CHOICE of diesel engine power levels?

[Dieselnut59]

How about a CHOICE of power levels for the diesel engines? Maybe even a displacement choice if that is what it takes? A 2500 or 3500 that will spend its life hauling instead of pulling needs the capacity, but not the pulling power. I would rather have something with a little more efficiency through a smaller or "de tuned" engine and higher axle ratios. I would like to see the CHOICE of this being made available.

 

[KBalzuweit]

I would be happy to go back to a 235hp engine and get my fuel economy back. At even 160hp the 12 valves pulled EVERY load I asked it to and always got 20+ mpg empty and usually 12 loaded. At todays fuel cost that would save me about $6200 in a year!!!

 

[Thunderbolt]

I'm with ya.

I would think that in this day and age of computerized engines that the option of detuning should be at the hands of the operator based on his needs at the time. No load, detune/defuel, increase mileage. Heavy load maximum power.

Anyone?

 

[ACamilli]

I agreeeeee!!!!!!!!!! My 99 with 215 hp did everything i ever wanted, including great mileage. My 06 with 325 hp eats the juice, and i don't need those extra hungry horses.

 

[KevinO]

Can't you just get a smarty and put it on half power then? May be an option for those wanting more fuel economy

 

[Slingblade]

Can't you just get a smarty and put it on half power then? May be an option for those wanting more fuel economy

That is a great idea. I never thought of that. I was siting around here today thinking of cutting down on my rams weight somehow. Not many options for weight savings though. Smarty sounds like a plan, or the soon to be out Quad Adrenalin might have that feature as well.

 

[Cattletrkr]

I agree. 2500's shouldn't have the power because they don't need it. Save the fuel for those of us that do need it. I'm not sayin' cut the power in half, but a lot of guys who buy a 2500 with a diesel get the diesel for the longevity and mileage. At very least make it an option.

I've never tried the Smarty on 1/2 power. One of these days...

 

[ox1]

My '99 has all I need.



I don't forsee myself buying another Cummins at the current pace. I have no need for 600+ # trq in a pickup. I want something that will doo what my '99 1ton does AND be able to pass a bloody truck stop!



Last talk I heard was they were planning on puting a 4 banger in the 1/2 tons. 2/3 of todays 6 puts you rat in there where my '99 is!



Now I guess if they could have the output "switchable" on the fly or even a slight bit tougher - then that would be super too - but if not - I would opt for the 4 banger or mechanically de-tuned 6 banger.



I have been hoping that they have something to addres this by 2010 as I will be back in the market soon there after that. If I had to buy today - I would hafta go run the numbers and talk to a few more fellers on the 8. 1.



Todays Cummins has me lookin' elsewhere - and has been for a few yrs.

 

[gitchesum]

Trust me, the Smarty on half power did nothing for fuel mileage.
I saw better results with the Smarty on the 60HP setting than I did on the half power setting.

 

[MUDDY]

you guys who think the higher rwhp is stealing mpg are wrong. my 385rwhp/837rwtq 97 12valve gets a bit better than my stock 175/420 flywheel rated 95 12valve.



my 450/868 03 dually got a bit better than my stock 98. 5 which wld dyno close to 200 rear wheel.



just cuz ya got all that power it doesnt mean ya need to use it all the time. drive easier. still wont make the newer 3rd gens get the milege of the early 3rd gens. if ya had a 350 rwhp 3rd gen and a 450 rwhp 3rd gen mpg wld be the same,,,,,,if driven the same, possibly a bit better on the higher hp one depending on HOW the power increase came about.



it's just that you 04. 5 and newer and esp 07. 5/08 owners are gettin shafted by the epa who is bowing to the treehuggers. if ya drive like an old man on the new trucks the dpf plugs so ya need to drive on a 45 mile trip at 80 mph just to clean it out. wasting more fuel,,,,,,,,,,how does that help emmisions???????????



each time our b series ctd's were changed from the factory, mpg would go down. exception was 02 to 03. my 89 got a consistant 24mpg hwy. babied it got 27mpg. ive owned 11 ctd trucks and never got that on any other. yes it was stock but my 92s got better milege by a hair bombed vs stock. [exception being when the one had pod's]



higher rwhp does NOT equal less mpg when the pedal is not push towards the floor.



if ya own an older, more efficient rig, keep it and praise the lord that ya got it.

