Preferred gas engines for 1 ton pickups

[Diamondpilot]

You must be lucky I used to have a titan but the it's mpg was terrible, I was very happy to trade it for a diesel. My titan had the optional 3.36 rears with the 5 speed auto. Nissan never put a 6 speed auto into the titan or 4.10's. The only rear ratios available are 2.94 and 3.36, and the factory locker only works in low range. However in 2011, you will be able to get a titan with a 6 speed but it will be powered by a hemi since it's going to be a rebadged dodge.

Now the titan I owned ran great and got average MPG till they started the ethanol blend, after that it was terrible.

Yes, you are right, the tranny is a 5 speed with OD. I hit the wrong key typing. My fault. My truck is a little different. My dealer does mods. My truck has a 2" dealer installed lift, dealer installed 33" Off Road Tires, and a locker that will work in 2 wheel drive, not just in 4 low like the factory one is set up. I have a second locker switch down by my left knee to engage the locker in any gear (2 wheel drive, 4 high, or 4 low). The switch you can see in picture #2. Its on the far outside down next to the pedal adjust switch and the cargo light switch. I still have the switch down by the center shift for normal locker use.

I will have to check on the 4.10's but I am pretty sure that is what it has. I know it has Dana axles and I have the big mirrors and big tow package of 9,500# or 9,300#, I cant remember. I know it tows great.

Chris

 

[Baranx4]

Yes, you are right, the tranny is a 5 speed with OD. I hit the wrong key typing. My fault. My truck is a little different. My dealer does mods. My truck has a 2" dealer installed lift, dealer installed 33" Off Road Tires, and a locker that will work in 2 wheel drive, not just in 4 low like the factory one is set up. I have a second locker switch down by my left knee to engage the locker in any gear (2 wheel drive, 4 high, or 4 low). I still have the switch down by the center shift for normal locker use.

I will have to check on the 4.10's but I am pretty sure that is what it has. I know it has Dana axles and I have the big mirrors.

Chris

When I got rid of mine they had the 4.10's available aftermarket with the detroit locker swap, but quantities were limited. I was thinking of doing it when I knew the rear was starting to go. Your rear slip light will start coming on when you start out from a stop. The two main reasons were low brake fluid, unsure why, and the rear starting to go. I had 1500 miles of warranty left and really wanted the diesel. If you do modify yours, borla is the only aftermarket exhaust that doesn't have serious drone on the titan. Banks is loud like straight pipes and magnaflow is just behind. People sitting in the rear passanger seat heard the drone the loudest, almost painful on a long trip. I don't know if your rear swap would change the drone but it is rpm specific, and annoying as heck. The big mirrors are just part of the tow package.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here is a pic of it with my boat on it. Its right at 7K. Sorry for the poor quality, it was taken with my Cell Phone. Here is the same boat also behind my F-150 I traded for the Titan. I also own a 2006 F-350 4x4 PSD and a 2004 F-250 4x4 PSD but really enjoy the titan. It handles the weight great. I tell people compared to my F-150's I have had, 6 of them, the Titan is more like the 2500 Hemi I had when it comes to chassis and ride.

Not with my Titan but with a customers we towed a 10,000# boat to Baltimore from Indian and it did great. I think we got right at 9mpg. He took it fairly slow leaving Indiana at around lunch and overnight in Pittsburgh. The second day drove the rest.

I already have a big 3" exhaust on mine. It was a dealer installed option also. The dealer really knows them and what to do to them. He also sells Fords, GM, Dodge, Toyota, VW, Audi, Smart, Ect. He covers it all.

As for the rear end problems everything I read it was only on the 03-05 Dana 2.92 and 3.36 units. They also had brake issues on the early ones. The new ones have this corrected. They also upped the HP and TQ around this time.

I feel the Titan was ahead of its time and set the standards. I can not think of a single 1/2 ton truck in 2003 with a factory locker, 5 speed tranny, all the bed innovations, center shift, and tow rating over 9K. Ford soon followed along with the rest but Nissan did not advertise enough to make a dent and the timing was wrong. Today it would be a great seller with the right marketing. That's kind of what turned me on to them. I wanted something different.

