Don't be hacked. You also would have been waiting for the plastic intercooler end tanks, which I wouldn't particularly want on my truck.

 

I don't know why this is that bad of a thing. The ole "metal is better" saying doesn't really apply these days. Now, I haven't torn one of these apart to say which is built better, but I don't see why an air cooler really needs to have metal end caps, so I wouldn't be badmouthing either design based soley on its outward appearance. Plastic is lighter, doesn't corrode, is easier to keep clean, and will last just as long as metal, provided it's the right kind of plastic. I guess only time will tell on this one...

 

Time has already started yakking. I've heard of 1 failure already, a hole blew out of an endtank at 40 lbs of boost. 40 pounds is not that much over stock for these trucks. I've never heard of an aluminum intercooler blowing a piece out at that sort of boost level. I guess the main thing is, what's the purpose? Why on earth would you want to put a plastic tank on the ends of these things to save what, a few ounces over the aluminum ones? With AL, you can have tanks that are essentially one piece with the rest of the unit. With plastic, you're guaranteed to have a joint that must be sealed.

Given a choice, I'd rather have a unit made of one material, not two.

 

The tow/haul behavior makes sense. The Trans no longer uses the throttle cable as an input, it's all electronic. So it's easier to change shift points and the like.

 

It's all about cost. Plastic is cheaper and will last as long as the Al at the stock boost/temperature levels. Just one more thing you'll need to buy when bombing your truck. Gotta support the aftermarket.

Just like the electric transmission throttle valve actuator (TTVA). Also a cost reduction effort.

 

ramwheelsby4, I know what you mean. I had three duraslacks before this cummins and what really drove me wild was the o'd to 4th hunt going up long grades. I'd have to slow it down to 80km and go in 3rd Wtih the ctd. I can pass those dslax on hills doing 65 and accell to 75 now that I'm tst'd. Looks and feelsgreat when I towing a 40' high cube enclosed at 21k and they are towing a little hitch 16'