Hemi Performance: A Disappointment
From : woody
Q: i have a six week old 2004 ram 2500 4x4 with the 5.7 liter hemi 5 speed manual and standard 3.73 rear axel. my frame of reference is my 97 ram 1500 4x4 with the 5.2 liter 318 cid 5 speed manual and 3.55 rear axel. overall gearing taking tire size into consideration is almost identical on the two trucks. we have a horse trailer that when loaded with horse and gear is around 5000 pounds. one job for the new 2500 is to tow the horse trailer. the old 1500 with the 5.2 v8 got 15 mpg overall about 18 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 13.5 mpg towing the trailer on 87 octane gas. when towing in new england the hills on the interstate would often require downshifting to 4th and on longer steeper hills the speed would be down to 45 mph and the trailer trucks would pass us. the new 2500 with the 5.7 hemi gets about 13 mpg overall about 15 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 10 mpg towing the trailer on 89 octane. we just got back from a 365 mile round trip from central nh to plymouth ma and back. the trip was almost all interstate roads and fairly flat with modest hills. on many of the modest hills i had to downshift to 4th and let the trailer trucks pass. i used 36.5 gal of 89 octane gas to complete the 365 mile round trip while the new hemi runs smooth and performs fine when the truck is unloaded overall power output and towing performance is only a very small increment of improvement over my old 318. this is with a significant increase in higher octane fuel consumption especially when towing. while i expected the increased fuel consumption i also expected a signigicant improvement in performance over the old 318. the hemi does not have it. woody; poorer but wiser .
Replies:
From : ambo
if you are towing in 5th gear you may not notice that much more power. a gas engine will not produce much hp at low rpm. i used to have the 5.9. i tow a 4500 lbs boat. the hemi definately has more power. it pulls much better up hills passing and accelleration. moparman you get 8mpg on your 11000 lbs trailer !! i get 8mpg pulling my 6000 lbs travel trailer at 60. the wind resistance is what kills gets me. .
From : max340
i ran on cruse control set for 60-70 so the gas was floored most of the time. bullshit. sorry but thats all that is. 345 hp vs. 245 isnt an improvement you had it floored im not buying it. my point is that the hemi is not a performance jump over the old 318 the difference is so small as to not really matter. all the hype is just that. i could live with the gas milage if it performed. well next time dont buy a heavier truck and make a direct comparison. in buying a 2500 you got heavier axles drivetrain and frame. all the extra weight and you want it to do the same thing as the lighter truck i suspect that part of the story isnt being told. max life liberty and the pursuit of any jackass that threatens it. embellished usnavy slogan .
From : bdk
says... i have a six week old 2004 ram 2500 4x4 with the 5.7 liter hemi 5 speed manual and standard 3.73 rear axel. my frame of reference is my 97 ram 1500 4x4 with the 5.2 liter 318 cid 5 speed manual and 3.55 rear axel. overall gearing taking tire size into consideration is almost identical on the two trucks. we have a horse trailer that when loaded with horse and gear is around 5000 pounds. one job for the new 2500 is to tow the horse trailer. the old 1500 with the 5.2 v8 got 15 mpg overall about 18 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 13.5 mpg towing the trailer on 87 octane gas. when towing in new england the hills on the interstate would often require downshifting to 4th and on longer steeper hills the speed would be down to 45 mph and the trailer trucks would pass us. the new 2500 with the 5.7 hemi gets about 13 mpg overall about 15 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 10 mpg towing the trailer on 89 octane. we just got back from a 365 mile round trip from central nh to plymouth ma and back. the trip was almost all interstate roads and fairly flat with modest hills. on many of the modest hills i had to downshift to 4th and let the trailer trucks pass. i used 36.5 gal of 89 octane gas to complete the 365 mile round trip while the new hemi runs smooth and performs fine when the truck is unloaded overall power output and towing performance is only a very small increment of improvement over my old 318. this is with a significant increase in higher octane fuel consumption especially when towing. while i expected the increased fuel consumption i also expected a signigicant improvement in performance over the old 318. the hemi does not have it. woody; poorer but wiser when you get a few more miles on it it should get better. my 1500 woke up at around 5k. milage is bad 11.4 ave part city part hwy. the best i ever got was 15.2 on a trip last year. bdk .
