6.4 Hemi first oil change

ib516 wrote:

I didn't bring up the cost and gas/diesel thing genius, you did...in the post above mine about the bicycle. It appears you like to argue...about anything and everything. I don't.

Really? Where did I say diesel I'm my original post? I own a diesel and a gas truck with both being over the 5,000-8,000 mile oil change interval of the 6.4L.

Also, if you didn't like to argue the why did you make your "Driving an electric car would be so much cheaper. Better yet, riding a bicycle." In reference to my post in being shocked of how much an oil change costs with the 6.4L. If you didn't like to argue then you would have never commented on my "Wow, $100 every 5,000 or 8,000 miles? That makes it way more expensive than the roughly $130 I would pay every 15,000 miles IF I had the dealer change my oil." post.

Interesting reading fellows: I currently own a 5.9 but am considering the hemi. If some of you could tell me real honestly your gas mileage pulling and daily driving, it would be another consideration in my decision. -- Thanks--

I am with ib516, bought a 6.4 cuz thats what i wanted. Owned dsl pickups since 1985. Also i believe the 6.4 gets better mpg than the 5.7 when in the same truck.

ShinerBock wrote:

ib516 wrote:

I bought the Hemi instead of the Cummins because it's what I wanted and it suits my needs. That's all the reasoning I need. I am a big fan of the Cummins diesel, and the Powerstroke, and the Duramax. But, I chose the Hemi. In case you failed to read my sig, I have been a diesel owner for a decade before this Hemi.

Exactly, you bought the Hemi because it was what you wanted and it fits your needs so why would one even bring up the cost difference between the two?

You buying the 6.4L over the 5.7L is a perfect example. You chose to spend more up front, more in fuel, and more in maintenance when upgrading from the 5.7L to the 6.4L did you not? Why did you do it though? Because you were willing to spend the extra money for more pulling power and more capability. You will never totally recoup that extra money spent and you know it. However you did not buy the 6.4L to "recoup" and extra costs now did you? No, since you bought it for it's extra pulling power and capabilities that the 6.4L has over the 5.7L, the cost is a moot point to you because it was worth the extra money paid whether you need it all the time or not. So a Ram 2500 5.7L owner saying "you will never recoup the extra cost of a 6.4L" sounds a bit silly to you since you gladly paid the extra cost for more pulling power and capability.

The same goes with one who upgrades from a 6.4L Hemi to a 6.7L CTD. They do it for the extra pulling power and more capabilities whether they need it all the time or not. So someone mentioning the "extra costs" is a moot point because those who wants/needs a diesel will gladly pay the "extra costs" for it just as you did when you upgraded from the 5.7L to the 6.4L. This is why is say I don't get why people bring up the "extra costs" and how it will never be recouped(even though most of it will on resale or trade in) when talking about diesels versus gasers in a 3/4 or 1 ton.


That little 3.0L diesel in the 1/2 tons are a totally different story though. You are essentially paying more for less pulling power and less capability which I don't understand why either.

I didn't bring up the cost and gas/diesel thing genius, you did...in the post above mine about the bicycle. It appears you like to argue...about anything and everything. I don't.

mtofell1 wrote:

john&bet wrote:
I guess that lessens the maint. $$$ between a gasser and a diesel a bunch. I do my Cummins twice a year and cheaper then that.

The oil is more expensive but as a full synthetic the change intervals are more like a diesel. I get around 7-9K between changes depending on how much I tow.

Also, the certification thing is why I just take mine to the dealer. As of a year ago I couldn't find the "right" oil locally anywhere. The best I could do was buy it online and have it shipped from a couple hundred miles away.

I'm trying to remember this from a year ago but I think there was some change where one brand had the certification then lost it then another one got it. When I researched it there had been absolutely no change in the oil. Just Ram's blessing on one brand then another. In the end I'm just fine taking it to the dealer. These new trucks are so high tech that there's usually an update for the Uconnect system or some other thing that needs tweaking when it's time for an oil change anyway.

Just so you know, mine is now almost a 12 years old truck that is running just fine at 179k. It is not what some call a modern diesel. So it is a lot cheaper on everything. At this point I have no use for a different truck or in the for seable future. JMHO.

I use the Mobil 1 0w40 in the 5 qrt jugs from Wally World. Works great and easy on the wallet...I use Wix filters as well. Plenty of data on the Mobil 0w40 on Bob is the oil guy...bottom line is that its great oil...as are almost all of the 0w oils.

