Ram 1500 EcoDeisel mpg figures released

Stephen W wrote:
Before investing $40k + in a new Fiat powered Dodge diesel, I suspect most RVr's will sit back and see how durable the Fiat diesel is compared to a Cummings, Duramax or Ford and how well Chrysler handles the warranty claims. Correct me if I am wrong, but the review in USA Today said these truck diesel engines were being built by Fiat in Italy. I sure like the looks of the new Dodge trucks, but I'd feel more confident in a Cummings or gasser than a Fiat diesel when towing.

Any engine is a bit of an unknown when it first comes out no matter who builds it. Including Cummins. No g.


Considering that VM Motori diesels are, or have been used in various world Chrysler and GM vehicles, as well as by Land Rover, Hyundai, London Taxis and others, they aren't exactly new to building diesels.

Considering that diesel is the engine of choice in much of the rest of the world and available in just about every model of vehicle built, except in North America, it is odd that many North Americans think they are the only ones who know how to build diesels.

Before investing $40k + in a new Fiat powered Dodge diesel, I suspect most RVr's will sit back and see how durable the Fiat diesel is compared to a Cummings, Duramax or Ford and how well Chrysler handles the warranty claims. Correct me if I am wrong, but the review in USA Today said these truck diesel engines were being built by Fiat in Italy. I sure like the looks of the new Dodge trucks, but I'd feel more confident in a Cummings or gasser than a Fiat diesel when towing.

Re-read what I wrote. I do not consider 4000rpm screaming. I towed my TT with a Ford 5.4L and now a GM 6.0L, both gassers. Old truck cruise at 2600-2800rpm in 3rd gear (of 4), downshift to 2nd at 4000-5000rpm. New truck cruises at 2200-2500rpm in 5th (of 6), and I hit 5500rpm, at least once per trip accelerating. I personally do not have a problem with that. But I know many people that do and plenty of posts on here about it. Here are three.

I'm not sure everyone agrees that a Hemi tows better than a the old 7.3LPSD, and likewise than Ram's new half ton offering. For a lower profile trailer, probably. But I don't know about an RV.

I agree about Nissin's future Cummins. It think the power/torque is more intriguing than Ram. but we'll see if it makes it to market and relative cost and fuel use.

All this is moot until Ram offers 1500-2000 pounds of payload in their crew cab 4WD half ton.

Well a Hemi tows much better than a 7.3 turbo PSD. So your suggestion that this engine of similar power will "tow better" just because it's a diesel, is very biased, and a real stretch.
It may consume less fuel, but I $4K? Good luck with that.
And I would say you showed your bias by saying an engine at 4K rpm is screaming. It's only screaming if it's not built for it.
My work rig has 350ft/lbs at a diesel like 2500rpm. It's effortless, but put hammer down, and it's 250hp is a disappointment. I don't foresee an extra 70ft/lbs making a difference after you pass the torque peak in 1st gear.... So it will be effortless as long as you don't mind a tepid pace. It like I said, if you have 300 high revving horsepower, at least there is the option to use it.

Hybridhunter wrote:

As as for the idea that folks don't rev their gas engines while towing..... That's just a flat out false assumption. i don't think it's anymore uncommon to run a gasser at it's torque peak, that it is to run a diesel at it's torque peak when climbing or accelerating. Very weird statement there....

You don't read much on here. People with V8 pickups an SUVS that never see over 2500rpm in their daily driving. Then then they buy their first RV. They use Tow/Haul mode, but it still shifts into 6th gear at 65mph. Then it cannot hold the speed, so it downshifts frequently. Then is slows down to 55mph on a hill and downshifts to 3rd gear with the engine screaming at 4000rpm. While I have the same opinion as you as I tow with a naturally aspirated gas engine that sees 5500rpm at least once per trip, many people do not feel comfortable doing that. And since I own a (low hp/high torque) diesel I understand and appreciate its benefits as well.

I suppose we will just disagree here. I really have no interest in dropping $4K without some benefit other than lower numbers on a tachometer. Maybe when I get older ... Nah.

Test drive a modern diesel. Towing or not, the benefits in drivability extend far beyond what bench racers believe. A base V6 will not tow as well as this 3.0L diesel. In fact, neither will the Hemi with even more hp. And if one can have better than Hemi towing performance while consuming less fuel than the base V6, it will sell well for Ram (except that crappy payload).

