[Fromwithin]

I am very curious to see how this diesel performs through the winter.
I know a lot of the new diesel engines rolling out have had issues last winter with all the new emissions. Mostly Ag equipment during regen. I know these truck don't have the regen future so this may be a good thing.

I plan on purchasing an ecodiesel likely the end of 2016 or early 2017, once they have been on the road a few years.
This will be the first winter these trucks will endure so I am waiting to see if the results are good or bad here in Canada.

I tow a double enclosed snowmobile trailer all through the winter, nothing much through the summer, so I am thinking this would be the perfect truck for me. I keep my vehicles 10+ years, so I like to research heavily before committing to the purchase.

Feel free to chime in on thoughts?

 

[gadfly2]

I live in NB Canada at 8C this morning, cold start was the same as at 20C, fuel consumption I found better for me at the cooler temps (around and below 15C), but I was not running the AC. I am interested to see how this truck will perform in Dec - March here in Canada. The DEF fluid will freeze in the rez at -12C, which it stays colder than that most of time. The ED also came with the block heater installed (Appearently it is a mandatory for it to be sold in Canada and the EDE is required to be plugged in at or below -18C?) I am thinking a 5-15 min warm-up depending on the real cold mornings at least.

 

[Diesel Washington]

You think that fuel efficiency is going to suffer during the winter? THis would disappoint me since winter is so long in Canada.

 

[gadfly2]

With the amount of time spent idling, milage will decrease for sure. But then again, my other vehicle increased by 2L/100km overall due to warm-up and wheel spin.

 

[mattyj724]

to my knowledge the DEF tank is heated as well...

 

[sabmgb]

Yes I'm quite concerned about this as well. I thought I read in my owners manual that recommended plugging in between -10 and -20 below -20 plug it in. This could be a problem if out camping or hunting for a long period of time not connected to the grid. I guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[gadfly2]

Yes I'm quite concerned about this as well. I thought I read in my owners manual that recommended plugging in between -10 and -20 below -20 plug it in. This could be a problem if out camping or hunting for a long period of time not connected to the grid. I guess we will have to wait and see.

I hear you, I hunt Duck and Goose into Dec, so I am concerned about it cooling off and not starting in the evening. As for the DEF tank to be heated, it does have a heating system, however I dont know if it will run when the block heater is plugged in, or only when the truck is running.

 

[Cummins06TD]

Almost certainly will lose some mileage in the winter months. From using a blended fuel to having to warm the truck up. I used to lose 3-4mpg on my cummins in the winter time(iowa). The DEF tank heater wont be working unless the truck is running. I guess I'm not positive how its heated but even if its heated with coolant, which I doubt, the engine would have to be running to circulate it through the tank.

 

[sabmgb]

I thought I read somewhere that the truck will start without the DEF and warm up the tank, but I can't find where I read that. Anyone else any thoughts on that.

 

[gadfly2]

I thought I read somewhere that the truck will start without the DEF and warm up the tank, but I can't find where I read that. Anyone else any thoughts on that.

I thought I read that in the owner manual in skimming and did not think about it until you mentioned it. I thought it read that would allow the truck to run until the DEF was thawed, but I wonder how that will work with our systems and sensors. If it designed to run cold weather conditions, I'm sure the engineers thought it through. We will see! cool temps forecasted for the next week with some frost warnings.

 

[sabmgb]

gadfly2, I hope you keep the frost for at least 4 weeks at least here is SW ontario, the farmers certainly don't want it. Let's hope the RAM engineers live in the north. My pathfinder I traded in must have been engineered in the south of Japan, would barely get heated and would take 30min to get frost off front windshield.

 

[Fromwithin]

I thought I read somewhere that the truck will start without the DEF and warm up the tank, but I can't find where I read that. Anyone else any thoughts on that.

I was thinking this has to be the case, otherwise there will be a lot of stranded Ram trucks come this winter. However, if this truly is the case. Then this means that the engine will run without DEF fluid (the fluid would be frozen) for the time being, and the sensors only read that there is fluid in the DEF tank in order for the engine to run. Could this mean you could potentially clamp the hose from the DEF tank and run the engine without using the DEF fluid?? This would save some money if this is the case.

 

[mattyj724]

I was thinking this has to be the case, otherwise there will be a lot of stranded Ram trucks come this winter. However, if this truly is the case. Then this means that the engine will run without DEF fluid (the fluid would be frozen) for the time being, and the sensors only read that there is fluid in the DEF tank in order for the engine to run. Could this mean you could potentially clamp the hose from the DEF tank and run the engine without using the DEF fluid?? This would save some money if this is the case.

In theory yes i am sure you could. However your filter would get clogged and cause problems. The truck relies on that fluid for regens. Untill there is a proven kit, id leave it alone. Also i am sure the ENGINEERS thought of cold weather. Just saying

 

[Fromwithin]

In theory yes i am sure you could. However your filter would get clogged and cause problems. The truck relies on that fluid for regens. Untill there is a proven kit, id leave it alone. Also i am sure the ENGINEERS thought of cold weather. Just saying

Incorrect. These trucks do not have a regen feature, if they did then there would be no need for the urea (DEF) fluid. The DEF fluid is injected into the fuel when being burned and exited out the catalyst. No filter to clog.

 

[Fromwithin]

I just stumbled upon this bit of information:

3. FICTION: Frozen Diesel Exhaust Fluid will render the vehicle unusable

FACT: While diesel exhaust fluid does freeze at 12° F, the frozen liquid does not render the vehicle unusable. The EPA has required that DEF flow within 70 minutes, and Detroit diesel testing has proven that diesel exhaust fluid will melt and flow within the EPA requirements. Coolant lines are routed around the reservoir to thaw the diesel exhaust fluid in the tank. The system will function until the diesel exhaust fluid begins to flow.

 

[rossn2]

Incorrect. These trucks do not have a regen feature, if they did then there would be no need for the urea (DEF) fluid.


LMAO! Another individual who doesn't own one of these trucks making INCORRECT statements..


I guess when my truck and thousand of other owners trucks went into REGEN and it flashed on the instrument cluster it didn't happen!

 

[Fromwithin]

Incorrect. These trucks do not have a regen feature, if they did then there would be no need for the urea (DEF) fluid.


LMAO! Another individual who doesn't own one of these trucks making INCORRECT statements..


I guess when my truck and thousand of other owners trucks went into REGEN and it flashed on the instrument cluster it didn't happen!

You may be right!
My apologies

 

[Hershey]

Incorrect. These trucks do not have a regen feature, if they did then there would be no need for the urea (DEF) fluid.


LMAO! Another individual who doesn't own one of these trucks making INCORRECT statements..


I guess when my truck and thousand of other owners trucks went into REGEN and it flashed on the instrument cluster it didn't happen!

I DO own one of these trucks & I read that it will regen, but when & how? So far, I have just 1500 miles & I would like to know what to expect & when. Thanks!

 

[mattyj724]

It regens, just with the DEF and not a **** ton of diesel..

 

[sabmgb]

Mine went into regen the first week I had it. I really don't kow how often this happens as it hasn't happened since (1 500km). My boy took it for the evening out, next morning I got in truck, dash said 90% regen complete or something like that. So I took it for a 20 minute drive, it kept reducing until it went away. So I have no idea way so early and haven't been back to the dealer since.