Hemi engines were introduced back in the early 1900s by a Belgian automobile manufacturer named Pipe.

A newly designed combustion chamber made better outputs back then. But high production costs and demand for more powerful engines put the abstract design to a halt.

Soon after World War II, Chrysler made a comeback with extraordinary design. Continuous R&D and several improvements were made over time to produce a spectacular engine design.

In the year 2003 Dodge launched their Ram trucks (1500, 2500, and 3500) with a 5.7L V-8 Hemi engine.

Chrysler made some modifications to the combustion chamber with other technological improvements.

It produced 345HP back then, making other muscle car makers approach the 5.7L V-8 Hemi Engine.

How Much Horsepower Does The 5.7 Hemi Have?

The third generation of the 5.7L Hemi engine consists of 8 cylinders placed in a 90° V8 configuration.

Each piston has a bore and stroke of 3.92 and 3.58 inches, which makes it an under-square engine design.

This 16-valve engine has a variable cam timing along with push road OHC. The engine block is constructed from cast iron whereas the engine head is made of aluminum alloy.

Dodge ram 5.7 Hemi engine produces a power of massive 395 horsepower and a nifty 410 pound-feet of torque.

Ram pickup trucks come with different engine options, but the 5.7L Hemi V8 engine is the best choice because of its performance over the 3.6L Pentastar V6 and the 3.0-Liter EcoDiesel V6.

The Ram 1500 mated with a 5.7L Hemi V8 engine is capable of towing loads up to 11,600 pounds effortlessly.

This engine’s capabilities challenge other engine makers when it comes to power and fuel efficiency.

With the mentioned power and torque figures this powerhouse of an engine on a Ram 1500 returns a fuel economy¹ of 15 mpg and 21 mpg on city and highway respectively. 

[1: Actual mpg of any vehicle is subject to change over driving conditions, driving pattern, and several other factors.]

As discussed above the engine specifications are summarized below:

Engine Parameter	Value
Make and Model	Chrysler Hemi 5.7L V8
Configuration	90 V°-8
Displacement	345 cubic inches
Piston Bore	3.92 inches
Piston Stroke	3.58 inches
Compression Ratio	10.5:1
Peak Torque	410 lb.-ft. @ 3,950 rpm
Peak Horsepower	395 HP @ 5600 rpm

New and Improved 5.7L HEMI V8 ENGINE

The dodge ram 5.7 Hemi engine uses two spark plugs per cylinder which increases the combustion efficiency.

Engineers added various new technologies to boost the overall performance of the V8 engine.

In 2009 the engine got to see various technological advantages like

• Variable Cam Timing
• Increased Compression Ratio
• Active Intake Manifold
• Active Multi Displacement Systems

Let us go through these technological terms in simple words to get a clear idea of their advantages.

Variable cam timing is used to alter the opening and closing time of intake and exhaust valves. Any engine needs more air at a higher rpm.

When needed electronic sensors engage actuators that are connected to the camshaft to alter its timing.

The rotation of the camshaft from its original position advances or reduces the valve timing.

A higher compression ratio means the air inside a cylinder is more compressed during the compression stroke.

Compressed air creates a more powerful explosion thus creating a power boost. Therefore, a higher compression ratio uses less fuel but produces more power from an engine.

An active intake manifold allows the intake air to travel through a long or short path to the combustion chamber.

A long path aids in cooling the air and makes it oxygen-rich. At lower RPMs, the colder air can create noticeable power.

Multi-Displacement System (MDS) deactivates some of the cylinders. Under low load conditions, the engine does not need to produce power from all cylinders.

MDS cuts down excess fuel usage by shutting off certain cylinders such that the engine acts like a lower-capacity engine.

List of Dodge Ram Trims Available With The 5.7 Hemi V8 Engine

Whether it be smooth riding or powerful performance, several different trims of RAM 1500 trucks are available to fulfill your needs.

If we emphasize only at the 2022 RAM 1500 model, there are 4 different engine options to choose from.

Among them, the 5.7L Hemi V8 Engine is the most popular one. Under the hood, it produces effective power and torque to get jobs done at ease.

When coupled with a mid-hybrid system (5.7L HEMI V8 with eTorque) the towing capacity of this engine gets to over 12000 pounds.

The 5.7 Hemi V8 Engine is tried, tested, and trusted over years by the users.

Since it would be a mess to list down many years of ram 1500 trims that use the 5.7L V8 engine, we have listed only the 2022 RAM 1500 trims with a 5.7L Hemi V8 Engine for you:

5.7L Hemi V8 Engine Vs 5.7L Hemi V8 Engine With eTorque

The 5.7L V8 Engine also comes with an electric motor-generator combination called a mild hybrid system.

