which is a better motor...5.2 or 5.9, im loooking at a ram, but its got 190k on it, still runs good, but i wanna decide if i wanna put a 5.2 or a 5.9 in it...if and when it goes...its a 95 reg. cab. Long bed. SLT. auto 4x4, 190k, $2600...is it a good deal?

 

bot the 5.2 and 5.9 have a plenum gasket issue which leaks oil into the engine. I would check the automatic transmission for any problem especially on a 95. If you plan on doing any towing with it you might want the 5.9 for the extra power but the 5.2 is a great motor too

 

I have heard that the 5.2 can actually be harder on gas than the 5.9, but haven't found anything to back that up. I had the 318 in my '77 van, other than two timing chains the thing ran like a tank for 300,000 miles ... guy took the motor out of the rotting carcass to use. I'm sure many differences have been made over the years but it's basically the same motor. Many still swear it was one of the strongest workhorse motors ever made. I have towed boats before and not really had any problems.

 

only a 20 horsepower diffrence between the 318 and 360.. 318 is better on gas plus a lighter engine..

 

I've had both. The 5.2 has only 20 less hp, gets 2 mpg better. I currently have 5.9, and have found it to be nearly indestructible. Get the 5.2

 

I have had both the 5.2 and 5.9 in my 01 Ram. When I bought the truck new it had the 5.2 and according to comparisons I did before the purchase the 5.9 actually was given 2 MPG more on the sticker. I believe that this is due to the relatively heavy weight of the Dodge Ram. So far I am receiving the same 15 MPG in the 5.9 as I was the 5.2, but my 5.9 is a performance engine built for low end torque so a stock 5.9 would probably give you better MPG.

For towing, the 5.9 is a much better choice, but to be honest, I only pulled the 5.2 so I could more easliy pull my fifth wheel. The 5.2 had about 112,000 on it and was running like a top when I did the swap. No oil usage and no engine issues ever. Still have the long block ( heads, block, timing gear, and all internals ) sitting on a pallet in my shed. Just couldn't give it away for what I was offered.

Bot hengines are good, but if you decide to replace the 5.2 with a 5.9 you also will need the correct 5.9 computer replacement. At the time of the replacement you will also need to buy a new flex plate and crankshaft damper as the 5.2 is an internally balanced engine and the 5.9 is externally balanced. Somebody else will have to address whether the torque converter would need replaced also as in the past, the 5.9 included balancing on the torque converter but I cannot remember what year that stopped.

 

go with the 5.2,, every 318 i have owned i have fell in love with

 

I just sold my 99 ram (single cab, SWB, 4x4) and bought an 06, but my 99 had the 5.9. I loved it, although it always got 12mpg, didn't matter what you were doing, towing, city, highway, always 12. I've never had any experience with the 5.2 though