Ford to try their hand at a diesel 1/2 ton?

Sysop · Jun 23, 2016

Renze said:
yes. The Caddy has the torque curve of a work truck, with its max torque at 40% of it's max rpm, and the basic F150 has a high revving sports car engine with its max torque at 70% of max rpm. It's about time Ford brings out a Diesel

Just stating the stereotype of drivers of American pickups in Europe....

Not many people over here buy the basic F150. I have the 3.5L ecoboost that makes something like 90% of it's torque between 1000 and 2000RPMs, and doesn't drop off until about 5000RPM.

Renze · Jun 24, 2016

Sysop said:
Not many people over here buy the basic F150. I have the 3.5L ecoboost that makes something like 90% of it's torque between 1000 and 2000RPMs, and doesn't drop off until about 5000RPM.
View attachment 472651

I know, the ecoboost with variable compression (turbo does that) and direct injection is a good compromise. It packs Diesel features in a gas engine. The only thing it cant, is achieve the last hurdle: diesel compression ratio which also increases combustion efficiency.

houstonscott · Jun 24, 2016

The beginning of the end of the gas truck....

HS

buickanddeere · Jun 24, 2016

Renze said:
I know, the ecoboost with variable compression (turbo does that) and direct injection is a good compromise. It packs Diesel features in a gas engine. The only thing it cant, is achieve the last hurdle: diesel compression ratio which also increases combustion efficiency.

A high compression ratio requires more power to compress which raises combustion chamber temps vs low compression. A low compression engine with lower temps. The higher temps waste power out the cooling system and exhaust.
The high expansion ratio on the power stroke is where the efficiency improves converting thermal energy into torque and motion on the crankshaft.

Garandman · Jun 24, 2016

GManBart said:
Why are people arguing vans versus pickups in a thread about a diesel F-150? :confused3:

Initially, because you can buy a diesel Transit 150?

Renze said:
//Just stating the stereotype of drivers of American pickups in Europe....

Well, when you see one, hit him with your purse.

Renze · Jun 24, 2016

buickanddeere said:
A high compression ratio requires more power to compress which raises combustion chamber temps vs low compression. A low compression engine with lower temps. The higher temps waste power out the cooling system and exhaust.
The high expansion ratio on the power stroke is where the efficiency improves converting thermal energy into torque and motion on the crankshaft.

Actually no. In the expansion stroke the temperature drops as much as it rose during compression, unless fuel is injected to create more power in the expansion stroke than the compression stroke took.

What is lost to the cooling system is combustion heat. Only a refrigerator dissipates compression heat.

Renze · Jun 24, 2016

Garandman said:
Well, when you see one, hit him with your purse.

hah, thats the American stereotype of the Prius driver that criticizes pickup drivers ??

Sysop · Jun 24, 2016

This is all solely my opinion, but the way I see it; Unless Ford uses something that will reside at the "high end" of the engine choices power-wise, I don't think it will do well. If they choose to use something based solely on fuel economy like Ram did with their ecodiesel, it won't sell much more than the ecodiesel. The largest segment of truck buyers, buy their trucks to work.

Basically, it needs to equal or exceed the towing capacity of the 3.5L ecoboost, it doesn't need to be as fast, but it does need to have a bit better fuel economy, especially under load. I think this is all easily able to be done, especially with the new 10 speed.

GManBart · Jun 24, 2016

Sysop said:
The largest segment of truck buyers, buy their trucks to work.

I think there needs to be an asterisks on that one. Work part time maybe.

The vast majority of times I see a pickup truck it's not towing anything, and the bed is empty. Most of the pickups I see are almost certainly being used as commuter vehicles that probably do some light duty on weekends towing the boat to the lake, or something similar. Before someone asks why I say they're being used as commuter vehicles, it's because they're in normal rush hour traffic with all the other commuters and I see plenty of people driving them wearing business clothes/suits, etc.