument is straightforward: most owners never checked their oil anyway.

By continuously monitoring oil levels electronically, Stellantis believes the system actually offers better protection than relying on drivers to remember periodic checks.

Bottom Line from the Ram Hurricane Engine Chief Engineer​

Whether Ram fans like it or not, the Hurricane wasn’t developed simply because someone wanted to kill the Hemi.

According to the engineer who helped develop both engines, the Hurricane program focused on delivering more power, more torque, improved fuel economy and greater refinement while meeting increasingly stringent global requirements.

The bigger challenge may not be convincing customers the Hurricane is capable. It may be convincing lifelong V8 owners that modern turbocharged technology, longer oil change intervals and electronic monitoring systems have evolved far beyond what they remember from decades ago.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/aut...&cvid=6a298fc672ef4ed98c0ccbbe7b4b636b&ei=144

 

[Docwagon1776]

You forgot the one that drives the train......lol

Don't forget us, the dumbest of all engineers: Combat Engineers. Math optional, P=Plenty is the only formula you have to memorize...

 

[turkeybird56]

Don't forget us, the dumbest of all engineers: Combat Engineers. Math optional, P=Plenty is the only formula you have to memorize...

Ever do any time outta Hanau?

 

[EdGs]

Poor marketing by Falowski. He should have said the following and nothing else.

"Falowski said newer Stellantis vehicles, like the 2025 Ram 1500 with the Hurricane engine, use oil level sensors that continuously monitor oil levels. If the oil level falls below a specified threshold, the system alerts the driver immediately."

I thought I read somewhere, if you get the low oil warning, add 2 qts of x-x-x oil? Hopefully, the engineers had enough brains for the display to tell you this, instead of having to dig through the owners manual.

X-X-X is censored??? C'mon RF, we're adults here, this sucks.

Can't be good to allow an engine to go 2 qts. low, not to mention if it uses that much oil to begin with.

One more reason to: HARD PASS

 

[turkeybird56]

Flew over the Berlin Wall as a passenger to and from Berlin. We were told not to take a photo of it but I did anyway.

Never been to Templehof or Berlin. Even when the wall came down, my clearances and job not allow me to go.

 

[Gemeni06]

Never been to Templehof or Berlin. Even when the wall came down, my clearances and job not allow me to go.

I was serving with the Air Force Communications Service at the time on a mountain top in northern Italy. We were co-located with the US Army and provided the communications to tell the Army that World War III was on the way, arm the NIKE missiles and get ready to rock and roll. I needed to go to Wiesbaden to get specialized medical treatment. I only flew into Berlin because the medical flight was picking up other people at different European locations to take into Wiesbaden. Never got off the plane at Templehof.

 

[Gemeni06]

Ever do any time outta Hanau?

My wife had an uncle who served with RED HORSE in Vietnam and a great-granduncle who served with the Pioneer Infantry in WWI.

 

[turkeybird56]

Red Horse ole on the go Civil Engineers.

 

[Gary Fields]

I doubt this guy is an engineer- sounds more like a politician telling you how great he is and what you want. Adding two turbochargers and a gajillion sensors, pipe, wires, relays, and half million lines of computer code will not make this a more reliable engine. Ford has been trying to sell the idea of it's Eco-boost for years but we are supposed to believe that the European overlords from Italy have fixed all the problems? Selling the Hemi but only if you get the horribly unreliable hybrid system for a briefcase of hundred dollar bills is not a good option. I really like my hemi half ton truck, it's been reliable, works well, and is fun to drive. Unfortunately if Stellantis keeps trying to sell crap my next truck will probably be a Chevrolet with a V8 and no electric crap or turbo. Simply put the electric car idea has not been bought by the American truck buyer. Provide the product the consumer wants- don't try to tell him to buy an overcomplicated experimental Euro-weenie machine.

 

[Gemeni06]

I doubt this guy is an engineer- sounds more like a politician telling you how great he is and what you want. Adding two turbochargers and a gajillion sensors, pipe, wires, relays, and half million lines of computer code will not make this a more reliable engine. Ford has been trying to sell the idea of it's Eco-boost for years but we are supposed to believe that the European overlords from Italy have fixed all the problems? Selling the Hemi but only if you get the horribly unreliable hybrid system for a briefcase of hundred dollar bills is not a good option. I really like my hemi half ton truck, it's been reliable, works well, and is fun to drive. Unfortunately if Stellantis keeps trying to sell crap my next truck will probably be a Chevrolet with a V8 and no electric crap or turbo. Simply put the electric car idea has not been bought by the American truck buyer. Provide the product the consumer wants- don't try to tell him to buy an overcomplicated experimental Euro-weenie machine.

