2008 only - What do you think?

[jcarey]

Just wondering how the 2008's are doing?



Any the DPF problems resolved?



Other problems?

 

[hwebster]

2008 Performance

Well I have over 6,000 miles of light duty highway driving and "Touching Significant Quantities of Wood" no real issues. From a power and performance perspective I love it. Guts galore, hills don't existing and the VGT braking is too sweet.



Concerns (from an old 5. 9 guy)



Fuel Economy SUCK and diesel just hit $1. 15/liter ~ 4. 60 US Gal. and only getting ~15mpg US.



DPF my Insight shows the DPF filter creeping up to 23%. It has been regenning but I don't see the value dropping.



Seriously considering the BADP DPF delete, probably go with the 5" replacement from the turbo down. Since DC says I don't have a warranty anyhow it can't hurt!



Overall fit and feel - beats the pants off of my '93. The ride is smoother (Quad Cab Long Box helps I think)



4X4 has been worth it's weight in snow! Shifting to 4HI at speed is nice!!



Overall I am happy but worried...



Would like to know if I pull the DPF, CAT and EGR can I run other fuels if needed and can I switch to a better oil?



H

 

[DKupec]

I've got 8200 miles on mine and LOVE it. So far I have had no problems what so ever.



My milage is mostly highway with only one trip towing. Have had a few loads in the bed though.



I love the power but the fuel economy is a bit disappointing, I'm averaging around 14 hand calculated.



I too will be looking at the BADP PDF Delete kit once they get the bugs worked out of the Code Free kit.

 

[Simplysmn]

Have had mine sense Sept not one problem love the ride and feel and the ex brake is awesome pisses off the tailgaters my best mpg hand calc so far has been 18 and towing was 16 so its ok not great but I am sure it will get better with time so far just a hair over 13,000 miles on it and Lovin It

 

[hwebster]

Major Chuckling Happening!!

Ex Brake and Tail Gaters



Oh My... All they need to realize is that my taillights are getting RFBig RF Faster and no brake lights... Opps... :-laf Need to get my Hitch on tho!!



Had a 400 mile trip last night, Great road conditions except for the last 50 miles. . Black Ice and lots of other vehicles in the ditch!!! Love my Dodge, could burn some Chrysler suits tho!!

 

[jtwcummins]

Sold my 97 12v and got the 08 in Oct. LOVE IT!! Auto is great, good solid shifts and with 2 OD gears running 1800 RPM at 70. Trans shifts and overall performance is very close to the DTT in the 97. Love the quiet and just enough noise under accel to sound good. The Ex brake will make tailgaters eyes get real big, especially in Tow-Haul. First time I tried it I almost ate the windshield as it downshifted.



Find taking trips less tiring than in the 12v. Steering and brakes are much improved. The little bit of wander and the noise of the 12v was tiring on long trips. Been tracking fuel economy and on a trip to So. Cal averaged 18+ hand calc. Used cruise most of the time and maintained 70. My mileage locally is 14. 5 but I tend to have a heavier foot than when in the 97. Just to much fun to keep my foot out of it. Overhead so far has only been a couple of tenths off of calc fuel mileage.



When I drive for economy I get almost the same mileage as the 97, had 4. 10s in it, but just can't do it all the time. This truck is to much fun to drive so I don't drive easy very much. Both trucks were in the 17 MPG range in local, normal driving.



No codes yet. My main concern is the quality of fuel. I pay a little more to get fuel at stations that sell large quantities and make sure the pump is labeled ULSD, except in Calif since that's all they can have. As time goes by the transition to ULSD should have purged all the old fuels from stations.



As far as the smog crap, I think the learning curve is going to be steep and fast since most of the Engine control stratagies for good running emission engines have been developed over time for gassers. . Don't like it, but we have to live with emisson control. The EGR on my 97 came on at 140* ECT and stayed on except for WOT (until I took it off). Newer EGR systems constantly vary it depending on conditions engine is being used. Right now I have no plans to mod performance, but that will change as the warranty runs out if like other vehicles I have owned. There is no such thing as to much power!!



Love the new truck!!

 

[jcarey]

Sounds good.



Except for hwebster, it seems like the major concern for most 2008 owners is fuel economy and not the DPF.



Thanks.