OH48Lt wrote:
Been buying 0W-40 oil for years. The wife's 2003 Polaris 500HO ATV requires it. Always thought that was a little strange, but that's what the manufacturer wants.

As far as diesels being cheaper to run than gas engines, that's pure hockey. No way does the little bit of fuel mileage make up for the 20% premium you get to pay for diesel fuel. Maintenance is 3 times more expensive, at least, and is required at about the same intervals as a gas engine. Couldn't go over 7K miles on my last diesel without getting a bad report from Blackstone Labs, and the oil and filter cost me over $100 each time and I was doing the work. Now I don't pay over $32 out the door for oil and filter changes at a Ford dealer, and that includes a tire rotation. Factor in the two fuel filters, and diesels are much more expensive to run.

Lets show a little math and see how hockey it is for "me" and the "brand of truck I have.":

Oil filter every 10K miles= 5 to 7 bucks.

My manufacture spec's dino oil so, oil 10 qts every 10K miles= 30 bucks (Rotella 15/40)

Fuel filter every 15K= 30 bucks

Air filter. I think it's like 80 bucks but I don't know because mine has never been changed because the filter minder shows no restriction yet at 80K.

The tranny fluid and rear end lube has to be changed just like a gas engine truck so that is a wash.

Now lets talk about fuel economy.

Around here diesel is about 10 to 20 cents cheaper than regular right now. This is an anomaly. For years and years diesel has averaged about 25 to 30 cents higher in my area. Sometimes higher, sometimes lower but with an average of about 25 cents higher is a good guess.

Because of it's higher BTU content and no pumping losses my diesel gets 30% better economy than my gas trucks towing the exact same load.

Even using your figures of 20% more cost in fuel, I have netted over the years a 10% cost savings for every mile driven. So in 80,000 miles I have saved over $2,000 dollars in fuel expenses alone.

This is why it's so important to get a certain brand of truck (and even model engine model of the same brand)for the lowest maintenance cost.

Your truck was a pig on maintenance. (I bet I can guess what engine you had by the figures you have thrown out) I get that because certain brands and models are. But rest assured, they are not all that way by no means. :)

And another thread is lost to the diesel vs. gas war.................

Diesel maintenance is not 3x the cost vs gas... Yes it's slightly more expensive but in the overall scheme of thing the cost difference is mice nuts when your talking about a $50k+ TV.

The "potential" for costly out of warranty repairs (fuel system comes to mind) is where a diesel can bite the pocketbook.

ib516 wrote:

I bought the Hemi instead of the Cummins because it's what I wanted and it suits my needs. That's all the reasoning I need. I am a big fan of the Cummins diesel, and the Powerstroke, and the Duramax. But, I chose the Hemi. In case you failed to read my sig, I have been a diesel owner for a decade before this Hemi.

Exactly, you bought the Hemi because it was what you wanted and it fits your needs so why would one even bring up the cost difference between the two?

You buying the 6.4L over the 5.7L is a perfect example. You chose to spend more up front, more in fuel, and more in maintenance when upgrading from the 5.7L to the 6.4L did you not? Why did you do it though? Because you were willing to spend the extra money for more pulling power and more capability. You will never totally recoup that extra money spent and you know it. However you did not buy the 6.4L to "recoup" and extra costs now did you? No, since you bought it for it's extra pulling power and capabilities that the 6.4L has over the 5.7L, the cost is a moot point to you because it was worth the extra money paid whether you need it all the time or not. So a Ram 2500 5.7L owner saying "you will never recoup the extra cost of a 6.4L" sounds a bit silly to you since you gladly paid the extra cost for more pulling power and capability.

The same goes with one who upgrades from a 6.4L Hemi to a 6.7L CTD. They do it for the extra pulling power and more capabilities whether they need it all the time or not. So someone mentioning the "extra costs" is a moot point because those who wants/needs a diesel will gladly pay the "extra costs" for it just as you did when you upgraded from the 5.7L to the 6.4L. This is why is say I don't get why people bring up the "extra costs" and how it will never be recouped(even though most of it will on resale or trade in) when talking about diesels versus gasers in a 3/4 or 1 ton.


That little 3.0L diesel in the 1/2 tons are a totally different story though. You are essentially paying more for less pulling power and less capability which I don't understand why either.