Rumors Started again

[Diesel Army]

I like the piece. Are you the author, Chad? Bookmarked. Interesting aspect of the gas engines being pushed up front. Hadn't noticed that from under my rock

Hey Wayne, Yeah, I'm the author. The push was really apparent during the summer. I have been behind a computer or out in the shop for the past few months. So I'm not sure if they changed their angle or not. It was just a very interesting "you really don't need a diesel" type campaign.

Glad you liked the piece!

 

[Bob V]

They probably don't want make adds featuring Cummins when thay have engines going into other brands that are competing with the 1500 ecodiesel.

 

[Killgore]

Possibly, Bob. But, it appears that they are selling everything they produce with a Diesel and maybe the gassers need a boast in sales.
- Ed

 

[Wayne M.]

They probably don't want make adds featuring Cummins when thay have engines going into other brands that are competing with the 1500 ecodiesel.

Good point. Confusion abound.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Possibly, Bob. But, it appears that they are selling everything they produce with a Diesel and maybe the gassers need a boast in sales.
- Ed

Yes, and don't forget there is a manufacturing profit on the gasoline engines whereas they are paying for Cummins diesels and Cummins is making the profit instead of FCA.

Bill

 

[brods]

Yes, and don't forget there is a manufacturing profit on the gasoline engines whereas they are paying for Cummins diesels and Cummins is making the profit instead of FCA.

Bill

And that is the exact same reason why FPT engines will eventually go into the pickups. Fiat is a foreign company plain and simple. Like all businesses PROFIT is their first priority. If they can make more profit and keep more of their factories overseas running by supplying their own diesels..... well that is a no brainer. Sure a few hard core Cummins loyalists might switch brands, but as the Ecodiesel shows, most American buyers could care less who makes the engine (or any other part of the truck) as long as it works. The only way its not going to happen is if Chrysler breaks free of Fiat.

It would be interesting to see how the sales numbers would compare if they offered both a Cummins and FPT diesel as an option.

 

[mwilson]

I just hope that the 1/2 ton diesel powerplants don't turn into little hand grenades at 100,000 miles and set the market back another 30 years.

Fingers crossed that does not happen.....

 

[Wayne M.]

I just hope that the 1/2 diesel powerplants don't turn into little hand grenades at 100,000 miles and set the market back another 30 years.

Fingers crossed that does not happen.....

On the money. They better not screw this up! The VM V6 dosent give me that HD fuzzy feeling inside.

 

[jhenderson]

There is a profit in a Cummins powered pickup. Surely no one believes Ram is paying $8000 for the engine and emissions package. There may be less profit in putting a different diesel in if sales suffer.

 

[rscurtis]

I just hope that the 1/2 ton diesel powerplants don't turn into little hand grenades at 100,000 miles and set the market back another 30 years.

Fingers crossed that does not happen.....

I think if this was going to happen, it would have started already. The 6-litre started having problems right out of the gate. My LF9 Oldsmobile only made it to 4300 miles before it pulled the wrist pin out of a piston- while it was idling.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I think if this was going to happen, it would have started already. The 6-litre started having problems right out of the gate. My LF9 Oldsmobile only made it to 4300 miles before it pulled the wrist pin out of a piston- while it was idling.

Yep, my wife and I test drove a '03 Ford F350 crew cab dually with the 6.0L engine. When we returned from the test drive, the engine started missing and died while we were standing beside the truck talking to the salesman. Needless to say, it wasn't a good omen. I ordered the '03 CTD 3500 dually that I driving now the following day.

Not all Oldsmobile diesels gave problems. I purchased a new '80 Olds 98 that I drove nearly 60,000 trouble free miles and traded it for a new '82 Olds 98 that went nearly 100,000 trouble free miles before I sold it in 1986. The second owner drove it for another 150,000 miles before high oil consumption and badly worn valve train caused him to park it. I had a Racor fuel/water separator and filter added to both cars when new and they received regular 3,000 mile oil changes using Valvoline 30 weight oil. The second owner of the '82 continued the regular 3,000 mile oil changes using the same engine oil.

Bill

 

[crispyboy]

I can't really add a lot to what's already been said but If they ever changed engines I think sales would suffer quite a bit at least in the United States and Canada because of the reputation of the Cummins motor. I don't know any better to have doubts about the Fiat motor but apparently it is used and respected by those in Europe (remember those folks have been running diesels for a long time and are pretty darn smart). Most folks that own VW diesels (European diesel) seem to love them once you know and understand the quirks of running a diesel motor.
If I were in the market looking for a new diesel truck and the Fiat motor was offered I would definitely comparison shop the GM and Ford. I have always like Chrysler but it is getting tougher for me to send my money to foreign owned companies and manufacturing plants.
The rest of the truck has come a long way and seems well engineered. I am always amazed at the stoutness of the frame on my truck (2009) and it's not even as heavy as the newest trucks. To me everything seems solid about "the wrapper" except for the ugly interior of my 3rd Generation truck.
I think if Nissan ever offers the 2.8 Cummins in their small truck they are going to have a lot of converts.

 

[Killgore]

I too, bought a new Olds in 1980 with the diesel engine and installed a Racor filter system. The only problem I had was the dealer's service department that continuously tried to convince me to let them replace the injector pump instead of dropping the tank and throwing that sock filter in the garbage. I won that technical argument but all good things have to come to an end, and so I got disgusted and traded for a Honda Accord swearing to never buy GM again.
- Ed

 

[Killgore]

I understand that diesel fuel in Europe is head and shoulders above what we get at the pump. If these engines are going to have feet of clay I would suspect that there would be major issues in that area unless Fiat/Chrysler has provided for this difference in quality.
- Ed

 

[smokemifugotem]

the cummins engine is an excellent power plant. how much the chrysler electronics hurt it's overall reliability is not too hard to figure out. if you get stranded by the side of the road because it stopped running you probably ran out of fuel of have a chrysler caused electrical problem.

 

[cerberusiam]

I would suspect that there would be major issues in that area unless Fiat/Chrysler has provided for this difference in quality.

Yes, thye have made sure your wallet will have the issue. The groundwork has already been layed by both Cummins and Dodge which extends to the VM engines. They adopted a fuel quality specification. Bottom line, if the fuel doesn't meet spec you are on your own.

how much the chrysler electronics hurt it's overall reliability is not too hard to figure out. if you get stranded by the side of the road because it stopped running you probably ran out of fuel of have a chrysler caused electrical problem.

All the engine control is Cummins supplied not Dodge. The biggest problems will be the interrfaces to the platform that fail, that is in Rams corner to fix those glitches. A lot of those are customer driven so be careful what you ask for.

 

[Ozymandias]

I understand that diesel fuel in Europe is head and shoulders above what we get at the pump. If these engines are going to have feet of clay I would suspect that there would be major issues in that area unless Fiat/Chrysler has provided for this difference in quality.
- Ed

If I understand you right then you are talking about fuel quality, today there is no more a big difference between your ULSD and the DIN-EN 590.

 

[Killgore]

Ozy, I certainly am no expert but I was lead to believe that our quality control was not up to European standards.
- Ed

 

[SnoKing]

I have heard repeatedly that the diesel in the US does not even meet Bosch's requirements for their injection pumps and the Canada's does. The American consumer is seldom put ahead of the all mighty dollar!

 

[JR]

The HFRR test D6751 is typically used to measure lubricity, and a 520 microns wear scar is the maximum wear scar acceptable for US diesel fuel. However, the Engine Manufacturers Association and many OEM's require 460 microns as the maximum acceptable wear scar. I believe 460 microns is the standard for EN 590 fuel.