I have been hoping to see a post rearding this sub but I guess I'll just have to jump in, get it started and let you guys pound me for it.

The newly introduced dodge 2500 & 3500 HD pickups were at the Chicago Auto show with a NEW 5.9L I-6 Cummins Turbo Diesel. This is now the highest rated light truck diesel, by a good margin rated at 305 HP @ 2900 and 555 Lb-Ft @ 1400. AS a "stunt" they impressed the assembled mag scribes by pully a platform they all were standing on (estimated at 32,000 lbs) across the floor, at idle no less! Plenty strong huh? This new motor alows dodge to increase the GCVW for the 3500 to an impressive 23,000 lb! This new motor also boost an increase in mileage between oil changes, now at every 15k vs 7.5k for Ford and cheby.

They are also "backing" this new motor up with a new 6 speed manual trany.

Add to the above the new 5.7L HEMI (2 plugs per cyl., plenty of HP & Torque) and I have to ask the following questions:

1. How will the "new" smaller displacement PowerStroke Diesel compare when it is introduced?

2. Where are the new 3v per cyl heads for the 5.4L ?

3. Who out there besides me would like to see the new 3v per cyl heads be accompanied by an increase in displacement, to say 5.8L ?

Let the blanket party begin

Petrol

 

keep in mind that all of these diesels are sourced from medium duty trucks. They get this kind of HP and torque no problem for moving a bus or small dump truck. They could simply double the compression in the Powerstroke to get 400 HP and 800 lbs of torque... but also expect bent frames and blown trannies and clutches (from the sheer torque)

 

I have to agree with petrol. My stepfather and Iused to drive otr trucks for years and the cummins was always the best motor. They have always put a lot of technology into their motors. He currently has a dodge cummins and that thing is powerful. He subscribs to a diesel forum and shows me some threads over there, and those cummins guys really turn up those motors. I believe ford will have to update their powerstroke to keep up with the cummins

 

I have always been a Cummins fan and an I-6 fan. But I'll have to agree with J-150 about the frames. My brother used to haul Crysler products and there is a special way to hook the Dodge Rams to the trailer (different than Ford and GM) because the frames will buckle when they are hooked the traditional ways causing the cab and the box to become one.

Ford / International is coming out with two new powerstrokes (V-8 & V-6) that should be available by 2003. It'll be interesting with all these new diesel motors on the market.

Has anybody heard anything bad about GM's Duramax diesel?

 

yep, the F-550 has a GCVW of 30,000 lb's. The only problem with ALL the trucks at this weight is the trans and suspencion, and Brakes. we pulled a GCVW of around 31K lb's, and the trans was getting weaker, the suspenceion was lowering itself. Other than overloading it, it ran great, had good power. When you hop up a diesel, you really effect the towing of it. Most people who have huge gains in hp and trq, will never tow with it in that mode, too much damage would occur.

 

Yes, the cummins is very reliable and has lots of power but have you heard the power stroke beside the cummins. The cummins sounds like there's a lot more "nails" in the bag. It is not as smooth a motor by a long shot. Same goes for the cheby entry. Don't know about the new cheby diesels though. Could be better. As far as I know the powerstroke had been the most "refined" of the lot last year.

 

i bet a guy 100 bucks that the new cheve would have head problems he laftat me we he will not pay me buy i was rightthe new 6.6 is a joke so people i have talked to say it is so bad the 6.2 looks good but thats pretty bad

 

My understanding of the new Duramax is that it is designed and manufactured by GM subsidary Isuzu. I have some faith in this motor as Isuzu has been making medium duty diesel trucks and engines for many years in the rest of the world. They do have a track record (like Cummins, CAT and Navistar)

 

I read an article that said the new Powerstroke 500 should be here very soon, and the Powerstroke 600 soon after. Looks like everybody is upping the ante on these things, should be very interesting.

 

The new powerstroke that was unveiled in Detroit was putting out 350hp and more than 600ft/lb of torque. I think GM was dumb for waiting so long to finally introduce a diesel to compete with something Ford and Dodge have had for decades. Now it is Ford and Dodge who are going to reduce the new Duramax to nothing. You also realize that Ford owns all the rights to the Cummins don't ya? That's why it also offered, along with a CAT diesel and the Powerstroke, in their bigger F-Series trucks.

 

let me tell ya this. my friends new duramax is really quiet. it pulls strong and the truck flys. seems like a really nice ride for now. 7 guys down to work have the cummings in a dodge. man those things are loud. one guy has a powerstroke in brand new 2002 lariat. he just traded in his 99 powerstroke. before that he had a cummings. he had overheating problems with the cummings. he said it was gutless and he said the cumming was a p.o.s. another guy just traded up his v10 dodge for a cummings dodge. he tows bulldozers and stuff like that for his side business. he is crying the blues cause the diesel is a dog. he doesnt miss the poor fuel economy with the v10 though. he says hills he used to pull 65 no prob with the v10 with the same load now with the diesel can barely pull 35. lol!~

 

The new 6.0 PSD Gen II is supposed to have around 320 HP and 580 Pounds of TQ. Ford isnt going to lets its diesels slip to anyone.

 

Otterbob, first of all I'm glad to see somebody on here thats close to home.

In reply to your post regarding the Dodge/Cummins. Yes, they are a very noisy engine. However, I feel that he may have gotten a bad one. I will assume that he had an automatic transmission, therefore having powerloss before the power is even at the tires. I used to work in a truckstop (prior to the powerstrokes) and all the guys with the Cummins I-6's said that they loved them. Not only does an I-6 of any make have more torque to begin with, but the fact that there are no glow plugs, but an intake air heating system means easiers cold starts around hear in the winter.

To make this easy, compare and old 300 cid straight six to a 302 cid V8. Yes the 302 (depending on the gearing) could easily out run any truck with a 300 - 6, but the 300 had much more low end torque.

 

I'd take a cummins over a power stroke anyday. I had a 2001 2500 with a chip mod...whoa...that thing could pull. It was loud, dirty, but when it came to do what it does best...it was flawless.

 

Cummins is a nice engine. I dont knock it at all. However I test drove it before buying my 01 PSD> I think honestly the PSD is a far better engine. I also like the package the engine comes in as well much better than a Dodge. I can mod my PSD alot more than a Cummins, Ive added a chip and Banks exhaust to mine and there isnt much out there that can touch it. I pull a fully loaded 32 foot cattel trailer almost daily, and have never had a problem yanking that thing any where I want to go. Fact is get what you like, you cant really go wrong with either engine.