Dodge and Cummins No More????

[Reg]

Not to be TOO green about it, but at some point some things have to be done to preserve a planet on which to even live, let alone stay in a business, no matter how small.
Yeah, I know, other States and other Countries continue to pollute, but California DOES seem to be among those that suffer the most from their self inflicted problems.
I really don't know how bad things would have been by now if the environmental movement & EPA hadn't got started and done what it has done since.... when ? late 60s, early 70s maybe ?
The air and water is probably worse than it was then, but at least the RATE of worsening has been slowed somewhat.

All these guys with chain saws, skidders, sawmills, etc. can't be allowed to just clear cut everything out of THEIR "economic necessity".
Similarly, whatever people are doing that requires running gas or diesel engines - and some of them is US !
The newer cleaner standards have been coming for a while now, it isn't an overnight thing that people didn't see coming and couldn't plan for.

Not my fault, but clean-up has to come and there IS a price to be paid.
Beam me up Scotty, we're drowning in our own swill down here.

 

[Builder]

I don't think making a guy retire a perfectly good 8 yr old LB-115 that doesen't meet CARB standards is going to make one bit of difference when the Chinese & the Indians are polluting the world on the scale that they are right now.

I think enviromentalists are doing more to ruin our country than the pollution ever did.

This is all driven by forces that really have little to do with saving the enviroment and more to do with diverting money to other groups for their benefit.

 

[WilliamBos]

I don't think making a guy retire a perfectly good 8 yr old LB-115 that doesen't meet CARB standards is going to make one bit of difference when the Chinese & the Indians are polluting the world on the scale that they are right now.

I think enviromentalists are doing more to ruin our country than the pollution ever did.

This is all driven by forces that really have little to do with saving the enviroment and more to do with diverting money to other groups for their benefit.

I agree. The folks at CARB seem to be living in their own little world. Nothng wrong with awareness, but they are beyond carried away now.

 

[ultrarunner]

I agree. The folks at CARB seem to be living in their own little world. Nothng wrong with awareness, but they are beyond carried away now.

Once again... California's loss is your gain.

Some where along the line there occurred a fundamental shift implementing innovation.

CA has special reformulated Diesel that cost the state millions when it was proven to Damage older Diesel fuel systems... my brother collected about $900 from the state for the cost of repairs.

We also implemented MTBE in gasoline that contaminated ground water making water districts close wells and implement rationing... even on the shores of Lake Tahoe...

We are doing it to ourselves...

What is missing is policy that is based on common sense... my vehicle can pass the 4 test emmision gas enhanced smog test with flying colors and still fail because of a bad light bulb in the Instrument Panel???

Someone can run a chipper 10 to 20 hours a year reducing fuel load to prevent another catastrophic fire... and be fined for operating a non-compliant engine.

It is interesting that State Vehicles are exempt from Smog Inspection and Smog Devices causing numerous problems when these vehicles are retired and bought by citizens.

I don't know if I would buy a Dodge Diesel or any Diesel if forced vehicle retirement becomes a reality...

I don't know what the answer is because it's just a matter of time before what happens in CA happens in your State... they say, "You can run, but you can't hide"

 

[Builder]

Makes about as much sense as the compact flourescent light bulb. Costs 10 times what a traditional light bulb costs, and when it burns out, you have to drive it to a collection center.

Wonder how much polluting & fuel waste occurs when you have to do that?

 

[WilliamBos]

We have been subject to bi-annual e-tests for years now. The only exemption is vehicles with Farm plates, if you buy new, never need e-test, and if you buy used, only 1 test on purchase then never test again.

Common sense should prevail here, but sadly, does not.

 

[flusher]

I'd doubt it. That'd be financial suicide.

If anything, Fiat should cance everything BUT the Ram line of trucks.

It's just about the only thing Dodge sells that makes them money.

Dodge's Fenton, Mo plant, one of three Ram plants, is on the short list to be shut down.

Analyst: Fenton Chrysler plant could close - St. Louis Business Journal:

When the dust settles, the Detroit Ram plant may be the only one left in production.

 

[Lyrch75]

The Mercedes diesel was planned for the 4500/5500 Rams. They should still do it, leaps and bounds better than Cummins.

LOL, the Merc motor is leaps and bounds better at vibrating the transfer tubes off and attempting to turn your hood into a Fuel Air Explosive containment unit. They are leaps and bounds better at just shutting off along the road for no apparent reason, and then eating two laptops at the Merc engine repair shop. The garage a buddy of mine owns told the fleet owner that if they bought anymore buses with the MB engine in it, they could have them serviced elsewhere.
The MBE 906 motors are troublesome motors. I love my OM352A MB motor, but it is an '83.

 

[WilliamBos]

LOL, the Merc motor is leaps and bounds better at vibrating the transfer tubes off and attempting to turn your hood into a Fuel Air Explosive containment unit. They are leaps and bounds better at just shutting off along the road for no apparent reason, and then eating two laptops at the Merc engine repair shop. The garage a buddy of mine owns told the fleet owner that if they bought anymore buses with the MB engine in it, they could have them serviced elsewhere.
The MBE 906 motors are troublesome motors. I love my OM352A MB motor, but it is an '83.

Well the MBE 4000 is nothing like you describe. My Dads former work truck had one under the hood, and UNLIKE the Cummins, started on more than one occasion when the power went out in dead middle of winter. Cummins did not. Better fuel mileage then the Cummins, among things. They have purchased a few more FL with the MBE in it, and have been totally happy. BTW, the trucks are used in EXTREME conditions, so they either sink or swim.

 

[Builder]

Dodge's Fenton, Mo plant, one of three Ram plants, is on the short list to be shut down.

Analyst: Fenton Chrysler plant could close - St. Louis Business Journal:

When the dust settles, the Detroit Ram plant may be the only one left in production.

That doesn't affect the Dodge/Cummins trucks because virtually all Dodge diesel pickups are built in Mexico. The American plants build gas trucks and 1/2 tons. You'll notice nearly all Dodge diesel trucks built after ~2000 have a VIN # that begins with a "3", which means the country of origin is mexico.
However, that plant was idled for a few weeks in june to cut back inventory.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/dodge-idles-mexican-truck-plant.html