Why a Ford Tech picked a Ram EcoDiesel for his own truck

[jgillott]

I think they also have an optional 30+ gal tank available, but it may only be available with the V8 and/or the larger 3.5l Ecoboost.

 

[Wayne M.]

They need it. Neighbors ecopoop had an 18. Towing a 20' boat that weighs in at 2500 pounds with trailer knocked him to less than 150 miles to a tank. His brothers F350 with V10 had more mpg towing and much larger tank=more range and less stops.

A F350/ V10 has less fuel consumption towing than a F150 Eco boost 2.7 towing a small boat?

 

[Bill Lins]

Saw a review (don't remember where) that said the Ecoboost had the power of a small-block & the economy of a big-block!

 

[jgillott]

I recently watched a YouTube video from Fast Lane Trucks that compared the Ecoboost vs the Ecodiesel towing. I don't remember the exact #'s but they did quote the mpg figures.

 

[Regcabguy]

An owner on the next block averages 15 mpg combined with his Supercrew 2wd with stock Michelins. He expected much more.

 

[DonFitzwater]

A F350/ V10 has less fuel consumption towing than a F150 Eco boost 2.7 towing a small boat?

Both trucks towed identical boats from Fairbanks, Ak to the Yukon River at Circle, Ak. The Ecoboost averaged 8 mph and the V10 averaged 9. The V10 powered truck had enough fuel to not require a fuel stop.

 

[w6pea]

Of course…I like the fact hat it is NOT a rant at all, simply a well presented piece of decision making.

Agreed. Very informative testimonial.
We just returned from the Auto Show here and I'm pleased to say for the first time in years Chrysler had a very large inventory of diesel and gas trucks along with their cars.
The new trucks sure sit nicely and my wife loved the Ecoboost's fuel economy numbers but not the pricetag. Fit and finish was excellent,they had the power seats turned on and the hoods up.

I have to agree it was very informative. Thank you to the OP for posting the link.

 

[Wayne M.]

Both trucks towed identical boats from Fairbanks, Ak to the Yukon River at Circle, Ak. The Ecoboost averaged 8 mph and the V10 averaged 9. The V10 powered truck had enough fuel to not require a fuel stop.

Wow. The V 10 is running good. I didn't think they pulled a number like that running bobtail.

 

[GrantP]

Saw a review (don't remember where) that said the Ecoboost had the power of a small-block & the economy of a big-block!

That's backwards in my experience. I got 19 mpg combined city/hwy and it has big block torque with 420 ft lbs @ 2500. The small blocks I grew up with didn't get 19 mpg and the big blocks didn't twist 400 lbs. I wish the guy in the video had gone in to more detail about the "ecoboost problems" but he just glossed over it. I'd be curious to know what the common problems are with it.

I have not had any time behind the wheel with the ecodiesel, but I have in a hemi and a chevy 1500 with 5.3 and the ecoboost F150. Of those three I thought the Ford had the best drivetrain package of the bunch by far. The hemi was impressive too but the transmission shift points/torque management aggravated me. The Chevy was just awful all around. It was gutless and got worse mileage than the others. My .02...

 

[DonFitzwater]

Grantp, some of the issues that the tech talks about heavily in his Ecoboost videos deals with random misfires, spark plug lack of longevity, intake valve cleaning and Fords inability to remedy those issues. Basically Ford seems to install new spark plugs, run an upper engine cleaning solution through the intake (since they are DI you can't get intake valves clean by adding cleaner to fuel) and kick you out the door until the warranty runs out. Limp modes for different reasons seem to be common for these engines.

 

[Wayne M.]

Some time ago, I was hustling up through a 70 mph piece of NJs finest hi ways. But there was a holdup. I soon found out what the offender was. It was a previous gen F150 with puffs of black coming out of the tailpipe. As I was proceeding to give him a shovel of coal myself, I spotted IT. The little ECO BOOST emblem on the gate. Oh well, LATER DUDE!

The issue of coked intake valves is a very common issue with direct injected engines. Due to EGR and a closed crankcase, the backs of the valves get screwed up bad.

 

[jgillott]

Just one additional comment on the Ram 1500 platform. In the 90+K that I have on my 2010 crew cab, it has been probably the most trouble free vehicle I've owned. Mine gets used very hard and all I've done to it is one set of front and rear brakes, one set of front hub bearings, and a parking brake cable that rusted off from our lovely road salt. For a truck that is in 4 wheel drive every day of its life, I don't think that is a bad track record.

 

[TCDiesel]

Until ram recalls most EDs made to replace the oil Exchanger its ticking bomb, I know of 2 owners on 3rd engine and 2 on 2nd engine and if the boards are correct 100s failed and waiting replacement engines form same problem oil exchanger failure, the lies FCA uses needs to end NOW, to salvage any leftovers, I do oil/coolant testing every 3K miles the 1st sign of contaminates FCA will be sued for full refund. Heck the exchangers have been failing for 18 months, that's plenty of data time and NO excuses, even no production delays, it getting to be FUBAR.

The ED has it share of SCR/ERG and cake valves also.

On Edit Pro's and con's on any vehicle

I still enjoy My ED.

Now (today) my tiddy is in the ringer 2 close family/Friends purchase EDs on My recommendation and both are Now at the dealer needing engine and SCR replacements, &)(*^$

 

[Wayne M.]

Exchanger = cooler? The engine oil coolers are failing?

 

[TCDiesel]

Yes the coolant and the oil exchange temps, their is also a trans exchanger tie into the entire system, the trans exchanger is NOT failing only the oil is.

 

[Wayne M.]

Wow. Gotta be the bean counters. The chips were stacked to be a winner because it is in Europe. FCA had to change something. Perhaps in a car application, there is no cooler?

 

[sag2]

Wow. Gotta be the bean counters. The chips were stacked to be a winner because it is in Europe. FCA had to change something. Perhaps in a car application, there is no cooler?

Grand Cherokee also uses an oil cooler but it is different PN than the 1500 uses.

 

[GrantP]

Grantp, some of the issues that the tech talks about heavily in his Ecoboost videos deals with random misfires, spark plug lack of longevity, intake valve cleaning and Fords inability to remedy those issues. Basically Ford seems to install new spark plugs, run an upper engine cleaning solution through the intake (since they are DI you can't get intake valves clean by adding cleaner to fuel) and kick you out the door until the warranty runs out. Limp modes for different reasons seem to be common for these engines.

Thanks Don, I hadn't considered the downside to direct injection (other than repair cost). I assume that's EGR that's fouling up the intake valves, or maybe really bad valve overlap.

 

[Bill Lins]

The issue of coked intake valves is a very common issue with direct injected engines. Due to EGR and a closed crankcase, the backs of the valves get screwed up bad.

How does one prevent or correct this?

 

[TCDiesel]

Take appropriate action to ERG...........