If you read this article carefully, you'll see the majority of this write-up is someone's interpretation of what Falowski said in his report. No one knows exactly what Falowski said in his report without reading the report itself.

 

[Gemeni06]

If you read this article carefully, you'll see the majority of this write-up is someone's interpretation of what Falowski said in his report. No one knows exactly what Falowski said in his report without reading the report itself.

Let me clarify this. No engineering report would ever say "Most owners never checked their oil anyway". It would say something along the lines of the following: "The (title and date of the report) showed that X percentage of owners don't check their oil and a regular basis."

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

I wonder if Mr Engineer was born with the ability to speak through his a**, or if it was an acquired skill? I wonder if said Engineer was several inches short his whole life, starting in several inches short on the wiring harnesses, what a nightmare.

 

[ramffml]

Come on guys... He designed (or was on the team that designed) both the hemi and the hurricane. I'm not a fan of the hurricane, and yes he absolutely does need to say the hurricane is "progress" if he wants to keep his job, but I don't think we need to cut him up either.

As an engineer myself (software engineer, but still) its never the engineers who get the final say on what happens. There are managers above you, bosses above them, C level guys on top, and finally greedy share holders on top of them who insist more profit this quarter than last; and they all play a far more important role than the engineer who is dictated to, to make something work within a set of requirements. They can push back, but it's not their call.

So I doubt this is Alan's "fault". I do think the hurricane is probably a really great engine in the right car, I just don't want it in my truck.

 

[Govtman]

The issue with small ci engines is you have to keep them up high in the rpm to get the power. Not all but most. The v8 & i6 or i8 engines make more low end . Which is why they generally last forever when maintained properly. Ford proved that more than 50yrs ago with the 300ci 6. And the dodge leaning tower of power 6. GM’s 265ci 6 and let’s not forget the jeep 6. Toyota did it with the i4 20r-22re.

Yep. I've dealt with the 300 I-6, 265 I-6 (65 Chevy PU) and the 22re in sons old 83 Toyota Hi-Lux. They were all stout as hell and abundant in torque. My 1st vehicle 71 F100 had a 302 Boss but I would have been good with the 300 I-6.

 

[Govtman]

Don't forget us, the dumbest of all engineers: Combat Engineers. Math optional, P=Plenty is the only formula you have to memorize...

Son's soon to be FiL was CE in the Marines for 14 yrs. Dealt with a lot of IEDs. He went 3 tours in Middle East. Luckily his retirement rolled into USPS which he retired from last year. He has talked to my son about his time more than he did his wife or kids. Maybe because son came from USMC stock. My dad was Crypto Tech in
Marines from '63-'67. I had too many broken bones/steel plates and they didn't take me. I was good in so was looking at NBC.

I was even offered a full ride scholarship to a college if I majored in Chemical Engineering. Didn't like that much.

 

[Docwagon1776]

If you read this article carefully, you'll see the majority of this write-up is someone's interpretation of what Falowski said in his report. No one knows exactly what Falowski said in his report without reading the report itself.

If you read it even more carefully you'll notice there's an embedded 38 minute video of the interview and everybody can watch it and know exactly what Falowski said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSheFdCs-lc if you want to go straight to it. He does say people never check their oil at around the 28 minute mark:

Let me clarify this. No engineering report would ever say "Most owners never checked their oil anyway". It would say something along the lines of the following: "The (title and date of the report) showed that X percentage of owners don't check their oil and a regular basis."

I doubt the engineering department is going any such report, maybe marketing teams, but the only way to gather that customer data is via self reporting surveys which are notoriously garbage in, garbage out in terms of reliability.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Come on guys... He designed (or was on the team that designed) both the hemi and the hurricane. I'm not a fan of the hurricane, and yes he absolutely does need to say the hurricane is "progress" if he wants to keep his job, but I don't think we need to cut him up either.

That's what happens when you decide to do media interviews. You've stopped being an engineer and started being a PR guy in the public discussion.

