New Toyota Tundra: Maintenance Questions

[RobertN]

By hybrid, a diesel/electric truck. The Toyota Prius, as I understand, has a gas engine which runs a generator. In turn, the generator charges batteries, and supplies electricity a a electric motor. It is the actual electric motor which provides the actual "drive" to the transmission. The gas engine turns on as needed to charge the batteries or provide extra power under load.

For a truck, a similar thing could be done. Claims in 4x4 magazines a couple years back were that Dodge at least had a prototype for the military. It used the Cummins engine to generate electricity. The truck could run off batteries, in silent mode, or a combinantion engine/battery. It could also, as needed, act as a power generator.

As I understand, locomotives work in similar fashion. The Diesel-electrics use a big diesel generator, which provides power to electric motors that actually drive the wheels.

Imagine your truck also being a 10 or 20kw generator. Do your work on the broken tractor in the field, or run power on a construction site. Then drive away with excellent fuel mileage.

 

[TresCrows]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What would be wonderful, from any manufacturer, is a diesel hybrid. It would be so easy to do. And, for working out in the field, wether the farm field or just out on job sites, is the ability for a setup like that to operate as a generator.

I heard grumblimgs some time ago about a Dodge/Cummins hybrid for the military, and possible civilian offers. But, aint seen one yet, so who knows what happened to it. )</font>

Well, let's see, I know that Toyota is deep into hybrid stuff and a diesel or gas hybrid is planned for the new Tundra but not the first year. It will be able to tow reasonable loads. The current Tundra can tow over 7,000 lbs or more in some versions, more than enough for me. The new Tundra 3/4 ton it has been stated that it will tow equal to any competitors. Again, only time will tell what that means.

It has been stated by Toyota there will be a hybrid Tundra. That is why I expect they will not offer a straight diesel. Now, I have seen nothing to suggest if it will be a diesel hybrid or a gas hybrid. I don't know. J

 

[RobertN]

It would be cool even as a gas hybrid /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Wouldn't it be sweet to have a portable generator source /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It seems so logical; I wonder if they will investigate that avenue

 

[Deerlope]

Thanks for thr update. I will just keep looking for a low mileage Ford diesel.

 

[Rowski]

My '01 Chevy 2500HD with 6.0L 4L80E automatic get some heavy use. I plow commercial in the winter, pull my tractor and a 8K lb excavtor (not mine) in the summer. What I do at every oil change I pull the drain plug on trans and top of with fluid usually 4 qts. Every 30k miles I pull the pan to make sure the filter is clean and there are no peices in the pan. I know that the 4 qts added is maybe only 1/4 of the total fluid in the trans. but it I makes me feel better.