Ram Ecodiesels

Tried a search but couldn't find much, does anyone on here have a Ram ecodiesel 2014-2016? Considering pulling the trigger on one, want to hear thoughts on mpg and likes/dislikes. I'd appreciate any help thanks in advance

I have a 2015 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel Crewcab 4x4. Bought it new, have just shy of 50k miles on it. Use it as a daily driver (40 miles round trip) tow our 30-foot TT with it and 24-foot boat. It does all fine.

I average 28-29 mpg commuting. Ran to the ranch and back empty this weekend and got 32 mpg at 65-70 mph over a 400 mile round trip.

Likes
-fuel mileage
-transmission
-torque

Dislikes
-Not the fastest vehicle around
-coil spring rear suspension
-would like a manual transfer case
-I wish I would have gotten 3.92 rear gears instead of 3.55's although the 3.55's have done everything I have asked of them.

Just a big FYI if you don't know, there is some sort of internal issue with some of the motors that causes main bearing failure randomly at lower mileages. It is a small % of the overall production, but when compared to competing power plants the numbers are significantly higher (somewhat speculation but supportable, if RAM would make the failure #'s known it would be a lot easier). In the end I love mine and would buy it again. I have not had so much as a light bulb burn out on mine (knock on wood), it has been everything hoped and a little more.

I wanted one myself a couple of years ago. They were introduced in 2014 and were off to a rocky start with major engine issues. The way I understand it, the coolant was eating up the solder on the cooling system and the coolant was getting into the the engine oil/crankcase.
I would be super careful with the earlier models. I would imagine they prolly got it all figured out by now.
I am waiting for Ford to release their 4 cyl. Powerstroke diesel 1/2 ton any day now.

It's a 3.0L V6 and its already out. My local dealer got some last week.

3.3 liters.

Look at the new Ford Diesel. It's better

That is not the problem they had. They had metal particles that were not flushed from machining. After the engines were assembled the particles would slowly wear down the inside of the coolers until a leak developed. I believe oil contaminating the coolant is the issue not the other way around as the oil is much higher pressure. Overall it was a small number of oil cooler failures and it has stopped.

The ford is a 3.0 liter v-6, pretty much the same as the one in the land rover with some updates etc.

If I was in the market I would likely look at both, but would probably go with ram again baced on pricing and fuel economy.

Ford used some Uber fancy transfer case in the 4x4 models and it drops the economy rating to 25 hwy unless you get a fleet model 4x4 with the traditional transfer case.

Also ford is only making the diesel available in upper trim levels and I didn't and still don't want a 60,000 dollar truck, I was able to buy my ram equipped with what I wanted for mid 30,000's and the newer ones have very competitive pricing. I would expect ram to step up its specs in the 19 year model to be much more competitive with fords.

The oil cooler in the 2014 models was a problem. 2015 and newer models seem to be fine. I have a 2016 and it's been the best truck I've ever owned by a lot. Gas mileage when commuting is stupidly good. Ride comfort is amazing. I tow our big travel trailer (30' long, 6500 lbs loaded) with zero issues. Been to Oklahoma and Arkansas and East Texas, and heading to Colorado in late May.

There really isn't an equal in the market in terms of price, performance, capability, and efficiency. The new Ford diesel is going to cost a fortune. Ride quality in Ford isn't as good as the Ram and the transmission will not be as good as Ram's 8-speed. The Titan Cummins is a totally different truck not geared for efficiency at all. The GM half ton diesel will undoubtedly cost a fortune too.

I kinda agree on the ride quality but why do you think the Ram 8-speed is better than the Ford 10-speed?

I think pricing will come down, eventually. Ram was pretty expensive in its debut.

I don't think you'll be able to touch a Ford diesel with a mid trim for low $30s. You can get 2017 models right now at $30k for that configuration. Laramie's are upper $30s. If you're paying $40k+ for a half ton pickup so that you can get elite fuel efficiency, that kind of defeats the purpose.

The Ram 8-speed is one of the best half ton transmissions availble, and Ford has always had issues making reliable transmissions in my experience. The Ram 8-speed shifts smooth, tows well, provides efficient power transfer, and generally doesn't break down very often.

