6.4 Dodge???

[jabres]

I know this has probably been posted a hundred times, but I am looking for some reviews/ real life experiences with the 6.4 Dodge motor.

I currently have a 2007 GMC 2500 6.0 gas in my landscaping/camping hauling fleet. I am looking to add another truck this time around, but thinking about trying out a Dodge 3500 with 6.4.
My GMC 2500HD 6.0 pulls camper perfect (7500#s) but when pulling my dump trailer its nothing to haul 11-12k pounds with my GMC. It does fine as I do have the 4.10 rear end, but at times struggles when I am approaching 12k or more. I am wanting to stay away from a diesel, so just wanting reviews on how much people are pulling with the 6.4's. Are they easy to work on? Easy to change belts? Plugs and Wires?
Lastly, I am looking to add an aluminum dump bet insert into the truck, and I believe it would work great with this combo

[ScottG]

FishOnOne wrote:

ScottG wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

ScottG wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
The 6.4 Hemi has 16 spark plugs and requires special 5w40 synthetic oil that can be hard to find.

If your looking for simplicity I would stick with GM's 6.0.

Hard to find? Special?
The oil is common in modern cars and is available at every Orielly's. The spark plugs last a long time and are not the expensive variety. Infact, they are quite cheap compared to many of the exotic plugs used in some toher engine makes.

OP, I have a 6.4 in my Challenger SRT and while it is a different tune, it's a beast of a motor.

The oil that the 6.4 Hemi requires that carries Chryslers rating is only made by Pennzoil the last time I looked, and not every parts store carriers this oil. Even Mobil 1 oils don't carry Chryslers oil rating.

Also if you idle these trucks a lot the plugs don't last 100k miles and if misfires start to occur you can kiss your cats good bye.

You need to read the manual for the 6.4.
The oils that Orielly's carries Does carry FCA rating along with several other brands of vehicles and engines. That aort of thing is just not a big deal anymore. Ford and GM have the same stipulations. It's very common and not a big deal anymore. Every Oriellys has it. I've persoanlly bought it at several of them.
To clarify; One does NOT have to buy oil from FCA to maintain warranty and that is per the manual.
Plugs dont last and kill converters? Where are you getting this nonsense? That was possible in the earlier days of cats but it's rediculously improbable in a new engine.
No, a misfire or lean condition in these sophisticated engines results in power derating, messages on the dash and nothing more.
Spark plugs go for $3 to $6 - not a big deal. All easy to get to as well.

I looked on OReillys web site and their in house brand does not include a 0W40 oil. Again the only oil that meets the MS-12633 Chrysler spec is Pennzoil and maybe Scamz oil if you can believe their marketing hype.

This guy knows

Misfires are more common on trucks that are worked hard and idled a lot which sounds like what the OP does with his truck.

House brand - I wont use that in my lawnmower.
I also frequent a truck Dodge truck forum - what your spouting is baseless. You see, I actually own one of these engines.
This kind of stuff might work on brand specific forums where they just bad mouth without any true knowledge of the competition but in a place where there are tens of thousands of people who actually have experience with the product, it just doesn't work.
OP, do your own research before you let a brand basher corrupt you with this kind of stuff.

[FishOnOne]

ScottG wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

ScottG wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
The 6.4 Hemi has 16 spark plugs and requires special 5w40 synthetic oil that can be hard to find.

If your looking for simplicity I would stick with GM's 6.0.

Hard to find? Special?
The oil is common in modern cars and is available at every Orielly's. The spark plugs last a long time and are not the expensive variety. Infact, they are quite cheap compared to many of the exotic plugs used in some toher engine makes.

OP, I have a 6.4 in my Challenger SRT and while it is a different tune, it's a beast of a motor.

The oil that the 6.4 Hemi requires that carries Chryslers rating is only made by Pennzoil the last time I looked, and not every parts store carriers this oil. Even Mobil 1 oils don't carry Chryslers oil rating.

Also if you idle these trucks a lot the plugs don't last 100k miles and if misfires start to occur you can kiss your cats good bye.

You need to read the manual for the 6.4.
The oils that Orielly's carries Does carry FCA rating along with several other brands of vehicles and engines. That aort of thing is just not a big deal anymore. Ford and GM have the same stipulations. It's very common and not a big deal anymore. Every Oriellys has it. I've persoanlly bought it at several of them.
To clarify; One does NOT have to buy oil from FCA to maintain warranty and that is per the manual.
Plugs dont last and kill converters? Where are you getting this nonsense? That was possible in the earlier days of cats but it's rediculously improbable in a new engine.
No, a misfire or lean condition in these sophisticated engines results in power derating, messages on the dash and nothing more.
Spark plugs go for $3 to $6 - not a big deal. All easy to get to as well.

I looked on OReillys web site and their in house brand does not include a 0W40 oil. Again the only oil that meets the MS-12633 Chrysler spec is Pennzoil and maybe Scamz oil if you can believe their marketing hype.

This guy knows

Misfires are more common on trucks that are worked hard and idled a lot which sounds like what the OP does with his truck.

[ScottG]

FishOnOne wrote:

ScottG wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
The 6.4 Hemi has 16 spark plugs and requires special 5w40 synthetic oil that can be hard to find.

If your looking for simplicity I would stick with GM's 6.0.

Hard to find? Special?
The oil is common in modern cars and is available at every Orielly's. The spark plugs last a long time and are not the expensive variety. Infact, they are quite cheap compared to many of the exotic plugs used in some toher engine makes.

OP, I have a 6.4 in my Challenger SRT and while it is a different tune, it's a beast of a motor.