I don't care which department someone blowing smoke up my ass came from. There's no reason to not also have a dipstick other than cost, it's not mutually exclusive to have a sensor and a dipstick and there's a good reason to have both. Who wants to go through a multi-step process to verify oil level after an oil change vs just pull out a dipstick? The "it does a better job than us lazy humans" is just needlessly insulting.

 

[HEMIMANN]

That's what happens when you decide to do media interviews. You've stopped being an engineer and started being a PR guy in the public discussion.

I don't care which department someone blowing smoke up my ass came from. There's no reason to not also have a dipstick other than cost, it's not mutually exclusive to have a sensor and a dipstick and there's a good reason to have both. Who wants to go through a multi-step process to verify oil level after an oil change vs just pull out a dipstick? The "it does a better job than us lazy humans" is just needlessly insulting.

I found all engineering is a sales job in combination - I hated it too, but corporations are full of MBA's that won't leave us alone.

Which is why in retrospect, I would have preferred to be a Locomotive Driver. But today, they've cut them back to one per train, no copilot, no rear brakeman. And the MBA's are overworking and harassing them too with their just-in-time minimum cost operations. Pushing them to "standard time" schedules regardless of weather, track, or driver condition. Same as airline pilots. All workers are suffering today.

 

[ramffml]

That's what happens when you decide to do media interviews. You've stopped being an engineer and started being a PR guy in the public discussion.

I don't care which department someone blowing smoke up my ass came from. There's no reason to not also have a dipstick other than cost, it's not mutually exclusive to have a sensor and a dipstick and there's a good reason to have both. Who wants to go through a multi-step process to verify oil level after an oil change vs just pull out a dipstick? The "it does a better job than us lazy humans" is just needlessly insulting.

Yeah I'm sure you'd do a much better job, knowing your social skills on a forum where you can hide behind your anonymous username. You're about the prickliest guy I've seen on this forum.

You can appreciate the interview for what it is, reading between the lines... or you can choose to be insulted.

I do agree the lack of dipstick is a pretty big miss. But you don't know its his decision or not, and he's obviously carefully saying whatever he can say.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Yeah I'm sure you'd do a much better job, knowing your social skills on a forum where you can hide behind your anonymous username. You're about the prickliest guy I've seen on this forum.

You can appreciate the interview for what it is, reading between the lines... or you can choose to be insulted.

I do agree the lack of dipstick is a pretty big miss. But you don't know its his decision or not, and he's obviously carefully saying whatever he can say.

You read a whole lot into a reply. I'm not saying I'd do better, I'm saying when you enter the public realm the public will comment on you and what you said. He's not just an engineer now, he's a PR hack. Part of being a PR hack is not needlessly insulting your customers, I'm not personally insulted as much as pointing out how foolish that is to say.

I'm pretty self aware, and it's a running joke about how well I'd do in the PIO's office. I'm authorized to talk to the media, but I don't. I don't care to play a narrative vs just tell the truth as is, but if you're going to be a PR hack then you need to understand your organization's desired narrative. "Our customers are lazy" is probably not the one Stellantis is going for.

As far as being anonymous, that a pants on head silly thing to say. I've no idea where in Canada you are, and I'm guessing your birth name isn't ramffml so I guess you're hiding as well? I'm in Montreal and Ottawa July 5 - 14. I'd be happy to meet up and tell you that you say dumb **** in person as well and you can tell me what a ***** I am if that works for you. It's more fun over microbrew, and we can thumb wrestle. Leave your tape measure at home, though, that's weird and I heard you cheat by letting the other guy get in the pool first.

I think you confuse my drive to know and present the truth as being angry, and I'm fully aware my dry humor doesn't always hit in text format, but that's ok.

In person I'd tell you that you can white knight for him all you like but he's never going to **** you. Unfortunately that gets censored here, so the best I can do is:

Your post gave the same vibe:

 

[Docwagon1776]

I found all engineering is a sales job in combination - I hated it too, but corporations are full of MBA's that won't leave us alone.

Sure, and I'm sure there are a lot of people who's skills don't align with both aspects. Sales needs to be able to frame negative things in a positive light or tell people they suck at X without saying "you suck at X". Eggheads tend to not weave those social niceties in and also assume everyone else is an egghead as well.