Diesel technology can be an essential tool when exploring the outdoors. 

Powertrains | May 22 2015

EcoDiesel: An Essential Tool For Every Outdoorsman

Savvy outdoor enthusiasts boost their enjoyment of activities, such as boating, fishing and camping, by bringing along the right gear. That means more than a well-equipped tackle box and proper equipment.

Sometimes, mastering the forces of nature requires grunt. This is where a diesel-powered Ram 1500 pickup or Jeep Grand Cherokee comes in handy.

To prove that point, Ram and Jeep teamed up with Robert Bosch LLC, supplier of several key components for the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6, to bring a dozen outdoor/adventure journalists to the natural beauty surrounding Traverse City, Mich.

Best way to sum up the day: “Good. Clean. Fun.”

When the day’s agenda calls for towing a boat that needs to be launched and retrieved, or tackling some of the most challenging but scenic trails Mother Nature provides, torque is your friend. Torque is pulling power – the push you feel in your backside when the go-pedal gets pressed. And torque is the EcoDiesel V-6’s strength.

A diesel engine produces about 50% more torque than a comparable-size gasoline engine, the Bosch reps pointed out. That pulling power is available at fewer engine rpm, making it easier to not overdo it with the gas pedal – which can be critical at times, such as pulling up from a wet and possibly slippery boat ramp, or steep trail.

A diesel’s greater fuel economy – 30% better than a comparable gasoline engine – comes into play even before you reach the woods. A Jeep Grand Cherokee or Ram 1500 with the EcoDiesel V-6 has a driving range of about 730 miles on one tank of fuel. That’s more than enough range to make the drive from Detroit to Traverse City and back without a refueling stop.

Those factors help explain why Ram 1500 pickups with the EcoDiesel V-6 sell twice as quickly as their gasoline-powered counterparts.

A modern diesel is nearly as quiet as a gasoline engine – so you won’t scare off the wildlife. Bosch-supplied components, such as the high-pressure fuel pump, injectors and engine controller, play a key role here. And the Bosch emissions control system helps ensure that virtually no particulates and minimal oxides of nitrogen (NOx) exit the tailpipe.

As the event participants discovered, northern Michigan’s natural beauty and recreation opportunities are hard to beat. A diesel-powered Ram 1500 or Jeep Grand Cherokee makes it easy to get there and relax.

Dale Jewett
Do you know your blood type? Mine is 100 octane (not your standard blood bank classification). At any given moment, I’m thinking about cars – driving one, fixing one, buying one or (in my dreams) restoring one. So I love to tell stories that involve horsepower, brake and wheel diameters
Read More
Do you know your blood type? Mine is 100 octane (not your standard blood bank classification). At any given moment, I’m thinking about cars – driving one, fixing one, buying one or (in my dreams) restoring one. So I love to tell stories that involve horsepower, brake and wheel diameters and 0-to-60 times – and the people who make it happen. Because behind every awesome vehicle are amazing people with vision and the desire to make it a reality. I cover Mopar, Dodge, SRT and motorsports for Stellantis Digital Media. I learned to drive on a 1973 Jeep CJ-5 with the rare Super Jeep option package and three-speed manual transmission. I still belong to the dwindling club of people who prefer to shift their own gears, and think the best way to drive is with the top down!