Those considering a GM truck

[nlambert182]

Yeah the 10R80 sucks compared to the ZF 8spd for sure, the F150 would have been perfect otherwise. I know Nissan discontinued the Titan, do they still make the Armada?

For now... yes. My wife and I were talking about it this evening though. No clue what's in store for it long term.

 

[Summit1]

"Issues"?

Those are problems, although we (as a society) have become condition to diminish problems as being just "issues", which is just corporate-speak to minimize liability.

 

[shedkept]

Nothing new is built to last.
I'll keep rolling my my 92 1st Gen. because it's stupid simple. While it won't run with the new big dogs, it will be around when they're having the 2nd or 3rd engine replaced.

I really like this guy:

Master Tech Discusses The Biggest Mistake RAM Made With The Cummins!

When it comes down to reliability, the Cummins is not at the top of the list... But Why???

www.youtube.com

FWIW, I've had 2 GMC's and 3 7.3's. GM is dead to me as is RAM until they get their heads removed from their "nether regions". No new FORDs and forget about Toyota. Always wanted a 150 with the 300 6 and manual transmission. My father in law had one that wouldn't quit until there was a point, as a farm truck, it was beyond redemption. Even then the engine and transmission hadn't given up! LOL

 

[jimonqa]

I've boycotted GM ever since they declined to repair a noisy clutch on my now wife's '82 Camaro while still under warranty. They told her it's supposed to sound that way. Within a couple years, the clutch failed and we paid an independent shop to repair. All quiet. That's when we declared our lifetime boycott. My Dad's new Buick, under warranty, had a transmission failure at 30,000 miles. I shared my opinion and he fixed/sold it and bought a Lexus.

 

[Dusty]

"Unless there's been a recent change to AFM, I doubt that's the problem."

The original AFM switched between 8 and 4 cylinder mode only.

The new, current system switches from 8 to 6, 8 to 4, 8 to 2.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 125964 miles.

 

[turkeybird56]

The original AFM switched between 8 and 4 cylinder mode only.

The new, current system switches from 8 to 6, 8 to 4, 8 to 2.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 125964 miles.

What a useless way to run an engine, especially in a 5,600-6000 lb truck. But alas, why I have a NA Hemi in the driveway, bad enuf with the MDS.,. Sure as heck not want some lil, over torqued 3.0L 6 cylinder with twin turbo's overworking, dang near in boost all the time, just to move mass.

ADDED: For all the 25 owners, I hope Dorman comes out with a replacement "metal" thermostat unit to replace all the plastic thermostat housings used on those new 6 cylinder engines.

CAVEAT: IF GM just dump all dat Vortec AFM/DFM junk and go back to straight NA Motors, they were workhorses till all the CAFE stuff ruined the motors.
Be nice STELLANTIS get rid of MDS and go back to straight 5.7's too. All this wishing, might as well put a tooth unda the pillow for the "Tooth Fairy".

All above a product of my Boird Brain and IMHO only.

 

[nlambert182]

I have generally always despised GM for various reasons... but there was never any doubt that a 350 and later on their LS engines were dang near tanks and were their bread and butter forever. I can't count how many folks would come into the part store to buy a starter for an old GM engine with well north of 300k on the clock, purring away like a kitten. Similarly the Fords too. The old 318s and 360s were solid aside from guzzling gas like an alcoholic in a dry county.

Seems like the old saying went from "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" to "If it ain't broke, fix it until it is".

 

[HEMIMANN]

GM AFM is why I went to Ram in the 1st place. It's an oil-pumper ~ 40,000 miles. Low tension rings and piston jets make it stick rings and pump oil. I went from essentially no oil consumption new (6k OCI) to 1 quart per 1,000 miles.

I ran engine cleaner through it and sold it @ 70k miles, bought Ram and never looked back.

Yeah, babying the Hemi for cam and lifters, but outside of this it's been great. And infinitely more comfortable on my old, broken bod.

 

[Docwagon1776]

The original AFM switched between 8 and 4 cylinder mode only.

The new, current system switches from 8 to 6, 8 to 4, 8 to 2.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 125964 miles.

When did that change take place?

 

[nlambert182]

2018 I believe

 

[Lsujker]

I've boycotted GM ever since they declined to repair a noisy clutch on my now wife's '82 Camaro while still under warranty. They told her it's supposed to sound that way. Within a couple years, the clutch failed and we paid an independent shop to repair. All quiet. That's when we declared our lifetime boycott. My Dad's new Buick, under warranty, had a transmission failure at 30,000 miles. I shared my opinion and he fixed/sold it and bought a Lexus.

