New tow vehicle!!

[Fixed_Sight_Tra]

For the last several years I've used my '03 Tahoe to tow our 7K# Toyhauler almost exclusively through the Colorado Rockies. It did it but wasn't happy about it. It was reliable and comfortable for our family of four plus 2 labs. I was typically a little tired after driving for several hours pulling the trailer because you really had to drive it. No putting it in D and turing on the cruise. Power management was important on the hills but it finally developed some issues probably due to the towing.

So I read on this forum about the prices at Dennis Dillon in ID. I went online and found a 2016 closeout Ram 2500 SLT with a 6.4 Hemi. It was a great price so after a few phone calls plus some money for a down payment and some upgrades (better tires, steps and a shell now that we are a family of four plus 3 labs) I dropped the kids at school on Wed morning, drove 900 miles to DD Ram with the Tahoe, did the paperwork, and got home by Thurs night. Mileage at 85 was about 14 with mid grade fuel, 13 with 85 octane. So about the same as the Tahoe.

They were only going to give me $200 for the firestone tires that came stock so I had them throw them in the back and put them on CL. The next day I sold them for $600 cash.
I spend a good amount of time in snow and off road so I opted for the Goodyear Duratrack. Not to mention is helps with the "fleet truck" look of the white truck.

I haven't towed with it yet but I'm sure it will be a breeze. I would like a bigger fuel tank so I decide where to stop while traveling with the camper instead of the fuel gauge but all in all it should serve us well.

I also got a bumper to bumper 7yr/100K warranty plus unlimited mileage on the power train. The thing has 20 computers.

[The_real_wild1]

Fixed Sight Training wrote:

The_real_wild1 wrote:
I just traded in that same truck (mine was a 2014) for a diesel. I ran reg fuel for the first 2/3rds of its life then after some research and talking to some friends with the same engine I went to premium fuel. It costs more but is well worth it. The engine ran much better and more power. I suggest you do the same.

I tried both 85 and 87 octane. The 87 has a little better mileage, about 13 so the cost is a wash but any increase in range is good.

Thanks for all the well wishes. The truck seems like it will do anything I need it to and it better for the next 15 years or so based on the cost. 😉

Our reg fuel here is 87 octane. When I say I was running premium we are putting in 91 or 94 octane. You won't notice any gains with 87. For the extra few bucks try 91 or higher in the truck for a few tanks. You should notice a big difference. Then if you are unsure switch back to the lower octane. Again you should notice the difference. But run a few tanks of premium, not just 1/2 tank or so. Everyone I know and have seen on the Cummins board agrees with running high octane in the 6.4 hemi. The 5.7 won't see any gains.

[Grit_dog]

By the same token running grossly too high of octane for an application will result in reduced performance as well.
If an engine is designed for 87 octane and you use av gas (100LL) you're leaving unburnt fuel as the engines compression ratio and valve timing don't allow enough time to fully burn the slow burning higher octane resulting in less power.
Will you notice a tank of premium in a 87 car? Not likely but you're loosing power the other way compared to low octane.
Again none of these are absolutes, rather generalizations as AFR, ign timing, cam height and duration, piston design, compression ratio, temperature all play some roll.

[Grit_dog]

2001400ex wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

2001400ex wrote:
Fuel injected vehicles need 87 octane. The mountains of the west typically only have 85 or 85.5 for the regular gas. Must use mid grade in these areas.

Like all fuel injected vehicles, or just some? Which ones? Lol
Do you even know why lower octane is offered at high altitude?

My understanding is all fuel injected vehicles need at a minimum 87 octane, which should be in the manual. Of course some require 91.

If you know, then educate us I guess. My understanding is that lower octane cause the thinner air, but I'm not the expert there.

