Ram 1500 Hemi vs Ecodiesel

Terryallan wrote:

I have a theory about that. Drivers today don't remember the time when our cars had lower gears, and no overdrive, and we ran pretty high RPM at highway speed. They have never heard a engine run as it was designed. All the RPM they have heard is at the shift point.

So when they hear an engine running, making good power, running free, and clean, making a little noise, (which I love). It scares them. Most are afraid to use what they got, Never heard it work before

There is definitely some truth in this. My roommate in college had a 1977 Buick which had a 3 speed automatic and a 4.11 rear gear. That car would run at over 3000rpm on the highway and we never thought anything about it. He put well over 100K miles on the engine before he sold the car.

They make anything you want; just buy it.

Don't like high RPM? Buy an Ecoboost that packs in the air early so it makes early power and torque.

Don't like gasoline? Buy and Ecodiesel. It's a diesel so it's fairly low RPM but it makes low power but gets outstanding mileage.

Ecodiesel not enough truck or power? Buy one of the big 3 diesels. The Cummins makes torque at a very low RPM and the other 2 are right there also.

As far as RPM wearing out the engine. How long are you going to keep your truck? If you are going to keep your truck 3 or 400,000 miles I could see your point. Even then, most other stuff will be junk (window motors, HVAC systems, starters, interior, yada, yada, yada, long before that.) But that's not even close to the average on here.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

I'd like to see real-world tests run at no more than 4000 rpms or so.

Why? Why not run the engine up to where the engine makes it's rated power? People really need to get over their fright of high RPM's..

I have a theory about that. Drivers today don't remember the time when our cars had lower gears, and no overdrive, and we ran pretty high RPM at highway speed. They have never heard a engine run as it was designed. All the RPM they have heard is at the shift point.

So when they hear an engine running, making good power, running free, and clean, making a little noise, (which I love). It scares them. Most are afraid to use what they got, Never heard it work before

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

I'd like to see real-world tests run at no more than 4000 rpms or so.

Why? Why not run the engine up to where the engine makes it's rated power? People really need to get over their fright of high RPM's. If they don't like high RPM then the only alternative is a supercharged engine where it gets it's air in early or a diesel engine.

The problem with modern computer control engines is they can pull power out at any time they want.

These high power hot rod engines have a very low duty cycle. Sure, they make big HP but then they will pull power to keep from melting down.

Yeah, you're not the first that's said that, and I agree that these engines are designed to rev. But as you mentioned it's about duty cycle; I'm not so much interested in brief acceleration but rather constant output for hill climbing. I've often had to drop to 2nd and rev to 4500 rpm to maintain a reasonable speed (50-55) for extended periods of time. Not only is that not comfortable, but I think that has to have an effect on the longevity of the engine.

So a tow rating is one thing, but how well it does it is another. I will watch the videos tonight, but in the past I've tried to have a 20 percent margin, but I wondered if the diesel didn't really need that margin.

I'd like to see real-world tests run at no more than 4000 rpms or so.

Why? Why not run the engine up to where the engine makes it's rated power? People really need to get over their fright of high RPM's. If they don't like high RPM then the only alternative is a supercharged engine where it gets it's air in early or a diesel engine.

The problem with modern computer control engines is they can pull power out at any time they want.

These high power hot rod engines have a very low duty cycle. Sure, they make big HP but then they will pull power to keep from melting down.

I have the 5.7 with the 3.92 4WD. It is good to see how well overall the truck did. Now just sell the house in KS and get a TT.

There are plenty of guys towing larger heavier trailers than the Ecodiesel is rated for. They are running trailers that are rated for the Hemi trucks and not having any problems doing so.

Are they running Pike's Peak at 70 MPH? Nope, but they are running it, just in the right lane. You know the ssslllooowww lane were they belong.

Don