Wait… was 42 years ago or now on a 42 year old car? Long time to hold a grudge for a clutch. Not sure they make them things anymore. Read about them in history books. Lol.

 

[Dusty]

When did that change take place?

2023, I believe.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 125981 miles.

 

[Dusty]

ADDED: For all the 25 owners, I hope Dorman comes out with a replacement "metal" thermostat unit to replace all the plastic thermostat housings used on those new 6 cylinder engines.

CAVEAT: IF GM just dump all dat Vortec AFM/DFM junk and go back to straight NA Motors, they were workhorses till all the CAFE stuff ruined the motors.
Be nice STELLANTIS get rid of MDS and go back to straight 5.7's too. All this wishing, might as well put a tooth unda the pillow for the "Tooth Fairy".

All above a product of my Boird Brain and IMHO only.

View attachment 559949

What a useless way to run an engine, especially in a 5,600-6000 lb truck. But alas, why I have a NA Hemi in the driveway, bad enuf with the MDS.,. Sure as heck not want some lil, over torqued 3.0L 6 cylinder with twin turbo's overworking, dang near in boost all the time, just to move mass.

ADDED: For all the 25 owners, I hope Dorman comes out with a replacement "metal" thermostat unit to replace all the plastic thermostat housings used on those new 6 cylinder engines.

CAVEAT: IF GM just dump all dat Vortec AFM/DFM junk and go back to straight NA Motors, they were workhorses till all the CAFE stuff ruined the motors.
Be nice STELLANTIS get rid of MDS and go back to straight 5.7's too. All this wishing, might as well put a tooth unda the pillow for the "Tooth Fairy".

All above a product of my Boird Brain and IMHO only.

View attachment 559949

I checked on the water pump issue with my tech., and he said they've only replaced one to date and they've sold eleven trucks so far.

I agree with all your criticisms regarding current V8 engines, but of course all the things that make modern engines more complicated and less reliable are the result of trying to improve CAFE to meet government regulations. When the EPA makes changes to fuel mileage targets, whether arbitrary or not, manufacturers have to conform. It's an unfortunate artifact of regulators needing something to regulate.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 125981 miles.

 

[turkeybird56]

I checked on the water pump issue with my tech., and he said they've only replaced one to date and they've sold eleven trucks so far.

I agree with all your criticisms regarding current V8 engines, but of course all the things that make modern engines more complicated and less reliable are the result of trying to improve CAFE to meet government regulations. When the EPA makes changes to fuel mileage targets, whether arbitrary or not, manufacturers have to conform. It's an unfortunate artifact of regulators needing something to regulate.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 125981 miles.

Not the water pump issues as much as thermostat housing made of plastic and giving up the ghost. Hope Dorman makes an aftermarket to replace the plastic housing with a metal one, kind of like the oil filter fiasco on the Pentastars'

 

[crash68]

See Inside a New Cadillac Escalade's 6.2L V8 Engine That Failed After 4 Miles

As GM struggles to manage a surge in 6.2L V8 failures, an engine shop in Utah pulled apart an example that failed after just four miles of driving.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Docwagon1776]

Unless there's been a recent change to AFM, I doubt that's the problem.

My *guess*, and it's just a guess, is bad QC either at assembly or of a parts supplier.

x

In this case, the consensus appears to be that the rod failed due to a poorly installed wrist pin—in other words, an assembly defect, and a serious one that was overlooked during quality checks

It's like I'm a GM truck psychic.

 

[HEMIMANN]

See Inside a New Cadillac Escalade's 6.2L V8 Engine That Failed After 4 Miles

As GM struggles to manage a surge in 6.2L V8 failures, an engine shop in Utah pulled apart an example that failed after just four miles of driving.

www.thedrive.com

Who knew experience matters?

Certainly not the executives at Cummins that threw us out and cut sales in half.

 

[stevenP]

I am seeing there is an issue with the gas engines and the 10 speed auto. Wonder if the allison, and duramax combo in their HDs is better for reliability?

 

[nlambert182]

More reliable than their AFM engines and those pesky Ford/GM co-designed transmissions? Absolutely. Without flaw? None of them are.

 

[Hardracer]

I've been truck shopping and reading up on brand problems and it seems now is not the time to change vehicles. All brands are having major issues. After my Honda Ridgeline debacle I bought a used 2020 Nissan Titan, which I have now driven 25,000 trouble free miles in two years. No auto start/stop or MDS. Enough tech to be useful but not intrusive and plenty capable to handle the towing chores I throw at it. Out of the 3 new brands driven, I preferred the RAM, but I'll wait until the software hiccups are sorted out.

Buddy here at work just bought a '24 titan in the beginning of December....takes it in for its 1st service last week....both valve covers leaking.