Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi #3076712
09/12/22 08:22 PM
09/12/22 08:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,052
Ont, Canada
gygeneral Offline OP
super stock
gygeneral  Offline OP
super stock

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,052
Ont, Canada
Helping my son in law purchase a new 2022 Ram 1500. He does mostly highway driving to work, I'd say 70/30 split. What would be the most beneficial for fuel economy, the V6 3.6L or the 5.7Hemi.
Some people are telling me the Hemi shuts to 4 cylinder over 50, so that would be better, I'm saying well their highway driving specs do not reflect that, it has the V6 about 3-4 mpg better.
I know actual experience is a lot different but for now lets just stick with the advertised numbers.
What do you think?
thanks

Last edited by gygeneral; 09/12/22 08:22 PM.
Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: gygeneral] #3076730
09/12/22 09:25 PM
09/12/22 09:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,406
Kalispell Mt.
H
HotRodDave Offline
I Live Here
HotRodDave  Offline
I Live Here
H

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,406
Kalispell Mt.
real world it is not much difference, the V6 will get maybe 1 or 2 better mpg. The other thing to consider though is whenever you go to sell it the V6 brings a ton less than a hemi and will easily make up for any fuel savings.


I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!



Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: HotRodDave] #3076735
09/12/22 09:33 PM
09/12/22 09:33 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline
Striving for excellence

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
The only reason to buy the V6 is to save a few bucks on the initial price.
Resale will take a hit. Gas mileage isn't much better. Towing capability will suffer.

Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: gygeneral] #3076748
09/12/22 09:58 PM
09/12/22 09:58 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,020
N.W. Florida
F
Fat_Mike Offline
master
Fat_Mike  Offline
master
F

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,020
N.W. Florida
Originally Posted by gygeneral
Helping my son in law purchase a new 2022 Ram 1500. He does mostly highway driving to work, I'd say 70/30 split. What would be the most beneficial for fuel economy, the V6 3.6L or the 5.7Hemi.
Some people are telling me the Hemi shuts to 4 cylinder over 50, so that would be better, I'm saying well their highway driving specs do not reflect that, it has the V6 about 3-4 mpg better.
I know actual experience is a lot different but for now lets just stick with the advertised numbers.
What do you think?
thanks


Have him ask himself to weight all the "benefits" of having a smaller motor in a 5,000 lbs vehicle.
JUST GET THE HEMI!!!

Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: Fat_Mike] #3076750
09/12/22 10:00 PM
09/12/22 10:00 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,935
WI
Dcuda69 Offline
master
Dcuda69  Offline
master

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,935
WI
I have 2 friends that bought V6 Rams....they both regretted the purchase. Underpowered and as stated...poor resale.

Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: Dcuda69] #3076786
09/13/22 01:45 AM
09/13/22 01:45 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,149
Park Forest, IL
slantzilla Offline
Too Many Posts
slantzilla  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,149
Park Forest, IL
I've had 3 Ram 4wd 4 door trucks in the last 5 years. All 3 Hdmi 8 speeds. Highway mileage has been between 19 to 22 depending on rear gear. My 2021 gets 20ish with a 3.92 rear.

Last edited by slantzilla; 09/13/22 02:06 AM.

"Everybody funny, now you funny too."
Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: gygeneral] #3076798
09/13/22 06:19 AM
09/13/22 06:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,110
Usa
A
A39Coronet Offline
super stock
A39Coronet  Offline
super stock
A

Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,110
Usa
I have a Pentastar in my charger and it's a sweet little motor. 300hp, perfect sedan engine. But it has no place in a 1/2 ton, and I can't imagine a factory cam change for a truck application would have made that much better.