Apologies, yes 85 in the mountains (like CO not WA) burns similarly to 87 at low altitude.
The octane "requirement" is based on compression, cam and ignition timing etc and higher performance vehicles are built and timed for a slower (longer) burn, i.e. Higher octane. Higher octane burns slower producing more energy for the same amount of fuel. Back in the days of carbed vehicles without knock sensors, too low of octane resultedfor a given engine in detonation/pre ignition or "pinging".
Now all vehicles have knock sensors and the ecm will sense and adjust the ignition timing to combat detonation. Vehicle will sound like it's running fine but will be down on power a bit compared to running the higher reccomended octane. And at the same time likely has a bit worse fuel economy. Within reason of course.
There are other factors that affect this.
In simple terms, lower compression = lower octane requirements for naturally aspirated engines. Hence the reason less octane needed at altitude. With the thinner air, the dynamic compression ratio is slightly less due to less air being squeezed at top dead center. Same goes for temperature. Air gets thinner as it gets hotter. Hence the "cold air intakes".
Back in the day of carbed 2 stroke Sno machines, in the mountains I could end up re jetting the carbs 4x a day just due to altitude and air temp differences on some machines that were finicky.

[Fixed_Sight_Tra]

The_real_wild1 wrote:
I just traded in that same truck (mine was a 2014) for a diesel. I ran reg fuel for the first 2/3rds of its life then after some research and talking to some friends with the same engine I went to premium fuel. It costs more but is well worth it. The engine ran much better and more power. I suggest you do the same.

I tried both 85 and 87 octane. The 87 has a little better mileage, about 13 so the cost is a wash but any increase in range is good.

Thanks for all the well wishes. The truck seems like it will do anything I need it to and it better for the next 15 years or so based on the cost. 😉

[2001400ex]

Grit dog wrote:

2001400ex wrote:
Fuel injected vehicles need 87 octane. The mountains of the west typically only have 85 or 85.5 for the regular gas. Must use mid grade in these areas.

Like all fuel injected vehicles, or just some? Which ones? Lol
Do you even know why lower octane is offered at high altitude?

My understanding is all fuel injected vehicles need at a minimum 87 octane, which should be in the manual. Of course some require 91.

If you know, then educate us I guess. My understanding is that lower octane cause the thinner air, but I'm not the expert there.

[Grit_dog]

2001400ex wrote:
Fuel injected vehicles need 87 octane. The mountains of the west typically only have 85 or 85.5 for the regular gas. Must use mid grade in these areas.

Like all fuel injected vehicles, or just some? Which ones? Lol
Do you even know why lower octane is offered at high altitude?

[The_real_wild1]

2001400ex wrote:
Fuel injected vehicles need 87 octane. The mountains of the west typically only have 85 or 85.5 for the regular gas. Must use mid grade in these areas.

And this is from your experience with your duramax? As mentioned I learned this from other 6.4 hemi owners. Unless you own and have compared the two fuels in this engine then your opinion does not count.

[Walaby]

deltabravo wrote:

He went to Costco and bought Micehlin tires, and I put his Nexens on Craigslist since he was moving out of his house at that point.
I sold them for $600.

So you sold known, defective tires without skipping a beat?

Wow..

To OP.. congrats on the new purchase. You're gonna love it.

Mike

[2001400ex]

Fuel injected vehicles need 87 octane. The mountains of the west typically only have 85 or 85.5 for the regular gas. Must use mid grade in these areas.

[The_real_wild1]

I just traded in that same truck (mine was a 2014) for a diesel. I ran reg fuel for the first 2/3rds of its life then after some research and talking to some friends with the same engine I went to premium fuel. It costs more but is well worth it. The engine ran much better and more power. I suggest you do the same.

[deltabravo]

Congrats on the new truck.

Fixed Sight Training wrote:
They were only going to give me $200 for the firestone tires that came stock

Dave Smith did a similar thing to my neighbor when he bought a new Dually Ram in August.

He drove the truck some and the tires were horribly out of balance (or so everyone thought).
He took the truck back to Dave Smith, had the tires balanced, problem was the same.
He took the truck to a local tire shop in Spokane, WA, problem still wasn't solved. Dave Smith said he had to go through Nexen Tire to get the problem solved, even though the tires were defective from the day of delivery.

He finally gave up fighting with Dave Smith, even though the truck only had 300 miles at this point, most of which was going back and forth from Dave Smith, after they only offered a pittance of reimbursement to replace the tires and buy his back.

He went to Costco and bought Micehlin tires, and I put his Nexens on Craigslist since he was moving out of his house at that point.
I sold them for $600.

[FishOnOne]

Congrats...

[billyray50]

Congrats on new truck! Pics!!

[IdaD]

Congrats on the truck. I bought mine at DD too and got a great deal. Only had to drive 30 miles though. :B