2015 Ram EcoDiesel Review/Comparison Update
Tim Esterdahl | Feb 10, 2015 | Comments 28
Wanted to update everyone that we are currently editing a video and writing a review on the 2015 Ram EcoDiesel we just had. With travel coming up on Wednesday to the Chicago Auto Show, our hope is to have the article up today or tomorrow morning. If not, it will be next week.
Filed Under: TundraHeadquarters.com
Ram boys will man up and sell there so called eco diesel to buy the new Tundra diesel
no they won’t…
first, I doubt we will ever see the tundra diesel, I still think that story is dead (Tim?).
second, two different applications, one is light duty to get 29 highway and good MPG while towing light loads. The other remains to be seen. The ISV5.0 weighs 899lbs, that’s why nissan went heavy half ton to be able to get it. Way too much weight for a standard tundra, the 5.7 weighs way less than that. Either way is won’t touch that MPG of the ecodeisel and people already say that doesn’t make financial sense.
I have said all along, the ISV5.0 is too big for a standard 1/2 ton and too small for a 3/4 ton. It’s best spot if a heavy 1/2 ton which I don’t see toyota making, especially with the lack of production space.
Larry,
You on any other sites?
I get information on cumminsforum.com also.
have to say, if I was to do it again. I would buy a Tacoma with a manual trans, remove the bed, sell it and build a 7 our 8 foot custom flat bed. The Tacoma is a solid platform, to bad it’s not available in Chassis Cab for custom setups.
Good Autoweek article making the case for a 1/2 ton V8 diesel. Scroll down to the 8th paragraph and read the statistics.
http://autoweek.com/article/de.....-auto-show
Don’t hold your breath; Sweers has been consistenly making a case for not providing a diesel.
I don’t see the ISV5.0 as too small for a 3/4 ton. It a good option along with larger motors. It is my view that the 1/2 tons are turning in to consumer crap. I want the real 3/4 ton truck which the FEDs are leaving alone up to this point. I have a need for a solid 3/4 ton truck but I have no need for an 800 foot pound monster engine. The 5.9 is still way too much for my needs. If 3.0 engines are fine for 10000 GVW cab forward trucks the 5.0 is plenty for at least 1/2 of all the 3/4 tons on the road. The 3.0 VM motor which is in the RAM 1500 wold be fine for many of us in a 3/4 ton.
I too doubt that Toyota will come to production with a diesel truck in 2016.
Larry,
it would have to be significantly cheaper in the 3/4 ton to work, otherwise if it’s 6K and the 6.7 cummins is 8K, then I throwing in the 2K to get the torque monster
The use for diesel is pulling power but, how much. We are now at 6.7L engines with 800 ft/Lb of raw torque. They can pull 30,000 pounds. In 5 years will we be at 7L 1000 ft/lb, then 1200 ft/lb?
How have we come to the point where we now have 3.0 L diesels with around 400 ft/lb and we laugh at them.\? Yet, that 400 ft/lb in a 1/2 ton is likely around double the power of a 3/4 ton contractors truck from 20 years ago and those trucks did their job just fine.
It’s time for options and some of those options need to be lower power trucks in gas and diesel to match the job we need to do. I couldn’t tell you the last time I saw a pickup towing 20,000 pounds. Yet, every single day I see 6.7L leather seat diesel monsters driving around town empty and from the look of the trucks which are spotless it is very likely they have never moved a sheet of drywall.
Would we like to see new engines from Toyota, sure but, there is nothing wrong with the current 5.7. In addition any comparison of the 3.0 Ram diesel to the 5.7 Toyota is pointless. It would be reasonable to compare total cost of ownership but, I can tell everyone right now that with the cost of diesel and the cost of diesel maintenance the current 5.7 gas motor will win out by a wide margin.
An open and fair evaluation of the new Ram V6 diesel is all well and fine but to compare it to a V8 gas motor shows what? The diesel will lose in the 1/4 mile. The diesel will move 20 thousands pounds on less fuel? With a 20,000 gross which will be faster to pass on the highway at 75 MPH? Do I really want to know the answers to these questions? And, most important of all which one is the prettiest truck.
Larry,
You make a good argument for reality based buying.
The diesel trucks back then were lighter because they had less content. But man were they slow, smokey and loud! My boss had a diesel Chevy back in the ’80s and it wouldn’t start reliably and took forever to get to 60mph. I hated that truck and bugged my boss to get a gas Chevy pickup.
As technology advanced with the modern computer controlled systems, it made sense for manufacturers to install them, not only on cars, but trucks as well. So the diesel was transformed into the powerhouse it is today closing the gap between itself and powerful gas motors in terms of acceleration, pollution and reliability.
