Anybody towing with a late model gasser?

WARNING - Towing 80 miles across I64 into Indiana with the 6.0 gasser tonight. Please be advised as traffic may be slowed substantially...LOL!

Couldn't help myself.

Seriously though, I'm looking at adding a manual lockup and speed controlled auto unlock on this ghastly thing. It should help on gently rolling hills.

Wish me luck you gasser nerds :)

Ford is not dropping their 6.8 V10. MY2016 will bring a version capable of CNG or LPG use across the board and the 6R140 transmission will be mated to it. This engine is only available in the class 4-7 cab chassis models. I'm not sure what is happening in the future with the 6.2 V8 in the class 2 and 3 trucks.

I recall reading somewhere that it is too hard to meet emissions standards with a big block engine.

Right now any of the big three hd truck gas engines can put more horsepower and torque to the ground at nearly any road speed than the old 8.1 and 6.8 v10.

I think if we see a huge power gas HD pickup engine it will be a turbo small block. However the ram 6.4 puts out 410 horse which is the most of any engine in an hd pickup for 2014.

BurbMan wrote:
I don't think he found that info, I think that's ib516's prediction on what GM is likely to do. He's probably right given how bulletproof the GM 6.0L has been. Power gains through technology will likely make the big block a dinosaur.

True, just my speculation.

However, it makes sense - at least to me. All the money spent on R&D adding DI to the 5.3L could be transferred over to the 6.0L. If the 5.3L gained hp & tq when they added DI, it only makes sense the 6.0L would too. The 6.0L shares a lot (design wise) with the 5.3L.

I don't think he found that info, I think that's ib516's prediction on what GM is likely to do. He's probably right given how bulletproof the GM 6.0L has been. Power gains through technology will likely make the big block a dinosaur.

ib516 wrote:

BurbMan wrote:
GM discontinued the 8.1 because they hardly sold any...anybody towing got the DMax...consider the 8.1 lifespan from 01-07 saw some of the best diesels on the market including Cummins and the Duramax.

Now that Ram has the 6.4, I wouldn't be surprised to see GM bring back another big block...the time is right IMO considering all the issues that diesels face in terms of emissions complexity.

I don't know that keeping the 8.1 in the market would have helped GM, while it was head and shoulders above the old 454, it's old school compared to what Chrysler has done with their 6.4.

I see GM adding the direct injection etc. to the 6.0L for 2015 or 2016 that they did to the 5.3L from 2013 to the 2014 models. That should give a nice bump in power and mpg and make it competitive again.

I'm curious where you found that information? I looked around but couldn't find anything. It's been rumored since 2010 or so, but the official Chevy site which lists the stats for the 2015 has no direct injection. When I was planning my truck purchase I was anxiously awaiting an announcement from GM on DI for the 2015 but it never came, so I went with a used Ford 6.2.

Truck Trend is saying that the 2017 Ford 6.2 will be direct injection with a 10-speed (!) transmission. Wow.

BurbMan wrote:
GM discontinued the 8.1 because they hardly sold any...anybody towing got the DMax...consider the 8.1 lifespan from 01-07 saw some of the best diesels on the market including Cummins and the Duramax.

Now that Ram has the 6.4, I wouldn't be surprised to see GM bring back another big block...the time is right IMO considering all the issues that diesels face in terms of emissions complexity.

I don't know that keeping the 8.1 in the market would have helped GM, while it was head and shoulders above the old 454, it's old school compared to what Chrysler has done with their 6.4.

I see GM adding the direct injection etc. to the 6.0L for 2015 or 2016 that they did to the 5.3L from 2013 to the 2014 models. That should give a nice bump in power and mpg and make it competitive again.

daily double wrote:
I'm sure your service manager knows a lot more about trucks than I do, but I personally would not try to tow my fiver with a 5.4. I had one, and it was fine for smaller jobs but not the fiver! that was an '05, I am now driving my last Ford.

I work just down the road from you, so I can imagine you can guess which employer I am referring to (would like to leave their name out). Most all of the bigger trucks (F550 and up) with the work bodies have the V10's. If I understand it right, the V10 is still available in the heavier trucks. There are also a lot of crew trucks (F250 and F350). A lot of them have the V10, but some have the 5.4. The newer F250's and F350's are being ordered with the 6.2. We have one that pulls all our big boats for lake management, and it pulls fine.

If the truck is still running well, we don't trade on mileage or age, so there are still a lot of the older ones in the fleet.

The V10 is definitely his preferred powerplant. I think there are two F250's out of maybe 100 or better that have a diesel. One is assigned to the heavy equipment foreman. The only reason he has a diesel is that the heavy earth moving equipment he oversees use diesel, and there is a diesel tank at his jobs, saving a trip into town for fuel for his truck.

When I was shopping for my F250, I had a long talk with the fleet manager and some of his mechanics. They all said the same thing - the power is great, but if it ever needs work, it could get VERY expensive, and the gas engines are so reliable. Although I really thought hard about a diesel, in the end, I took their advice, and am happy with my choice.

I still like diesels, dont get me wrong. In fact, I may be a diesel owner yet, as I am thinking about buying a 1992 Ford 4WD tractor with a 3 cylinder diesel engine. I don't think I will have to worry about smog controls on that one!

GM discontinued the 8.1 because they hardly sold any...anybody towing got the DMax...consider the 8.1 lifespan from 01-07 saw some of the best diesels on the market including Cummins and the Duramax.

Now that Ram has the 6.4, I wouldn't be surprised to see GM bring back another big block...the time is right IMO considering all the issues that diesels face in terms of emissions complexity.

I don't know that keeping the 8.1 in the market would have helped GM, while it was head and shoulders above the old 454, it's old school compared to what Chrysler has done with their 6.4.

The argument that is commonly stated is that Diesel engines last longer then gas to due lower rpm, heavier built, ect.. This is probably true in most cases, but not always by much in miles. The problem with most trucks out there is the truck falls apart around the engine... So we all may have good engines, but other expensive issues rear their ugly heads such as tranny, rear diff, dashboard issues, electric gremlins, and other expensive issues. So most trade in prior seeing the issues stated above. So inconsideration of that, you need to ask yourself do I really need that expensive of an engine upgrade? Because that new truck sitting in your driveway may change in a few short years, Due to the cost associated with a newer diesel such as fuel, and emission issues ect.. Not knocking those who have them. I have been there as well with the DMax. Love the power hate the repair and overall cost. My gm 6.0 is lower in cost then the DMax that we had. That's my experience may not be yours. Gas power plants in trucks are becoming better with time, and I believe that dodge just raised the bar on their hemi, so others will soon need to do the same. So one must take in consideration their needs, and ability to pay to play.