Do s and Don´t s

[hErEsy]

Hi y´all,
just got me a 5th Gen. While I had a few Durangos, this would be my first Truck. Currently still in honeymoon phase
So, I was wondering.
Maybe you guys (and gals of course) could throw me a few Donts and Dos on this type of truck. In the vicinity of "dont drive your truck in Aero Mode all the time because it´ll fry brakelights" ... or something in that sense. Those typical things that brake and cost a lot of dough while taking care before hand would have kept it in shape forever .... (and please dont say: do your tune up ... ROFL).

I am looking for stuff like (pretty sure the Hemi on the Durango is the same on the RAM) check every 50K mls the header screws and /or change em).
Any input is welcome, since I would like to stay on honeymoon for as long as I can . And maybe we can assemble a short list with Issue, Symptom, Cause and Preventationmeasures?

Y´all have a fantastic day !!!!

 

[scottmoyer]

I was thinking about starting a thread for just that. I've fixed many issues myself and know others are still experiencing issues and this site's search function isn't as good as other's I've been on. A single thread to list the issue and fixes would be good.

 

[boogielander]

I probably gonna get a lot of flames for some of the following things, but here goes:

Maintenance:

• Do change your oil and filter regularly. I recommend every 5K but others swear by going with the meter.
• Do follow the book for driveline and transmission, though it's ok to do them earlier if you drive the truck hard, offroad hard/ often, or tow heavy.
• Do use thicker oil (5W-30) than what the book/ cap says. 0W-20 printed on the cap is just way too thin for these engines. (I put 0-40 when I could find them, and 5-40 other times. 5-30 when we run out of the other two at the shop)

Mods (my professional opinions here, though there will be many people doing the opposite and swear off their personal experience saying it's fine):

• Do go with quality parts, even though they may cost more
• Do go with American made parts, even though they do cost more compared to the cheaper Chinese equivalent
  • Things like lights, switches, etc. Two brands that I, as a professional builder, trust: Switch Pros and Baja Designs.
  • Things like bumpers, definitely NOT the cheaper Chinese ones (no DV8, no Amazon, no Ebay)
• Do use real suspension parts, if you want to upgrade
  • Bilstein 5100s are the bare minimum
• Do NOT buy parts from Amazon or ebay unless you know what you're looking at
  • Those sources are often stuff made in China or Chinese branded stuff
• Do NOT use spacers/ pucks for lifts.

Driving habit:

• Do NOT let the engine sit and idle too much. Idling doesn't produce enough oil pressure to lubricate the engine, which would is not good.

 

[hErEsy]

Hi, sorry for this huge delay (forgot to turn notifications on) .
I agree on most you say. Sorry to disappoint no flames here.

The Oil Part is a bid tricky, imo, since there is no evidence. The thickness surely makes the hemi-tick quiter, so that would be on the "pro" side.

I would like in particular to know:
- which ride-height is the best for longevity? and why?
- which mode (4x4, 4x2) is best on standard (i use rearwheel) - is frequesnt switching maybe a thing to get certain parts lubed which otherwise would corode?

What I heard a lot -> the electrical side steps are a pain on the man-purse and the Air ride shocks are breaking on heavy usage a lot (hence, my curiosity as to what I could possibly do keep keep a bid longer - and yes #cityslicker thats me I use mine as a camper and to be able to go offroad to reach camping grounds HAHAHA those cowstopper/traps are usually biggest hurdle my shocks have to enure).
If my 2011 Durango is any indicator for the quality of the Ram, then

-> Never EVER is the heat on full, always stay under. The gears and mixer/trapdoor cant handle the heat since plastic and they are a pain to replace.
-> NEVER buy a used TIPM -> they suck and they nearly 100% broken in one way or another.
-> I was astonished about the leather quality. Just use some once a year before winter at least. It looked always like new, unlike lets say ... hmmm ... I cannot give any names but it starts with a B. MERcedes is a car company.

Other than that, so far my biggest compain and my colleage is chewing my leg off all the time for it. The breaks are utter garbage. Yes, they make the Truck stop, but jeez I would like to see the ABS System once to check if it is there. And I cannot find some nice brembos (e.g.) for it ... Front and Back and NOT having to pay an arm and a leg for it. Also, it seems Truck drivers dont care for brakes too much, since I cannot even find them used. Also, funny thing -> why are most companies only producing the calipers for the front axle and not the back (this is now my female side -> it looks cosmetically stupid to have bright red and huge calipers with slotted and dotted discs in the front and rusties in the back .... I´d appreciate any input here, I might be wrong.

So far nothing broke and I am purely enjoying my g5

 

[cerbo]

what exactly did you get?

 

[silver billet]

• Do NOT let the engine sit and idle too much. Idling doesn't produce enough oil pressure to lubricate the engine, which would is not good.

This point I don't agree with 100%. Idling is a waste of gas and is needless wear on the engine, but the "not enough oil pressure to lubricate engine" is incorrect. It has > 20 psi and that is way more than enough.

There are guys pushing close to 2000 or more idle hours and have zero issues with cam or lifters failures.

 

[boogielander]

This point I don't agree with 100%. Idling is a waste of gas and is needless wear on the engine, but the "not enough oil pressure to lubricate engine" is incorrect. It has > 20 psi and that is way more than enough.

There are guys pushing close to 2000 or more idle hours and have zero issues with cam or lifters failures.

could be a contributing factor. oh wells