EcoDiesel, A Maiden Voyage

[Diamondpilot]

I think the 1/2 ton diesel is a great idea. The issue is this engine is 10 plus years too late. Give me a 1/2 ton diesel with 25 mpg, 350 HP or so, and more importantly 425 FT TQ like the gas competition and I will buy.

Chris

 

[paulharvey]

Options are good. Weather that means this specific option in this specific truck is money saving is totally different. I'm not saying one way or the other; and I'll bet a big part of how well it financial works is decided by how you use it. I like the idea is available; but I also don't see spending $40,000 on a truck. Now, wear I might be in the market is 5 year old trucks, in a year or 5. By then we should have a better handle on longevity and cost issues. It does surprise me it took this long for someone else to offer 1/2 ton diesel again... remember Chevy had a 6.5l in there 1500 for a year or two in early-mid 90s. Wasn't a big hit, but it did exist. I'd love to see a strong selection of different engines for all 3 truck makers.

Looks like 1998 they offered the 6.5L, no idea about other years.

 

[mikehaugen]

Supposedly my '97 suburban had a diesel option.

 

[paulharvey]

Supposedly my '97 suburban had a diesel option.

I know there was an 8.1L (502?) Offered in Avalanches. Not really related to ram; just companies have offered some different combos through the years.

 

[jejeosborne]

..... I guess that is why the majority of the truck freight movement in North America and Europe is done using diesel trucks I am starting to see that the Ford drivers (and some other makes) are grasping out straws to denigrade the Dodge Ram 6 cyl diesel because their favorite truck maker didn't do it yet........meanwhile some folks can just appreciate good engineering and marketing thinking no matter who made it...eg aluminum bodies on Ford trucks........I hope that idea catches on.

Don't care who drives what as long as they speak with logic. Obviously nothing is perfect in the world and it is good to discuss both strengths and weaknesses so that people can make informed decisions. Sorry you are taking offense to these types of discussions. Sounds like you only want to hear the good.

 

[wawajake]

Actually I want to hear the good the bad and the ugly.............but what I am reading is that some folks here don't think there is a market need for it , when many of us not so biased (including the media magazine critics) think it is a good idea.

Quite frankly I am getting tired of the truck makers thinking that all us truck owners want is more horsepower and more options. heck I too like "roadhunter" just want a truck that will get pretty good mileage and tow a reasonable amount and last a long time.
I would be happy if it had option of just getting rubber floor mats and had manual roll up windows. But that is not so easy to find is it ..........the trucks on the lot are loaded to the nuts! Meanwhile my 2008 truck with 345 hp is more than enough to pull my tractor and the odd load on the landscape trailer, so the Ram ecodiesel would do just fine, too bad a econo version without all the frills wasn't also an option. I will wait to see who has what when I am in market to purchase my maybe last truck when I retire in a couple of years, but I am glad to see one truck maker step out of the market box and try a 6 cyl diesel and yes even another truck maker try the aluminum body route. It is refreshing to see the flexible change.

 

[tcartwri]

Acttoo bad a econo version without all the frills wasn't also an option.

It is actually. At least in Canada it is.

 

[jejeosborne]

Actually I want to hear the good the bad and the ugly.............but what I am reading is that some folks here don't think there is a market need for it , when many of us not so biased (including the media magazine critics) think it is a good idea.

Quite frankly I am getting tired of the truck makers thinking that all us truck owners want is more horsepower and more options. heck I too like "roadhunter" just want a truck that will get pretty good mileage and tow a reasonable amount and last a long time.
I would be happy if it had option of just getting rubber floor mats and had manual roll up windows. But that is not so easy to find is it ..........the trucks on the lot are loaded to the nuts! Meanwhile my 2008 truck with 345 hp is more than enough to pull my tractor and the odd load on the landscape trailer, so the Ram ecodiesel would do just fine, too bad a econo version without all the frills wasn't also an option. I will wait to see who has what when I am in market to purchase my maybe last truck when I retire in a couple of years, but I am glad to see one truck maker step out of the market box and try a 6 cyl diesel and yes even another truck maker try the aluminum body route. It is refreshing to see the flexible change.

Still a little confused why you quoted me earlier but that is easy to do.

