It seems like they went underground or something. The few places I've found that actually chat about them seem to be questioning some of those great numbers. They are reporting good mileage compared to gas engines, but not nearly what the earlier ads would have us believe. This would concern me, as I expected the diesel to hold it's own rather handily. It sounds like the Hemi can average pretty good mileage on its own. If it can average near 20, there's little reason to worry about the more finicky diesel package. Especially because of the GVWR gained.At this point, I find myself starting to look across the aisle to the more capable F150s. And maybe even a GM product, but I doubt it.So does anybody have anything to expand on this lack of info?

Ford pulled the plug on the diesel F-150 due to the Ecoboost 3.5L making plenty of power, getting great mileage, and being over 400 pounds lighter, thus the lighter weight truck will save fuel too.And Ford can certify the F-150 Ecoboost for much less money than a diesel engine. I was actually surprised to see a inline 5 coming out in the Transit van. Probably the same engine they had worked on for the F-150.Basically the test subjects when asked what they wanted in a 2018 truck said 1. Power and torque of a diesel2. Quiet of a gas engine, and easy to start at -15F.3. Low cost oil changes.4. Low cost per mile - meaning higher MPG and low cost oil changes.5. Comfortable cab and seating.So the Ranger is out, because it is smaller and only costs about $40 a month less than a base model F-150. Now the new Aluminum F-150 should get similar MPG to the much smaller Ranger, while only costing about $40 more per month to buy, with a higher resale value.Fred.On Edit! 6-19-14I got to see a new Transit at my local Ford Dealer in Portland Oregon. It has the 3.5L Ecoboost engine, and from what I can see, the inline 5 diesel is available in the dual rear wheel vans right now! Click on Ford.com and then check out their vans. Click "Build and price" and you can see what vans are at the local Ford dealerships. I have not seen any of the window vans yet at a dealership, but they are showing up on the "Inventory" as "Dealer Ordered".

All I can say is the number 20, as it pertains to MPG, and Hemi in the same sentence makes me chuckle :)If the eco-diesel Ram thing can get 20 mpg it has a huge place in the market. Of course, it would have a super-huge place if it had a payload anywhere close to the Ecoboost or other 1/2 tons. Back to talking about the Hemi, I'm the proud, super happy owner of a 6.4 Hemi and it's a great truck but it's no fuel miser. And from what I hear the 6.4 gets the same or slightly better mpgs than the 5.7So, basically, a Hemi vs. the eco-diesel is the old cliché - apples and oranges.

I don't know if this pertains to this thread, but seems to have relevance. I purchased a '14 crew cab Silverado with the 5.3L, 3.42 gearing, and a 6 speed auto. It has 355 hp with 383 ft. lbs. of torque and a towing capacity of 9.8k. I pull a TT with an unloaded weight of 5,100 lbs, but often add another 2k of gear and passengers, and the truck doesn't even break a sweat. It has a cylinder deactivation mode, even going into this mode while towing on flat roads (without "hunting" a gear). The end result - Comfortable towing at (believe it or not) > 13MPG with a "half ton". I have to also note that I've seen 23 MPG w/o the TT. Of course, the load will dictate the type of TV required, but there are more options than diesels, "Ecoboosts" and gas hogs.

Besides the one I test drove, I haven't seen one. Many on the Ram 1500 diesel forum have gotten theirs and are getting great real world mileage. Of course, it is all about how you drive. I am still on the fence between a 1500 and a 2500 diesel. If the 2500 had the 5.0 Cummins, it would be a no brainer.

Check out the Ram forums. Lots of people have ecodiesels and mileage is as good and better than advertised. Ive seen a couple at campgrounds. Saw a nice white ecodiesel at Green River Lake St Park last weekend. Id love to see the motor in a 2500, 420 ft/lbs trq would handle most trailers easily. And I could def deal with 25 mpg unloaded

RAM 1500 Ecodiesel, anybody seen one in the wild?

371 Replies

Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Apr 28, 2014
Ford pulled the plug on the diesel F-150 due to the Ecoboost 3.5L making plenty of power, getting great mileage, and being over 400 pounds lighter, thus the lighter weight truck will save fuel too.

And Ford can certify the F-150 Ecoboost for much less money than a diesel engine.

I was actually surprised to see a inline 5 coming out in the Transit van. Probably the same engine they had worked on for the F-150.

Basically the test subjects when asked what they wanted in a 2018 truck said

1. Power and torque of a diesel
2. Quiet of a gas engine, and easy to start at -15F.
3. Low cost oil changes.
4. Low cost per mile - meaning higher MPG and low cost oil changes.
5. Comfortable cab and seating.

So the Ranger is out, because it is smaller and only costs about $40 a month less than a base model F-150. Now the new Aluminum F-150 should get similar MPG to the much smaller Ranger, while only costing about $40 more per month to buy, with a higher resale value.

Fred.

On Edit! 6-19-14

I got to see a new Transit at my local Ford Dealer in Portland Oregon. It has the 3.5L Ecoboost engine, and from what I can see, the inline 5 diesel is available in the dual rear wheel vans right now! Click on Ford.com and then check out their vans. Click "Build and price" and you can see what vans are at the local Ford dealerships.

I have not seen any of the window vans yet at a dealership, but they are showing up on the "Inventory" as "Dealer Ordered".

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RAM 1500 Ecodiesel, anybody seen one in the wild?

371 Replies

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