Trucks today, as you stated, have become more societal symbols than the tools they once were that helped us in construction and general hauling.
When I drove my first diesel Silverado in ’02, I was shocked by it’s enormous power, speed and MPG. I bought it on the spot ($42k) and it pulled my loaded 22′ trailer with ease getting me 18mpg hwy. That truck is now $60k! It’s just too expensive but I bet a V8 diesel 1500 would haul more and cost less. I’d order a stripped down diesel version to keep the MSRP affordable and keep it for 10-15 years. Btw, I did oil and filter changes that were reasonable in cost on my Duramax.
My blown Tundra however, pulls like a diesel and gets 17mpg/hwy. I’m in no hurry to get a diesel because my supercharger, which wasn’t feasible in the past without modern computer technology, pulls off idle the way I need it too and is fast and light when empty.
The Ram is fulfilling a need for owners who want to drive a truck albeit with better MPG and power than the old and outdated Hemi 5.7. They’ll never use the diesel for work perhaps towing a boat occasionally.
Lastly, there is a on going concern with diesels equipped with an EPA mandated EGR system. The recirculation of what amounts to as soot through a diesel motor for the purposes of scraping a few extra particles of debris from the atmosphere, is the determining factor of premature failure in these modern engines. No one talks about that!
the hemi isn’t old and outdated….
they just updated it in 2013 and it makes more hp and torque and is more efficient than the tundra 5.7
just sayin’
I would have to take a look to see if my 2006 Cummins has an EGR valve. There was a time when Cummins accomplished the same exhaust re-burn with valve timing. They closed the intake a bit early on the exhaust stroke to leave some exhaust in the cylinder for the next compression stroke.
As for modern diesel and the very high pressure injection they are a lot better then diesel of 25 years ago. I would say I am in favor of UREA injection to reduce NO2. I don’t like the canister filter but understand why it has become mandatory.
If you add these items to the requirement for low sulfur diesel, which makes diesel 33 percent more, it’s a deal breaker. The total cost of owner ship can not be recovered. It will be cheaper to just burn more gas.
Diesel now only really makes sense for 50,000 pound trucking and rail. Those buying the RAM 1500 V6 diesel will be fooling themselves if they only look at the MPG. At 300 dollars for 1 fuel injector when someone has to replace all 6 and the high pressure pump, they will go into shock. When the complex exhaust system rusts out get ready to drop another 5000 dollars.
It’s truly sad Toyota won’t give us a diesel. A tow fleet here in Florida just switched to Hino and have sang their praise. A Hino powered tundra would be awesome.
On a another note..Toyota needs to bring us an 8 speed or better. Honda just released a pilot with a 9 speed. Toyota does view Honda as their man competitor. Rumors have Lexus (aisin) working on a 10 speed tranny. Hopefully we’ll see some changes soon.
It’s strange to see Toyota ‘leading from behind.’ They were first with the 6spd and now seemingly on pace to be last with an 8spd. The Tundra is practically ignored by the Automotive press and Toyota has nothing in the pipeline for that truck.
However Toyota is the only manufacturer to offer a dealer installed supercharger that is covered by the vehicle’s power train warranty should the dealer do the install. It’s their unusual commitment to big, reliable power that makes me hang in there as an owner. My ’12 is my third Tundra and it’s got the blower!
Despite the usual suspects who levy their insults at a truck that we know they have probably never owned or even driven in some instances, it is the most reliable truck I have ever owned.
well? where’s the story Tim? quit slacking LOL
Just got back into town and uploaded a video today. Waiting for it to go olive and then I can write it up. I was at a Ford snow plow event.
May be he’s a 1980’s Russian Gymnast 😀
curious on ecodiesel ram gas mileage.
I just spoke with someone about his Ram 1500 V6 diesel. He told me he just did a trip and on the highway segments he got 27 MPG.
My 2006 7000 pound 3/4 ton diesel get 19 MPG in every day driving. Manual transmission, no urea injection, no canister filter, free hubs on the front axels, 3.7 gears. On trips I will get 22.5. I have seen 25 MPG twice and that was in perfect condition so that was not normal for sure. The new 3/4 tons aren’t close to these numbers.
The Ram 1500 is a much lighter truck, automatic trans only. You will get better millage then a gas motor but just remember it won’t accelerate like a gas motor when you want to pass someone. Don’t forget, you will pay 1 dollar a gallon more for diesel. As for repairs, you don’t even what to know what the costs will be when you have problems. I will warn you about 1 repair item, a dealer will charge you around 5000 dollars,parts and labor to replace 6 high pressure fuel injectors. Make sure you put all this stuff in a spread sheet to get an idea of what 150,000 miles in a diesel is really going to cost.