 

[HBarlow]

Sold my 97 12v and got the 08 in Oct. LOVE IT!! Auto is great, good solid shifts and with 2 OD gears running 1800 RPM at 70. Trans shifts and overall performance is very close to the DTT in the 97. Love the quiet and just enough noise under accel to sound good. The Ex brake will make tailgaters eyes get real big, especially in Tow-Haul. First time I tried it I almost ate the windshield as it downshifted.



Find taking trips less tiring than in the 12v. Steering and brakes are much improved. The little bit of wander and the noise of the 12v was tiring on long trips. Been tracking fuel economy and on a trip to So. Cal averaged 18+ hand calc. Used cruise most of the time and maintained 70. My mileage locally is 14. 5 but I tend to have a heavier foot than when in the 97. Just to much fun to keep my foot out of it. Overhead so far has only been a couple of tenths off of calc fuel mileage.



When I drive for economy I get almost the same mileage as the 97, had 4. 10s in it, but just can't do it all the time. This truck is to much fun to drive so I don't drive easy very much. Both trucks were in the 17 MPG range in local, normal driving.



No codes yet. My main concern is the quality of fuel. I pay a little more to get fuel at stations that sell large quantities and make sure the pump is labeled ULSD, except in Calif since that's all they can have. As time goes by the transition to ULSD should have purged all the old fuels from stations.



As far as the smog crap, I think the learning curve is going to be steep and fast since most of the Engine control stratagies for good running emission engines have been developed over time for gassers. . Don't like it, but we have to live with emisson control. The EGR on my 97 came on at 140* ECT and stayed on except for WOT (until I took it off). Newer EGR systems constantly vary it depending on conditions engine is being used. Right now I have no plans to mod performance, but that will change as the warranty runs out if like other vehicles I have owned. There is no such thing as to much power!!



Love the new truck!!

Thanks for a good news post. I've been reading all the negative comments about the new 6. 7L trucks and wondering if I'm going to regret ordering one. I hope mine turns out to be troublefree as yours is.



Harvey

 

[WJB1]

Have 6000 on my 2008, 5000 of it towing. Broe it in hard and fast. Towing 32' 5th wheel,13000 lb. 11mpg at 60 to 75 mph.

Loved all my pet RAMS. This the best it answers to all requests. NO PROBLEMS



Bill

 

[LFalconer]

I have a 2007. 5 with 6. 7L and 6 speed auto. So far with 10K+ miles have had 2 P245A codes, then G30 recall late Oct. Since then - perfect. Fuel mileage is ~14. 5 mixed, 16. 8 ~17. 5 Hiway. My 97 12V with 5 speed can do 19. 5 hiway, and 16 town, so not to far different. My 97 has 3. 54 gears as well. Truck is quiet, which I like when I take longer trips - as one other poster noted.



My son has the 12v now - he loves the 12v sound and power [well once it comes back from a total rebuild], but at 18 - hey I loved my 74Camaro hot rodded with headers and CHerry Bombs too... .



I would buy an 08.



Luke

 

[hwebster]

Actually the DPF is tied back to fuel economy. I still don't trust the technology and if it takes more fuel to burn off the accumulated soot ( I know... Gotta get the EGT up!) I'm not certain that the trade off - less black smoke vs more fuel used (and the associated costs with refining, shipping and selling the incremental fuel.



While 15/16 isn't bad considering the truck, I think it could be better!!!



H

 

[Regcabguy]

Why no warranty?

Well I have over 6,000 miles of light duty highway driving and "Touching Significant Quantities of Wood" no real issues. From a power and performance perspective I love it. Guts galore, hills don't existing and the VGT braking is too sweet.



Concerns (from an old 5. 9 guy)



Fuel Economy SUCK and diesel just hit $1. 15/liter ~ 4. 60 US Gal. and only getting ~15mpg US.



DPF my Insight shows the DPF filter creeping up to 23%. It has been regenning but I don't see the value dropping.



Seriously considering the BADP DPF delete, probably go with the 5" replacement from the turbo down. Since DC says I don't have a warranty anyhow it can't hurt!



Overall fit and feel - beats the pants off of my '93. The ride is smoother (Quad Cab Long Box helps I think)



4X4 has been worth it's weight in snow! Shifting to 4HI at speed is nice!!



