[Allpar News System]

The U.S. government has released fuel economy data for the Ram 1500 4x4 with the eight-speed automatic and Hemi V8 engine, presenting a more complete picture of the 2013 Ram’s fuel economy. Drivetrain Hemi V6 4.7 6 speed RWD 14/20 n/a 14/20 8 speed RWD ? 17/25 n/a 6 speed 4x4 13/19 n/a 14/19 8 speed 4x4 15/21 16/23 n/a A high-efficiency V6 Ram (not shown in the chart) easily trumps Ford’s turbocharged V6 models, achieving 18 mpg city, 25 highway. The base V6, though, is nearly as efficient, with 17 mpg city, 25 highway. (Real life usage is likely to show more of a difference.) The Hemi achieves roughly the same mileage as the 4.7 V8, but provides much more power; one may credit the cylinder shutoff feature for some of that. Rumor has the 4.7 finally ceasing production this year. The eight-speed is good for two miles..

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[jerseyjoe]

More fuel economy is always good news. As an former owner of a 4.7 I hate to see it go, wonder what the fuel economy with the 8 speed would be. If its not selling I guess its time to say goodbye.

 

[Seagondollar]

jerseyjoe - I liked the 3.9 V7 in my 94 Dakota. But the best I got usually was about 20 MPG in daily driving. Technology marches on and I'm glad to see what engineers can now get out of the Hemi and (hack, ptooi) the Chevy V8.

 

[jd_1138]

That's better gas mileage than my '87 Dodge Ram D150 with the 225ci Slant 6 got.

Why aren't there more diesel engines available for pickups? Like a smaller diesel for the half tons than the current Cummins is. Is it an EPA thing that won't allow so many diesels to be built?

 

[Doug D]

That's better gas mileage than my '87 Dodge Ram D150 with the 225ci Slant 6 got.

Why aren't there more diesel engines available for pickups? Like a smaller diesel for the half tons than the current Cummins is. Is it an EPA thing that won't allow so many diesels to be built?

Diesel engines don't have a stellar reputation in the US thanks to GM's fiasco in the 80's.

And apparently you haven't being paying attention. It has been confirmed Ram is making available the 3.0L VM diesel for the '14 Ram 1500. The same engine is also destined for the '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The estimated fuel mileage is something like 18-19 city and 28 mpg hwy. Expect a $4500 premium for the diesel. The Cummins is nearly an $8000 premium in the HD's. Hp is rumored to be 240 hp with torque around 420 ft-lbs. The Hemi is 390 hp/401 ft-lbs.

I don't believe there is a EPA limitation, but there is a tremendous cost to certify and engine/transmission setup regardless of whether it's gas or diesel.

Your D150 is couple of things going against it for good fuel mileage. Today's trucks have 5,6 and now 8 speed transmissions and the /6 has to work harder to do the same work.

 

[jd_1138]

Diesel engines don't have a stellar reputation in the US thanks to GM's fiasco in the 80's.

And apparently you haven't being paying attention. It has been confirmed Ram is making available the 3.0L VM diesel for the '14 Ram 1500. The same engine is also destined for the '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The estimated fuel mileage is something like 18-19 city and 28 mpg hwy. Expect a $4500 premium for the diesel. The Cummins is nearly an $8000 premium in the HD's. Hp is rumored to be 240 hp with torque around 420 ft-lbs. The Hemi is 390 hp/401 ft-lbs.

I don't believe there is a EPA limitation, but there is a tremendous cost to certify and engine/transmission setup regardless of whether it's gas or diesel.

Your D150 is couple of things going against it for good fuel mileage. Today's trucks have 5,6 and now 8 speed transmissions and the /6 has to work harder to do the same work.

Oh, I didn't know they had some smaller diesels coming up. That's awesome.

Yeah, my '87 Ram D150 had the 3 speed automatic 904 transmission. My mechanic father said it was built to be like a useful piece of equipment and not really made for highway cruising. It was a cool truck -- short bed, ice blue, last year for the 225ci Slant 6 in North America. I bought it off the original owner in '02 for $1000. It only had 90k miles and no rust. It had no options except for the auto tranny -- had a Chrysler AM radio, no carpeting, no AC.

It had real beefy heavy-half leaf springs in the back. I hauled about a ton of gravel once, and it sure was squatted down in the back, but I got it home with no problem (just a few miles from the building materials place). I sold it 5 years later to a guy who still uses it everyday to haul scrap metal. It's all beat to hell. I wish I still had it.