Ford F-150 Spotted With a 3.0-liter Turbodiesel; Ram EcoDiesel's Mileage Crown Threatened

Does the RAM 3.0 have issues?

@heavy handle Ecodiesel had a recall for an exhaust leak. I've heard of emissions issues and incorrect low DEF warning lights.There are some reports of blown engines. I like the thought of a small fuel efficient diesel 1/2 ton but in the case of Ram, the payload isn't there. I'm sure that some will say no one really hauls with their 1/2 ton but I do. Anything under 1500 lbs is useless in a crewcab 4x4 pickup since you have to consider occupants of the cab and assorted flotsam and jetsam of daily living can easily add 600 lbs of weight. That is the same reason why I am critical of the Nissan Titan XD. Payload does not match a full sized crew pickup especially in the case of the Titan. It is a HD masquerading as a 1/2 ton. The Colorado/Canyon diesel at least has a livable cargo rating around 1500 lbs. I do hope Ford offers this engine in all of their payload packages. The max payload package is available currently with 5.0 or EB 3.5. I doubt that we will see Ford add this to the max tow package. Time will tell.

@Lou_BC Why wouldn't they sell this with max payload package?

@heavy handle: A friend bought a new 2014 and got rid of it after 1 year. It had several sensors go bad, the fuel system replaced, one catalytic converter replaced, 3 O2 sensors, and an ECU failure which required flat-bedding the truck from his house. Edmunds had a long-term RAM experience some of these issues as well: http://www.edmunds.com/ram/1500/2014/long-term-road-test/2014-ram-1500-ecodiesel-back-in-service.html My friend's dealer had trouble diagnosing the issues, acquiring parts, and communicating with him. So he finally got fed up and traded it for a Tundra. The RAM 3.0 held a lot of promise. It's quiet, gets great fuel economy, and isn't expensive. But what a disappointment in real life.

@Adam Tonge (bball40dtw) - agreed. It would be perfect with max payload. Would this engine work for max tow since that task belongs to the EB 3.5?

@SCE to AUX The good news is that Ford has been kicking around the idea of a diesel F150/Expedition for a few years. I would hope that they have the reliability and supply chain set up to handle this roll out. Hopefully it rolls out even better than the 3.2L Transit.

@Adam Tonge In the Transit, the 3.2L tows about 400 lbs more than the 3.5.L in their highest spec'd tow packages. That 3.5L is seriously detuned though. I don't think this diesel would have a higher payload than the 3.5TT or 5.0L, but it's possible they make it a max tow half ton.

@Adam - a diesel Expedition would be Da bomb. I've lost track of the number of times I've heard people pine for a diesel Suburban.

@Adam Tonge The Expedition was supposed to get a 4.4L V8 version of this engine. Too bad it didn't happen.

@Adam - agreed. A big SUV would be the perfect place to put a small diesel.

@Lou_BC That is why Toyota has been very successful,with the 4.5 Litre V8 Diesel in the LandCruiser. It is not an option in NA, only the 5.7 Petrol engine available

@Adam Tounge 3.5 is seriously detuned as it is a light cycle engine. Diesel is not. Payload varies with 3 litre Diesels from 3,000lb to nearly 10,000lb, depending on manufacturer and application

@Adam Tonge The 3.5TT is detuned in the Transit because of packaging. I am quoting payload and towing numbers from the Transit. It's the only platform in the US that Ford offers the 3.5TT and a diesel. The gas engine has better payload specs across the board and is 400 lbs behind in towing.

Lion? It must be a Lannister plot. These things run on wildfire.

I am thinking it was called the Lion because Ford or Europe powertrain likes naming their diesel programs from predatory cats. Lynx (1.8 inline 4), Puma (2.2 inline 4, 2.4 inline 4, 3.0 inline 5), Lion (2.7 v6, 3.6 v8). Outside of the Gemini stuff, anyways.

