2008 a mystery

[HBarlow]

I'm not after blazing acceleration or fantastic mpg. With fuel prices being what they are I cannot justify spending money to go backwards. I've had diesels of one kind or another- commercial boats, big rigs,2 strokes etc. . Usually economy improved with each new purchase until the last 15 years or so- particularly in over-the-road vehicles. As an aside I notice all the UPS delivery trucks in my area are now gas.

I can't disagree with your logic. When you analyze the purchase decision from a practical point of view as you are it's pretty hard to justify a new one. An old 12 valve with several hundred thousand miles on the odometer and a modified injection pump will do anything my '08 or another member's 2012 will do.

I paid cash for my '08 and it does everything I want it to do in comfort. With 115k on the odometer and good maintenance it will last me as long as I want to pull my trailer or own a truck. I doubt I'll ever purchase another one.

 

[Hoefler]

Another thing the 02 doesn't have versus the 08 and newer, torque management. This alone will make the new trucks seem sluggish or power less over the 02's.

 

[AH64ID]

Another thing the 02 doesn't have versus the 08 and newer, torque management. This alone will make the new trucks seem sluggish or power less over the 02's.

I'm fairly certain tq management had been implemented by 2002, I don't recall if it was the 00 or 01 model year where it started.

 

[RDBuck]

How is the torque managed? Why is it necessary to do this when torque is exactly what you want to get a load moving. Is this done by Ford and Chevy? Can you override whatever this control is doing? I thought I understood these trucks fairly well- I am out to lunch on this new stuff!

 

[AABEN]

After test driving the 08 two more times, with new knowledge from your posts, I still am not convinced that it offers much more in performance. Basically I am concerned about decreased MPG. My 02 seems quicker, cruises at all speeds easily and smoothly and has given me an honest year/round average of 15-16mpg. Granted the 08 offers more amenities and creature comforts, more hp and torque by the charts - even tho I don't feel it. I guess I'm just upset that each move up in years since my first 91 has netted a loss in economy.

Diesel pickups are becoming difficult to justify unless you take the risk of modifications.

MORE horse power less milage. It is one or the other!

 

[rscurtis]

Not necessarily. My signature truck has twice the HP that my '95 did and gets better highway mileage.

 

[AH64ID]

How is the torque managed? Why is it necessary to do this when torque is exactly what you want to get a load moving. Is this done by Ford and Chevy? Can you override whatever this control is doing? I thought I understood these trucks fairly well- I am out to lunch on this new stuff!

The ECM limits fuel in lower gears. You still have plenty of tq to get the load moving as you have gear/tq converter multiplication. Where added tq is needed is higher gears without multiplication (or reduction like OD) and there is no tq management there.



Yes Ford and Chevy both use it. Pickup size drivetrains can only handle so much input torque in low gears.