Ram’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine.Ram’s V6 truck engines, with plenty of power and fuel mileage to match, continue to rev up the competitive ½-ton market.
Hard Working Trucks recently spoke with Ram Truck Communications Manager Nick Cappa about the growing popularity of V6 engines in the Ram 1500.
“We don’t give volume numbers but since two out of three engine options on the Ram 1500 are V6 configurations, you can imagine it makes up a large percentage of sales,” Cappa said.
The Ram 1500 V6 EcoDiesel has attracted quite a few fans. It was the only ½-ton truck recognized on WardsAuto 10 Best Engines of 2016. The news marked the third year in a row that the automaker’s 3.0-liter turbo diesel made the list.
“Fuel economy is important to truck customers but you cannot sacrifice expected capability from a truck,” Cappa explained. “We are able to deliver up to 25mpg and 305 horsepower with our gas Pentastar 3.6-liter V6.
“V8 engines of ten years ago made close to the same horsepower but nowhere near the fuel efficiency. Also, our Ram 1500 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel leverages advanced diesel technology delivering the highest available fuel economy in a full size truck at 29mpg while yielding 420 lb.-ft. of torque.”
Keep in mind that 420 lb.-ft. of torque is more than what some V8 engines can offer. New technology continues to squeeze out more power from smaller and lighter engines, but the reduction in size does not necessarily equate to a reduction in overall production costs.
“Anytime you add complexity, the cost goes up,” Cappa explained. “Today’s engines produce more power and greater fuel efficiency per liter thanks to technology. The cost for new tech, however, is not offset by material cost reduction.”