Follow my G3 Hemi Barracuda build on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSDAWczXoZw&list=PLTus_wQu8POADHEeJNJp2nr4NMHEyB9EK

2015 Tri-State Stock Super Stock Champion
2017 Monster Mopar Pro Winner
2018 Monster Mopar No Box Winner
Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: A39Coronet] #3076804
09/13/22 07:31 AM
09/13/22 07:31 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,346
It's a dry heat
gtx6970 Offline
Too Many Posts
gtx6970  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,346
It's a dry heat
I have a 2012 ram 1500 sport, quad cab. 5.7 hemi and in real world I get 18.5 to 19 average pretty consistently
Just took it to Reno Nv recently draging a trailer. , Loaded it averaged 14.5 and pulled it like it wasn't there

When i was looking last year I wanted a 2006 to 2008 Truck but couldnt find anything that was decent ,shape and decent miles and not priced in the stratosphere
So started looking at the 09 and up trucks, as soon as I saw V6, clicked off and kept looking I didnt care price And they are cheaper, quite a bit cheaper for a reason

Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: gygeneral] #3076812
09/13/22 08:01 AM
09/13/22 08:01 AM
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 142
Canada
E
EW1BH27 Offline
member
EW1BH27  Offline
member
E

Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 142
Canada
Sorry for suggesting something off topic but since fuel economy is one of your son's concerns I'm surprised that he's not considering an EcoDiesel. Pretty much the same towing capability too.

Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: EW1BH27] #3076817
09/13/22 08:31 AM
09/13/22 08:31 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,052
Ont, Canada
gygeneral Offline OP
super stock
gygeneral  Offline OP
super stock

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,052
Ont, Canada
Lots of good points here, I didn't think about resale that is a big one to consider. He says its a 10 year buy, so resale might not be a big issue if that turns out that way.

I have a 2011 with the 5.7, bought it to tow a car trailer, never did get around to getting one, so I understand why he is considering this, no plans to ever two anything more that a landscape trailer. But you never know.

Anyhow I'm going to send him a link to this thread so he can think about this.

Thanks again

Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: gygeneral] #3076841
09/13/22 09:53 AM
09/13/22 09:53 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,894
Benton, IL.
D
DaveRS23 Offline
Special needs idiot
DaveRS23  Offline
Special needs idiot
D

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,894
Benton, IL.
The 6 would be my first choice in the Chargers/Challengers. It is very peppy and gets good mileage. No need for one of the Hemis unless it is just something that someone has to have for vanity's sake.

But the trucks are Hemi territory. Looks like 2 to 4 MPG difference between the 6 and Hemi. Big torque difference. Big difference in resale. In fact, the 6 is a very limited market.

At $3.70 per gallon the 6 could save about $24 per thousand miles (20MPG vs 23MPG). That is the only possible advantage to driving a 6 cylinder powered full sized truck. And that could be optimistic.

But the trucks push a lot of air. So the faster the truck is driven, the less the MDS can drop the cylinders. If the driver likes speeds about most speed limits, the mileage will suffer. My 2019 2wd 5.7 Ram will get 19.5 to 20.4 average at and below 70. But it starts to drop off over that. And against a head wind. And up hills. And stop and go really eats into the mileage.

I don't have much experience with the 6s in trucks personally. We had one a few years ago and liked to have never sold it. So no more of them here.

www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2022_Ram_1500.shtml


Master, again and still
Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: DaveRS23] #3076859
09/13/22 10:49 AM
09/13/22 10:49 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,458
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart Offline
Rhinotruck
Rhinodart  Offline
Rhinotruck

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,458
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
I wouldn't know much about a half ton truck, but my 2015 5.7 Hemi 4x4 is lucky to get 17 mpg going 55 with a tail wind. The difference in the horsepower, torque, and weight has a lot to do with it, but I still don't know a single person who drives 55 and gets 19 and up mpg with a 3/4 ton truck, and don't know anyone who brags about mileage in the half ton except for Moparts... shruggy