Overall I am happy but worried...



Would like to know if I pull the DPF, CAT and EGR can I run other fuels if needed and can I switch to a better oil?



H

Just curious as to why Dodge says no warranty? Did you import it?

 

[hwebster]

I did, bought the truck in Texas and came back to Canada with it! Chrysler and the other NA manufacturers seem to think that they can dictate where I spend my money. Class Action lawsuit is underway and we will see what happens!!



H

 

[HBarlow]

Interesting. Does Chrysler/Dodge offer any reasoning why a Canadian citizen cannot import a truck purchased in the US and still have a warranty?



I wonder if somehow that is not driven by your own government or by an association of Canadian dealers to force CN citizens to buy in CN.



Harvey

 

[hwebster]

Definitely NOT the Government, however, my view is the Manufacturers are using NAFTA to their advantage but are afraid of the consumer doing the same. Other manufacturers have adopted the same stance, but some have realized the risk. I've signed up for a class action suit against the manufacturers, since they are at the heart of the matter. The dealers are stuck between a rock and a hard place...



I might have coverage in the US but won't be certain until I head to Minot!



H

 

[HBarlow]

I know nothing about Canadian trade law so won't argue with you. You are probably correct.



However, I remain suspicious of the Canadian government's likely involvement in this issue just like I am suspicious of my own government when major trade issues smell bad.



It would be a very simple matter for the Canadian government to enact a law or to apply economic pressure to the auto manufacturers if they did not like the manufacturer's warranty policy.



Harvey

 

[hwebster]

Hard to say. I heard from a Border Services guy that one MP had forced them to block GM vehicles. They threated legal action and the issue went away. I'm inclined to beleive the manufacturers are involved, and racketerring is what I'd call it... Forcing me to pay inflated prices. I just talked to a guy who spent $53K on a Dodge Gasser... .

 

[sag2]

This no warranty policy has been going on for a few years now. Actually it was put in place to protect the border dealers livelyhood. With a difference in currency, the dealers in border states were seriously affected by customers going over the border to purchase a vehicle in the country that had the best exchange rate. You can not stop free trade, but you can decline to offer warranty coverage if the vehicle is taken into another country. You can't blame the border dealers for trying to protect the millions of dollars they have invested in their business.

California has denied access to Canadian vehicles for many years, not for economic reasons but for emissions. I'm not sure what the emissions laws are in Canada, but if a class action suit is won, all the US manufacturers have to do is not sell emissions certified vehicles in the states that meet canadian emissions laws.

 

[hwebster]

Thats extortion, denying access to warranty and forcing consumers to be OUTRAGEOUS price differentials. NAFTA has created a fully integrated North American industrial base. What they are protecting is the unwarranted profit margins generated under the current conditions.



If the manufacturers benefit from NAFTA why can't/aren't the consumers?



If the vehicle is manufactured for the NA market, the warranty should be honoured in NA... No options - you built it, warrant it!



I met a guy with a 1500, Laramie Hemi and he paid $55,000! Gouging? Understatement...



The reason the border dealer are suffering is the massive variance in pricing. For over 20+ years the currency gap was large enough to explain it. That flipped over last year and the real gap was revealed. .



It's not the dealers but the suits in Detroit and Windsor that need to do some 'splaining!

 

[wxman]

Regarding fuel economy, the good news is that, unlike Ford and GM, the Cummins 6. 7 Bluetec has achieved compliance with the 2010 HD emission regs. That means that the 6. 7 has met a very stringent NOx emission standard, in addition to the PM emission standard. The NAC (NOx Absorbance Catalyst) required to achieve the 2010 NOx emission standard also hurts fuel economy. NOx emissions still have to be addressed by Ford and GM by 2010.



The 2010 HD emission regs are the last regulatory hurdle for HD engines for the foreseeable future (any new emission requirements will have to be proposed by EPA and go through the regulatory process, which is very onerous).



Hopefully, Cummins will be able to concentrate on fuel economy since they don't have to worry about emissions now. Cummins has demonstrated a 50% brake thermal efficient (BTE) large truck engine (ISX) while meeting the 2010 emission regs - see http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/pdfs/deer_2006/session3/2006_deer_nelson.pdf . That's about 20% better peak efficiency than current diesel truck engines.