3500 SRW HO Diesel Reviews

[JohnWedell]

I’m thinking about purchasing one of these (2020) and wondering how the new motors are doing has anyone had any problems with them or are they happy.

[oh355mbqs]

Not sure it applies because it's not the newest Duramax on the market and you currently have a Ram so not sure which 3500 you are looking at..... but I'll give an opinion anyway. I have a 2016 Silverado 3500 SRW with the Duramax, in 2016 it was rated at 400 HP and 765 torque (from memory, could be a little different), I believe they are still the same HP but have increased to a little over 900 ft-lbs of torque. I couldn't be happier with my truck. It's my daily driver and I have about 75k miles on it already. It has been on several long RV trips, including Ohio to California and back. I have not seen the huge increase in maintenance cost, of course, I do a lot of it myself. It does take more oil so it obviously costs more, but not that much. My local Napa gives me a huge discount on the fuel filter so that helps, it lists for almost $100, they sell to me for $35. I change the fuel filter and transmission filter every other oil change. I'm guessing I will have another diesel truck in 2021 or 2022. I'm towing a 14k 5th wheel and you don't even notice it's back there. Last fall my 19 year old daughter drove with the camper for about 2 hours, she even commented that it was easy to forget it was back there. With the exhaust brake and tow-haul mode, I set the cruise control and don't even think about it, uphill, downhill, doesn't matter, it holds whatever speed you set. My truck has not been deleted, modified or tuned. Still uses the DEF, about 2-1/2 gallons every 3500 or so miles. Gets about 14 MPG in stop and go, gets about 18 MPG at interstate (75 MPH) speeds, gets about 22 MPG at 55-60 MPH and gets about 11 MPG when towing, doesn't seem to matter the speed, terrain etc. Sorry for the long post, hope it answers some questions.

[Midnightmoon]

The big concern with the Ram was the switch to the historically troublesome Bosch CP4 from the CP3 injection pump for the 2019 model year. I haven't heard of any real world failures of yet.

There has been some ongoing issues with the new Ram 12" touch screen display. I have a friend in Arizona that has one in a 2019 and it has been problematic.

[TCNashville]

I guess he's not talking about a Ford. Or maybe he should be?

[Lake Huron]

Ram/Cummins is the only one I know of that has a HO diesel.
If they are running the same Bosch CP4 injection pump that the LML Duramax has, they MAY have the same issues. Maybe that's why Cummins endorsed Power Service fuel additive. Hmmmm....

[bstannard]

We have had 2015 and 2017 D-max and Powerstrokes at work as well as ‘17 D-max for towing camper. All have been trouble free and are very impressive with a big trailer hooked on, don’t be afraid of either. The Chevys have seemed to get a bit better mileage though. However, just got a 2020 F350/Powerstroke-game changer! The horsepower and torque increases are very noticeable with fifth wheel in tow. Even the mileage is improved!
Bill

[TxLoser]

Originally Posted by Lake Huron

Ram/Cummins is the only one I know of that has a HO diesel.
If they are running the same Bosch CP4 injection pump that the LML Duramax has, they MAY have the same issues. Maybe that's why Cummins endorsed Power Service fuel additive. Hmmmm....

I think GM finally moved away from the CP4 in 2017. Why is the Ram diesel called HO. I thought they only had one engine for all the 2500-3500 trucks? A marketing thing?

[Lake Huron]

Cummins has put out an HO engine a few different times. Once was back in 02. It used the same VP44 injection pump but they fiddled with the timing of the pump and used different pistons and injectors. The SO engine was. 235hp and the HO engine was 245hp. I believe they did it around 07 and again in 12. They get them to out out just a little bit more HP so they can call it a HO engine. Mo-money. Lol!

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by Lake Huron

Maybe that's why Cummins endorsed Power Service fuel additive. Hmmmm....

When I had my '12 F-250 with the 6.7L PSD I added Power Service to every fill up. The reason being when they switched to low sulfur diesel fuel it lost a lot of its lubricating properties. In the Fords if you grenade the fuel system it's a $10K repair bill out of warranty.

[curver900]

the GM's went to a new fuel system in late 2017 with a lift pump and pump from Denso who makes all sorts of diesel fuel equipment.