Not that I think the new ford ten speed is or will be a bad transmission, I have no experience with it, but I occasionally find myself wondering how many more times the ram is going to shift with the 8 speed. Like with most things I feel extra gears come with less and less utility. A 5 speed is far superior to a 3 speed but I think we may find the same isn’t necessarily true when comparing 8 and 10 speeds. I’d like to drive one though. I would kill to have a fu€£jig dipstick on my ram transmission.

I don't disagree with that, but I think something in the 7-8 speed is where you reach the point of diminishing returns. A 6 speed is way better than the 4 speed my old silverado had. The 8 speed is a little better than my buddy's 2007 Silverado with the 6 speed (I've heard the newer GMs struggle with smooth shifting). I don't know that a 10 speed in any brand is really a meaningful improvement over a 7 or 8 speed. JMHO

I hope Ford does well with theirs, because competition in the half ton diesel market benefits us all. I just don't think the Ford will be able to compete price-wise with Ram, and I think it's already sacrificing in other areas as well, which would make it a tough choice over the ED.

Fords 10 speed transmission is a shared platform with GM. It seems to handle 700hp Camaros just fine so I doubt it will be a problem in a haft ton truck. As for Ford trying to compete price wise I doubt their worried about it at all considering they outsell Ram almost 2 to 1.

The requirements for transmission in a half ton truck and the requirements for a transmission in a Camaro are wildly different. How many travel trailers do you think that Camaro pulls?

As for price, my point is for buyers. I'm not saying that Ford can't sell trucks. I'm saying that it doesn't make much sense at all for buyers to pay $40k for a half ton pickup with a motor whose biggest advantage is fuel efficiency. Honestly, that's just dumb. If you're going to pay $40k+ for a half ton pickup, you probably don't care about fuel economy and there's no reason to deal with the uncertainty of a new diesel motor and a new transmission made by a company who has a history of poor transmissions, and co-designed with another company whose current half ton transmission is having issues.

I have read that GM has had limited issues with their 8-speed and its torque converter. Also read that Ford had some issues with the new 10-speed torque converter. Wonder if they use the same converter?

Also read Ford is supposedly working on a 10-speed for the HD line of trucks. I have wandered why none of the big 3 had worked on that before now.

Appreciate the insight gents, going to test drive a 2016 outdoorsman today!

This should be interesting.

Curious to hear what you thought of it and what you decided if you don't mind sharing.

I loved the way it rode, interior was far nicer than I imagined. The lifetime mpg was showing 15.8 mpg and that worried me, but I think it was mostly driven around the city. Pretty set on the model, just have to find the specific one that will be best for me

If you haven’t have the dealer pull a service history on it should be able to see if the truck has had any past ailments.

I’m sure the low economy is from test drives etc. the trucks economy shines after it reaches operating temperature which at a dealer it probably doesn’t do often.

Good points, very much appreciate the help it will be my first truck purchase!

My truck's mpg showed 18-ish when I bought it. I regularly get 26-28 mpg.

The mpg isn't a "lifetime" reading. It's only the last 200 miles.

I'v been thinking of getting one too, as my old 99 ram 1500 5.9 magnum only gets 10-14mpgs.

I would stay away from the 2014-16 ecodiesels. There was a large amount of trucks that had crank shaft bearing and/or cam gear failures with less then 100k miles on them.

Supposedly ram fixed all the issues on the 2017+. Also if you can wait till next year the 2019 ecodiesel with have an upgraded engine w/ increase 20hp and 20ft/lb torque.

Nothing related to the crankshaft was changed in the 2017 models, allegedly. They did make some adjustments to the cooling system, which has been one of the few complaints.

They're giving away 2017 models right now. Once those are all sold, then a used ED with a GDE tune added is really not a bad option at all.

Everyone I've talked to said they can't pull a string out of a cats [censored]

They are not fast trucks by any stretch of the imagination, and they aren’t a replacement for an HD diesel but tow well for a half ton. Shine on the open highway and in many cases will nock down better fuel mileage towing than the majority of half tons do empty.

I've owned several different trucks all used in towing. Hands down best towing truck for comfort, gas mileage, that I have owned. I'd buy another in a second. Have had zero issues other than an annoying wind sound on drivers window area from time to time.

2016 Dodge Ram Laramie 4x4