2020 1500 with Eco-diesel....What's the word on her?

[Tmartin000]

Has this motor jumped the shark or is it the upgraded version it was supposed to be?

I'd like to buy a Limited version for the wife. But, I'm not sure if the potential fuel economy is worth the risk...

I'd appreciate any feedback from 2019+ owners Eco-diesel owners experiances....

 

[SnoKing]

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/ram/1500/2020/2020-ram-1500-ecodiesel-truck-review/

 

[DonFitzwater]

Wow, Motor Trend hasn’t changed a bit. Claiming Ford was the first with a half ton Diesel engine in the 80s. They didn’t do their homework or they’d have read about the little diesel Dodge had in the late 70s.

 

[Tmartin000]

Any current owners with their experiences to share?

 

[TFucili]

I think they are bucking a serious headwind. 80% new is not enough to entice me.

 

[Tuesdak]

Wow, Motor Trend hasn’t changed a bit. Claiming Ford was the first with a half ton Diesel engine in the 80s. They didn’t do their homework or they’d have read about the little diesel Dodge had in the late 70s.

They are not alone as even a recent TDR article wondered who had the first 1/2 ton diesel. Common answer would be 1978 when everyone and their brother offered a diesel engine option in most every vehicle sold. Nothing special and in fact history that should be required at OEM's. I say this while looking at modern hand grenade diesel engines now offered and history repeats itself. (Not just the EcoDiesel, but, the wrist pin busting 2.8L NotSoDuraMax.) Apparently it would have put 1970's automakers into bankruptcy to also offer a turbo on their diesel offerings. GM takes the crown with market ruining unreliable, but, the other under-powered, noisy, and smoking offerings didn't help the public want a diesel.

Dodge 1/2 ton pickups was no exception, but, Dodge quickly discontinued the under powered diesel.

GM 1/2 tons (1978-1999) offered the Olds 5.7 diesel hand grenade in 1978 1/2 ton pickups. Until the 1980's 6.2 (and later 6.5, H.O. 6.5TD) was turned loose on the public. Last year of the continuous run of GM 1/2 ton diesels was 1999. The expendable 6.5 engine itself is still in production.

Going down the "rare" diesel 1/2 ton pickup road one can note the Chevrolet El Camino and rebadged GMC Caballero. In 1978 it also could have had an optional Olds 5.7 diesel hand grenade.

Further rare diesels would be one I watched on eBay a few years back. An aftermarket 3 PSI turbo equipped Olds 5.7 diesel on a early 1980's GMC Caballero or Chevy El Camino INOP "garage find". It was like watching a plane crash I just couldn't turn away from with the fact someone turned up the wick and shortened the fuse on a 22.5:1 compression Olds 5.7 diesel with a turbo. (Nevermind the common Banks turbo kits for the 6.2 GM and Ford IDI diesels.)

 

[Tmartin000]

Any 2019+ eco diesel owners want to chime in on their experiences so far?

 

[Tuesdak]

Has this motor jumped the shark or is it the upgraded version it was supposed to be?

I'd like to buy a Limited version for the wife. But, I'm not sure if the potential fuel economy is worth the risk...

I'd appreciate any feedback from 2019+ owners Eco-diesel owners experiances....

My bad we didn't answer your question. 2019+ simply isn't enough time from today to ask about long term risk of did they for sure fix the "zero or hero" problem. Risk of class action lawsuits keep fixes under wraps because who admits to anything nowdays? The reputation is a known-known and you hope they bailing wire, duct tape, and goat spit fixed it...

MPG is just one of many TCO, Total Cost of Ownership, numbers you need to consider. Lower deductible on insurance for bad fuel risk is a seldom thought of cost for the risk question you pose.

The roots of GM beancounters are way too deep in the GM-VM designed EcoDiesel. This engine design was intended for a Cadillac SUV. Cadillac like say the Northstar is known for the reliability of it's engines, NOT! It's not being used in a Cadillac. It's now in a pickup with light duty electric cooling fans and it's light engine oil spec has been revised how many times now!? Pop quiz: how many redesigns did the Olds 5.7 go through including a roller lifter cam? How about the 6.2 and 6.5 diesel? All while GM customers were the actual R&D for these engines. Regardless guess what they still are? Objects to moor a boat. Do you think beancounters will approve any tooling changes to address a major design defect when warranty costs are cheaper?

So you either need a diesel and should be looking at a 3/4 ton on up or you just want a diesel. So be smart about it if you do get one and unload it before the expired warranty risk becomes yours. Just saying history ain't kind to diesels that could not be made reliable.

Here is your opportunity to write that history.

 

[Tmartin000]

Any 2019+ eco diesel owners want to chime in on their experiences so far?

 

[Blue Mule]

I'm new here and the only diesels I've owned in the past are the VM diesels in the 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD.

My 2020 Ram only has 250 miles on it so far, so I can't say anything at all about longevity or issues. But here's what I have noticed thus far:

The intercooler hoses still get full of oil.

The EGR tube still gets coked up with soot rapidly.

DEF consumption seems to be alarming. I hope it slows down with time.

With 3.92 gears and 5,555 lbs. of curb weight I'm seeing 23.8 MPG so far in mixed city/highway driving. I'll be updating Fuelly with each fill up going forward.

It does hold 8th gear a LOT better than any gas engine including the Hemi E-Torque, but it will still downshift to 7th at times while cruising normal highways which surprises me.

The turbo lag is horrendous. Worst of nearly any turbo vehicle I've ever driven.

