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RAM 1500 EcoDiesel Review: Towing and MPG

10659 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  tugboat
From the guys over at fourwheeler.com

2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Review: Towing and MPG Fuel Economy

The first thing we noticed is how quiet the 3.0L EcoDiesel is. It's a pleasure to tow with. It’s far more relaxing to drive than the rumbling and sometimes guttural Hemi V-8 gas engine, which has an appeal all its own. Our 3.0L backed with the eight-speed transmission and 3.55 axle gears was always able to maintain a minimum of 55-60 mph on our brutal test route. While ascending the steepest areas on the route, which included the 6 percent grade of the Grapevine, we had our foot to the floor and the V-6 was spinning at 4,000 rpm for several minutes in order to maintain 55 mph. On less steep sections the little diesel quietly motored along between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm, and still had enough reserve power to make passes.
The EcoDiesel V-6 and eight-speed transmission were also able to scrub excessive speed on most mild downhill sections as well. Speeds on moderate descents could typically be controlled by downshifting with the manual shift buttons located on the steering wheel, however the really steep grades required more braking input than the transmission and engine alone could provide.
Keep in mind that RAM is not intending for the EcoDiesel to replace the HEMI in terms of towing capacity. In fact dealers are warning that the Engine will not last long if you intend to haul 6000 lbs daily.

during our harsh max-capacity towing lap we were able to drag the 3.0L’s fuel economy down to a respectable 13.8 mpg. We say respectable because many 1/2- and 3/4-ton gas trucks have trouble mustering even double digit mpg on this section of highway at full towing load.
With the trailer unhitched, it’s easy to take the EcoDiesel’s fuel economy into the the high 20s. The 3.0L diesel in our Ram purred at 1,900 rpm at 75 mph. On a 440-mile highway, mountain, desert, and Los Angeles traffic infused trip we managed to reach 26.1 mpg without much effort. This kind of mpg performance gives our EcoDiesel Ram about a 700-mile range between fuel stops when unloaded.


The EcoDiesel Ram 1500 is not intended to be a heavy-duty truck, or replace a 3/4-ton truck. In fact, if you were looking for max tow capacity from a 1/2-ton, the company would likely steer you into a Hemi V-8 truck with an eight-speed transmission, which has a max-tow rating of up to 10,450 pounds (depending on options). Instead, consider the EcoDiesel V-6 a fuel-economy play for the Ram Truck brand.
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great mileage.

and it did the job

Looks like a winner.
max-tow rating of up to 10,450 pounds (depending on options)
10,000 LBS towing cap is crazy! Just imagine all the things you can haul around with it, you can even pull a plane if you really wanted to LOL
10,000 LBS towing cap is crazy! Just imagine all the things you can haul around with it, you can even pull a plane if you really wanted to LOL
thats for the regular cab, if you go 4 door cab towing drops to ~ 7500 lbs....
thats for the regular cab, if you go 4 door cab towing drops to ~ 7500 lbs....
it still is a good amount to tow for what you're getting, good for people who work in construction and landscaping.
you could probably tow more than 10000lbs as many truck owners do by accident.
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you could probably tow more than 10000lbs as many truck owners do by accident.
you can but how long till doing that messes up the engine and powertrain? and then cost you a whole lot in the end.
Its amazing how much diesel engines can pull. All that torque! And the great fuel economy is an added bonus too.

700 miles before fuel stops without and cargo is also pretty respectable.

All of this is good. I am liking the numbers that the Diesel Ram 1500 is posting.
you can but how long till doing that messes up the engine and powertrain? and then cost you a whole lot in the end.
its not something you want to do on a regular basis.

the engine wont last as long.
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