@tresmonos tres, You are correct regarding the naming conventions. But ....... RobertRyan is also correct that PSA Peugeot Citroën and Rover/Jag developed the diesel in a joint venture. It wouldn't surprise if Peugeot's Lion was also used as Robert described as it fitted into Ford's naming convention, but this is a guess on my part.

@Big Al from Oz I was always under the impression that it was a solo Ford project in Dagenham. I could be wrong. The only joint ventures were the Lynx and Puma's with Altran (Peugeot) which is the DV range (1.4, 1.6 and 1.6L. Jag was Ford at the time of the Lion conception. I witnessed the early builds of the Lion V8 (at least the ones in Michigan).

@tresmonos It was a Dagenham project.

@tresmonos Adam, Yes.

@VoGo It is the Peugeot crest on their vehicles

@tresmonos You are incorrect there, the Engine was basically a Peugeot design, that was developed for Ford Vans. Peugeot had a slightly larger version for their Dakar Rally Raid car Lion refers to the Peugeot crest, Peugeot is very good at Diesels, remember their LeMans Car and the battles with the Audi diesel at LeMans? http://www.car-brand-names.com/peugeot-logo/

@tresmonos The name of the diesel family has nothing to do with Peugeot's logo. The previous two diesel engines created by the Ford/PSA partnership were the Tiger and Lynx. The Lion V6 was developed by Ford and PSA engineers with input from Jaguar in Ford development centers. The Lion family was a continuation of the partnership. I've also heard that the Lion V6 was a Ford/Jag effort using lessons learned from the previous PSA partnership and PSA also used the engine, but both Ford and PSA indicate that it was a joint project. Unless we have someone that specifically worked on the project to chime in, we'll have to use what we have and call it a joint project.

What does the powertrain have to do with the body?

One advantage the Lion should have over FCAs VM diesel is cost. Ford uses a lot of CGI blocks and turbocharges a lot of V6 engines. They should be able to offer this engine as a lower cost option than FCA.

Big Al from Oz - I was eager to see the VM Motori 3.0 end up in Ram 1500 but a lack of payload killed it for me. The Cummins Titan was also a disappointment again because of payload. I don't care about max anything but at the end of the day a truck should do the functions a truck is supposed to do. Any crewcab 4x4 should not leave the lot with anything less that 1500 lbs of payload capacity. The Titan XD being touted as a HD alternative should be closer to 2k out the box. The Colorado is the only diesel that starts out at 1500lbs.

Lou_BC, It isn't the VM diesels that is the problem with FCAs/Rams "average" performing vehicles. One positive for FCA, especially the Chrysler/Dodge/Ram/Jeep vehicles are the engines. The worst engine in my mind is the Pentastar. I do know some will challenge this. But, like the Hemi Ram I rented, the FE on it was quite appalling, even moving the weight of the pickup. 14mpg. Ram 1500s are built as a car. The only problem I found with the "carlike" Ram was it's ability to manage the 5.7. It was great in a straight line, but that was all. It's ride comfort was fantastic, but this is the trade off for it's ability to work and dismal handling characteritics, even for a pickup. As for Nissan, I do believe Cummins needs to develop the ISV. The ISV is capable of putting out a significant amount more power and torque. The Titan I believe was targeting the SUV type HD owner. So, how much work it can achieve is relative to it's targeted audience. You can see Diaz's input into the Titan with parallel considerations in it's concept as the Ram. Low payload, comfort(?). So the Ram and the Titan are going to be the most similar, as is Silverado/Sierra, F Series seem to challenge each other in some ways. It also appears some of the design considerations in the Titan is to circumvent CAFE and EPA regulations. It will be interesting to see how the 1/2 ton Titan pans out. I would like to see the Renault-Nissan 3 litre V6 diesel in the 1/2 ton Titan.

@Big Al from Oz "It isn’t the VM diesels that is the problem with FCAs/Rams “average” performing vehicles.' I've always been critical of Ram 1500's lack of payload. The engines can do the job but not the rest of the truck. If Toyota comes out with a diesel 1/2 ton then the Cummins Titan is as good as dead.