2025 RAM 1500 BIGHORN 3.0 I HURRICANE twin-turbo, SO, 420HP - check engine light

[Skobain]

Yes - it is possible that you had contaminated fuel.
Did they provide you with a report from an establishment/lab?
What is the contamination source?
Do you fill up your other cars at the same station? If yes -- do they have any issues?
Call/contact RamCares @ least to document the event.
Unless your dealer's folks are rocket scientists - I would not trust many things they say!

I definitely think it’s a possibility, the odds are just crazy to me.
I was told they’d call me tomorrow when they take a sample because the one they already took has evaporated, but I’m going to call them in the morning to notify me when they plan on taking the fuel sample so I can be present for the task. If the fuel is contaminated there’s not much I’ll be able to do but to pay for a flush of the system; it is what it is. But for being quoted $1200 for that system flush, I want to make sure that’s the problem, seeing as how so many people are having similar issues and the contaminated fuel answer being a ploy used in the past when the actual problem hasn’t been identified.

 

[Cbty2050]

I definitely think it’s a possibility, the odds are just crazy to me.
I was told they’d call me tomorrow when they take a sample because the one they already took has evaporated, but I’m going to call them in the morning to notify me when they plan on taking the fuel sample so I can be present for the task. If the fuel is contaminated there’s not much I’ll be able to do but to pay for a flush of the system; it is what it is. But for being quoted $1200 for that system flush, I want to make sure that’s the problem, seeing as how so many people are having similar issues and the contaminated fuel answer being a ploy used in the past when the actual problem hasn’t been identified.

If the fuel is contaminated, you will be able to see it in a clear bottle in the sample. There isn't any need for lab reports, anyone that has dealt with bad/contaminated fuel can see it. The fuel station will also have other people with fuel issues, not just you.

 

[SD Rebel]

Update for mine is they said they took a fuel sample and it was definitely contaminated fuel. Quoting me $1200 to flush the system. I still have a hard time believing this, after having driven so many different cars in so many different countries for the past 12 years, then I just happen to buy a brand new truck and fill it with gas from the same places I always fill up at for the last 5 years since I’ve been at my current location, and all of a sudden contaminated fuel causes my misfires at cylinders 3 and 5, as well as a random misfire. I’m not saying it’s impossible because I’m sure it happens, but with so many others having similar issues as early as 50 miles on their same brand new truck, this is weird.

I agree, it sounds very unlikely, but just in case I would call that station and see if they're getting reports from customers.

I would also ask for that proof that they did actually get a report and ask to see it

 

[Skobain]

To be clear, they originally told me there was presence of ‘foreign fluid in the fuel’, so I’m not necessarily sure how easy it would be to see a difference. Unfortunately I’m not an expert on fluids or fluid mechanics but if I should be looking for something in particular with what I’ve said in mind tomorrow when I’m present for the task, please anyone feel free to let me know lol

 

[MT755]

Contamination? What about the filter? Fluid getting into the engine? How is this causing the sparkplug to misfire? Is the fluid jumping out of the fuel rail into the computer?

Just my two cents

 

[Cbty2050]

To be clear, they originally told me there was presence of ‘foreign fluid in the fuel’, so I’m not necessarily sure how easy it would be to see a difference. Unfortunately I’m not an expert on fluids or fluid mechanics but if I should be looking for something in particular with what I’ve said in mind tomorrow when I’m present for the task, please anyone feel free to let me know lol

Have them provide "known good fuel" and then the "contaminated fuel" you will see the difference, it is almost always easy to see(also smell) the difference.

 

[Cbty2050]

Contamination? What about the filter? Fluid getting into the engine? How is this causing the sparkplug to misfire? Is the fluid jumping out of the fuel rail into the computer?

Just my two cents

Are you serious? Go dump about 20 gallons of diesel fuel in your tank and see what happens. There is so much more than a spark plug that misfires....

 

[RVTRKN]

Contamination? What about the filter? Fluid getting into the engine? How is this causing the sparkplug to misfire? Is the fluid jumping out of the fuel rail into the computer?

Just my two cents

Could the new combustion sensor, thats supposed to actually see the gas igniting, be causing contaminated fuel to be seen, that normally would burn with the normal combustion process of an engine without the new sensors?

Cheap gas vrs top brand gas?

 

[CalvinC]

Contaminated fuel?
With as busy and consistent as this thread is??

Not bloody likely!

 

[firecadet613]

Are you serious? Go dump about 20 gallons of diesel fuel in your tank and see what happens. There is so much more than a spark plug that misfires....

That's not "contaminated fuel" in my book, that would be filling your tank with diesel! In 25+ years of driving (well above the average miles of most) I've never had an issue due to "contaminated fuel".

How often do you see contaminated fuel at a dealership? I'm betting not very often...

With the issues being posted here, I'd be surprised if fuel is his issue...

 

[Cbty2050]

That's not "contaminated fuel" in my book, that would be filling your tank with diesel! In 25+ years of driving (well above the average miles of most) I've never had an issue due to "contaminated fuel".

How often do you see contaminated fuel at a dealership? I'm betting not very often...

With the issues being posted here, I'd be surprised if fuel is his issue...

