'2023 6.4L Power Increase?

[ClawSS]

For 2023, has anybody heard if there was an increase in power in the 6.4 (given the new hood design) and maybe some compression ratio changes? I may have missed an article somewhere. Kinda like me missing the fact that the Hemi has become a "bargaining chip" when it comes to trim packages in the Crew Cab.

If they change spark/timing + compression to boost it up to 430+ or so, that could cause the 6.4 to only want to drink Premium Fuel...which would suck.

 

[Jimmy07]

For 2023, has anybody heard if there was an increase in power in the 6.4 (given the new hood design) and maybe some compression ratio changes? I may have missed an article somewhere. Kinda like me missing the fact that the Hemi has become a "bargaining chip" when it comes to trim packages in the Crew Cab.

If they change spark/timing + compression to boost it up to 430+ or so, that could cause the 6.4 to only want to drink Premium Fuel...which would suck.

Nope, same engine/specs since 2014.

 

[MtnRider]

It's nothing but a fancy (sporty) hood that is available on certain trims, just for looks.


.

 

[jadmt]

yes doubtful they will do anything to spruce up a power plant that is on it's deathbed..........

 

[ClawSS]

There was a guy at work that mentioned a need for 93 octane on the new 6.4's. I doubted his source and was attempting to verify.

I know we have flip-flopped on the 19's possibly saying 87, then we had a couple of years of 89 mentioned in the owner's manual....my '22 says 87. Who knows. The '23 may flip back to 89 again.

 

[jetrinka]

My 21 specifies 89 so thats what it gets. She's a thirsty pig....

 

[Jimmy07]

My 21 specifies 89 so thats what it gets. She's a thirsty pig....

PCM calibration changed starting in 2021. Here’s the 2021 owners manual:

https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/servicemanuals/ram/ca/2021-2500.pdf#page477

 

[jetrinka]

PCM calibration changed starting in 2021. Here’s the 2021 owners manual:

https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/servicemanuals/ram/ca/2021-2500.pdf#page477

View attachment 44841

Frickin frackin piece of stupid crap - where in the heck did I think I saw in my OWN manual 89 was specified??!! I had to go check and now I am pissed I've been wasting money on 89 for a freaking year now!

Once again Jimmy's steel trap of a mind is correct... I feel super dumb but my wallet thanks you.....

 

[Lerker]

I would never question Jimmy07 given his fame and reputation on this forum, but I am left confused.

If I download the 2020 owners manual, it clearly lists 87 octane. Publishing mistake? But sure as shat, if I go look at the paper version in my truck, it lists 89.

I periodically go back and forth, and have yet to notice any difference in power, milage, or sound. I always just kinda figured the engineers specified 89, the marketing guys heard customers griping about mid-level fuel, and management sided with marketing. But who knows?????

 

[Jimmy07]

I would never question Jimmy07 given his fame and reputation on this forum, but I am left confused.

If I download the 2020 owners manual, it clearly lists 87 octane. Publishing mistake? But sure as shat, if I go look at the paper version in my truck, it lists 89.

I periodically go back and forth, and have yet to notice any difference in power, milage, or sound.

2020 owners manual:

https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/servicemanuals/ram/2020-2500.pdf#page456

 

[Lerker]

Yup, no debate that that site's manual lists 89 octane, but mopar.com's manual lists 87. Assume mopar would be the official source? I'm too dumb to be able to link a manual like that haha

 

[Jimmy07]

Yup, no debate that that site's manual lists 89 octane, but mopar.com's manual lists 87. Assume mopar would be the official source? I'm too dumb to be able to link a manual like that haha

That’s exactly where I pulled the manual link from.

 

[jsalbre]

I'm curious what they changed in the tune from '20 to '21, and how it affected the dyno curve.

 

[jadmt]

this is from my online manual for my 2020. It does not mention 89

 

[Gondul]

My '19 specifies 89 "for best performance"... so it's 87 around town and 89 when towing.
There is certainly no change in mileage...