From : moparman
i have a six week old 2004 ram 2500 4x4 with the 5.7 liter hemi 5 speed manual and standard 3.73 rear axel. my frame of reference is my 97 ram 1500 4x4 with the 5.2 liter 318 cid 5 speed manual and 3.55 rear axel. overall gearing taking tire size into consideration is almost identical on the two trucks. we have a horse trailer that when loaded with horse and gear is around 5000 pounds. one job for the new 2500 is to tow the horse trailer. the old 1500 with the 5.2 v8 got 15 mpg overall about 18 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 13.5 mpg towing the trailer on 87 octane gas. when towing in new england the hills on the interstate would often require downshifting to 4th and on longer steeper hills the speed would be down to 45 mph and the trailer trucks would pass us. the new 2500 with the 5.7 hemi gets about 13 mpg overall about 15 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 10 mpg towing the trailer on 89 octane. we just got back from a 365 mile round trip from central nh to plymouth ma and back. the trip was almost all interstate roads and fairly flat with modest hills. on many of the modest hills i had to downshift to 4th and let the trailer trucks pass. i used 36.5 gal of 89 octane gas to complete the 365 mile round trip while the new hemi runs smooth and performs fine when the truck is unloaded overall power output and towing performance is only a very small increment of improvement over my old 318. this is with a significant increase in higher octane fuel consumption especially when towing. while i expected the increased fuel consumption i also expected a signigicant improvement in performance over the old 318. the hemi does not have it. woody; poorer but wiser i have a 2003 2500hd with a 5 speed automatic and 3.73 gears. i tow a 11000 pound 5th wheel 85 mph with the transmission out of od. i get about 8mpg while towing. i get 14.5 on the hwy. i dont have too much problems with hills and i usually have the cruise control on and let it adjust the gas accordingly. it does allot better of that than i do. im either stop or go there aint no in between. sounds like to me your pussying the truck its a hemi floor the sob and get on down the road. if you needed good mileage you should have bought a diesile. they are made for towing dont ya know. i love mine and since im on expenses gas mileage and the rsfcking arabs dont mean shit to me... -- moparman----remove clothes to reply... scud coordinates latitude 32.61208 degrees north longitude 96.92995 degrees west depth 17.35 inches .
From : eisboch
i have a six week old 2004 ram 2500 4x4 with the 5.7 liter hemi 5 speed manual and standard 3.73 rear axel. my frame of reference is my 97 ram 1500 4x4 with the 5.2 liter 318 cid 5 speed manual and 3.55 rear axel. overall gearing taking tire size into consideration is almost identical on the two trucks. we have a horse trailer that when loaded with horse and gear is around 5000 pounds. one job for the new 2500 is to tow the horse trailer. the old 1500 with the 5.2 v8 got 15 mpg overall about 18 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 13.5 mpg towing the trailer on 87 octane gas. when towing in new england the hills on the interstate would often require downshifting to 4th and on longer steeper hills the speed would be down to 45 mph and the trailer trucks would pass us. the new 2500 with the 5.7 hemi gets about 13 mpg overall about 15 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 10 mpg towing the trailer on 89 octane. we just got back from a 365 mile round trip from central nh to plymouth ma and back. the trip was almost all interstate roads and fairly flat with modest hills. on many of the modest hills i had to downshift to 4th and let the trailer trucks pass. i used 36.5 gal of 89 octane gas to complete the 365 mile round trip while the new hemi runs smooth and performs fine when the truck is unloaded overall power output and towing performance is only a very small increment of improvement over my old 318. this is with a significant increase in higher octane fuel consumption especially when towing. while i expected the increased fuel consumption i also expected a signigicant improvement in performance over the old 318. the hemi does not have it. woody; poorer but wiser id give it some time. i towed a boat loaded with stuff including a 600 lb outboard from ma to florida last august with my 01 2500 ram with the 5.9l engine. i also had a 800lb harley in the bed. total towed weight was just under 5k. later i towed my wifes dual horse trailer loaded with her stuff from ma to florida. this time i had an 1100 lb. john deere gator in the bed as well. the trailer and its load was also right around 5000 lbs. this trip was made with an04 ram 2500 quad cab with the 5.7l hemi. there was no question the hemi had more towing power. eisboch .
