1/2 ton diesel anyone? looks like it might be a reality before long...

[RollingsFarms]

Ram 1500 Likely to Get Turbo-Diesel - PickupTrucks.com News

 

[jonyyuma]

K&LN.....HI...I'm not from Missouri, but ARK. I waited years for the rumored Small dodge pu with the 4 cylinder Turbo cummins..They never produced one of them in a PU???..we bought several snow sweeps with that same engine..

 

[Diamondpilot]

I will believe it when I see it on my dealers lot. I have seen reports as early as last month the new Nissan Titan is testing 4.?L Cummins inline 4. I have also seen reports from GM, Dodge, and Ford that a diesel is near completion.

I honestly think if anyone is to bring it to market it will be GM first. They need a new motor in the lineup and they do inhouse stuff with the Dmax so for them it should be the easiest. I know Ford is now doing inhouse diesels but they still have the learning curve to deal with.

Chris

 

[CJONE]

I am for diesels 100% and have worked on them for 30+ years but until they get this emissions crap figured out it is going to be a hard sell in a 1/2 ton. Heck the benifits in a 3/4 ton are minimal anymore unless you are working the truck all the time. The mileage is down and the life of the engine is also down as a whole. CJ

 

[rsewill]

Sadly, the only way you can have one is to roll your own. Or buy a small pickup from a few decades ago.

And when they do come to market they will probably charge a large premium for decades.

 

[LD1]

I am for diesels 100% and have worked on them for 30+ years but until they get this emissions crap figured out it is going to be a hard sell in a 1/2 ton. Heck the benifits in a 3/4 ton are minimal anymore unless you are working the truck all the time. The mileage is down and the life of the engine is also down as a whole. CJ

I think the mileage is only down because they ALL keep getting hung uo in this massive torque and HP war:confused2:

And yet, even as massive as the #'s are, they still do as good as the smaller less powerful gassers in the milage department.

Now if they scale it down to a modest # fit for a half ton, I would think that 30MPG is VERY doable in a 1/2 ton configuration.

 

[Soundguy]

i like dodge. that would be about the only way I ever went back to 1/2 ton world was if it was a diesel..

 

[lostcause]

i still can't see it being viable. historically, going from a small block gas to a big block gas was several hundred dollars to a thousand more in cost. going to a diesel was several thousand more. then the possible addition of a heavier transmission can add a couple thousand more... i can't see any of the manufacturers making a 1/2 ton upgrade to diesel costing less than 5k-7k, and that's a huge hurdle to overcome when trying to justify a diesel.

i've yet to drive one, or even know anyone with one, but i've heard of 20+ in a 4x4 ecoboost f150. the ecoboost is about an $1100 option over a v8 (i looked it up), so i'd guess a diesel in a 1/2 ton will still be about $5k over that. let's say the fictitious 1/2 ton diesel can get 27mpg in the same 4x4 trim. at $3.50 for gas and $3.75 for diesel (pretty close to what it is here right now, and if anything a little low on the diesel price) you've got to go about 140k miles before you break even, and that's assuming fuel prices don't change, and you can get 27mpg. i didn't factor in the maintenance cost, but yeah, there's going to be a premium for oil and fuel filter changes in a diesel. probably 150k miles is closer to a break even point really, and that's making big assumptions.

 

[hodge]

I think the mileage is only down because they ALL keep getting hung uo in this massive torque and HP war:confused2:

And yet, even as massive as the #'s are, they still do as good as the smaller less powerful gassers in the milage department.

Now if they scale it down to a modest # fit for a half ton, I would think that 30MPG is VERY doable in a 1/2 ton configuration.

Mileage is down because of the emissions mandates from the EPA. EGR, DPF, and DEF is ruining the fuel mileage. One member on this forum had posted about buying a new Duramax, and recently posted a review on the truck. Fuel mileage goes way down when the regen cycle happens. Same for the Dodge.
You can get massive power out of a diesel without adversely compromising the fuel mileage. There are tons of trucks out there doing it, with engines that predate the restrictive emissions junk. What's the point of running cleaner, if it takes twice the fuel?

 

[Dmace]

I've been saying it for years, Dodge will be the first with a half ton diesel and it's coming.

As said before, it would be nice if they quit the HP wars and make a well tuned 350 lb.ft. inline 6 turbo diesel 3.0l that would easily get 25+ mpg and have a built-in tuner that could kick up the power to about 400lb.ft whenever the tow/haul button is pressed.

January of 2011, the Chrysler CEO said they had the technology and engines but weren't sure of the possible sales. They were probably waiting for $5 gas...
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/0...am-pickup-feasible-but-is-there-a-demand.html

On a side note, the other top story on PickupTrucks.com is the RamRunner beating the F150 Raptor in an off-road battle.
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/0...am-pickup-feasible-but-is-there-a-demand.html