[hayasa]

Just reading about all the awards our brother the Ram 1500 Ecodiesel is winning, which is good for a few reasons, even though they are cranking up production for the trucks which is putting the Jeeps on the back burner. However, I noticed some physical differences in the engine layout, including the intake boxes being on opposite sides. Any ideas why? For reference:

 

[hayasa]

Naked comparison -

Jeep GC:

Ram 1500:

 

[RichH]

Naked comparison -

Jeep GC:

Ram 1500:

Maybe to avoid placing the battery under the front passenger seat? I'd be tempted to buy the RAM parts to make that move, if they weren't so extensive and expensive.

 

[hayasa]

Good eye. I have to say that I TOTALLY like the fact that Jeep put the battery in the cabin. Better weight distribution, opens up room under the hood, keeps heat away from the battery, keeps it out of the way of crud and junk that can build up, and is better in case of an accident. Why people would want to move it back under the hood is beyond me.

 

[RichH]

Good eye. I have to say that I TOTALLY like the fact that Jeep put the battery in the cabin. Better weight distribution, opens up room under the hood, keeps heat away from the battery, keeps it out of the way of crud and junk that can build up, and is better in case of an accident. Why people would want to move it back under the hood is beyond me.

Maybe so. I had a situation that drained my battery. The dealer picked up the car and overcharged the battery, resulting in some leakage into the battery box under the seat. They didn't actually fix the problem until the following week, and they cleaned and re-painted the battery box.

In the case of an accident that actually cracked the battery case, and for the sake of argument, let's say overturned the car, couldn't you get some leakage that resulted in skin burns from battery acid dripping onto a person in the seat below (above?)? Or worse, started a fire in the degradation of materials inside the car? I'd rather have it outside the passenger compartment, but not necessarily under the hood.

 

[MuSh]

Good question. I know the 1500 is intentionally louder than the GC. Maybe those adjustments required the changes?

 

[kvtcomdo]

Bigger Turbo charger on the Ram.

Battery as previously described.

These would be my guess; otherwise I think the engines are identical.