2025 Ram/Cummins: Sifting Through the Rumor Mill and the “Truck Show” Podcast

[TDRComm]

Hello TDR audience.

The editor-dude has been watching for credible information on the 2025 Ram Heavy Duty trucks.

Here is a link:



Sifting Through the Rumor Mill and the “Truck Show” Podcast

As we approach the new year we’ve all heard the speculation about Ram’s Heavy Duty powertrain. I’m confident there will be an 8-speed ZF transmission to replace the 68RFE and Aisin transmissions.

Also, as we approach the new year the internet is now abuzz with speculation about the engine.

So what is new?

The “Truck Show” podcast that is a part of the moparinsiders.com link will, no doubt, “fuel the fire.”

Enjoy speculating with your Turbo Diesel friends.

(PS: if you hit the podcast link you’ll want to join at the 18 minute mark to listen-in.)
(PPS: Some of the stuff on the internet is really hokey. Example: The “Truck Show” jingle that is played at the 16 minute mark. Come on guys, you’re better than the juvenile jingle.)

They proceed to interview “Mister X” for about 40 minutes. (I know, “Mister X” sounds really hokey. However, he seems to know his stuff!) Actually the interview is informative and seems very credible. You should listen-in!

HIGHLIGHTS​

• No difference in cab structure (still a 2010 design)
• Still 6.7L
• Faster DPF heat (cold start emissions)
• No grid heater, glow plugs instead cold start emissions and no intake restrictions)
• Cylinder Head is revised – External injectors easier to service
• Bosch high pressure fuel pump (not CP3 or CP4)
• Back to a cast iron block (NVH improvements)
• Power: 430/1075
• Power, playing it safe for future power
• Top loaded fuel filters(s)
• “Mister X” talks about the Ram/Cummins being the “enthusiast truck.” Hear, hear!
• Emissions are still a big topic
• Cummins is under the microscope
• Cautious product launch. Will this carry the “brand” (i.e. Ram/Cummins partnership) forward. There is always a concern that the mothership-Stellantis-could a diesel engine (didn’t we live through this before with Mercedes?)
• It is the same cabin.
• Is this a 4.75 Generation truck or do we call it a 5.0 Generation.
• Entirely new driveline: Too much change at one time?
• 7.2-liter coming for 2027 CARB and EPA emissions (four times mentioned)
• Additional displacement needed for lower cylinder pressures

 

[Chris Harrison]

I wonder what is making them decide to go with glo-plugs instead of a more reliable version of the grid heater? Guess we'll have to wait and see. I do like the idea of a top loaded fuel filter.

 

[Diesel85]

It will be interesting.

I'm on the edge of my seat.

Thanks for sharing this!

 

[Tuesdak]

Faster DPF heat (cold start emissions)

Run this by me again?! Doesn’t the catalyst need heat and DPF just a filter? Then to burn out the soot the DPF gets hot, but, not at cold start…

 

[Diesel85]

Run this by me again?! Doesn’t the catalyst need heat and DPF just a filter? Then to burn out the soot the DPF gets hot, but, not at cold start…

I also keep hearing about this truck using an electric heater DPF system. Versus dumping lots of fuel to heat the DPF up to do its active regeneration.

 

[Shekept]

This is an issue that is apparently being addressed:

https://www.cumminsforum.com/threads/new-6-7-cgi-block-issues.2597330/

 

[WRC-LVR]

Glow plugs would be ok. IMHO they need to severely upgrade the charging sytem and electrical system to reliably handle that and get to 10 sec warmup before cranking. But grid heater bolt failure is a real catastrophe. Not sure re the heater for the DPF..that would have to get very hot and would require a lot of amps, in order to heat the DPF up fast enough and will need massive ground straps on the exhaust. Sounds like a failure point to me.

 

[p-Bar]

The car manufacturers have talked about 24v systems for quite a few years , now is the time.

 

[Shekept]

Anciliaries are important but the mechanicals like the silly hydraulic roller lifters and main cap issues + transmissions are the meat and potatoes.

I've been shopping and it's a fact that the local dealer can't give the new ones away. When I see inspection stickers running from 6 to 10 months old it's apparent I'm not alone.
This dealer has had more than a fair share of cab-off repairs which were usually cam/lifter failures.

No pioneer for any car company.

 

[Signal73]

This is an issue that is apparently being addressed:

https://www.cumminsforum.com/threads/new-6-7-cgi-block-issues.2597330/

Seems like a load of bull. Creating hysteria so he gets more clicks on his video and gets paid more. Rotating assembiles are stout in the cgi.

 

[TDRGuy]

I'm in agreement with "Signal73."

Thank you.

RP

 

[Shekept]

That they are going to an iron block speaks volumes imho.

Cam/Roller lifters are still a real issue.

Transmissions? Hopefully the new ZF unit will fix that.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I am still waiting to be convinced that I should update my 2013 with iron block, solid lifters, and Aisin transmission.

 

[Diesel85]

I am still waiting to be convinced that I should update my 2013 with iron block, solid lifters, and Aisin transmission.

I bought my 2020 EcoD after waiting close to 3 years of intense reading of forums of issues.

I will be closely following all resources I can for the next year and a half before buying a 2025/2026 or finding a left over 2024. FWIW, as I type this folks can still buy a 2023 Cummins and EcoDiesels brand new as they sit on the lots. In fact, on another forum, there are currently 93 2023 brand new EcoDs still available for sale on dealers lots. I'm sure if I asked a dealer stock locator, I betcha folks can find plenty of 2023 Cummins still on lots brand new.

Folks that are blindly ordering these trucks using nothing but an incomplete/dodgy ordering guide for $90k+ have more kahunas than I do if I needed it for day-to-day business use.

I need to sit back and drive a new 2025 and compare it to the 2020 SO Cummins I drive for work before I sink my hard earned money on one and then be the guinea pig.

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

I guess this truck needs to last until 2028 to get the teething issues out of the way on the 7.2. Hopefully there's a new cab by then too.

Until then, I see no reason to upgrade. It took 18 years the last time for there to be enough improvement for me to finally upgrade over my 04. It is still more fun to drive, but the 22 out tows it, hands down.

 

[Tuesdak]

Glow plugs would be ok. IMHO they need to severely upgrade the charging sytem and electrical system to reliably handle that and get to 10 sec warmup before cranking. But grid heater bolt failure is a real catastrophe.

I have PTSD over "real catastrophe" glow plugs. Failures that require you to pull the head just the get a bad plug out. Debris from failed glow plug(s) that takes pistons and the turbo out. No. Glow plugs are Not OK. Only because they couldn't find any other way for another round of stricter glowing government report emissions they had to use them. The grid heater bolt is a DUH! bad design that needs a simple re-design/retro design updated part number fix and my understanding is it doesn't affect all model years.

 

[Topzide]

The grid heater issue has been "solved" by BD Diesel. I've installed their upgrade kit for piece of mind. Correct on meet the "standards" that Cummins is forced to meet! I'm in the camp of waiting for things to shake out, before getting a rework of the engine or trans. Just waiting and watching, not YouTube, that's just "click bait"!

 

[Shekept]

The "trukstuf" guy says he's seen more "inspection holes" in the CGI blocks than ANY iron block. Weight savings in a 7,000# truck? LOL

 

[Shekept]

Here is "Trukstuf's" take:

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Seems like a lot of band aid fixes, yet things like the lifters skipped. 2001 24V with 342K is sounding like a keeper, maybe indefinitely, haha.

The grid heater could be fixed with something like Banks or BD does, fixes the issue without going to glow plugs.