linky28 mpg highway / 22 mpg combined in the real world according to Motor Trend when equiped with the 8 speed, diesel V6, and 3.55 gears22 mpg highway / 17 mpg combined in the real world with the Hemi and 8 speed

Interesting how they arrive at their definition of "real world" testing, though...That's quite a lab they've set up!

I can't believe RAM isn't installing Cummins engines in the 1/2 ton. There's something inherently, TERRIBLY wrong with that IMHO. Guess in time we'll see how the little V-6 holds up.It's a little like Winchester building the new Model 1873 rifle...in Japan!!! JAPAN!!! No one in their right mind wants a fine firearm like an 1873 rifle with, "Made In Japan" engraved on the barrel and pay $1700 to own one?When Winchester builds the Model 1873 in the USA, I'll buy two of'em. And when Dodge installs Cummins engines in their 1/2 ton trucks, I'll certainly buy one as well. JMHO.Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

For the guy or lady whose TV is also their daily driver (and whose needs don't require more than a half-ton truck) I think the Ram 1500 diesel could have real appeal. It can be argued that, with diesel costing ~$0.60 more than 87 octane in much of the USA, the V6 gas engine (which I'm assuming has a lower initial cost) makes as much sense financially but I'd have to expect that the little diesel would be more satisfying to tow with and even drive on a daily basis.I'm still leaning towards a 2014 2500 with the 410hp 6.4L Hemi and rear air suspension but I think the 1500 diesel will sell well and carve out a niche in the half-ton market not unlike the Ecoboost has done.

crickeydog wrote:I can't believe RAM isn't installing Cummins engines in the 1/2 ton. There's something inherently, TERRIBLY wrong with that IMHO. Guess in time we'll see how the little V-6 holds up.Never fear, the "Ecodisel" is NOT a Cummins. It is made by Chrysler/Fiat. Interesting enough the basic engine was actually developed by GM! Goggle it if you don't believe me.As a loyal Cummins owner, I too will be interested if it can approach the reliability of a Cummins.

bmanning wrote:For the guy or lady whose TV is also their daily driver (and whose needs don't require more than a half-ton truck) I think the Ram 1500 diesel could have real appeal. It can be argued that, with diesel costing ~$0.60 more than 87 octane in much of the USA, the V6 gas engine (which I'm assuming has a lower initial cost) makes as much sense financially but I'd have to expect that the little diesel would be more satisfying to tow with and even drive on a daily basis.I'm still leaning towards a 2014 2500 with the 410hp 6.4L Hemi and rear air suspension but I think the 1500 diesel will sell well and carve out a niche in the half-ton market not unlike the Ecoboost has done.Agree! If you must drive a LOT of highway miles empty and towing on the weekends up to about 7K it would make a great truck. If people start reporting 30MPG with it on the HWY in real world conditions it would start to really make sense....

Ram 1500 Diesel real world mpg testing | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
campigloo wrote:
I heard China owns U.S.A.

True story.
campigloo
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
I heard China owns U.S.A.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
gmcsmoke wrote:
I heard Ford owns Cummins

Oh NO! Tell me it's not true!!!! LOL
gmcsmoke
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
I heard Ford owns Cummins
RobertRyan
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
A Little bit more.
Cadillacs VM Motori 2.9 Litre Diesel
In July 2007, GM bought 50 percent of Italian engine maker VM Motori, and tasked it with the job of developing a 2.9-liter V6 turbo-diesel engine for the European Cadillac CTS that was scheduled to launch in 2009. But then GM filed bankruptcy in 2009 and Cadillac’s European plans faltered. Meanwhile, VM Motori continued developing the engine which never made its way into a GM-manufactured vehicle.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] bought its stake in VM Motori back in 2007 in order to develop some new diesel engines. According to Automotive News (subscription required), GM has now sold the stake to Fiat for 34.1 million euros ($47.1 million)..
RobertRyan
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
Dog Folks wrote:
knew someone here would challenge this without doing any research, so for you folks here is a link:GM Eco Diesel

I rest my case.

No it was not developed in the US contrary to what that article erroneously states. VM Motori did a 2.9 litre diesel that was destined for the Cadillac ended up in the overseas models.The 2.9 was going to go into other GM vehicles but that never happened, replaced by te more efficient 2.8.
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1088013_fiat-buys-remaining-half-of-diesel-supplier-vm-motori-from-gm
Fiat is now the sole owner of diesel engine supplier VM Motori after it acquired a remaining 50 percent stake in the fellow Italian firm from General Motors. VM Motori supplies diesel engines for vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel, Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and previously some Cadillac models sold overseas

You also might want to ask why GM had anything to do with VM Motori if they could design the engine themselves?
Also what happened to that expertise for the designing of te Global Colorado and Cruze diesels? Seeing they are both VM Motori designs, nothing to do with GM although GM was in partnership with Fiat.
srt20
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
Jeezus you guys are pathetic. WGAS who owns what or who helped develop what.
travelnutz
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2013
As usual, RobertRyan again doesn't know a thing about the subject he posts his bull on. Why RobertRyan? The 2.9L V6 diesel was soley a GM design and basic development with the basic engine having been protoyped by GM in the USA in 2007 and then finished the development in a joint venture with VM of which they owned 50% of. the 2.9 engine was at first in conjunction with the 4.5L V8 project.

As GM owned 50% of VM moved the 2.9 to the joint venture in about 2009. BTW, Fiat is just now completing the purchase of GM's 50% of VM and is using the very same GM V6 engine at a 3.0L displacement. Simply made a very slight change of 1/10 of a liter increase in displacement. That does not change the developed engine's design at all as it remains the same today.

GM is now going beyond that 2.9L diesel engine design and developing a very different small displacement diesel engine that has more output power and has even more efficient fuel use and it will be announced soon.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Nov 19, 2013
RobertRyan wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
Never fear, the "Ecodisel" is NOT a Cummins. It is made by Chrysler/Fiat. Interesting enough the basic engine was actually developed by GM! Goggle it if you don't believe me.

No it was not. VM Motori is an Italian Diesel manufacturer, that was partly owned by Fiat and GM, now fully owned by Fiat.

I knew someone here would challenge this without doing any research, so for you folks here is a link:GM Eco Diesel

I rest my case.