Are the V6 3.7L any good?

[HerbW]

Hi. I’m still thinking of trading my Ecodiesel for a 6.7L or a 3.7L gasser.
I don’t plan on towing anything anymore so think of the smaller engine in a half ton. I don’t like the 5.7L MSD VVT. technology. I think it could be a problem.
So what about the the little 3.7L?
Thanks, Herb

 

[AH64ID]

AFIK you can get modules that plug into the OBDII port to disable the MSD.

Based on all your posts I’d be looking for a Hemi 2500 if I was in your shoes.

 

[TFucili]

MDS is annoying, but not troublesome. To disable it the easy wasy, just use the gear limit (-) button and select 8, or the top gear of your choice. The downside is you have to remember to do it every time you start, or use the gear selector. There are tuners that will eliminate it, but I would not want to jeopardize my warranty. My last truck was a 2500 6.4 gasser, and it ran good, but the 66RFE was not a good match for the gasser. My buddy just got a new 2500 6.4 with the ZF 8 speed, and holy smokes what a difference. It unleashes the 6.4.

 

[Wayne M.]

Isn’t it the Pentastar 3.6?
Anyway, given the choice between that and a 5.7, id choose the 5.7 just based on architecture.

 

[TCDiesel]

I returned My Ecodiesel to Ram and took Home 2019 Limited 5.7, Could Not be Happier, The 19 5.7 excels in every category over My 2014 5.7 Loaded Laramie.The 3.6 Pentastar was in My 2013 , I like it, it was good on the MPG but lacked the Get on Hwy I like, hence the 2014 5.7. My 2019 MPG is only 1-2 MPG less than the 3.6. Of course the 3.0VM gets the Oscar for MPG, but that's about it.

 

[Wiredawg]

I have a 3.6 Pentastar in my 14 Jeep Wrangler and 5.7L in my wife's 19 1500... The 5.7L is MUCH better.

 

[HerbW]

Isn’t it the Pentastar 3.6?
Anyway, given the choice between that and a 5.7, id choose the 5.7 just based on architecture.

Oops it is a 3.6 not a 3.7. Thanks!

 

[Ozymandias]

HEMI rulez, and the MSD in the 5.7 (don't know the 6.4!) is seemless and unrecognizable from the driver aside from the MPG drop at the Clusters display.

 

[sag2]

MDS has been around since about 2003 and there has been very little trouble.Hemi has a little lifter noise since lifter gets oil last through the push rod, but other than that it's a proven engine. Keep clean oil in it.
Nothing wrong with Pentastar engine either, but Hemi will give you lots of power and very respectable fuel economy.

 

[Wayne M.]

The only real gripe I have with the Hemi is that they occasionally smoke on startup- hot or cold soak, especially when an incline is involved. Mine just did it. Drove up a very steep hill before I shut it off. Can be embarrassing.

 

[jgillott]

My brother-in-law has 2 3.6L Pentastar engines in use currently. One in a Wrangler with 150K+ on it and one in a Challenger with about 60K on it. Zero issues on both other than a radiator on the Jeep. He's one of those change the oil once a year maybe kind of people so apparently they don't need top notch maintenance to be reliable.

 

[Mike Wenrich]

Can I ask a stuuuupid question here? What is MSD or MDS as relates to a trans.?

 

[cerberusiam]

Do not get the V6 in a truck that be used to haul something. It might be good in a 2 WD short box but pretty useless unless you like to zoom-zoom all the time otherwise.

The 5.7 is about the best balance between power and economy in a truck there is stock, tuned it is a lot more fun. Maybe not as efficient but definitely more fun.

The MDS and VCT are what make them meet the CAFE numbers BUT both are are a failure point. You MUST use the correct oil, no add ball meets standard compatible with snake oil in wrong weight or just go ahead and shoot yourself in the foot now. The median life on the MDS lifters is in the 70-80k range, they will last longer but that requires attention detail on correct oil and changes and you had better document it. There are a lot of things I like about the MDS and VCT, there are things just bite cuz they work until they don't and unless you catch it right away rebuild time. If they would use better quality parts it would be a much better solution but again cheapest supplier to get it to the warranty expiration.

The HP8 is something that I guess would have to grow on one. Again, it is needed to meet CAFE ratings but in reality in a truck it is a 6 speed if you actually use a truck. In nanny mode it is a busy little bee shifting all the time. That along with the MDS is just plain annoying at times. Try to dive it sedately and I swear it shifts 4 times crossing a 4 lane intersection and just dogs along burbling to itself. Only way I can stand to drive it is manual shift or use a LOT of throttle on take offs, then it just flies of the line and more often than not barking the tires. That is more of a "I don't like attention" than a bad thing but it is a consideration.

Oh yeah, the shift knob on the dash is absolutely the most annoying thing about it.

 

[jgillott]

The 5.7 is about the best balance between power and economy in a truck there is stock, tuned it is a lot more fun. Maybe not as efficient but definitely more fun.

In a Ram truck, yes that would be true.

 

[AnonEd]

@mike. MDS is "multi displacement system," which shuts off cylinders when not needed (like light but not idle because it would be too rough). It's not part of the transmission, just the powertrain tuning. Be careful comparing mileage of different engines unless using the same model years or generations.

 

[Mike Wenrich]

Thanks for the explanation. BTW I stopped at a dealer yesterday to pick up a brochure and have yet to see that explanation. They had maybe 30 trucks and not one 6.4 Hemi. And of course the salesman guessed at what MDS means. I've been thinking of ridding myself of the 2014 diesel. I might not be working it hard enough and that might have caused the 41k mile replacement of the upstream nox sensor. 10 recalls and what's next? When I bought the truck I was going to load a heavy camper on it and pull a trailer. Looking at the cargo ratings on a hemi 2500, 8 ft bed, with 4 wheel drive, the payload is better than my 3500, although they show the trucks weigh the same whether diesel or gas. ??? I put a lighter weight camper on (2300 lbs) and drive it every couple weeks into town to keep it charged up and then longer trips once per month to really get it working. Anyway, I might be able to avoid sensor issues with a different truck and only miss the torque and exhaust brake. The new 8-spd might help with that but I was not able to drive one. Quite the torque difference though. 1000 vs 429.

 

[AnonEd]

Don't have a 2014 (or 2020) chart handy but my 2019 shows a diesel 2500 crew longbed is about 850 pounds heavier than a gas truck...all else equal the gas truck will have more payload, the diesel more towing. The 8-speed helps a lot, especially at launch, but I'd still get the 4.10:1s based on towing 9K with a Power Wagon (6.4/8-sp auto)

 

[Mike Wenrich]

That makes more sense Ed. Need to look at the chart again but the 8 foot bed adds some weight. The chart in the sales book could be showing something different than what I think it says. I know I've crossed the scales with my 3500 (8 foot bed/4wheel drive/Aison) w/camper shell and a full tank plus me at around 10000. Add the camper I bought and it's another 2300. I believe I went across another time with half tank and no camper topper at around 9500. Might have been minus me though. The 410 comment is something I was considering too bt wanted to research that. I would not be maxing out the payload and towing figure. Either camper on and towing a car trailer or camper off and towing a 6-7000 pound trailer. Maybe the 373's would be enough.