 

[roadhunter]

Actually I want to hear the good the bad and the ugly.............but what I am reading is that some folks here don't think there is a market need for it , when many of us not so biased (including the media magazine critics) think it is a good idea.

Quite frankly I am getting tired of the truck makers thinking that all us truck owners want is more horsepower and more options. heck I too like "roadhunter" just want a truck that will get pretty good mileage and tow a reasonable amount and last a long time.
I would be happy if it had option of just getting rubber floor mats and had manual roll up windows. But that is not so easy to find is it ..........the trucks on the lot are loaded to the nuts! Meanwhile my 2008 truck with 345 hp is more than enough to pull my tractor and the odd load on the landscape trailer, so the Ram ecodiesel would do just fine, too bad a econo version without all the frills wasn't also an option. I will wait to see who has what when I am in market to purchase my maybe last truck when I retire in a couple of years, but I am glad to see one truck maker step out of the market box and try a 6 cyl diesel and yes even another truck maker try the aluminum body route. It is refreshing to see the flexible change.

Exactly. We had a little VW diesel pickup when I was growing up and it was really cool but not that useful. A mid sized pickup with a diesel that could still do some work and get good mileage would be great. Like I said before Mahindra was supposed to release a truck like that. Hoepfully it will still happen some day.

Mahindra Diesel Truck
What is the Mahindra Diesel Truck?

The Mahindra Diesel Truck is a small, affordable, turbo diesel pickup with a lot of power. And it's coming to the United States! Mahindra Trucks are estimated to get around 30MPG and produce 30 percent fewer greenhouse gases per mile than the typical gasoline engine.

These little turbo diesel trucks also have the largest payload of any compact pickup on the market, boasting 2765 pounds! They also have an estimated 5000 pound towing capacity.

Mahindra Diesel Trucks are designed to be what the hard core truck American has been lacking for quite a while... Heavy Duty, and Simple. With the Mahindra Truck, you will get only the frills that are needed, a safe and comfortable ride, and the rest is pure workhorse. The Mahindra Truck truly is the little truck with the power and payload of a full sized pickup.

Is your mouth watering yet? Well, it should be! The Mahindra Truck will come in a 2 door model known as the TR20, and a 4 door model known as the TR40

 

[Monster5601]

I wonder how many trucks slipped out of the factory this way? Was it on purpose to keep the mpg numbers up or just a honest mistake?

99% of the drivers wouldn't know where to look to see what they really have.Chris

Chrysler introduced the eight speed transmission in March 2013 RAM 1500 production which came standard with 3:21 axle ratio. Previous production came with the six speed transmission with standard 3:55 ratio and that is the ratio listed under standard features on the window sticker. There was a three week window of production before the window sticker caught up with the eight speed transmission/3:21 axle ratio. Chrysler issued a stop sell on the new eight speed transmission equipped trucks but dealers still sold them and I was one that bought one.

My first clue that something was wrong was the RPM versus 70 MPH, around 1600 RPM. I measured the tire circumference and calculated the MPH/RPM relationship with respect to each of the eight gear ratios and each of the three axle ratios. Finally I looked on the rear axle and saw a barcode tag that clearly said 3.21.

Are you sure it is bumper to bumper and not just powertrain? Lifetime bumper to bumper with zero deductible seems a bit of a stretch to me.

Yes, I am very sure, Chrysler gave me the Max-Care warranty, life-time, $0 detectable warranty, chrome bed rails, and a $750 Mopar gift certificate instead of a buy-back.
Chrysler Maximum Care warranty. Ultimate coverage for Chrysler.

It was the norm rather than the exception. They switched suppliers for the drivelines in 2013 and didn't have enough inventory to install the 3.55's and in some cases the 3.92's, so 3.21's were installed in a lot of trucks, no matter what the order said. When I bought mine the dealer went out of his way to make it clear what ratio was installed which I thought was a little unusual at the time. However it makes very little difference in performance because of the 8-speed auto, which essentially has two bull low gears. These trucks jump off the line with almost no throttle.

Your are right about the new axle supplier for MY13 (ZF) and about the 3:21 axle ratio having more off the line grunt that a six speed transmission with 3:92s but the reason why is inaccurate, read why above.