 

[Sageair]

I can't even start to tell you how glad I am to have the truck in my sig. 245 hp and 505 lb/ft is just right while still enjoying reasonable mileage. I have noticed some decrease in mileage lately which i attribute to the ULSD as I have checked all the other likey causes. IAT filters etc.

 

[kowaliga]

I'd keep my 325 h. p. and 600 lb/ft. but ask for a 4x4 suspension that makes all but the roughest roads ride as if it were an S-600. My 20+ mpg is better than my old ZR2's, so I'll keep the G-56 too.

 

[surfbeetle]

Everyone who is comparing the newer trucks to the economy of the old 12valves is missing point of all added horsepower upgrades. They did it for the emissions, and to out do the other brands, not for the fuel economy. My 95 is a dirty pig when compared to my brother in law's 05. All I did was to change my fuel plate to keep up with him and I still get much better mileage than he does.

 

[rluft]

I agree. 2500's shouldn't have the power because they don't need it. Save the fuel for those of us that do need it. I'm not sayin' cut the power in half, but a lot of guys who buy a 2500 with a diesel get the diesel for the longevity and mileage. At very least make it an option.



I've never tried the Smarty on 1/2 power. One of these days...

Explain why a 2500 doesn't need/ shouldn't have the power.



I work my 2500 pretty hard when it works, it spends a lot of time, though, without much of a load so having a economy/max power switch would be great.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Explain why a 2500 doesn't need/ shouldn't have the power.

I work my 2500 pretty hard when it works, it spends a lot of time, though, without much of a load so having a economy/max power switch would be great.

Because it can't haul or pull as much as a 3500 DRW. I'm not saying cut the power in 1/2, just tune them down a little. If you need the power to pull or haul whatever, go to a bigger truck.

Just throwin' out ideas for more options is all. Not judging anyone for abusing their 2500. God knows I overuse/abuse my 3500 far more than sanity should allow.

I like the switch idea.

 

[surfbeetle]

Because it can't haul or pull as much as a 3500 DRW.

The problem with that part of the quote at least for the 2nd gens was that the 2500's towing capacity was larger than that of the 3500s, if I am not mistaken. I am not saying that the carrying capacity was larger, just the towing. I know things are different now, but when I bought my 2500 it was because I didn't want a dually. At the time for the 2nd gens, 3500s were dually only.



And one more thing, Dodge already has too many options to support. Image taking your 3500 in for a system reflash and the dealer flashes it with the 2500 "lower power" flash, I can see that happening. Next you'll be telling me that an old aircooled vw bus was also a one ton. Oh wait, they actually were rated one ton!

 

[BrianJ]

... Image taking your 3500 in for a system reflash and the dealer flashes it with the 2500 "lower power" flash, I can see that happening.

I don't think that could happen, IIRC the dealer scan tool works off the VIN, and will only update based on the VIN specific information.

 

[2Rowdy]

Case wheel loaders have that feature. You can pick from 3 different settings. It is just like the track hoes though. Everyone picks max power and goes.

 

[surfbeetle]

Just remember that the computer is only as good as the info in it. I work in the IT field and see this all of the time. If the idiot who is writing the flash updater app messes up the VIN database or does some other error, anything can happen. When was the last time your computer didn't need an update because "that can't happen" was in the mindset of those who designed the software. Remember if they would have gotten right the first time you would not need an update. Most of the time, updates are used to patch a screw up, not simply a upgrade to make it better out of the kindness of their hearts. With that said, is it unlikely to happen? Yes, but it's not out of the question for an improper flash to get applied to a vehicle.

 

[Cattletrkr]

The problem with that part of the quote at least for the 2nd gens was that the 2500's towing capacity was larger than that of the 3500s, if I am not mistaken. I am not saying that the carrying capacity was larger, just the towing.

I don't remember for sure, but I have heard that before. Even though, that's still only on paper. Duals and more springs = more hauling/towing capacity regardless of ratings.

I know nothing about VW's.