When more pulling power is required, the motor and the engine combine to boost the overall performance.

This electric unit replaces the alternator and it is used to start-stop the car. Let us dive deep into this modern engineering concept.

5.7L Hemi V8	Engine Parameters	5.7L Hemi V8 With eTorque
395 HP	Horsepower	395 HP
410 lb-ft	Torque	410 lb-ft (+130 lb-ft)
11310 lb	Max Towing Capacity	12750 lb
15/21 mpg	Fuel Economy (City/HWY)	18/23 mpg

We have already discussed the specifications of the mighty 5.7L Hemi V8 engine. When a 48V motor-generator unit is coupled with this engine it adds more towing force to the engine.

Since the motor uses electrical energy from a separate 48V, no extra fuel is used to boost the towing capability of the engine.

This feature is what Ram calls eTorque. The battery is recharged faster when the truck is driven. Moreover, regenerative braking is used to replenish the battery.

The table above demonstrates how the eTorque feature on the 5.7L engine enhances its performance while returning excellent fuel economy numbers.

The advantages of a hybrid engine are something that everyone is familiar with today.

Clear Impression on Horsepower Dodge Ram 5.7 Hemi

The 5.7 V8 Hemi produces stunning power and torque figures. Be it your pop-up camper, fishing boat, or your adventure motorbike, this powerful engine manages to pull every load you put on it.

A maximum towing capacity of 11,310 pounds is enough to fulfill most of your towing needs.

Want more torque? Yes, you can get even more torque output when this engine is equipped with an eTorque system.

An extra 130-pound feet of pulling force while keeping the fuel consumption level at the same is clever engineering.

A 5.7 Hemi V8 with eTorque can tow loads up to 12,750 pounds. If you are still confused then the weight chart below will give you a rough idea about the capabilities of this engine.

Trailer Weight Chart
Object	Max Empty Weight	Max GVWR
Canoe or Kayak	400 lbs	800 lbs
Motorcycle	800 lbs	3500 lbs
Pop-up Camper	2300 lbs	4000 lbs

Note: Actual weight of the trailer and objects may vary on the design.

Comparison of 5.7 Hemi With Previous Generation Engines

Ram trucks known as a farmer’s best friend in the US started their journey in 1981.

It continued its journey till 1993 with engine options of a 3.7L slant-six, a 5.2L V8, and a 5.9L V8. The 5.9L V8 could push a max of 230 HP in 1993.

After 13 years Dodge decided to launch the 1500 model lineup. Second-generation Rams had the same engine options but improved ones to add more HP and torque.

It was the year 2003 when the 5.9L V8 was replaced with a 5.7L Hemi V8.

Since then this configuration has gone through various technological upgrades and additions to make the engine widespread among pickup truck owners.

The latest generation of 5.7L Hemi V8 can churn out 395 horses. Compared to the 345 HP in 2003, the margin of strength and power has been intensely refined.

The table below sheds light on the achievements of the RAM 1500 after bringing in the 5.7L V8 Hemi.

Comparison of Dodge RAM 1500 Engines Over The Years
Generation (Year)	Engine Options	Power (hp)	Torque (lb-ft)
1st Gen (1981-1993)	5.2L V-8	230	280
5.9L V-8	230	230	325
2nd Gen (1994-2001)	5.2L V-8	230	295
5.9L V-8	245	245	505
8.0L V-10	300	300	450
3rd Gen (2002-2009)	5.7L Hemi V-8	390	410
5.9L V-8	245	245	335
4th Gen (2009-2018)	5.7L Hemi V-8	395	410	410
5th Gen (2019-Present)	5.7L Hemi V-8	395	410	410
5.7L Hemi V-8 with eTorque	395	395	410
6.2L Hemi V-8	702	650	650

Note: To keep the table short and simple, engines lower than 5.0L are excluded from the table.

Pros of The Hemi V8 Engine

• The efficient engine that offers outstanding power output at peak performance. Due to its abstract combustion chamber design, the thermal efficiency is better compared to a flathead engine.
• Hemi engines are strongly built. They are trusted by automakers and car owners due to their long-proved durability.
• The Overhead cam design doesn’t need a timing chain or belt. The clever engineering behind this engine makes it less prone to wear and tear. As a result, less maintenance is required on this engine.
• Technical improvements tend to keep coupling with the Hemi V8. Developments on the performance side seen so far are just the beginning as more and more tech is being implemented on this engine.