From : bdk
kingratboyoboy@buckeye-express.com says... says... i have a six week old 2004 ram 2500 4x4 with the 5.7 liter hemi 5 speed manual and standard 3.73 rear axel. my frame of reference is my 97 ram 1500 4x4 with the 5.2 liter 318 cid 5 speed manual and 3.55 rear axel. overall gearing taking tire size into consideration is almost identical on the two trucks. we have a horse trailer that when loaded with horse and gear is around 5000 pounds. one job for the new 2500 is to tow the horse trailer. the old 1500 with the 5.2 v8 got 15 mpg overall about 18 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 13.5 mpg towing the trailer on 87 octane gas. when towing in new england the hills on the interstate would often require downshifting to 4th and on longer steeper hills the speed would be down to 45 mph and the trailer trucks would pass us. the new 2500 with the 5.7 hemi gets about 13 mpg overall about 15 mpg on the highway unloaded and about 10 mpg towing the trailer on 89 octane. we just got back from a 365 mile round trip from central nh to plymouth ma and back. the trip was almost all interstate roads and fairly flat with modest hills. on many of the modest hills i had to downshift to 4th and let the trailer trucks pass. i used 36.5 gal of 89 octane gas to complete the 365 mile round trip while the new hemi runs smooth and performs fine when the truck is unloaded overall power output and towing performance is only a very small increment of improvement over my old 318. this is with a significant increase in higher octane fuel consumption especially when towing. while i expected the increased fuel consumption i also expected a signigicant improvement in performance over the old 318. the hemi does not have it. woody; poorer but wiser when you get a few more miles on it it should get better. my 1500 woke up at around 5k. milage is bad 11.4 ave part city part hwy. the best i ever got was 15.2 on a trip last year. bdk one more thing the 3.73s are part of the problem 4.10s would be a better choice... bdk .
From : woody
i have a 2003 2500hd with a 5 speed automatic and 3.73 gears. i tow a 11000 pound 5th wheel 85 mph with the transmission out of od. i get about 8mpg while towing. i get 14.5 on the hwy. i dont have too much problems with hills and i usually have the cruise control on and let it adjust the gas accordingly. it does allot better of that than i do. im either stop or go there aint no in between. sounds like to me your pussying the truck its a hemi floor the sob and get on down the road. if you needed good mileage you should have bought a diesile. they are made for towing dont ya know. i love mine and since im on expenses gas mileage and the rsfcking arabs dont mean shit to me... i ran on cruse control set for 60-70 so the gas was floored most of the time. my point is that the hemi is not a performance jump over the old 318 the difference is so small as to not really matter. all the hype is just that. i could live with the gas milage if it performed. .
From : mac davis
on 24 may 2004 121355 gmt max340@aol.compost max340 wrote i ran on cruse control set for 60-70 so the gas was floored most of the time. bullshit. sorry but thats all that is. 345 hp vs. 245 isnt an improvement you had it floored im not buying it. snip more difference than that max... he went to the hemi from the 5.2l not the 5.9l.... mac .
