Ram V-6 EcoDiesel

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Nice!

My favorite tip to offer up is that if you want to lock the truck and keep it running while you run in to the store, hit the last two buttons on your keypad. Just make sure you remember the number to get back in!

[Powerstroke]

EPA estimate says the 5.0L V8 gets 17mpg combined driving and the Ecoboost is 19mpg. Highway mileage says 19 for the V8 and 21 for the ecoboost and most ecoboost owners reports higher.

A huge factor for fuel mileage would be those rear end gears. I chose 3.73's for my towing needs, but those who have the 3.31 or even 3.15 I think were available can malke a big difference.

Back to the topic of the Ram, I'm sure the truck will have lots of power, and many people will buy one for the cool factor, but there can certainly be no claim of fuel savings or cost savings. If diesel fuel were more cost effective it could be a wash, but at the premium cost of diesel, it seems like an unreasonable choice, especially with all the emissions extras associated with diesels now. DEF fluid anyone?

[PurpleFloyd]

If all you do is drive around empty then there is more than likely no justification but if you pull a trailer I would say the diesel would give you much improved MPG under tow. Part of the deal with a diesel is that it will last much longer and more miles than a gas motor do if you plan to drive a lot and keep it a long time plus pulling it can be an asset. But if you ist use it to drive with no load and if you like to trade it fairly often then there is probably no savings to be had.

Another thing to consider with a diesel is that they take more oil and you need to change fuel filters which also add to the cost of ownership. Personally up to the day I bought my RAM CTD I never considered buying a diesel. This truck was priced right so I pulled the trigger and after 2 years pulling a 20ft cargo trailer I would never go back to gas.

[MN Mike]

Ford, Chevy and Toyota: No Plans for Diesel Half-Tons

Chrysler’s Ram truck brand announced an industry first diesel engine option in the Ram 1500, a move which the company’s rivals will be watching closely, though none of them have any plans to emulate.

Ford’s U.S. truck communications manager Mike Levine told AutoGuide com that Ford has no plans for a diesel F-150, and that Ford’s EcoBoost engines will remain competitive in the segment.

Toyota’s chief truck engineer Mike Sweers said something similar; that the Japanese brand’s V8 engines are tried, tested and true, and diesel is not on the docket.

When asked about diesel engines for the Silverado, Chevrolet truck communications manager Tom Wilkinson responded: “[Chevrolet] looked at diesels for [light-duty] pickups but [we] don’t have plans for one at this point.” Essentially, he said, it “comes down to cost of ownership, with the slightly higher fuel economy offset by the higher cost of the truck and relatively high cost of diesel fuel.”

Cost of ownership was also brought up by Toyota engineer Mike Sweers, saying that the company, “can’t justify a diesel engine” in the new 2014 Tundra, because the cost of ownership would be too high.

Diesel engine parts are more expensive than gas engine components, and on top of that, diesel fuel is more expensive at the pump. Clearly Ram thinks that the diesel option will pay off, while its rivals say customers won’t be willing to pay the extra money for the oil-burning engine.

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is expected to achieve 30 mpg highway when equipped with the same 3.0-liter diesel and 8-speed automatic transmission that will find its way under the hood of the Ram 1500.

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost powered F-150 is EPA rated at 21 mpg highway, while the 2013 Silverado achieves 21 mpg highway when equipped with the 5.3-liter V8. The 2013 Toyota Tundra brings up the rear with 19 mpg highway when equipped with the 4.6-liter gas motor, leaving the Ram as the clear fuel economy winner, assuming it achieves around the same numbers as the Grand Cherokee is estimated to hit.

While the brands seem to be united in their plan not to offer a comparable diesel half-ton truck, their opinions might change if the 3.0-liter diesel Ram turns out to be a hit.

All I can say is that Ram better come out with some impressive mileage numbers if they think they are going to win over some customers.

Mike