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

JB Rhinehart, Realist

A-Body's RULE!
Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: Rhinodart] #3076888
09/13/22 11:44 AM
09/13/22 11:44 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,340
Crook County, ILL
Mastershake340 Offline
master
Mastershake340  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,340
Crook County, ILL
My 2021 6.4 2021 averages a bit over 16 overall, and typically shows 19 to as much as 21 driving highway. This is on the average fuel economy reading on the dash. Doing some quick math at the pump I find that the readout on the dash averages somewhere between 1/2 mpg to 1 mpg too optimistic.
I'm finding as I am getting older and more burnt out I have no bandwith to drive very aggressively, I get to where I am going at approximately the same time without mashing the throttle all the time, or racing to the next red light whipping around people then smoking the brakes so I can be first at the light when it turns green like so many knuckleheads seem devoted to doing.
On the highway I usually find myself doing 70-72 mph. This readout was when I got home after a trip to Indiana a few months ago. I topped off about 80 miles from the Illinois border and I drove highway until I dropped a friend off and then drove the last 25 miles home on side roads with some traffic lights but light late evening traffic. It had been a long day and for the last leg of that trip, I just wanted to get settled in one lane and not get too caught up in passing and merging fighting Chicago area traffic, so was doing around 65 instead of my usual 70-75. This picture was from the next morning when I first started it up.
My first truck in the early 80s was a '79 Bronco 351M 2 barrel that got 8-9 mpg and hardly had enough power to get out of its own way sometimes. My next truck was a standard cab '95 Ram 1500 5.9 that averaged 13-14 overall, and maybe 17+ highway, and would run circles around my old Bronco.
Now I have the new 3/4 ton which is big enough I could almost park the Bronco in the bed, handily outperforms the 1500 and gets better mpg to boot. As an engineer I am very impressed with the remarkable improvements in engine and driveline performance over the last 40 years!!
Shame that the powers to be seem bent on tossing away all this progress and amazing technology chasing very over optimistic EV dreams. rolleyes

MPG.JPG
Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: Rhinodart] #3076896
09/13/22 12:12 PM
09/13/22 12:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,894
Benton, IL.
D
DaveRS23 Offline
Special needs idiot
DaveRS23  Offline
Special needs idiot
D

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,894
Benton, IL.
Originally Posted by Rhinodart
I wouldn't know much about a half ton truck, but my 2015 5.7 Hemi 4x4 is lucky to get 17 mpg going 55 with a tail wind. The difference in the horsepower, torque, and weight has a lot to do with it, but I still don't know a single person who drives 55 and gets 19 and up mpg with a 3/4 ton truck, and don't know anyone who brags about mileage in the half ton except for Moparts... shruggy


What was the OP asking about?

Oh yeah, gas mileage on half ton trucks. But maybe someone also wanted to know about mileage on the heavier trucks.

And you think that actually answering the question that was asked is bragging? shruggy


Master, again and still
Re: Which is better for fuel economy 3.6L V6 or 5.7 Hemi [Re: Rhinodart] #3076907
09/13/22 12:40 PM
09/13/22 12:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,406
Kalispell Mt.
H
HotRodDave Offline
I Live Here
HotRodDave  Offline
I Live Here
H

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,406
Kalispell Mt.
Originally Posted by Rhinodart
I wouldn't know much about a half ton truck, but my 2015 5.7 Hemi 4x4 is lucky to get 17 mpg going 55 with a tail wind. The difference in the horsepower, torque, and weight has a lot to do with it, but I still don't know a single person who drives 55 and gets 19 and up mpg with a 3/4 ton truck, and don't know anyone who brags about mileage in the half ton except for Moparts... shruggy



My 6.4 2011 2500 with a 6.4 BGE short block and 5.7 top end and cam will get 19 MPG on the highway unloaded at about 65, never been able to hit an honest 20 even driving much slower. Starts to drop off pretty quick if loaded or driving faster. It easily does better than my 2013 2500 with a stock 5.7 and is pretty much dead even with my 2009 and 2012 1500s with stock 5.7s. The worst MPG I ever got with the 6.4 truck was towing the 2013 truck on an open trailer 75-80 mph in some hilly territory, it dropped down to 12.5 MPG. I do try to always run premium when towing as it has a lot of compression with the 5.7 heads on it.


I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!









Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1