I have a 2019 so far no issues.... there were early issues in 2017/18 with injectors, coolant reservoirs and glow plugs. Most ended up being connectors. I haven't read or hear of many issues on the 2020's on the two forums I am on... the 2020's are new, the motor is really a third year version of the l5p after the fuel pump change. I think you are pretty safe with it. If i use good diesel I go 750+ miles unladen between regens and have been going north of 500miles on winter fuel and more idling that I care to do so they have fixed that IMO.

All three have good/bad/ugly.... get your best price and go with that one... I do like the ride of the Government Motors truck though...
There has been some more noise about the death wobble on the Fords lately you may want to check that out.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

I think GM finally moved away from the CP4 in 2017. Why is the Ram diesel called HO. I thought they only had one engine for all the 2500-3500 trucks? A marketing thing?

High Output.

[DrSmart]

2020 Ram 3500 with available Cummins in two versions:


TORQUE
850 LB-FT
MAX TOWING
UP TO 22,670 POUNDS( Disclosure4)
MAX PAYLOAD
UP TO 6,840
POUNDS
MAX HORSEPOWER
370


TORQUE
1,000 LB-FT
MAX TOWING
UP TO 35,100 POUNDS( Disclosure4)
MAX PAYLOAD
UP TO 6,570
POUNDS
MAX HORSEPOWER
400


https://www.ramtrucks.com/2020/ram-3500/capability.html


I would want to know more about the two fuel pumps being used before committing big $$$$ to a new truck. We had our turbo actuator fail recently and that's not cheap either.

[ARMYG]

I pull my northpoint with a silverado 3500 diesel and love it. The 910 ft lb of torque is unbelievable

[djensen9367]

Originally Posted by Lake Huron

Cummins has put out an HO engine a few different times. Once was back in 02. It used the same VP44 injection pump but they fiddled with the timing of the pump and used different pistons and injectors. The SO engine was. 235hp and the HO engine was 245hp. I believe they did it around 07 and again in 12. They get them to out out just a little bit more HP so they can call it a HO engine. Mo-money. Lol!

They have had an HO engine as far back as I can remember and only put it behind the Aisin medium duty truck tranny.

[bstannard]

FWIW, we went from a 2017 Duramax to a 2020 F350 PS. As much as I liked the D-Max, the new Power Stroke really shows the increase hp and torque. 10 speed Trans is very smooth. Really expected it to at least drop a gear on I75 hills in Ky. and Tn. as the Chevy did but stayed in 10th at 1550 rpm the whole time. Fuel mileage is a little better too. Really impressed.
Bill

[Fleetman]

Count the ratio Ford vs. Chevy vs. Ram in campgrounds.

[serfas01]

I pull a 2016 Pinnacle 38FLSA (42ft-7") with our 2018 DRW Crew Cab GMC Denali. The Pinnacle is 16,000 and the Duramax pulls it great. Our Duramax is rated at 445 HP and 915 Lbs torque. I tow in cruise control with the Exhaust brake on all the time. I don't use the tow-haul as it increases the RPM by about 100 which I am sure will eat more fuel. I get about 10.5 mpg towing and 19 mpg solo. Very happy with the performance. This is our 4th Dually Duramax and they have all been great.

[Lake Huron]

Snip... I tow in cruise control with the Exhaust brake on all the time. I don't use the tow-haul as it increases the RPM by about 100 which I am sure will eat more fuel. Snip...

If I remember correctly, I haven't driven mine since October 2019 due to this thing called winter, the tow/haul mode only works below 60. Once it's in top gear on the highway tow/haul doesnt affect it at all other than enhance the exhaust brake. I run with my cruise all the time also. If you're rolling down the highway above 60, you should be able to turn the tow/haul mode on and off and it shouldnt affect the rpm.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by Fleetman

Count the ratio Ford vs. Chevy vs. Ram in campgrounds.

That does not mean a thing. Where you sit is where you stand and people will buy what they have been driving in past years. If you dad drove GM chances are you and the rest of the family will follow suit. If you have been driving Ford since high school it is unlikely you will all of a sudden change brands.

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by CAG

That does not mean a thing.

I don't know if it does or doesn't but I can't discount the fact that the campgrounds I visit the Fords out number the others by a sizeable margin. Maybe being a Ford truck owner I'm just "seeing things", lol.