F150 Diesel Ike Gauntlet

Dave H M wrote:
I still do not get it about "fixing" the calibration issue. The truck went all the way to the red line being pushed down hill. it seems at that point the driver should have done something other than just sit there and see what and if the motor would go past the red line.

As i interpreted the vid, the computer was programmed to prevent some driver like the one in the vid from abusing the motor. :h

If they did that, then it would no longer be the same test as all the rest of them are. They go down at 50MPH, when the truck exceeds 60MPH with engine braking alone, they apply brakes to slow back to 50MPH. The truck testing shows that it was holding 60MPH, though at redline, so they were not required to apply brakes until it exceeded 60MPH. It's how they do the test. Pretty sure once Ford fixes the calibration and they retest, then they will get a much fairer test to all the rest, and will find they have to apply braking a lot more due to its inability to hold 60MPH without hitting redline.

Since I have driven that same route with a 2014 F150 Lariat Screw with the 3.5EB and 3.15 gears and held the speed limit going up and down, there is no way I would want that Diesel, no matter how good the MPG is. The 2014 got 20 MPG in daily driving, in the less than 2 years I had it, there were over 30 tanks that were above 20, the towing sucked though with 7-9MPG and after over 4K of towing, the overall lifetime MPG was 17.6. I saw 18 in the winter and 20 in the summer except when towing and even hit 24 MPG once while driving miss daisy. With that kind of fuel economy, why would I ever want that diesel?

Take it back to the Ford dealer, have them stiffen it up for the next ride.

avoidcrowds wrote:
"an engineer with his forehead buried in his hands"

Mostly because the engineer probably told Marketing that they needed to do some things differently, and Marketing didn't listen. Then, the results of the test show up online, and he can't say "I told you so" without getting fired.

I don't know who has more say in the design of a vehicle - engineers or marketers. I think marketers.

LOL, Subaru has gone down this path. They were run by engineers and you could tow 2400 lbs with a Forester...including them being pre-wired, but they weren't selling any cars, so they put a marketing puke in charge and started selling cars but the engineering began a slow decline. I had an 04 Forester (Manual) that towed like a beast (18/1900 lb loaded pop up) including up and down the Ike gauntlet at 45 mph three times. I then bought an 07 (manual) and the marketing pukes got hold of it and played with it changing the torque power ratio so soccer moms could get on the highway faster but low end grunt was gone and the steering (less feel) and the suspension (softer springs wallowed). What had been a perfect tow beast in 04 became much less by 07. I had to work on on the 07 including putting "pinks" racing springs on it. It was a retired Subaru engineer who told me all this and recommended the pinks. Now a Forester will tow 1500 lbs... life moves on.

Apparently the truck was a pre-production model and had some issues. Understandable. It's cool they can get a hold of a model even before production. I do agree that both the Ecodiesel and Ford diesel both need an exhaust brake of some kind. The Chevy Colorado can do it.

As for the performance, it's what I expected. These diesels are made for economy and occasional tow. For those that want and need this, they'll be very happy with it.

Every summer I see more and more Ecodiesel RAMs on the roads driving around, towing trailer and boats too so they're making someone happy.

Since this is marketed for a non-HD towing crowd...that generally does NOT understand “diesel”...the OEM’s need to provide, as standard equipment, some sort of system, like exhaust braking, so that these won’t be returning with warranty issues...

Not well thought out, IMHO

Dave H M wrote:
I still do not get it about "fixing" the calibration issue. The truck went all the way to the red line being pushed down hill. it seems at that point the driver should have done something other than just sit there and see what and if the motor would go past the red line.

As i interpreted the vid, the computer was programmed to prevent some driver like the one in the vid from abusing the motor. :h

It's typical for modern vehicle programming to prevent a driver from damaging the engine by overreving. For example, if you're driving down the freeway at 65 and try to manually downshift to first gear the computer won't let you do it. But what should have probably happened during the test is that the vehicle should have just upshifted rather than going into limp mode.

ksss wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
It's a F-150 grocery getter with a diesel. If you expect it to pull and handle like a 1 ton, better think again.

I find those 'tests' border on comical.

Curious what makes it comical?

That the truck laid down?

Somehow it is not a fair test?

They drove the pickup up and down the hill like they have been doing with different trucks for years.

Exactly. For the most part this is an extremely fair test. They load the trucks to the rated weight capacity, properly set up the hitches, then push the truck to a certain performance level to gauge how well it does the job. That's pretty fair if you ask me.

KJ

avoidcrowds wrote:
Not surprised at the results.

When I got my 5,600lb trailer and towed with my 2014 Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel, I towed it up and down the same stretch of highway. It would not hold-back the trailer with the engine. Dealer said nothing was wrong with the Jeep. I had downshifted, braked, downshifted, braked, and it always up-shifted to protect the engine. No engine braking to speak of.

That's exactly correct. Diesels by their design DO NOT have compression braking from the engine.

My '14 RAM CTD has a factory exhaust brake. This thing is amazing and even pulling my 16,000 lbs 5th down a 10% grade it slowed me down almost too much.

In my opinion, if OEM's are going to put even small diesel engines in their trucks they should come with exhaust brakes if the trucks are intended to tow.

KJ

The truck will hold red line as long as possible then it will upshift to save the engine. Then as a human you should use the brakes!!!

I still do not get it about "fixing" the calibration issue. The truck went all the way to the red line being pushed down hill. it seems at that point the driver should have done something other than just sit there and see what and if the motor would go past the red line.

As i interpreted the vid, the computer was programmed to prevent some driver like the one in the vid from abusing the motor. :h