ShinerBock wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
ShinerBock wrote:
If you want something with a lot of power and the most up to date tech, then than might decrease its reliability. If you want something that is more reliable with more conservative sustained power output regardless of outside temp, then it might not be the quickest up a hill in all scenarios.
And then you have a 10 speed transmission that applies the right gear for the right senerio which improves towing performance. This also aids in improved fuel economy.
And then you have steel pistons that are designed to handle more heat and cylinder pressure with long term durability.
No doubt that a 10 speeds adds to increased fuel economy of the 6 speeds trans of the previous generation, but I believe the change to steel pistons has a lot more to do with the previous generation design not able to handle the load due to design. The restricted exhaust manifold leads to a lot of drive pressure. At least that is what I am hearing in the aftermarket realm with added power over 450 hp. Not all designs need to go to steel piston in order to make more power especially in engines that produce a lot of heat(ie water intercooled engines that cannot expel heat under constant loads)
Obviously this water cooled intercooling expels heat just fine. It was used in order to have a consistent air inlet temperature.
Also steel pistons is implemented for the next level of performance and don't exhibit erosion from a high pressure fuel system and advanced fuel timing and provide long term durability with improvement in fuel economy, which we've already seen.
I'm sure if this discussion occurred a couple of years ago some engines didn't need compacted graphite iron either, but now someone just had to switch over.