Dodge echo diesel

**roadkill636** · 08-05-2018, 08:33 PM

Retiring my 2001 Ram 1500 quad cab and just got a 2018 Ram 1500 Echo diesel.
I drove 13 ram 1500s the past 2 weeks and chose the diesel.
It will be my daily driver and tow my boats and other light trailers all under 4000lbs.
The motor has only been out 3 years and not very popular.
For thoes that dont know about it is a 3.0L V6 turbo diesel with 240hp and 420 torque that gets up to 30 mpg.

Who else had one and how ya like it?

**rock** · 08-05-2018, 09:07 PM

Is it built by Dodge or Cummins?

Rockl

**roadkill636** · 08-05-2018, 09:25 PM

The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine is manufactured by*Fiat Group Automobiles'*VM Motori*in Cento, Italy

**VooDooChild 1267** · 08-06-2018, 12:07 AM

Congrats on the new ride.

**marks86** · 08-06-2018, 05:31 AM

I like those trucks and motors, did a fantastic burnout with one on the test drive, didn’t end up buying the eco diesel just because of alll the problems they had. This was a few years ago, I’m assuming they have all those ironed out.

**Instigator** · 08-06-2018, 06:40 AM

Those are damned impressive numbers!

**powerabout** · 08-06-2018, 07:29 AM

VM had the worlds fastest diesel boat a few years ago..
Like your truck more now?

**roadkill636** · 08-06-2018, 07:45 AM

I had it nartowed down to two trucks. One with the 5.7 Hemi and this one. The hemi is 395 hp with 410 torque.
The5.7 hemi has been around long enough that folks know it and its proven itself. And this mota has only been in Dodge trucks srnce 2015 and had emition problems in 15-16 but are all worked out now. Fair enough. .. all new motas are gunna have things to iron out 1st couple of years.
The hemi definitely has a better exhaust sound and gets up and gos. But i drive like a grandpa. And the ladt diesel i owned was naturaly asperated 6.2 in a 85 Chevy years ago.
So ill give this one a try.

Oh. This has a water cooled turbo.

Thats new to me

**jenksam** · 08-07-2018, 06:34 AM

I have a 2016 and drive the hell out of it. It pulls anything that I want and get good fuel mileage doing it. mine is a 4x4 with the 392 gear. The best that I have ever seen with it was 25.5 empty that was on a trip to Texas.

**stoker2001** · 08-07-2018, 08:14 AM

Numbers look great,with that being said,what could possibly go wrong with stuffing a europeon diesel in an American truck

**roadkill636** · 08-07-2018, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by jenksam

I have a 2016 and drive the hell out of it. It pulls anything that I want and get good fuel mileage doing it. mine is a 4x4 with the 392 gear.

I got the 3.55 with anti spin

**dcarter** · 08-07-2018, 08:53 AM

I have the Jeep GC with the same diesel engine. I have had it for about a year and like it. Had a modulator valve go out on the DEF and thermostat replaced (running hotter than normal). Mine is very stingy on fuel as well. I can run 400 miles (24 gallon tank and says 700+ miles per tank full) to my Grandmothers house in SC from Tampa and get over 30 MPG. If I run easy and set the cruise a couple miles over the posted speed limits it goes up to 32-33 mpg, unfortunately I am not the guy. haha
Friends here at work said to keep the filters changed (preventative maintenance) and don't run them hot and they run for a long time.
Towing my pop up camper (2600 pounds) or flats boat (3200 pounds) on the interstate I still get 24-26 MPG.
Funny thing is that it has no passing power (used to gas engines all my life, punch it and let the trans downshift and the motor pull). Now with the Turbo diesel you have to restrain yourself from doing that and ease into the gas about half to 3/4 throttle and the turbo makes you go. This is probably old news for you guys that run Turbo Diesels all the time but there was a learning curve for me.
I am satisfied and get lots of questions about having a diesel SUV which I don't understand because there are many other brands out there (Audi, BMW, Land rover, etc). I have recently started experimenting with diesel additives (secret stuff) and they do seem to make a difference.

**Euroski** · 08-07-2018, 12:25 PM

420 torque, that should pull well! Let us know what weight U pull and how it does on hills?

**idvette** · 08-07-2018, 07:06 PM

The emission control stuff on diesels are crazy expensive these days. Plug up an exhaust filter and it'll be at least $4000 if it can't be cleaned. DEF and EGR issues are abundant. I'm a Ford diesel tech and my advice is always to drive them like you stole them, they have to be worked hard and hot for the emission control stuff to work reliably. Regular maintenance is more expensive as well. For daily driver grocery getters with occasional heavy towing we still recommend gas engines...