Used Ram 1500: which engine to choose?
For several years now, the Ram 1500 has been the second best-selling vehicle in Canada, just behind the Ford F-150. Like all good pickup trucks, it offers a wide choice of configurations, equipment levels and engines.
It's precisely this last point that we're going to focus on here. If you're in the market for a used Ram 1500, which engine should you choose? Note that this also applies to the Ram 1500 Classic, which is nothing more than the old-generation model that Ram has continued to produce in order to offer consumers a more affordable solution to the new generation launched for 2019.
Forget the supercharged 6.2-liter "Hellcat" V8 found in the Ram 1500 TRX introduced in 2021. This overpowered engine (702 hp) resides in an extremely niche and expensive product, both to buy and to pump.
If you're looking to keep your truck for 10 years, and reliability is one of your top purchasing criteria, consider gasoline V6s and V8s, which boast a far superior reliability record than Ram's famous EcoDiesel.
The first, with a cylinder displacement of 3.6 liters, is a proven and robust engine, having experienced no misfires to speak of since its arrival in 2011. It can tow up to 7,600 lbs, depending on the model year, and its fuel consumption is moderate. This is even truer with the eTorque technology (light hybridization) of recent models, which saves a few tenths of a liter per 100 km and provides a slight power boost, but at the cost of highly variable reliability.
The 5.7-liter HEMI V8, on the other hand, is highly efficient, but also considerably more thirsty for fuel - expect around 15 L/100 km on average. It can pull loads of up to just over 10,000 lbs, which can make all the difference for some drivers. And what can I say about its pleasant whirring sound? Don't forget, however, that you'll have to pay an annual registration tax with this engine, whose displacement exceeds 4 liters.
Like the V6, the HEMI V8 is available with eTorque technology in the case of the new-generation Ram 1500, so check it out on the truck you're shopping for.
The 3-liter EcoDiesel V6 was offered for a few years before disappearing, then returning and being discontinued again - this time for good. Its main advantages are, of course, solid torque of up to 480 lb-ft, which guarantees good acceleration and easier towing, as well as reduced fuel consumption - averaging around 10 L/100 km.
That said, you have to take into account the price of a liter of diesel and the higher maintenance costs, in particular urea injection for the anti-pollution system. That's why this engine only pays for itself with a high annual mileage. And, as mentioned above, its reliability also leaves something to be desired. Owners have been victims of breakdowns, which is never reassuring when buying a truck, let alone one for work. In addition, a recall has been issued because the high-pressure fuel pump can fail. In short, it's a big gamble.
Good thinking!
