2019 Ram 1500 LimitedUntil Ford’s 2020 half-ton truck weighs in, it looks like the half-ton diesel power crown will be split in two.
Following Chevrolet’s announcement that the 3.0-liter Duramax turbo diesel will offer the most horsepower of any diesel-powered half-ton pickup, Ram has announced that its own 3L V6 diesel is back on the 1500 for 2020—and it will have the most available torque.
Though the automaker has maintained its innocence, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles was accused by the Environmental Protection Agency of using emissions defeating software in the engine found in 2014-2016 Ram 1500s and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs.
The EPA issued FCA a citation in January 2017 for alleged using undeclared emissions altering software. The U.S. Department of Justice eventually filed a civil suit against the automaker in May.
In May 2017, FCA announced that it had developed a software update that would address EPA’s emissions concerns. And now, the EcoDiesel is back and better than ever.
The all-new 3L EcoDiesel in a 2020 Ram Rebel.FCA says the all-new engine delivers 260 horsepower, an 8-percent increase, while making a class-leading 480 lb-ft of torque. The torque increase is 14 percent higher than the previous EcoDiesel and brings the Ram 1500’s towing capability up to 12,560 pounds.
Here are all the details regarding the improved engine’s new design:
- A new-generation water-cooled turbocharger with variable geometry turbine (VGT) increases efficiency and responsiveness during transient conditions
- Redesigned cylinder head intake ports improve swirl and flow, increasing performance and fuel economy
- The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system design has been updated to a dual loop (low and high pressure) system. The added low-pressure circulation system draws gases after the diesel particulate filter, thus minimizing turbocharger energy losses, which increases fuel economy
- The compression ratio has been optimized to 16.0:1 from 16.5:1
- High-pressure (29,000 psi/2,000 bar) direct-injection fuel injector nozzles were redesigned to match the newly designed and optimized combustion chamber
- Lightweight aluminum alloy pistons were completely redesigned to include thinner rings and low-friction coating on the pin and side skirts to reduce losses
- NVH has been reduced by offsetting piston pin by 0.3 millimeters from the centerline; thus, minimizing mechanical noises
- The lower portion of the two-piece oil sump uses a lightweight sandwiched polymer/metal material that further reduces NVH
- The dual vacuum pump system uses electric and a new mechanical low-friction pump with new blades that improve overall system efficiency
The 2020 Ram 1500, 2020 Ram Rebel and 2019 Ram 1500 Classic will be available with the new 3L EcoDiesel in the fourth quarter of 2019.
