Ram trucks are some of the fastest-growing in the country. Buyers love the capability and affordability of these trucks. Most correlate the well-known, Hemi engine with these trucks. The Hemi is a beast, and its reputation precedes it. However, do all of Ram’s trucks include a Hemi engine? Let’s look at all of the offerings and see what we find.

Getting Hemi-technical

What is a Hemi exactly? It’s an engine with what is called a hemispherical combustion chamber. It is designed in a half-sphere shape, requiring dome-shaped cylinders. The rounded edges throughout mean less heat escapes, when compared to the typical flat-head versions.

Higher heat means more pressure. More pressure means more energy, and power. The valves on a Hemi are larger, too, allowing greater airflow and cooling. Even the spark plugs ignite more efficiently with this type of design.

Ram trucks & Hemi popularity

The Hemi engine has been around for years but got a significant upgrade in the ’50s. It’s popularity skyrocketed when Chrysler launched it’s 331 cubic-inch V8 engine with Hemi combustion. It was called the “FirePower” of its day.

The Hemi’s reputation as a powerful engine was born. Since then, Hemi has carried its name well. Enthusiasts rave about its unique power capability, long-lasting reliability, and say they’re just plain fun to drive.

What the critics say about the Hemi

Despite its authority in the powerful truck engine category, some cite a few disadvantages to the Hemi. It’s often more expensive, for example, due to being more costly to produce.

The design also weighs more, meaning there might be some compromise on efficiency. It’s also slightly restricted to the two-valve per cylinder system. Merely due to there being no additional room for variation.

Ram trucks with Hemi engines

Hemi’s are available in most Rams, including 2019 1500. Ram has changed up a few options, to better enhance the selection of Hemi for the consumer truck preferences.

You can choose a 5.7L Hemi V8 engine with ETorque (a hybrid variation for fuel economy) or the standard 5.7L V8. Ask any of your Ram loving friends about their older model trucks. They’ll more than likely tell you their Hemi’s are still running strong, even with higher mileage.

Ram adding variety with Pentastar

So do all Rams come equipped with Hemi engines? Not exactly. For example, the 2019 Ram is also available with the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine with ETorque.

Coming standard on most trim levels is this upgraded Pentastar engine. The enhancement offers variable valve timing and a two-step variable valve lift. What does this mean? It means you can have top-notch horsepower in a V6, along with best-in-class fuel economy for a 4×4.

Diesel engine options

In addition to the Hemi V8 and the Pentastar V6, you can equip your truck with a variety of diesel options. The 2019 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel V6 boasts up to 27 mpg. Traditional Ram 2500 and 3500 offer Cummins diesel heavy-duty capabilities, too.

You can opt for one of two 6.7L Cummins engines. One is paired with an updated version of 2018’s six-speed auto and rates at 370 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque. The 400 horsepower version, with 1000 lb-ft, is equipped with an Aisin six-speed auto, with heftier thrust and more heat treating.

Rams are simply synonymous with the Hemi engine. But, it’s great to know that the company has added a little variety to the truck lineup. In doing so, it makes it a lot easier for consumers to find the right configuration for their needs. It certainly doesn’t mean the Hemi is going anywhere, though. After all, it has a powerful reputation to maintain.