5.3L vs. 4.8L engines

GuyGene · April 26, 2013

I've never seen a truck I didn't like! Rams also have that ridiculous V8 to V4 mess, whatchamacallit. I haven't read many problems with it, but I still like all 8 of mine pumping ALL the time. I do think I'd try to get as new as affordable for you.

Daryl LBZ · April 26, 2013

I've never seen a truck I didn't like! Rams also have that ridiculous V8 to V4 mess, whatchamacallit. I haven't read many problems with it, but I still like all 8 of mine pumping ALL the time. I do think I'd try to get as new as affordable for you.

MDS and I guess for the most part it is problem free.

MikeNH · April 26, 2013

Ram's system is nowhere near as transparent as the GM AFM is, at least comparing to my friend's 2006 Ram. He was a lifelong Dodge guy who now has a F-150 for what it is worth.

Daryl LBZ · April 26, 2013

Ram's system is nowhere near as transparent as the GM AFM is, at least comparing to my friend's 2006 Ram. He was a lifelong Dodge guy who now has a F-150 for what it is worth.

Atleast it's designed not to work on tow/haul mode

Sir Dan · April 27, 2013

wonder how the 9 speeds will do.

wonder how many more speeds we'll get before they just give up and go to CVTs or IVTs for everything?

music · April 27, 2013

wonder how many more speeds we'll get before they just give up and go to CVTs or IVTs for everything?

Straight gears are more efficient, so an "automatic" with little in the way of torque converter action should be more efficient than a CVT.

MikeNH · April 27, 2013

wonder how the 9 speeds will do.

wonder how many more speeds we'll get before they just give up and go to CVTs or IVTs for everything?

Hopefully never. CVTs suck on everything I've ever driven (car wise, I know sleds and ATVs have used them for ages). Always lethargic, you can't launch hard and acceleration is always lazy. Plus they're fragile.

Porter_ · April 27, 2013

OP, i had a 2008 CC 4.8L Sierra and loved it. plenty of power and it was great on gas mileage. i never towed with it but i imagine it wouldn't blink an eye at a 14ft aluminum boat. however for what's probably a negligible price difference i'd be looking for a 2009+ 5.3L just for the 6 spd.

Ram's system is nowhere near as transparent as the GM AFM is, at least comparing to my friend's 2006 Ram. He was a lifelong Dodge guy who now has a F-150 for what it is worth.

my 2011 is pretty transparent. seamless transition in and out, zero hesitation when accelerating from a low-idle cruise. the only noticeable factor of MDS when running on 4 cylinders is a 'different' sounding engine drone. not annoying, just slightly different. and you're right about the 'six' speed, it's just marketing jargon. the 5spd in these trucks are a bit odd in that they have two 2nd gears, one used for typical upshifts and one used exclusively for kick-down. makes for better acceleration under certain conditions, but i'd rather just have a standard 6 speed (or 10 speed or 21 speed or the next iteration of ridiculousness)

MikeNH · April 27, 2013

Maybe they've tuned it better then. Even as a passenger I could feel it in his 2006, never mind driving it when I got to be designated driver.

Daryl LBZ · April 27, 2013

OP, i had a 2008 CC 4.8L Sierra and loved it. plenty of power and it was great on gas mileage. i never towed with it but i imagine it wouldn't blink an eye at a 14ft aluminum boat. however for what's probably a negligible price difference i'd be looking for a 2009+ 5.3L just for the 6 spd.

my 2011 is pretty transparent. seamless transition in and out, zero hesitation when accelerating from a low-idle cruise. the only noticeable factor of MDS when running on 4 cylinders is a 'different' sounding engine drone. not annoying, just slightly different. and you're right about the 'six' speed, it's just marketing jargon. the 5spd in these trucks are a bit odd in that they have two 2nd gears, one used for typical upshifts and one used exclusively for kick-down. makes for better acceleration under certain conditions, but i'd rather just have a standard 6 speed (or 10 speed or 21 speed or the next iteration of ridiculousness)

I asked the guy I work with last night about his. He has a 2011 Ram sport, and said that he can't feel it doing anything different when MDS is working.

SouthCo · April 27, 2013

OP, due yourself a favor and spend the extra 800 on the 5.3L. Doesn't sound like the little extra cash is a concern to you. Some claim AFM causes oil issues and some don't. Mine didn't burn any oil and my brother in laws 07 Tahoe 5.3 AFM doesn't either. I've since tuned the AFM to be off but his Tahoe still has AFM on. I couldn't ever tell when mine was in V4 mode until I put on aftermarket exhaust. And then I could only tell by the sound if the windows were closed and the radio was off.

I've never heard anyone complain they had too much power, so spend the little more... If I could have found my exact truck with the 6.2 I'd have done that for the reason I just mentioned.