Cons of The Hemi V8 Engine

• Beefy engine and a bulky design. It takes up a lot of space under the hood due to its sheer size.
• Increasing the compression ratio of the Hemi v8 engine is difficult. The hemispherical combustion chamber design is a major drawback as it puts the engine components to a practical limit.
• The engine has a higher amount of nitrogen oxide emission because of lower combustion temperature during operation.  A fall in combustion temperatures aids the production of NOx gases which needs additional procedures to alleviate.
• Expensive engine compared to other types. Due to its size and unusual design, it has a higher repair cost.

List of Cars That Use The 5.7 Hemi Engine (Hemi Engines Being Used By Other Manufacturers)

Chrysler corporation introduced the 5.7L Hemi in the year 2009. The design of the engine gave it some advantages which made stand out and deliver rock-solid performance.

Since then, this engine has been popular among automakers because of the exceptional potential it possesses.

Over the years this engine has made its home under to hood of cars, trucks, and SUVs as well. A table below is provided to show how US automakers used the 5.7L Hemi.

Vehicles Using The 5.7 Hemi V8 Engine
Vehicle Make	Model	Year
Chrysler	300C	2005-Present
300S	2010 2012-Present
Dodge	Charger R/T	2006-Present
Challenger R/T	2006-Present
Magnum R/T	2005-2008
Durango	2004-2009 2011-Present
Jeep	Grand Cherokee	2005-Present
Commander	2006-2010
Wagoneer	2022-Present
RAM	RAM 1500	2003-Present

Common Problems of The 5.7 Hemi engine

There is no perfect engine out there. With the strengths of any engine, there come some weaknesses.

The 5.7 hemi also has some common problems listed below which are reported by the users.

01. Engine Tick Sound

A ticking sound comes from inside the engine. This happens when metal-to-metal contact is happening without the presence of engine oil. This sound is usually heard from the engine head.

02. Engine Misfire

A V8 engine with two spark plugs per cylinder adds up to 16 spark plugs in total.

Any one of the 16 plugs might become faulty or the ignition circuit may have faults. So there are a lot of chances of a misfire.

03. Broken Exhaust Manifold Bolt

exhaust manifold connected to the back two cylinders get its bolts broken or snapped off very often.

It is assumed that these two cylinders get very hot during the engine runs. The bolts become mechanically weak over time due to high temperature and fail.

04. Multi Displacement System Issues

MDS is a revolutionary feature to shut off some of the cylinders in the V8 configuration under low load conditions. This feature activates and deactivates automatically.

But many users complain that this feature takes time to activate and makes uncomfortable noise during operation. This hampers the overall driving experience.

Relevant Questions

How Good is a Dodge 5.7 Hemi Engine?

The 5.7 Hemi V8 used in a dodge ram has earned itself a lot of appreciation. This engine was introduced back in 2003 and saw technological upgrades in 2009.

Looking back at its application since 2003 puts it into the top list of equal displacement engines.

Is it Possible To Install Turbo Kits on a 5.7 Hemi?

Stock 5.7 Hemi is naturally aspirated, producing 395 horses. While the motor does not come with a factory-fitted turbo, aftermarket turbo kits are available.

Enthusiasts have tried them and pushed the horsepower numbers to over 500hp.

Should You Go For a 5.7 Hemi or a 6.4 Hemi?

A 6.4 Hemi generates more power and torque by design. However, this does not mean that the 5.7 hemi is a poor decision.

If your power requirements for towing meet with 5.7 hemi then you can save on extra fuel costs. Otherwise, you must go with the 6.4 hemi.

What is The Lifetime of a Hemi engine?

Hemi engines are built rock solid. They keep performing consistently at high loads. A well-maintained Hemi engine is said to last over 200,000 miles.

When it comes to reliability, this engine proves its class and capabilities.

What is The Interval of Changing Spark Plugs in a 5.7 hemi?

A V8 engine that needs 16 spark plugs for ignition is not an easy job to manage. A dirty or faulty plug would result in incomplete combustion and affect the performance drastically.

But technological advancements in the ECU over the years pushed up the life of spark plugs to a higher bar.

The early 5.7 Hemi had plug change intervals of mere 30,000 miles. After 2014 improvements in the design and engineering stretched this interval to 100,000 miles.

Dodge came back into the game with the launch of the Hemi 5.7 engine in 2003.

Final Thoughts

This Chrysler-made engine has won the trust of users and made its path to the house of many automakers in the US.

Level of performance and reliability are ensured on cars, trucks, and SUVs at the same time.

Not only it won hearts, but also earned itself awards consecutively from 2003-2007 and achieved an esteemed position in the Ward’s 10 best engine ranking.

The Hemi 5.7L engine continues to impress everyone year after year and the word “HEMI” remains an elegant star of the show in the auto industry.