I wouldn’t even consider modern diesel here in the US and that is based on one reason only, total cost of ownership. What good is 30 MPG if I spend 100,000 dollars on the truck over 10 years?
Larry,
After the purchase, the cost of ownership for my ’02 Duramax was very reasonable. Diesel was cheaper than regular gas then however. I did regular 5k oil changes – 8 qts and filter. The truck was reliable up until I traded it at 5 years – 80k miles (avg. 18mpg). I disconnected my EGR system. I would get an extended warranty on a diesel.
My ’12 Tundra was $45k (paid $37.5k). My blower and misc add ons totaling $11k. Gas here got to $4.35/gal – fill ups totaled more than $80/week for a long time.
The gov influenced price of diesel will make people hesitate but the super (93 octane) I fill up with is close to the price of diesel.
All trucks and SUV’s today are overpriced, big money makers for manufacturers – we all know that! They help to generate huge profits. I’d still rather drive a modern truck than a car.
I too have always felt more comfortable in a truck than a car, not sure why. 80k miles on a Duramax. That sounds like the end of the break in period. It was just getting warmed up.
So a big diesel will add 5000 to the price of a pickup, I am looking at Ford power stroke or Cummins. I don’t know much about GM Duramax but it must be about the same.
Your stated millages of 18 is close to the 19 I get with my 06. The new diesels are not even close. I have talked with Ford and Cummins owners after 2013 who tell me about getting 12. So now we are evan with a gas motor.
You mentioned 8 quarts of oil. I will list items for my Cummins 5.9
12 quarts of oil (3 gallons)
5 gallons of coolant
As for numbers lets look at the first 125,000 miles, many big 15L engines run 1 million miles.
5000 up front
300 sales tax
8000 dollars in addition full cost for diesel 8000 gallons of fuel at around a working MPG of 15.5
3000 (replace cost of all injectors at a dealer there is a 50/50 chance of this, when one goes you replace them all)
That’s 17300 and it does not include other items like exhaust system components. If it’s Ford add the cost of removing the cab for some engine items.
I don’t see any way to make up that cost. These costs are so high that if a person does need to move a 25000 pound load once and a while it’s less expense to hire a third party to move the load.
As for expensive fuel in gas motors. I will only purchase cars/trucks which runs on 85 octane fuel. That might be difficult from now on.
I am in a financial position where I can afford to pay for these additional costs but, I would not hold that position for long wasting money on such things.
While a smaller V6 diesel will be less then the 6.7L engines, I think a spread sheet will show that over time they still are not ever close.
The Fed requirements on modern diesel be they good or bad, necessary for clean air or not have taken diesel out of the game for anything but heavy freight.
I have to disagree with Larry in modern diesel ownership(purchase price, maintenance etc.). For very light duty(passenger vehicles only), diesel is an excellent choice. We now own 2 VW vehicles with TDI engines. A bit more $$ to purchase, but have had zero maintenance issues, excellent power and very impressive mileage. Even factoring in higher price at the pump(85 octane regular is $2.97, diesel$3.28), diesel power has saved us big!
Here in Utah Diesel is currently 1 dollar a gallon more.
I have looked at the VW diesels a bit as I have a Subaru to replace. What is the difference in millage between Gas and Diesel on the VW? I wasn’t really speaking about small engine diesel cars, i don’t have any experience with them.
As for trucks, If you figure 125,000 files, then factor in the cost of fuel, injector replacement and rusted out exhaust system components the math doesn’t work. If you have different numbers please show us. The cost for a 6.7 3/4 ton diesel is about 7000 dollars and I think the 3.0L VM in the Ram 1500 is 3000.
I’m not sure about the gas engines. Our newest VW is a 2013 “clean diesel” with a particulate filter to regen., no DEF. In 20,000 miles it has averaged 39.8 mpg and routinely achieves 50 mpg on the highway (55 mph). Not sure how much $$ to replace the filter when the time comes. Our other is an ’02 with 125,000 miles. One timing belt change and oil changes/air filters etc. That’s been it for maintenance
Crickets…
Hold on, hold on. I just got back from Montreal where I was doing a Fiat-Chrysler snow AWD and 4WD truck event. I’ll be publishing soon.
-Tim
I don’t know tim,
your spending an awful lot of time in the Rams, you may get converted, LOL.
“you may get converted”
should read
“you may defect like a 1980’s Russian Gymnast”
breathing borla should know, he did. 😀