Part of the reason we decided to go with the Ford Ecoboost V6 instead. It would take over a decade to realize any ROI from better mileage, and by that time, the truck would be gone.
Kinda my same thought Robert. Besides all the extras required when it's time to service the truck. Yes, it gets better mileage (at a higher cost) and yes, it get's more mile on the engine. But, at my age and future towing... that's moot. No one has a crystal ball (that's works and is accurate!), so it's a crap shoot. YMMV
I can't think of any reason to expect the Ram EcoDiesel engine to outlast the Ford EcoBoost... other than the fact that the EcoDiesel is just capable of producing less power, so the EcoBoost might well get worked harder if the driver takes advantage of the extra power available. In this particular case, the two engines are extremely similar: both V6, close to the same displacement, both turbocharged, both have direct electronic fuel injection, both have double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder...
The fuel type doesn't, but the build type does. I work for a worldwide transportation company... there's a reason we buy diesel tractors.
More expensive technology is... more expensive. Aluminum bodies are not new, although there are new technologies used with it now, such as welding and bonding methods, and the use of extrusions and die-castings with the sheet panels.
I'm pretty sure your company buys trucks with commercial truck engines, Donna, not car or light truck units. A 13-litre to 15-litre big rig engine is built very differently from the Ram's VM Motori A 630 DOHC which runs twice as fast to put out at least half of the big rig's power with only 20% of displacement and 20% of the weight. It is, I agree, the way the engine is built, and while I'm sure a Ram EcoDiesel is a fine engine it is not built for millions of miles of operation, so I still...
I agree. The material is more expensive and the fabrication techniques are more difficult and more expensive to use. There is a cost premium, and there will still be a premium even when aluminum is more common because it will still be difficult to work with.
That all sounds right to me.
I can believe they expect that; I think it is an unreasonable expectation. The Cummins engine is a commercial engine (the IS
run harder (more boost) than commercial service would normally allow, while the EcoDiesel is a car engine. That's why the 3.0L EcoDiesel puts out 240 hp, while the more than twice as big Cummins (6.7L) puts out under 400 hp; it is a slower-revving and likely lower-boost design.Likely true. Commercial engines are run more extensively near their output limits. If anyone tows all the time with their light-duty vehicle they should expect shorter engine life than in typical use.
