The celebrity status of DaimlerChrysler AG's Hemi Magnum 5.7L OHV V-8 continues to swell, and the Hemi's success in the marketplace has been an ongoing focus of media attention.
Always an early adopter, Ward's decided nearly a year ago to subject the Hemi — now a two-time winner of a 10 Best Engines award — to a year-long evaluation.
These long-term tests, conducted in conjunction with the annual 10 Best Engines competition, generate extra insight and day-to-day experience not possible during the intense but comparatively brief 10 Best Engines judging process. By living with a winning engine for a year, Ward's editors are able to more thoroughly evaluate and replicate the experience a typical buyer might have.
Most important, if the engine has any design or manufacturing defects, our long-term test — which often comprises two or three years' worth of driving for an average customer — likely will expose such flaws.
No problems for the Hemi in that respect, though. It's sailed through 22,000 miles (35,400 km) with complete reliability and no meaningful operational difficulty. The Hemi's vaunted power and torque continue to delight all who drive the '03 Ram Quad Cab pickup, the first model year of Hemi availability for the light-duty Ram.
Since our last report, however, there were a few glitches. The feared “check engine” light engaged, and the dealer first replaced a switch that signals detection of excessive fuel vapors. But the next day, the light again lit.
The suspicion again was directed at excess vapors, and this time the purge solenoid was replaced. The light went dark and that's the sum total of our problems with the drivetrain.
The only other item that gave trouble was the Ram's windshield washer pump, which was replaced under warranty. Service costs, meanwhile, have been delightfully minor, with a typical oil-change scheduled maintenance costing about $30. The scheduled-maintenance portion of the spec box does not reflect the cost of the service that was planned just after this report was completed.
Overall, Ward's 10 months with the Hemi V-8 and Ram pickup have been as trouble-free as an owner could demand. Despite fuel economy that's just now managed to creep to 13 mpg (18L/100 km), the Ram's logbook is filled with enthusiastic comments about the Hemi's outstanding power and torque, and its low-cost maintenance and absolute reliability are testimony to the Hemi's robust design. Ward's staffers already are dreading the day DC operatives show up to insist we return the Hemi-powered Ram.
2003 Dodge Ram 1500
Engine: 5.7L (5,654 cc) 90-deg. OHV V-8; iron block/aluminum heads
Horsepower (SAE net): 345 @ 5,400 rpm
Torque: 375 lb.-ft. (509 Nm) @ 4,200 rpm
Compression ratio: 9.5:1
Specific output: 61 hp/L
Date delivered: 4-30-03
Total miles/miles covered in this report: 22,009/9,114
Overall fuel economy: 13 mpg (18L/100 km)
Total maintenance cost: $61.17
Non-scheduled maintenance cost (total): $0
