RAM 1500 EcoDiesel Engine Technology

10403 Views 18 Replies 4 Participants Last post by tugboat, Dec 8, 2013

Accused

Discussion Starter · Nov 12, 2013

The boys in Detroit have been thinking about building a light duty Diesel for years, RAM is the first to act on what should be a homerun...

Bob Lee, Chrysler vice president and head of engine and electrified propulsion engineering:

“it virtually cost us nothing to slot the engine into the Ram, because all the engineering had been done and paid for in Italy."

so already the move is pure profit, The 3.0L RAM EcoDiesel was developed and manufactured by VM Motori, which is now owned 100% by Fiat. Keeping with the efficiency theme the 3.0 EcoDiesel will come standard with Chrysler’s new 8-speed automatic transmission, to boost fuel economy and make shifts smoother.

If the RAM EcoDiesel can pull down mpgs in the 23-25 range it will be a smashing success, especially in a vehicle capable of lugging 7,450 lbs.

The VM Motori engine is actually packed with technology, this is not your fathers Diesel. Chrysler is using conventional solenoid injectors but Motori has managed to enable up to eight injections per combustion per cylinder. Using multiple injections at extremely high pressure rather than a single shot of fuel from the old days reduces the tractor clatter associated with diesels of the past.

RAM will also be using auto glow plugs. Under cold start up the glow plugs will retard starter action and preheat the block for a few seconds before roaring to life. Chrysler says the ceramic glow plugs used in the RAM EcoDiesel heat up faster and have a higher temperature capacity.

Providing the boost is a single variable geometry turbocharger that is electronically actuated, the housing is water-cooled. Urea tank needs to be refilled every 10,000 miles (16,093 km). The engine routes cooled exhaust-gas back into intake to reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions, RAM also makes use of standard Diesel technology like a diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter.

Lastly, gasoline engines have gotten so much cleaner and fuel-efficient that the long held 25% advantage in diesels favor has dwindled now to about 15% efficiency gain over petrol...

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1 - 19 of 19 Posts

L.O.A.

· #2 · Nov 12, 2013

Thankfully without it costing them anything to slot the engine into the Ram it wont add any extra cost to us.
Fuel economy in the 23-25 range is great but it can still be improved, breaking the 30 MPG mark would be ideal.

Accused

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 27, 2013

Wards auto test drove the EcoDiesel 1500 as part of their 10 best engines competition, click through the link for vid. May need to signup for free to view however...

Video: Ram 1500 Diesel Test Drive for Ward's 10 Best Engines of 2014 | Auto Makers content from WardsAuto

tugboat

· #4 · Nov 27, 2013

“it virtually cost us nothing to slot the engine into the Ram, because all the engineering had been done and paid for in Italy."

that is pretty sweet.

nothing to loose by going with the diesel then. just slots right in

wonder if that means the diesel will fit in other rams.

L.O.A.

· #5 · Nov 27, 2013

tugboat said:
“it virtually cost us nothing to slot the engine into the Ram, because all the engineering had been done and paid for in Italy."

that is pretty sweet.

nothing to loose by going with the diesel then. just slots right in

wonder if that means the diesel will fit in other rams.

Other rams have bigger diesels. It would be cool if this diesel could go in the Ram ProMaster

Diesel Washington

· #6 · Nov 28, 2013

If it cost them nothing to put the Ecodiesel in the Ram 1500, do you think that it will make its way into other Ram trucks, and even other Chrysler vehicles? I think companies are starting to realize that people are willing to buy diesel if you give them the chance.

L.O.A.

· #7 · Nov 28, 2013

Diesel Washington said:
If it cost them nothing to put the Ecodiesel in the Ram 1500, do you think that it will make its way into other Ram trucks, and even other Chrysler vehicles? I think companies are starting to realize that people are willing to buy diesel if you give them the chance.

It's possible, with a European company in charge of Chrysler corp it's very possible we'll see more mainstream diesels in the market rather than very few and the rest as HD trucks

tugboat

· #8 · Nov 28, 2013

L.O.A. said:
Other rams have bigger diesels. It would be cool if this diesel could go in the Ram ProMaster

I mean older 1500s.

L.O.A.

· #9 · Nov 29, 2013

tugboat said:
I mean older 1500s.

Are you trying to say people might consider swapping it into an older ram truck? I can see that happening, just not for a long time. Im guessing more than a decade.

tugboat

· #10 · Nov 29, 2013

well for people who want the diesel

they said they designed the motor to just drop in

so im wondering if you can drop in a diesel 1500 engine in to a non diesel 1500 truck

Diesel Washington

· #11 · Dec 1, 2013

I think that Chrysler is surprised with how well this is doing too. They would be foolish not to offer more diesel engines. There is obviously a demand for them.

tugboat

· #12 · Dec 2, 2013

the fact that they are surprised shows us how clueless the marketing department is lol

L.O.A.

· #13 · Dec 2, 2013

Diesel Washington said:
I think that Chrysler is surprised with how well this is doing too. They would be foolish not to offer more diesel engines. There is obviously a demand for them.

I have a feeling they will want to expand on diesels into more mainstream vehicles, just a matter of time, i think it's going to be a slow process.

tugboat

· #14 · Dec 3, 2013

I can see more diesels showing up in this segment as time goes by.

It seems like people want them

at least the internet makes it seem this way.

Accused

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 3, 2013

tugboat said:
well for people who want the diesel

they said they designed the motor to just drop in

so im wondering if you can drop in a diesel 1500 engine in to a non diesel 1500 truck

to drop into the current RAM 1500. Retro fitting the Mottori to an older 1500 is going to be not only a headache but quite costly as well...

they're pickup trucks, not lego LOL

L.O.A.

· #16 · Dec 3, 2013

tugboat said:
well for people who want the diesel

they said they designed the motor to just drop in

so im wondering if you can drop in a diesel 1500 engine in to a non diesel 1500 truck

it probably makes more sense to finance a brand new 1500 diesel than it is to do the whole swap right now. like i said, it's going to be a LONG time before people start swapping this engine into other things, at least for the everyday joe

tugboat

· #17 · Dec 6, 2013

Accused said:
to drop into the current RAM 1500. Retro fitting the Mottori to an older 1500 is going to be not only a headache but quite costly as well...

they're pickup trucks, not lego LOL

well Ram made it sound like it was a breeze according to the article

They said it would cost almost nothing to slot the diesel in

L.O.A.

· #18 · Dec 6, 2013

tugboat said:
well Ram made it sound like it was a breeze according to the article

They said it would cost almost nothing to slot the diesel in

So they say.

Next you know they might come up with some excuse for not including some specific feature they could have easily included, whether it be on the ram or some other vehicle. But the Fiat partnership does help to some degree.

tugboat

· #19 · Dec 8, 2013

i dont get it. this convo is over lol wht are we talking about anymore

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