Used buyer guide · Elgin CDJR
What Is the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel?
EcoDiesel is the name Ram gave its 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6, the engine that made the 1500 the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup you could buy. Ram built the last ones in January 2023, so the EcoDiesel is now a used-truck question: what it does, what it costs to run, and what to look for. We also cover the engines that took its place.
Quick answer
The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V-6, built by VM Motori in Italy, offered in the Ram 1500 from 2014 and in its final third-generation form from 2020 through 2023. The last version made 260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic, was EPA-rated at 21 city/29 highway/24 combined mpg in 4x4 form (22/32 in 2WD), and towed up to 12,560 lb. Ram ended production in January 2023 as it moved to the 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane gasoline straight-six, which arrived for 2025 with 420 hp (standard output) or 540 hp (high output), and for 2026 brought back the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 as an option. Nothing in the current Ram 1500 lineup is a diesel.
EcoDiesel specs (2020-2023)
| Spec | Figure |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.0-liter DOHC 60-degree V-6 turbodiesel, water-cooled variable-geometry turbo, compacted graphite iron block |
| Output | 260 hp at 3,600 rpm; 480 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm |
| Transmission | TorqueFlite 8HP75 eight-speed automatic |
| EPA fuel economy | 4x4: 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined. 2WD: 22 / 32 / 26 (EPA) |
| Max towing | 12,560 lb (4x2 Quad Cab with 3.92 axle); typical crew cab 4x4 around 11,000 to 12,000 lb |
| Fuel tank | 26 gallons standard, 33 gallons optional; diesel exhaust fluid tank 8 gallons |
| Offered on | Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Rebel, Limited Longhorn, Limited; the only Rebel diesel in the segment |
| Last built | January 2023 (2023 model year, select crew cab 4x4 trims) |
Living with one
Fuel cost
Diesel usually costs more per gallon than regular, but the EcoDiesel's combined rating is 4 to 6 mpg better than a HEMI's, and the gap widens when towing. Most owners see 25 to 28 mpg unloaded on the highway.
Maintenance
Oil changes every 10,000 miles with the correct low-ash diesel oil, a fuel filter at 20,000 miles, and diesel exhaust fluid roughly every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. The 2020-and-later engine has a longer service history than the 2014-2019 version.
Emissions system
The truck needs sustained highway driving to regenerate its particulate filter. Short-trip-only use leads to regeneration warnings and, over time, repairs. If you rarely leave town, a gas truck is the better fit.
Towing
480 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm means it pulls a trailer without downshifting constantly. Max towing is lower than the HEMI's 12,750 lb only because of the engine's extra weight on the front axle.
What to check on a used EcoDiesel
- Ask for the oil-change records. The 10,000-mile interval assumes the right oil (MS-12991); a truck serviced with the wrong oil is a risk.
- Pull the recall history by VIN. The 2014-2019 engine had an EGR cooler recall and an emissions-software recall; our service department checks this at no charge.
- Look at the DEF gauge and ask when the fuel filter was last replaced. A clogged filter shows up as hard starting and low power.
- Drive it on the highway for 20 minutes and watch for a regeneration message or a check-engine light afterward.
- Confirm the tow package: the 3.92 axle, Class IV hitch and trailer-brake controller are what get you near the 12,560-lb rating.
- Compare the price against a HEMI truck of the same trim and miles. EcoDiesels carry a premium; make sure your mileage justifies it.
What replaced it
Ram's answer to the EcoDiesel is the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Hurricane straight-six, a gasoline engine that debuted in the 2025 Ram 1500 in two states of tune: 420 hp and 469 lb-ft standard output, and 540 hp and 521 lb-ft high output in the Tungsten and RHO. It makes more power than the diesel and nearly the same torque, with regular gas in the standard-output version, though its EPA ratings are closer to the HEMI's than to the diesel's. For 2026 Ram also brought the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with eTorque back as an option (395 hp, 410 lb-ft, up to 11,470 lb of towing) after a one-year absence. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 with eTorque remains the entry engine. If you want a diesel half-ton today, the used EcoDiesel is the way to get one.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel discontinued?
Yes. Ram built the last EcoDiesel engines in January 2023, so the 2023 model year was the final one. All EcoDiesel trucks are now used.
How much horsepower does the EcoDiesel have?
260 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque in its 2020-2023 form, through an eight-speed automatic.
What mpg does a Ram 1500 EcoDiesel get?
EPA ratings of 21 city/29 highway/24 combined for 4x4 trucks and 22/32/26 for 2WD, the best of any full-size pickup when it was on sale.
How much can a Ram 1500 EcoDiesel tow?
Up to 12,560 lb in the lightest configuration; most crew cab 4x4 trucks are rated between 11,000 and 12,000 lb.
What engine replaced the EcoDiesel?
The 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane straight-six (420 or 540 hp) arrived for 2025, and the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 returned as an option for 2026. Neither is a diesel.
Find an EcoDiesel, or drive what replaced it
We see EcoDiesels in trade and can search the market for a specific trim. New Ram 1500s with the Hurricane and the returning HEMI are in stock in Streamwood.
Sources
Output, towing and production figures are Ram's as reported in the September 2022 end-of-production coverage and the June 2025 HEMI announcement; fuel economy is EPA data. Checked on October 20, 2026.
- 2023 Ram 1500 3.0L EcoDiesel V6: the last light-duty diesel (Sept. 2022), TFLtruck
- 2022 Ram 1500 4WD fuel economy (EPA data), MPG Buddy, from U.S. EPA fueleconomy.gov data
- 2025 Ram 1500 Loses Hemi V8 Option, Gets Hurricane Turbo Sixes, Equipment World
- The Legend Returns: 2026 Ram 1500 Offers 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 eTorque Engine (June 5, 2025), Stellantis via PR Newswire