It feels like there is a massive amount of torque management incorporated in the tune. I hate this part. I paid for 480 lbs/ft and I want it ALL when I hit the pedal. It's no wonder the Silverado 1500 Duramax wipes the floor with the Ram EcoDiesel in drag races media outlets are doing.

On cold starts there's a lot of clatter and noise which I love. Cruising you can't hear it at all. You can hear the turbo whistle a little bit. I'm waiting for a good CAI. I want more noise. This truck is as quiet as a library inside.

Driving feels good but there isn't the RUSH of torque like my old Jeep Liberty CRD had. That thing was extremely responsive and pushed you back into the seat if you dipped slowly into the throttle. No so on this EcoDiesel. It actually feels underpowered until you get to 50% throttle and beyond. That was a little surprising. It's like FCA has this thing tuned to be dead on purpose so they can squeeze MPGs out of it.

Overall, I like it so far. I think a quality engine tune would wake this engine up from the dead and make it a superstar. For $5k upcharge you shouldn't have to tune it, but such is life I guess.

My fears are: 1) I think it still uses the Bosch CP4 pump, which has been catestrophic for other guys 2) The emissions crap isn't covered under warranty as long as the engine itself is.

 

[Tmartin000]

Blue Mule-

I spoke with an owner with the same diesel in a new 1500. The owner completely agreed with what you said and it was enough for me to help make up my mind. I'll just do what he said and get the Hemi. He told me that if a daily driver is what I'm after and like to scoot at times, "get the Hemi". The fuel economy wasn't worth the complete lack of any real performance. He LOVED the truck! Just wished he had the Hemi.

Interesting to note....Owner had no idea about the super poor history on the last Eco-diesel.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Way to drop the ball Ram.

 

[Blue Mule]

Side note, I unplugged the MAF sensor to purposefully throw the CEL and send the engine to preset tables to run off of and it was night and day. DRASTIC difference in throttle response, power, and driveability. It really shows how bad the FCA tuning is on this new engine. Once the aftermarket gets quality tunes out, this powertrain will be amazing like it's supposed to be.

 

[Ozymandias]

I'm new here and the only diesels I've owned in the past are the VM diesels in the 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD.

My 2020 Ram only has 250 miles on it so far, so I can't say anything at all about longevity or issues. But here's what I have noticed thus far:

The intercooler hoses still get full of oil.

The EGR tube still gets coked up with soot rapidly.

DEF consumption seems to be alarming. I hope it slows down with time.

.

Seriously?

You have used a quarter tank of fuel but teared apart a brand new vehicle to find a sooted intake and an intercooler full of oil?

You should Lemon Law that Truck if that is all true.

Also DEF should almost not move the needle for this short distance.

 

[HPSimpson]

The intercooler hose is full of oil, EGR tube is coked I would immediate take your truck back to your dealer!

 

[Blue Mule]

Seriously?

You have used a quarter tank of fuel but teared apart a brand new vehicle to find a sooted intake and an intercooler full of oil?

You should Lemon Law that Truck if that is all true.

Also DEF should almost not move the needle for this short distance.

The intercooler hose is full of oil, EGR tube is coked I would immediate take your truck back to your dealer!

I didn't tear anything apart. I simply disconnected a hose or two so I could see what's going on inside these new engines.

Why go to the dealer? They all do this. I've seen pictures on another forum from a 2020 with 900 miles on it and the EGR tube was coked like a coal mine. It's apparently no different than the second gen engine.

 

[TFucili]

Being that it's "80% new", that must be part of the 20%

 

[Blue Mule]

So from the turbo to the rear axle, the entire exhaust system is chock full of nozzles, sensors, valves, pipes, etc. It looks like a financial nightmare beyond warranty. Anyway, I finally think I figured out what that solenoid is for on the exhaust pipe near the rear axle. Apparently it can close off the exhaust flow to purposefully create more backpressure, which in turn helps the low pressure side of the new EGR system do its thing. Hmmm... so they're purposefully choking down the engine for emissions. I wonder if THIS could have something to do with the lag/dead zone/lack of power I feel with this powertrain?

When I unplugged the MAF (post #13) it likely temporarily disabled all this stuff and let the engine breathe normally, which could explain the drastic improvement in throttle response and power.

As time marches on, we shall learn more and more all the time about this new Gen 3 EcoDiesel.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Feeding modern diesel engines their own exhaust is a classic means to reduce NOX.

 

[sag2]

So from the turbo to the rear axle, the entire exhaust system is chock full of nozzles, sensors, valves, pipes, etc. It looks like a financial nightmare beyond warranty. Anyway, I finally think I figured out what that solenoid is for on the exhaust pipe near the rear axle. Apparently it can close off the exhaust flow to purposefully create more backpressure, which in turn helps the low pressure side of the new EGR system do its thing. Hmmm... so they're purposefully choking down the engine for emissions. I wonder if THIS could have something to do with the lag/dead zone/lack of power I feel with this powertrain?

When I unplugged the MAF (post #13) it likely temporarily disabled all this stuff and let the engine breathe normally, which could explain the drastic improvement in throttle response and power.

As time marches on, we shall learn more and more all the time about this new Gen 3 EcoDiesel.

There is no surprise here. All later model diesels monitor exhaust pressure to make sure they have enough positive pressure for adequate EGR flow. Most use a throttle valve and/or VGT for the high pressure EGR, but for the low pressure you need a way to get exhaust pressure (post turbo) above intake pressure.