Chris

 

[Dmace]

Nissan never put a 6 speed auto into the titan or 4.10's. The only rear ratios available are 2.94 and 3.36, and the factory locker only works in low range. However in 2011, you will be able to get a titan with a 6 speed but it will be powered by a hemi since it's going to be a rebadged dodge.

He was probably quoting the salesman since Nissan says the 5-speed auto with 2.94 is "similar to a 4-speed automatic 3.73:1" and the "3.36 is similar to a 4-speed automatic 4.10:1".

On a side note, it's about time the Titan will have a real truck engine.
These Ford and GM truck owners can call the HEMI a race car engine all they want but when it comes down to it, the HEMI makes more HP and TQ then any other normally aspirated engine of the same displacement or less at just about any rpm. Plus it has proven itself to be bulletproof since it's 2003 introduction with many HEMI's out there making 500HP plus with no internal modifications. 90k miles on mine with nothing but oil changes, tires, and one wheel bearing, the engine is unstoppable.

Speaking of calling the HEMI a race car engine and saying that it needs high rpms to make power, here's a comparison between the HEMI, GM 6.0 and Triton in half ton trucks: (fuel mileage is for 2WD)

HEMI - 5.7 liters - 390HP @ 4,900 rpms - 407 LB.FT. @ 3,900 rpms (370 LB.FT @ 3,500 rpms) - 20 MPG

Triton - 5.4 liters - 310HP @ 5,000 rpms - 365 LB.FT. @ 3,500 rpms - 20 MPG

GM - 6.0 liters - 332HP @ 5,100 rpms - 367 LB.FT. @ 4100 rpms - 21 MPG

Funny how the "race car" engine makes MORE power at LOWER rpms then the others that some praise as good towing engines...

I can not think of a single 1/2 ton truck in 2003 with a factory locker, 5 speed tranny, all the bed innovations, center shift, and tow rating over 9K.

While it doesn't have a factory locker, my 2003 RAM 1500 has a limited slip diff which works great, 5 speed tranny with locking torque converter, floor 4x4 shifter (no stupid switch to fail), and a tow rating of 8,550 lbs (close enough to 9,000lbs). If the Titan was that great, it would have been a bigger seller but in the end it will be replaced by the RAM...

 

[Diamondpilot]

He was probably quoting the salesman since Nissan says the 5-speed auto with 2.94 is "similar to a 4-speed automatic 3.73:1" and the "3.36 is similar to a 4-speed automatic 4.10:1".

On a side note, it's about time the Titan will have a real truck engine.
These Ford and GM truck owners can call the HEMI a race car engine all they want but when it comes down to it, the HEMI makes more HP and TQ then any other normally aspirated engine of the same displacement or less at just about any rpm. Plus it has proven itself to be bulletproof since it's 2003 introduction with many HEMI's out there making 500HP plus with no internal modifications. 90k miles on mine with nothing but oil changes, tires, and one wheel bearing, the engine is unstoppable.

Speaking of calling the HEMI a race car engine and saying that it needs high rpms to make power, here's a comparison between the HEMI, GM 6.0 and Triton in half ton trucks: (fuel mileage is for 2WD)

HEMI - 5.7 liters - 390HP @ 4,900 rpms - 407 LB.FT. @ 3,900 rpms (370 LB.FT @ 3,500 rpms) - 20 MPG

Triton - 5.4 liters - 310HP @ 5,000 rpms - 365 LB.FT. @ 3,500 rpms - 20 MPG

GM - 6.0 liters - 332HP @ 5,100 rpms - 367 LB.FT. @ 4100 rpms - 21 MPG

Funny how the "race car" engine makes MORE power at LOWER rpms then the others that some praise as good towing engines...