From : bdk
says... i have a 2003 2500hd with a 5 speed automatic and 3.73 gears. i tow a 11000 pound 5th wheel 85 mph with the transmission out of od. i get about 8mpg while towing. i get 14.5 on the hwy. i dont have too much problems with hills and i usually have the cruise control on and let it adjust the gas accordingly. it does allot better of that than i do. im either stop or go there aint no in between. sounds like to me your pussying the truck its a hemi floor the sob and get on down the road. if you needed good mileage you should have bought a diesile. they are made for towing dont ya know. i love mine and since im on expenses gas mileage and the rsfcking arabs dont mean shit to me... i ran on cruse control set for 60-70 so the gas was floored most of the time. my point is that the hemi is not a performance jump over the old 318 the difference is so small as to not really matter. all the hype is just that. i could live with the gas milage if it performed. well the hemi likes to rev more than the 318 did thats for sure. i have driven a couple of 1500s with 3.55 gears and a couple with 3.92s and the 3.55s suck and with the added weight of a 2500 4.10s would be a must especially when towing. the hemi really does seem to like being driven hard if you drive it hard it runs great if not its very smooth and not so powerful. after i had my truck flashed it made the tranny shift like its supposed to at a slight loss in milage since it held second gear longer. the tranny is the real weak link in these trucks but the mb 6 speed will be going in next year or 2006 and it should be much better. bdk .
From : findingking
chrysler wants to invoke the memories of petty and baker and the 426cu hemis of the 60s with the word hemi. its only a 360 is going to run like it. sounds like you dont have enough power to weight ratio and that is what acceleration is all about. mpg........... now thats another subject............ on mon 24 may 2004 055508 -0400 woody ars1@ttlc.net wrote i have a 2003 2500hd with a 5 speed automatic and 3.73 gears. i tow a 11000 pound 5th wheel 85 mph with the transmission out of od. i get about 8mpg while towing. i get 14.5 on the hwy. i dont have too much problems with hills and i usually have the cruise control on and let it adjust the gas accordingly. it does allot better of that than i do. im either stop or go there aint no in between. sounds like to me your pussying the truck its a hemi floor the sob and get on down the road. if you needed good mileage you should have bought a diesile. they are made for towing dont ya know. i love mine and since im on expenses gas mileage and the rsfcking arabs dont mean shit to me... i ran on cruse control set for 60-70 so the gas was floored most of the time. my point is that the hemi is not a performance jump over the old 318 the difference is so small as to not really matter. all the hype is just that. i could live with the gas milage if it performed. .
From : woody
on 24 may 2004 121355 gmt max340@aol.compost max340 wrote bullshit. sorry but thats all that is. 345 hp vs. 245 isnt an improvement you had it floored im not buying it. yep you are right 345 hp at 5400 rpm to quote dodge. now to take advantage of that at 70 mph what is your suggestion running in third gear at 70 mph but that would only get me up to about 4800 rpm. you must drive like you talk. most of my highway driving is in the range of 1500 to 2500 rpm in 4th and 5th gear. i never did find a torque vs rpm curve for the hemi but the improvement at 2000 rpm does not appear to be huge. no doubt running in 3rd gear would take care of the hills at 70 mph but i hope to have the truck last a while. as for my cruise control if the truck speed falls below the set speed on a hill the gas is effectively floored. apparently your truck operates on some other parallel universe principal. .
From : max340
yep you are right 345 hp at 5400 rpm to quote dodge. now to take advantage of that at 70 mph what is your suggestion take it out of od for starters. running in third gear at 70 mph but that would only get me up to about 4800 rpm. you must drive like you talk. yeah i choose the right engine to pull stuff a cummins. most of my highway driving is in the range of 1500 to 2500 rpm in 4th and 5th gear. why in the hell are you towing in od and then complaining about how little power the engine has see i told you the rest of the story would come out. i never did find a torque vs rpm curve for the hemi but the improvement at 2000 rpm does not appear to be huge. so no doubt running in 3rd gear would take care of the hills at 70 mph but i hope to have the truck last a while. then quit breaking the speed limit with a 6000lb trailer on the truck. you want the truck to last use some common sense. as for my cruise control if the truck speed falls below the set speed on a hill the gas is effectively floored. apparently your truck operates on some other parallel universe principal. yeah the diesel parallel universe where i take it out of od to tow i dont tow on hills with cruise and i dont exceed the speed limit with a load in od and bitch about the lack of engine power. hell you dont have to have a diesel to see all the stupid things you are doing that rob you of the engines advantage. but hey blame the truck not the ill informed buyer or driver.... max life liberty and the pursuit of any jackass that threatens it. embellished usnavy slogan .
