Transmission Question 8 speed vs 6

[brocklee370]

I’m new here looking to buy an Express Ram 1500 2014-16 5.7 with the 8 speed. Does the Express trim come with the 8 speed for those years? If so how can I tell? I’m looking at carmax and they don’t say which tranny it comes with. I’d prefer the express over the big horn because I’m not into the chrome bumpers. Do all trucks with the dial automatically have the 8 speed? Having a hard time getting straight facts. Thanks

 

[6.7CumminsDrvr]

Dial = 8 speed

Column shifter or center console shifter is the pseudo 6 speed.

 

[R.L.K.]

I wish I'd done what your doing when I bought my 14 Ram .
I like my 6speed and have had zero issues but knowing what i.know now I would've got an 8 speed with 3.92 differentials [emoji1360]

Overall better for towing and for running 35" tires ....

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[big daddys house]

I’m new here looking to buy an Express Ram 1500 2014-16 5.7 with the 8 speed. Does the Express trim come with the 8 speed for those years? If so how can I tell? I’m looking at carmax and they don’t say which tranny it comes with. I’d prefer the express over the big horn because I’m not into the chrome bumpers. Do all trucks with the dial automatically have the 8 speed? Having a hard time getting straight facts. Thanks

6.7Cumminsdriver is correct.
I have an Express with an 8 speed dial shifter.... And love it!

Sent from my LG-LS995 using Tapatalk

 

[brocklee370]

Thanks guys!

 

[Gary2]

I had a 14 with a 6sp and 355's compared to the 17 I have now, same style truck with 8sp and 392's their is no comparison on gas mileage or performance. The 4 before the 2014 all had or 4&5sp with 392s and 4.11s and they would blow the doors off of the 14 from a standing start and 2 had the 360 Magnum .

 

[R.L.K.]

Yep yep , unfortunately I have the 6 speed with 355 diffs ....not real impressed [emoji35]

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[kurek]

Buying used, there's really no reason not to get the 8 speed. The price is going to be the same and it's a better gearbox. New there was about a $1800 difference in price between the transmissions, all else equal.

Mechanically there is nothing wrong with the 6 speed, it's a durable and proven gearbox if you simply maintain it and the earlier problems the RFE's had (erratic "hiccup" shifts, the failing electrical connector on the outside) were entirely resolved by 2004. But in daily driving the 8 speed puts down more power and returns better fuel efficiency every day of the week.

As a matter of personal opinion if I picked up an 8 speed ram with more than ~60k miles on it I would definitely change the "lifetime" fluid in it. I know people have opinions all over the place on that topic - in the case of buying a used vehicle I find it prudent to always assume the very worst about that machine's prior life and perform catch-up maintenance accordingly.

 

[brocklee370]

Yea seems like the 8 is the best way to go for fuel efficiency and performance.

 

[brocklee370]

Buying used, there's really no reason not to get the 8 speed. The price is going to be the same and it's a better gearbox. New there was about a $1800 difference in price between the transmissions, all else equal.

Mechanically there is nothing wrong with the 6 speed, it's a durable and proven gearbox if you simply maintain it and the earlier problems the RFE's had (erratic "hiccup" shifts, the failing electrical connector on the outside) were entirely resolved by 2004. But in daily driving the 8 speed puts down more power and returns better fuel efficiency every day of the week.

As a matter of personal opinion if I picked up an 8 speed ram with more than ~60k miles on it I would definitely change the "lifetime" fluid in it. I know people have opinions all over the place on that topic - in the case of buying a used vehicle I find it prudent to always assume the very worst about that machine's prior life and perform catch-up maintenance accordingly.

Yea it’s weird my 370z has the 7 speed automatic with paddles and the service department says it’s “sealed for life” whatever that means. I have 85k miles on it too. But now I’m looking for something more practical in the northeast.

 

[JoeCo]

Thanks guys!

Not sure if you have this resource yet or not, but here's a link to the build sheet lookup (just remove the vin that is in the address bar and copy/paste in whatever vin you're looking at):

https://www.dodge.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=3C6JR7CT6DG548523

Don't take the dealer or websites word for anything options wise, look them up for yourself to be sure. Especially stuff like gears/differentials, almost all of them have no clue what's in there and will just say it has whatever you want it to have.

 

[Hemi395]

The 8 speed is a better transmission but have fun changing the fluid/filter when the time comes. $200 for the fluid, $100+ for the pan/filter and the fill procedure is ridiculous.

Other than that the 8 speed is great, even with 3.21s...

 

[popcenator]

The 8 speed is a better transmission but have fun changing the fluid/filter when the time comes. $200 for the fluid, $100+ for the pan/filter and the fill procedure is ridiculous.

Other than that the 8 speed is great, even with 3.21s...

100% worth it in my opinion. The 8 speed is just so much better than the RFEs. I do miss the console shifter though.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[kurek]

The 8 speed is a better transmission but have fun changing the fluid/filter when the time comes. $200 for the fluid, $100+ for the pan/filter and the fill procedure is ridiculous.
.

With the acknowledgement that this is a hotly debated topic (since RAM says lifetime..) - if you go with ZF's recommendation of 100k km/8 years - that's roughly every 62k miles - so you'll do it maybe 4 times in the life of the vehicle? I don't think that's too bad... considering how a lot of people "maintain" their cars, realistically it will probably be done once or twice and then the rest of the machine will be so beat and neglected that it will be retired without further regard for the transmission.

 

[popcenator]

With the acknowledgement that this is a hotly debated topic (since RAM says lifetime..) - if you go with ZF's recommendation of 100k km/8 years - that's roughly every 62k miles - so you'll do it maybe 4 times in the life of the vehicle? I don't think that's too bad... considering how a lot of people "maintain" their cars, realistically it will probably be done once or twice and then the rest of the machine will be so beat and neglected that it will be retired without further regard for the transmission.

Sad reality for some people. I will say, whoever buys my 2012 I traded in will get one hell of a maintained vehicle.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[brocklee370]

Not sure if you have this resource yet or not, but here's a link to the build sheet lookup (just remove the vin that is in the address bar and copy/paste in whatever vin you're looking at):

https://www.dodge.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=3C6JR7CT6DG548523

Don't take the dealer or websites word for anything options wise, look them up for yourself to be sure. Especially stuff like gears/differentials, almost all of them have no clue what's in there and will just say it has whatever you want it to have.

That’s a good idea I never thought of that

 

[JoeCo]

That’s a good idea I never thought of that

Definitely a good resource to have/use. Unfortunately, there are many stories on here of people who were mislead or lied to before purchasing, so better to be safe on a purchase of this level. Happy hunting.

 

[R.L.K.]

Not sure if you have this resource yet or not, but here's a link to the build sheet lookup (just remove the vin that is in the address bar and copy/paste in whatever vin you're looking at):

https://www.dodge.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=3C6JR7CT6DG548523

Don't take the dealer or websites word for anything options wise, look them up for yourself to be sure. Especially stuff like gears/differentials, almost all of them have no clue what's in there and will just say it has whatever you want it to have.

Very , VERY true !

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Lucy Girl]

Dial = 8 speed

Column shifter or center console shifter is the pseudo 6 speed.

That’s cool.

 

[tomb]

I love my center console 6sp shifter-feels old school!