Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives zero throttle launch

This is a feature on Dodge diesels with m/t's. It allows you to slowly let the clutch out without using the throttle. The computer takes over and does the throttle work for you to assist in getting started up a hill with a load.

I'm just curious if this is available on other makes or on any gas engines.

Hadn't heard of that until now. My '06 doesn't have it.
My 2014 Wrangler has hill descent control, however. Just lock it 1st gear, low range, then point it downhill. Crawls very nicely w/o touching the brakes.
I'm glad to hear about this. I darn near had to hold a gun on somebody to get a stick in my '06 dodge. E

If you have an '06 Dodge diesel with a manual, it likely does have it. I think they started it in the early '00's. I don't know if the gassers have it, though. That's what I was asking.

It's part of the computer programing. Hold the brake just enough to keep it from rolling. Slowly let the clutch out until it starts to stall while you let up on the brake. The computer will take over and give it enough throttle to override the brake. It'll keep going until you press on the throttle or the clutch.

Hadn't heard of it, but I know what your talking about. We borrowed a 2500 to pull out my friend's dakota. I figured that it was just governed, but that makes more sense.

I'll check the owners manuel ands see what it says.
Starting in first gear, particularly on a cold day when the engine idles at 1000 rpm, it would take alot to kill the engine. E

Your '06 has it.

Even on a hot day, if you let the clutch out slowly, the computer will take over. It doesn't need to be idling anywhere near 1000.

Sounds like another gadget to break and cost big money

Guess again.

The CTD has been using zero throttle launch for a decade. Absolutely no issues with the ZTL.

I guess I answered my own question. I found out that ZTL is a product of Cummins, not Dodge, so it's only on their engines. It's not on any gas engines. However, it's only useful with manual trannies and I don't think anyone makes a gasser with a manual any more.

It's not so much a "feature" as it is a characteristic of a medium duty diesel engine. They just gave it a cute name and sold it as an added feature.

It's just the governor doing it's job and adding fuel when the load increases, or rather the electronic programming that took over the role of the governor on today's engines. Any old farm tractor will do the same thing, even the older gas tractors had governors. They were originally mechanical but now obviously everything is handled through electronics. A governor limits the top speed of an engine but also keeps the rpms constant when a load is added to the engine. Take a tractor for instance, when mowing with my massey ferguson and bush-hog I'll set the RPM around 1900 to get the blade speed where it needs to be and the governor will keep it there no matter if I go up a hill or get into really thick grass which puts a much bigger load on the engine. The engine will get louder as more fuel is added, but the rpm won't drop unless the load gets really heavy and it just can't keep up. That's all the zero throttle launch is, they're just using it as a marketing ploy.

My 98.5 dodge/cummins with a manual will do it, I ease off the clutch when pulling a heavy load and let the governor start it moving before I touch the accelerator. The marketing guys just hadn't realized they could play it up as a sales point yet.

Call it what they will, it works and it's a great thing to have.