re: Why isn't fuel economy getting better? *Spinoff from Ecoboost thread*

At least that's what I've gathered. I don't know a whole lot about why they haven't been implimented yet. I just know that due to the nature of them they are difficult to control.

From what I've read it seems like the best way to make power and keep the greenies happy.

I haven't started reading on them until about a week ago though.

The primary advantage is that you get homogenous burn. There is no flame propagation or rich/lean spots in the combustion chamber to worry about. You also get lower combustion temps so you don't produce NOx and no particulates because of the homogenous mixture.

You also can't control it very well because there is no spark or fuel injection to initiate combustion. It just happens when the temp gets right.

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In the last 30 years the auto industry hasn't made any significant strides in fuel economy (specifically in trucks). Whats going on? Why don't we see a breakthrough in technology in this industry?

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I'm realllllly late to this thread...but holy crap, what a stupid statement.

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but holy crap, what a stupid statement.

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why?

i agree, this jordan fella differs though

the paint doesn't come off of them anymore too bad, the AC's are still shite though

Not so sure they didn't fix the cracking dash boards or front hubs going out either.

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Here we go. I'm sure you are about to back up this statement with some facts on how mpg statistics on trucks have gone way up.

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Y'all mean to tell me y'all really don't think fuel economy in trucks is leaps and bounds above where they were 30 years ago??

This is an example of a half ton truck in 1983:

That truck was available with a 5.0l V8 that had a whopping 133hp and 280 lb-ft of tq, and put maybe 70% of that to the ground. It also got 12mpgs TOPS on the hwy and that was with very little EPA restriction (compared to now).

Compare that to half ton trucks now. The two industry mpg leaders are Ford and Ram. The Ecoboost gets 22mpgs highway and puts out 400+ lb ft of tq..you can also add a tune, intake, and exhaust and bump that number up a bit (both mpgs and power). The new Ram with the V6 puts out almost twice the hp of a 1983 5.0 V8 and close to the same amount of tq all while putting more of that power to the ground and getting 25mpgs hwy. And Ram just released their half ton diesel which is predicted to get near 30mpgs hwy with 420 lb-ft of tq (and more hp than a 1983 5.0l V8).

How is that not vastly improved? You cannot honestly expect a full size pick up to get much more than 30 mpgs now or in the near future...the tech is obviously not there and there is also something called physics that gets in the way of a truck being fuel efficient. For any truck to get 22+ mpgs on the hwy is definitely much much better in comparison to 30 years ago. You also have to take into account how much larger trucks are now vs. then.

You can argue that maybe the tech in cars hasn't drastically improved, but it's still certainly heads and shoulders above anything in 1983.

ETA: And my AC still blows cold and my leather stitched dash has not cracked or faded