Wilber1, you are correct.

nevadanick wrote:
I have a 7 passenger suv with a 3.0 liter v6 dsl with virtually identical specs as the new Ram and it gets 25+ all day long. The highest i have achieved is 31 and when towing my enclosed bike trlr it drops to 15. I am gonna say the Ram will mirror these results and if it does i am gonna go buy one for my run around town truck.

I'm guessing your SUV is also getting that mileage with full time all wheel drive.

I have a 7 passenger suv with a 3.0 liter v6 dsl with virtually identical specs as the new Ram and it gets 25+ all day long. The highest i have achieved is 31 and when towing my enclosed bike trlr it drops to 15. I am gonna say the Ram will mirror these results and if it does i am gonna go buy one for my run around town truck.

"We also got a chance to do a bit of towing. Ram provided us with a small boat and trailer (weighing about 3,000 pounds) for us to drive the urban 12-mile route. We managed to get 15.4 mpg under load in tow mode. In fact, it was while towing that we saw a little of the EcoDiesel’s shine come off the finish. We found that even under the relatively light load of a small boat, the response of the transmission seemed sluggish. Our tow vehicle did have the rear coils springs (not the air suspension), so we expect it to be a little more sensitive to tongue weight, but it was clearly not as quick to respond to our inputs or as ready to drop a gear or two when we needed acceleration help. This was another situation where having another form of manual shifting, beyond the thumb buttons, would have been nice, especially for keeping the gears in exactly the right spots on the powerband"

Not cool with only 3K behind it.....
As as for the idea that folks don't rev their gas engines while towing..... That's just a flat out false assumption. i don't think it's anymore uncommon to run a gasser at it's torque peak, that it is to runa a diesel at it's torque peak when climbing or accelerating. Very weird statement there....
Most of the time when I tow I'm at 2500rpm, does that need to be lower? Why? I'd rather have the option to use 300hp, that the "seemingly guaranteed serenity", that a diesel offers those who are averse to revving a gas engine. And make no mistake, thr 240 hp diesel is not going to climb a hill, or accelerate a trailer down a merge lane as fast as the pentastar V6. Not until altitude is a major factor.
I suppose we will just disagree here. I really have no interest in dropping $4K without some benefit other than lower numbers on a tachometer. Maybe when I get older ... Nah.

Hybridhunter wrote:

Then explain an estimated 1.5seconds 0-60 difference? We're talking much slower than the base engines in the newer ram or F150 that so many folks call "useless". Suddenly a pokey diesel is great? For an extra $4k? Unless it blows away the ecoboost mileage wise, enough to make it worth the $2K premium over the EB, it's a swing and a miss IMO.
Realistically, 420 ft-lbs is great for those who just don't want an engine to rev.

HP wins races. So? Most people, even RVers, do not operate at WOT. Nor do they rev their V8s, even Ecoboost V6 over 4000rpm where peak HP is.

Having the torque at the cruising speed of the engine provides a more pleasurable driving/towing experience. I have never towed with a diesel, but my DD is one. I love it. No 3 second delay to actually accelerate because the trans is always in economy mode keeping the engine under 2000rpm. Diesels drive like, feel like, they have far more power than dyno comparisons suggest. My 140hp diesel is far more enjoyable and quicker at part throttle than my my 4-cyl Malibu with 30hp more. And I get almost my EPA highway rating with the diesel driving very aggressively in about 50/50 mix compared to EPA city rating in said Malibu. If the Ram 1500 diesel drives like the Hemi is normal driving (or better) while using less fuel than the base V6, it will sell.

I like Ford's 3.5L Ecoboost. If I Ford offered it in the Expy, I would have one 2 years ago. I am very intrigued by the Ram and Titan diesels too. No doubt the Ecoboost will have better acceleration in just about any conditions as the Ram diesel. And the Hemi will also out perform the Ram 1500 diesel @ WOT. But the Ram diesel will use less fuel and still tow more comfortably. And some people don't want an F150.

I don't think everyone needs or should have a diesel. And economically they sometimes are not worth spending the extra $4 for.