If you read his post he says "they had the 4.10's available aftermarket with the detroit locker". I am sure that is what mine has. All the 4x4 trucks have the option of the Detroit Locker but as mentioned before in factory form can only be used in 4 wheel drive.

My truck has many dealer installed options. I did my research and knew what could be done via the dealers and keep the warranty and also warranty these parts added. I sought it out and drove over 3 hours to get it even though I have a dealer in my town. It has bigger exhaust, K&N Filter, larger tires, lift, full time locker, ect. I always wanted a Titan and when I heard Dodge was making a move to build the trucks for Nissan I ran out and bought one. I wanted nothing to do with Dodge again. I will admit even though I was not impressed or disappointed with my Hemi engine I felt it was no better than any others Gas Offerings.

What killed the Titan was the marketing. Look at Toyota. The marketing is good and they sell tons of trucks. Now Dodge reported a aprox 25% drop in sales last quarter, GM lost 2% which really surprised me while Ford held steady. Only time will tell but my feeling is Dodge/Chrysler is the next to fail.

It also funny how you failed to show that the Titan make 385LB.TQ @ 3400 rpm which best everybody, even the mighty GM 6.0 and Hemi.



Chris

 

[Dmace]

Now Dodge reported a aprox 25% drop in sales last quarter, GM lost 2% which really surprised me while Ford held steady.

Last quarters sales drops are typical when a manufacturer announces a brand new truck and everyone stops buying the current model to hold-out for the new model, in this case the new 2010 RAM. March 2009 vs March 2008, Dodge had the least drop in sales, funny how those numbers fluctuate.

It also funny how you failed to show that the Titan make 385LB.TQ @ 3400 rpm which best every body, even the mighty GM 6.0

While the 385 LB.FT @ 3,400 rpms for the Titan 5.6 liter is impressive, the 317 HP at 5,200 rpms is not...

 

[Diamondpilot]

I was not talking trucks, I was talking as a company total. All manufactures are off on truck sales right now but total sales last quarter show what people are buying. Heck I read where KIA/Hyundai was up something like 140%. They are the big winners in all this.

Anyway, we will never agree. Lets not let this become a Builder thing. At the end of the day we all work for our money and we buy what we like and feel is the best. I sure would not drop $40,000 plus on a truck I felt was 2nd or 3rd best and either would you. Buy what you like and be proud of it. If they did not make all the brands and we drove Black Model T's we would have nothing to argue about. By the way I am a Coors Light man so maybe we can debate that one some time.

Chris

 

[sld]

Dmace you sure like those Dodges.

To get a better idea of an engine's useful power you have to look at the dyno graphs. Available torque in the 1200 to 2200 rpm range is important. Dodge and GM have lived off the advertising of peak numbers for years. Ford has never played this game because peak numbers only tell a small part of the story. When you actually feel the usable (not peak) power, Ford has done very well.

I'm not bashing any brands, even though I am partial to Ford. My V10 crew cab does everything I could ever ask of it. All new trucks have their good points and bad points but all of the newer models are so much better than 15 years ago it's not even funny.

 

[Dmace]

Chris, I'm just trying to find that the facts that make you feel the "HEMI should never be in a truck". It's a ton more truck engine than most gas burning engines out there... (pun intended)

By the way I am a Coors Light man so maybe we can debate that one some time.

I'm a Sam Adams fan but I'd drink to anything!

 

[Hematite]

Dmace you sure like those Dodges.

To get a better idea of an engine's useful power you have to look at the dyno graphs. Available torque in the 1200 to 2200 rpm range is important. Dodge and GM have lived off the advertising of peak numbers for years. Ford has never played this game because peak numbers only tell a small part of the story. When you actually feel the usable (not peak) power, Ford has done very well.

I'm not bashing any brands, even though I am partial to Ford. My V10 crew cab does everything I could ever ask of it. All new trucks have their good points and bad points but all of the newer models are so much better than 15 years ago it's not even funny.

Absolutely correct, it's low to mid rpm that counts in a truck engine, not peak numbers.