Just completed first tow....good and bad!,
As a newby, We just finished our first tow with a 2011 GMC hd 2500 6.0 gas from st louis, mo. to harrington beach campground north of Milwaukee, Ws. Trailer is about 8000 pounds. Trip was about 860 mi...
Forum Discussion
jmtandem wrote:The 6.0L at 5000rpm makes more wheel torque than the Duramax at 2000rpm going the same speed. Let it spin when it needs to.
This comment misses the point of the thread and certainly does not tell the whole story. The small block develops less torque than the diesel and that is verified on the Ford towing guides when both engines are operated in a manner that developes maximum torque.
Umm, no.
Diesels are great. I have one. I'd like another in my tow vehicle too. But you don't quite understand how transmissions and torque multiplication work.
65mph, 1800rpm in a diesel with say 750lb-ft on tap. That's in 5th gear at 0.71 reduction, making 532lb-ft of torque at the wheels (times 3.73 for differential) before drivetrain losses.
65mph, 2300rpm in a gasser with maybe 350lb-ft on tap. That's 5th gear at 0.85 reduction making 297lb-ft (times 3.73 for differential). Downshift to 3rd, 4230rpm, peak 380lb-ft times 1.53 gear improvement is 581 lb-ft at the wheels (times 3.73 for differential).
Compare the towing acceleration tests. The times and speeds are not that far apart @ WOT between gas and diesel.
However, it takes a couple seconds longer to downshift and reach that peak torque over a diesel. The engine gets louder that many people don't like hearing. That tachometer goes into a range that few owners of pickups like to see. It's a physiological problem. Gas will use more fuel doing to it too. I agree diesel is great and most people would prefer it's power delivery over a naturally aspirated gas engine.