 

[ClawSS]

But we are all in agreement that the '23 6.4L is not going full supreme unleaded 91-92-93+ octane, right?

 

[Redfour5]

I would never question Jimmy07 given his fame and reputation on this forum, but I am left confused.

If I download the 2020 owners manual, it clearly lists 87 octane. Publishing mistake? But sure as shat, if I go look at the paper version in my truck, it lists 89.

I periodically go back and forth, and have yet to notice any difference in power, milage, or sound. I always just kinda figured the engineers specified 89, the marketing guys heard customers griping about mid-level fuel, and management sided with marketing. But who knows?????

Corporate siding with the marketing pukes over the engineers? I am aghast. But then again, I remember my 2004 Subaru Forester as a tow beast with my 1900 lb pop up camper. Then Subaru hired a marketing guy as CEO. By 2007, and my next (same gen) Forester, they had changed the engine so it would go faster getting on the highway for all the soccer moms but murdered its towing to a degree at the upper end (manual tranny), forcing me to drop 6mph at a lower gear going up the Ike. They changed the wheel to wheel turns on the wheel so responsiveness sucked and softened the ride so I had to get WRX Pinks springs to compensate for the drop and wallow... So, I guess I'm not surprised. I can just see the conversation.... CEO to engineers at FCA... Will it work on 87? Engineers, Well, yes but... CEO - No buts, 87 it is... Passive aggressive engineers leaving 89 in some places like old hard copy books... And DON'T let the bean counters enter the fray or your product is doomed. Oh and the Marketing pukes are still angry they lost the towing argument with the engineers on the SAE J2807 standards... They wanted to tell us we could tow the Empire State Building with the six cylinder...

 

[RVTRKN]

Of coarse the below statement does not apply if the recommended gas should be premium. If you look at the posted octane number for any gasoline at the pumps, it can change in certain region's or State's to a lower standard number.

For my generators, Harley and lawn tractor I use only Premium (what ever the octane is). For my gas powered cars/trucks, I use Regular gas (whatever the octane is). If a high milage trip is planned, I'll fill the tank with Premium before the trip and fill the second tank on the trip with Premium. After that I go back to Regular. The Premium helps in keeping the system clean by burning a little hotter with the higher octane. I also like to run an additive that helps in cleaning injectors on those Premium filled tanks.

Toyota has an excellent injector cleaner, that blows away the crap in the auto parts stores. Instructions specify not to leave in the tank, and to fully use the tank of fuel, If I have a quarter of a tank after the trip, I'll refill the tank to dilute the remaining cleaner.

 

[Redfour5]

When going into a mountain state, I just can't bring myself to use the "85" stuff... Fortunately, I live in MT and we don't sell that stuff irrespective of the altitude...

 

[jsalbre]

Of coarse the below statement does not apply if the recommended gas should be premium. If you look at the posted octane number for any gasoline at the pumps, it can change in certain region's or State's to a lower standard number.

For my generators, Harley and lawn tractor I use only Premium (what ever the octane is). For my gas powered cars/trucks, I use Regular gas (whatever the octane is). If a high milage trip is planned, I'll fill the tank with Premium before the trip and fill the second tank on the trip with Premium. After that I go back to Regular. The Premium helps in keeping the system clean by burning a little hotter with the higher octane. I also like to run an additive that helps in cleaning injectors on those Premium filled tanks.

Toyota has an excellent injector cleaner, that blows away the crap in the auto parts stores. Instructions specify not to leave in the tank, and to fully use the tank of fuel, If I have a quarter of a tank after the trip, I'll refill the tank to dilute the remaining cleaner.

Premium doesn’t burn any “hotter” than regular. Octane is only resistance to pre-ignition.

The most logical reason for the change, without a change in power, is that the engine was already designed to run on regular for this generation but they typoed and put 89 in the initial manuals.