From : redneck tookover hell
yep you are right 345 hp at 5400 rpm to quote dodge. now to take advantage of that at 70 mph what is your suggestion running in third gear at 70 mph but that would only get me up to about 4800 rpm. 4800 is about where the hemi has peak torque which is what pulls you up those hills. since there is only about 600 rpm between peak horsepower and peak torque it means the hemi is a bit peaky so keep it wound up and itll run there is no gas engine from any maker that at 345 cu inches has a bunch of torque at 1800 to 2000 rpm if you want torque at that rpm then you need a cummins you do understand the difference between torque and horsepower dont you politics the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich. .
From : redneck tookover hell
chrysler wants to invoke the memories of petty and baker and the 426cu hemis of the 60s with the word hemi. you must have one of those limited 60s memories if thats the only comparison you can think of. the hemi is long gone from nascar but its alive and well on thousands of dragstrips from coast to coast every weekend. oh and its 354s 392s 426s 450s 500s526s 600s and bigger a guy in ihra pro stock has an 814 inch one its only a 360 you ought to really familiarize yourself with metric measurements. 5.9 equals 360 cu in 5.8 equals 351 cu in 5.7 equals 350 cu in however if you do the math on the bore times stroke youll find the hemi is actually 345 cu in.so marketing took a little liberty ill guarantee you one thing you take 2 trucks one with the old 5.9360 and a hemi one similiary equipped. well let you drive the 360 one. hope you like looking at tailights politics the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich. .
From : bob doe
i get 15.5 pulling my 16 v-nose & 6000lbs in it & 2000 in the truck & get 22mpg on the road empty.its a 98dodge 12valve diesel 3.55 gear pulls all the hills everywhere @ 65-70 and i filled up the other day for $1.65 pr gallon! .
From : big al
you do understand the difference between torque and horsepower dont you groan! not the torque vs. horsepower thing again!! red i think you should explain it for all of us al .
From : moparman
yep you are right 345 hp at 5400 rpm to quote dodge. now to take advantage of that at 70 mph what is your suggestion take it out of od for starters. running in third gear at 70 mph but that would only get me up to about 4800 rpm. you must drive like you talk. yeah i choose the right engine to pull stuff a cummins. most of my highway driving is in the range of 1500 to 2500 rpm in 4th and 5th gear. why in the hell are you towing in od and then complaining about how little power the engine has see i told you the rest of the story would come out. i never did find a torque vs rpm curve for the hemi but the improvement at 2000 rpm does not appear to be huge. so no doubt running in 3rd gear would take care of the hills at 70 mph but i hope to have the truck last a while. then quit breaking the speed limit with a 6000lb trailer on the truck. you want the truck to last use some common sense. as for my cruise control if the truck speed falls below the set speed on a hill the gas is effectively floored. apparently your truck operates on some other parallel universe principal. yeah the diesel parallel universe where i take it out of od to tow i dont tow on hills with cruise and i dont exceed the speed limit with a load in od and bitch about the lack of engine power. hell you dont have to have a diesel to see all the stupid things you are doing that rob you of the engines advantage. but hey blame the truck not the ill informed buyer or driver.... max haaaaaaaaa this poast made me laff. true but funny. -- moparman----remove clothes to reply... scud coordinates latitude 32.61208 degrees north longitude 96.92995 degrees west depth 17.35 inches .