My example is an extreme example and it is contaminated, you would be surprised how many people do what I said on accident. We see "contaminated fuel" enough to have storage tanks for it. Usually water/unknown fluid in fuel.

It happens, just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't make it not real.

I also am a skeptical of the diagnosis. It still can happen.

 

[cpetku]

I definitely think it’s a possibility, the odds are just crazy to me.
I was told they’d call me tomorrow when they take a sample because the one they already took has evaporated, but I’m going to call them in the morning to notify me when they plan on taking the fuel sample so I can be present for the task. If the fuel is contaminated there’s not much I’ll be able to do but to pay for a flush of the system; it is what it is. But for being quoted $1200 for that system flush, I want to make sure that’s the problem, seeing as how so many people are having similar issues and the contaminated fuel answer being a ploy used in the past when the actual problem hasn’t been identified.

Must be badly contaminated if the sample size required to identify the issue is so small it can evaporate from a sealed container. I assume they didn't just put a little on a napkin and say, lookie here, it's contaminated...

 

[Skobain]

Must be badly contaminated if the sample size required to identify the issue is so small it can evaporate from a sealed container. I assume they didn't just put a little on a napkin and say, lookie here, it's contaminated...

I plan on going to the dealership when they call so that I can be present for them getting the fuel sample and testing it. Depending on what ends up happening, I might end up just taking the truck back and draining the fuel tank myself and just cycle good fuel through it. Even if it ends up coming out that contaminated fuel isn’t the issue, I’ll be out $1200 since it isn’t covered under warranty.

 

[Skobain]

One small update, and sorry for having posted so much, but the service person left a message on my phone and said when they took the fuel sample, you could see separation in the sample that was probably water. If there’s enough water mixed with the fuel to cause misfires on startup, could that have actually come from a bad fill-up at a gas station or is that an issue with the system somewhere drawing in rain/water from a car wash, anything like that?

 

[Biga]

So far I've had no check engine lights over 3,100 miles knock on wood. I have filled up with Shell 93 every time except once I used Costco 93. Eventually I will try going back to 89 as we have no 91 here in Southern Ohio.

 

[Whoa_Ram]

Same boat as you Biga! I'm at 1800 miles and no check engine light. I've used a variety of octanes as I'm using this truck mainly for trips to Midland to see my daughter.

 

[OLLIECB]

Contaminated fuel, lol...is it possible yes...but with the geography between these incidents I don't the vast misfire problems are fuel acquired...especially when my first misfire was fuel I got from the dealership when it was newly driven off the lot...Stellantis cannot think we all are that gullable

 

[Biga]

Same boat as you Biga! I'm at 1800 miles and no check engine light. I've used a variety of octanes as I'm using this truck mainly for trips to Midland to see my daughter.

Good to hear Whoa_Ram, glad to hear not everyone is getting check engine lights. 1,000 of the 3,100 miles was a road trip to Wisconsin and back and then some commuting to work which is mostly highway.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I recently purchased a 2025 RAM 1500 BIGHORN 3.0 I HURRICANE twin-turbo with 420HP. With less than 1,000 miles on it, I am incredibly frustrated to have encountered an issue with the check engine light for the second time. Despite using premium gas and driving conservatively, I have had to drop off my truck for service again.

The first time, they ran tests but found nothing. A week later, the light returned, and now my truck is back in service. The lack of online information only adds to my frustration, as I am left without any clear understanding of the cause.

This is a brand-new vehicle, and such issues highlight a significant failure in the QA process. The company must address and resolve this problem promptly. This situation is unacceptable and cannot continue.

Seems there can be different reasons for this engine light issue. Mine came on at 850 miles. Took it in to the service center here. They had a service bulletin that stated to look at/behind the airbox. The codes that they read had shown multiple miss fires. Even though, the engine was running fine. Mine also would not allow auto start to randomly engage/not engage, start, then shut right back off, or start and then when I opened the door, shut off immediately. They removed the airbox to find the engine wire harness had came loose at a connection point and not properly secured. They secured the harness and did a comprehensive, like trying to get it to break and this was shown by the fuel mileage left, and the fuel mileage average, to try and get the engine light to come back on.

We shall see if that fully corrected the issue, and I know where to hunt first if it comes back. I know this may not be your case, but at least at my service center, they are more up to date and educated on the engine light issues.

 

[Skobain]

Seems there can be different reasons for this engine light issue. Mine came on at 850 miles. Took it in to the service center here. They had a service bulletin that stated to look at/behind the airbox. The codes that they read had shown multiple miss fires. Even though, the engine was running fine. Mine also would not allow auto start to randomly engage/not engage, start, then shut right back off, or start and then when I opened the door, shut off immediately. They removed the airbox to find the engine wire harness had came loose at a connection point and not properly secured. They secured the harness and did a comprehensive, like trying to get it to break and this was shown by the fuel mileage left, and the fuel mileage average, to try and get the engine light to come back on.

We shall see if that fully corrected the issue, and I know where to hunt first if it comes back. I know this may not be your case, but at least at my service center, they are more up to date and educated on the engine light issues.

Please keep us updated on this one, my service department said they’d check for bulletins but haven’t said anything since they brought it up and just keeps pushing the contaminated fuel topic