The oil that the 6.4 Hemi requires that carries Chryslers rating is only made by Pennzoil the last time I looked, and not every parts store carriers this oil. Even Mobil 1 oils don't carry Chryslers oil rating.

Also if you idle these trucks a lot the plugs don't last 100k miles and if misfires start to occur you can kiss your cats good bye.

You need to read the manual for the 6.4.
The oils that Orielly's carries Does carry FCA rating along with several other brands of vehicles and engines. That xort of thing is just not a big deal anymore because every manufacturer does it. Ford and GM have the same stipulations. It's very common and not a big deal. Every Oriellys has it. I've persoanlly bought it at several of them.
To clarify; One does NOT have to buy oil from FCA to maintain warranty and that is per the manual.
Plugs dont last and kill converters? Where are you getting this nonsense? That was possible in the earlier days of cats but it's rediculously improbable in a new engine.
No, a misfire or lean condition in these sophisticated engines results in power derating, messages on the dash and nothing more.
Spark plugs go for $3 to $6 - not a big deal. All easy to get to as well.

[FishOnOne]

ScottG wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
The 6.4 Hemi has 16 spark plugs and requires special 5w40 synthetic oil that can be hard to find.

If your looking for simplicity I would stick with GM's 6.0.

Hard to find? Special?
The oil is common in modern cars and is available at every Orielly's. The spark plugs last a long time and are not the expensive variety. Infact, they are quite cheap compared to many of the exotic plugs used in some toher engine makes.

OP, I have a 6.4 in my Challenger SRT and while it is a different tune, it's a beast of a motor.

The oil that the 6.4 Hemi requires that carries Chryslers rating is only made by Pennzoil the last time I looked, and not every parts store carriers this oil. Even Mobil 1 oils don't carry Chryslers oil rating. The 6.0 requires a Dexos rated oil and these can be found at any parts stores or even Wal-Mart.

Also if you idle these trucks a lot the plugs don't last 100k miles and if misfires start to occur you can kiss your cats good bye.

[ScottG]

FishOnOne wrote:
The 6.4 Hemi has 16 spark plugs and requires special 5w40 synthetic oil that can be hard to find.

If your looking for simplicity I would stick with GM's 6.0.

Hard to find? Special?
The oil is common in modern cars and is available at every Orielly's. The spark plugs last a long time and are not the expensive variety. Infact, they are quite cheap compared to many of the exotic plugs used in some toher engine makes.

OP, I have a 6.4 in my Challenger SRT and while it is a different tune, it's a beast of a motor.

[jabres]

thanks for the responses!
Hoping to stay any from a diesel mainly from a initial cost perspective.
Yes, Sounds like my best bet would be to just test drive a 6.4. Don't get me wrong, I love my 6.0 chevy, but just wanting to explore the option of a 6.4 Hemi.
And, yes, forgot to mentioned. My 2007 GMC is the classic edition, with the 4 speed transmission. So it appears you guys with the 6.4 Hemi, pull 12k plus without issues. What are the towing capacities of these things anyways?

[ib516]

The oil it uses is actually synthetic 0w40, available at any dealership, and a whole lotta parts stores. The plugs are a non-issue as they last 100,000 miles.

Now, onto the truck. I used mine to tow a 12k 5th wheel and it did a great job. There was only twice when towing 12k in the Canadian Rockies that I had it to the floor and was unable to gain speed on a steep grade. It got 7-9 mpg (usually 8ish) when towing that weight. I was a very happy 6.4L owner. Losing the truck in the process of going through a divorce is the only reason I no longer have it.

I would buy another in a second if I needed another HD truck. Oh, and my trucks before it were both 5.9L Cummins diesels, and I towed the same 5er with that 07 megacab Cummins.

[FishOnOne]

The 6.4 Hemi has 16 spark plugs and requires special 5w40 synthetic oil that can be hard to find.

If your looking for simplicity I would stick with GM's 6.0.

[Greene728]

Just out of pure curiosity, why do you wanna stay away from diesels?
The weights your pulling with the business, as well as occasionally pulling an RV, and towing regularly, it sounds like diesels would be perfect for you.
I also understand some folks just done care for diesels which I get. Just sounds like you'd be all over a diesel which has my curiosity up.
And FWIW, I have a buddy with the 6.4 Ram and he loves it. It does however have the 4:10 I believe which would be a must IMO. No personal experience with it though.

[skidooman93]

My first question is what year is your GMC. If it has a 6 speed tranny dont expect a lot better towing with a ram. It more than likely will pull a little better but I wouldn't expect it to be night and day different.

I own a 2015 Ram 2500 with a 6.4 and 4.10's, Rams with 4.10's are hard to come by so if you are buying used it might be a real tough search. I love the way mine pulls my Openrange 367bhs, its 11,100 dry so Im over 12k camping. I live in minnesota so we dont have much for elevations. Hills it does fine will pull most hills in 4th and only drop to 3rd for the steepest at highway speeds. I dont expect to find a hill around here I cant accelerate up. 5th wheels are much better aerodynamically than bumper pulls though. So a 12k bumper pull in wind up a steep hill might be tougher. All that said if you want to stay away from a diesel you cant go wrong with a 6.4. But remember and be happy its not a diesel.

As far as maintenance, belts are easy, oil changes are easy but chrysler would like you to use synthetic oil. So oil changes are north of $70. But under a $100. I do mine every 8k like the owners manual says but that is almost all highway miles. Plugs? if you are worried about spark plugs buy a ford or a chevy because the hemi has twice as many, but they aren't due for 100k miles.

Id say drive the 3 gassers and buy the one you like the best because all of them will do about the same. However I think the ram will get the best mileage unloaded of all of them. But not by leaps and bounds.