Every Half-Ton Truck Engine Ranked (Best to Worst) | 2026 Buyer’s Guide

I Rank every 1500 truck engine from Best to Worst in 2026 as a Diesel Mechanic who has driven, reviewed and Towed will all Engines as to which engines I would buy in 2026! **Get 25% Off all AMSOIL Products**, Sign up as one of my preferred customers here! 👉https://www.amsoil.com/offers/pc/?zo=31309211 Your first order pays for the membership! Demon works 3L Duramax - https://www.youtube.com/@DemonWorks Full Toyota Recall Video - https://youtu.be/GmfNLXRpVuU Connect with me on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegettygarage/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegettyadventures What I Use: 6.4L HEMI AMSOIL Engine Oil - https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2022/ram/2500-pickup/6-4l-8-cyl-engine-code-j-esb-j/?zo=31309211 WIX Engine Oil Filter - https://www.amsoil.com/p/wix-oil-filter-wixoil/?code=57060-EA&_gl=1*1nha42k*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTgxMTYzNzYwNi4xNzQ3MzM4Nzgz*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDczMzg3ODIkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDczMzg4MDUkajAkbDAkaDEwMjA1MDcyMDc.?zo=31309211 WIX Engine Air Filter - https://www.amsoil.com/p/wix-air-filter-wixair/?code=46930-EA&_gl=1*h9vgr7*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjAzNTkzNzEyLjE3NDczMzgyMDA.*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDczMzgxOTkkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDczMzgxOTkkajAkbDAkaDY0ODQzNDY3OA..?zo=31309211 Cabin Air Filter - https://amzn.to/3JMZAHh Gear Oil - https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-severe-gear-75w-90-100-synthetic-gear-lube-svg/?_gl=1*it5o9x*_up*MQ..*_ga*NDgxNjkwMDUxLjE3NDc0MDExNzQ.*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDc0MDExNzMkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDc0MDExODQkajAkbDAkaDE1NTc0MzUzOTE.?zo=31309211 Grease - https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-100-synthetic-multi-purpose-grease-glc/?code=glccr-ea&_gl=1*hp8cr9*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjAzNjEzODc5Ny4xNzQ3NDAxNDg3*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDc0MDE0ODYkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDc0MDE0ODYkajAkbDAkaDU5NTEyMTc4NA..https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-heavy-duty-metal-protector-amhsc/?code=amhsc-ea&_gl=1*10x1frk*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTkzMjMyOTA3OC4xNzQ3MzM5MTQz*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDczMzkxNDIkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDczMzkxNDIkajAkbDAkaDE4OTQwMDEyNDg.?zo=31309211 Rust protection - https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-heavy-duty-metal-protector-amhsc/?code=amhsc-ea&_gl=1*10x1frk*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTkzMjMyOTA3OC4xNzQ3MzM5MTQz*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDczMzkxNDIkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDczMzkxNDIkajAkbDAkaDE4OTQwMDEyNDg.?zo=31309211 What I Use: 7.3L POWERSTROKE Engine Oil - https://amzn.to/3ZLIWBD Engine Oil Filter - https://amzn.to/4gHTwRb Fuel Filter - https://www.amsoil.com/p/wix-fuel-filters-wixfuel/?code=33817-EA&_gl=1*hx3uv5*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTQxMzc5MjkxMS4xNzQ3NDAxOTA0*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDc0MDE5MDMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDc0MDE5MDMkajAkbDAkaDMyMzA0OTY2OQ..?zo=31309211 Gear Oil - https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-severe-gear-75w-85-100-synthetic-gear-lube-svl/?code=SVLPK-EA&_gl=1*hka7u4*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTY5MjU2MjE4Ny4xNzQ3NDAxNzM2*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDc0MDE3MzUkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDc0MDE3MzUkajAkbDAkaDI5MTA4ODEwNQ..?zo=31309211 Grease - https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-100-synthetic-multi-purpose-grease-glc/?code=glccr-ea&_gl=1*hp8cr9*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjAzNjEzODc5Ny4xNzQ3NDAxNDg3*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDc0MDE0ODYkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDc0MDE0ODYkajAkbDAkaDU5NTEyMTc4NA..https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-heavy-duty-metal-protector-amhsc/?code=amhsc-ea&_gl=1*10x1frk*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTkzMjMyOTA3OC4xNzQ3MzM5MTQz*_ga_E8P3KK8JV8*czE3NDczMzkxNDIkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDczMzkxNDIkajAkbDAkaDE4OTQwMDEyNDg.?zo=31309211 Towing Gear: 10 ton Pintle hitch (2.5" receiver) - https://amzn.to/3r7Axvm 7 Ton Adjustable hitch (2" receiver) - https://amzn.to/46i2iAf Adjustable Pintle hitch mount (2.5" receiver) - https://amzn.to/3RqHGS3 15 Ton Pintle hitch - https://amzn.to/45SaCqv 10,000lbs Tie Down Straps - https://amzn.to/3ZBnxeh I rank every single 1500 / half-ton truck engine on the market from worst to best, based on real-world driving, towing, ownership experience, and mechanical design — not just spec sheets. Over the years, I’ve driven, towed with, reviewed, and tested roughly 90% of the engines in this segment, putting them through real duty cycles including highway towing, mountain grades, daily driving, fuel-economy loops, and long-term ownership considerations. This video is the most complete engine breakdown I’ve ever done and is meant to act as a true buyer’s guide for the 2026 half-ton truck segment. We’ll cover what actually matters: reliability, power delivery, towing performance, fuel economy, drivability, complexity, long-term maintenance, and where each engine makes sense — or doesn’t. A couple of engines I haven’t personally driven yet are still included and clearly explained. Whether you’re cross-shopping Ford, GM, Ram, Toyota, gas vs turbo vs diesel, this video will help you choose the right engine for your needs, not the hype. 00:00 - Intro 00:54 - Raptor Engines 01:13 - Toyota 3.4L Twin Turbo I-Force Engines 03:53 - 6.2L L87 V8 06:56 - 3L Duramax Diesel 10:09 - 3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid 11:48 - HO 3L Hurricane 14:25 - 3.5L EcoBoost 16:36 - 3.6L Pentastar 19:13 - 5.3L L84 V8 21:51 - 2.7L TurboMAX 26:10 - SO 3L Hurricane 30:24 - 2.7L EcoBoost 34:04 - 5.7L Hemi V8 39:45 - 5L Coyote V8