Welcome to Top Tech Questions. Oftentimes, readers contact us with questions about articles, or to praise us on what a good job we are doing. But our favorite form of reader communication is tech questions. Our Top Tech section is a place where you ask what’s on your mind, and we answer it. Got a trouble code? Wondering how to get your engine to make more power? Send us an email at jason.sands@sorc.com and we’ll do our best to answer it.
BatMo Questions
Question: I’ve seen the Garrett PowerMax offered with the BatMoWheel pre-installed with claims of better spooling over stock, increased fuel economy, and even more power. Will a BatMoWheel find a new home in a future installation of your Ford 6.0L truck, Project Outcast?
Casey Byrnes
-via email
| August 2013 Top Tech Questions Ram Truck
Answer: We’ve performed a lot of Ford vs. Ram vs. GM truck tests over the years, and in almost all of them, the Chevy/GMC models have edged the other two makes out by 0.5 to 1 mpg during testing—both empty, and loaded. One of the benefits of newer trucks is their multi-speed transmissions (often with more than one overdrive gear) allow for steep axle ratios (like 3.73s) without sacrificing freeway performance.
Adding power and torque to a diesel that’s used for towing has one drawback: You’re going to use it. If you drove the truck the same as you normally would with 400-ish flywheel horsepower, then it would get the same mileage. But, the temptation to use that 600, 700, or even 800 hp to pass slow moving vehicles, tow fast up hills, or just for goofing off is the reason many modded diesel owners will see a mileage drop. It’s not necessarily the modifications themselves that are the difference; it’s the driving style.
Finally, if you were only getting 6 mpg with your gas rig, we would guess that whatever you’re towing isn’t very aerodynamic. Aerodynamic drag plays a huge role in fuel economy, and we wouldn’t expect to see super-high numbers, even with a diesel. We would hazard a guess that you should see at least 10 mpg while towing the same boat as your gas truck, and a 66 percent improvement is nothing to sniff at.
Mars Diesel Question: I’m 55 years old, the Mayor of Mars, Pennsylvania, and looking to retire soon! I never bought that fifth-wheel camper I had talked with my family about, so I really do not need a ¾-ton truck. I like the ¾-ton trucks, but I don’t need one. A good ½-ton that achieves a legitimate 25 to 26 mpg on the highway is very appealing to me. I am first in line to drive the new Jeep Grand Cherokee with the VM Motori diesel when it comes in. My goal is to see how it shifts and how the motor works with the transmission. I understand the Ram will be set up differently with the shift mapping etc., but I hope the testdrive will give me a hint at how the powertrain will act in the Ram 1500.
| August 2013 Top Tech Questions Ram Truck
My question is this: Should I give the Ram a good, hard look? Do you think Ford will put the 3.2L I-5 in the F-150 any time soon? Will GM revive the 4.5L Duramax, or is that dead for good?
Terry Onufer
Mars, Pennsylvania
Answer: It’s good to see there are people out there with a solid interest in ½-ton diesels, as we’re pretty interested in them, too. We’ve run into more than a couple of folks who are in your same situation: They like the utility of a truck but don’t need a big, four-door 1-ton just to tool around town. As of right now, most of what we say here is conjecture, but our hints come from some pretty solid sources.
Based on what we have seen so far, the Ram will be the first diesel ½-ton out of the gate. It will use the same 3.0L VM Motori engine that’s in the Grand Cherokee (as you already know) and is targeted to achieve best in class fuel economy, a title currently held by the gas-powered Ram 1500. Since the gas version gets 25 mpg highway, we’d expect the diesel version to get closer to 28 mpg.
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of diesel (versus gas) is that as you drive harder and faster, the fuel economy penalty isn’t as steep. We’ve seen gas trucks get decent mileage on flat ground, but hit a hill, tow a trailer, or install a camper and the mileage will drop like a rock. It’s our hope that even during around-town driving, the new EcoDiesel Ram will be able to achieve more than 20 mpg. As for GM and Ford, we’re guessing that if the Ram 1500 diesel sells well, then Ford could strike back with its 3.2L Power Stroke, but it might be a year or two. As for GM, it was on a different track, and its 4.5L Duramax ½-ton would have been one hell of a hot rod. Unfortunately, we’ve heard nothing that would indicate the 4.5L is back on its way into a truck, although we’ll be the first to say something if we hear rumors.
For your needs and timeframe, I’d suggest you definitely give the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel a chance, as it will be quite an impressive truck.
