Pros/Cons of a diesel truck
I'm thinking about buying a Dodge Ram diesel. I don't know much about diesels. I've heard they pull alot better then gas engines and you can drive them forever. That is a big point for me because I'm not wanting to buy another truck for a very long time. I know in Alaska most of the diesel trucks had cords sticking out the grills to warm the glow plugs if I'm not mistaken. That is about all I think I know.
So what are the pros and cons of having a diesel over a gas engine?
So what are the pros and cons of having a diesel over a gas engine?
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quote:Originally posted by Kodiakk
I'm thinking about buying a Dodge Ram diesel. I don't know much about diesels. I've heard they pull alot better then gas engines and you can drive them forever. That is a big point for me because I'm not wanting to buy another truck for a very long time. I know in Alaska most of the diesel trucks had cords sticking out the grills to warm the glow plugs if I'm not mistaken. That is about all I think I know.
So what are the pros and cons of having a diesel over a gas engine?
There are no cons at all. I lived in Alaska and LOVE my Diesel. The cords are more to keep the battery warm cars have them too. CCA of the batteries is very low at zero. My Dodge once cold started fine at 20 below zero.
I have over 200,000 miles on it now. They are POWERFUL pullers for sure. I get 22.5 MPG on the highway and 20 in town. Break it in for 20,000 miles on regular oil then go to Synthetics. I have only changed the oil four times on my truck since then!0 -
quote:Originally posted by git_r_done
I should add that the Cummins motor in the Dodge p/u's is a top notch motor.
It is a scaled down model of the 350hp cummins motor that has been used in semi's for lots of years.
I recomend you either stay with the dodge cummins or the Ford Power stroke, as both of these are proven motors and have been around quite a while with owners hitting well over 500,000 miles and in alot of cases getting up towards 1,000,000 miles.
The Chevy duramax diesel is still too new for my blood and needs a few more years of road service to prove itself as a motor that will stand the test of time and miles.
The last diesel truck pull I was in, I think that 3 out of 5 trucks were Dodges. Almost all the Dodges did well. One burn up a trans, but was the older one with the junk trans.
I grain a new respect for the Chevy most did well and a Chevy did win the event, but the rest were Dodges no Fords.
I lost respect for Ford that day too. Alot broke universal(sp?) and all the stock ones had some very bad axle wrapping or hopping going on. A couple of older ones counldn't even more the sled. None pulled a full pull. Only a Chevy and 2 Dodges went the 300feet plus. No Ford went over 280 feet and the one that did that was a built Ford.
Could have just been a bad day for Ford and a Good Chevy. I don't know.0 -
I've had both gas and diesel. Wouldn't go back to gas. It cost me 31 cents a mile to fuel the gas and 13 cents a mile to fuel the diesel. I've never had problems with cold temp start, but I don't live in a Alsaka either. The newer diesel are not as loud and don't smoke.
My last vacacion we took 3 trucks pulling boats I had the only diesel and found myself have to slow down alot to let the other catch up and I didn't have to fuel up at all. I was getting 16mpg with a 3 ton boat behind me. I get 20 to 21 empty.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Islander1989
One thing I would think about when considering a diesel, is why do people "usually" sell a truck. Is it because they wore the engine out? Usually not. Usually the A/C broke, the radio doesn't work, the seats and dash cracked, etc. The engine is fine. In my mind the only way to justify a diesel is if you drive "a lot" of miles, or pull trailers almost all of the time. Otherwise, you are buying a very expensive (~$5000 last I checked) option that you don't really need. If you can justify it becasue you want it great, but don't tell yourself you need it.
But think about it you get you money back when you sell or trade in. Diesel have a much higher resale value. Trucks like mine are going for around 24k used the same ones around here are going going for less than 20K.0 -
Unless you pull a trailer almost constantly, and you're driving the truck constantly, you probably can't come up with an economic justification for buying the diesel. I've been through this on the company trucks I've purchased. They are driven over 40,000 miles a year, and are used to haul loads and pull on a regular basis, and I still can't justify spending the extra 5-8K for the diesel option.
In other words, if you want it, and you can afford it, buy it. Just don't try to come up with some sort of logical argument for buying it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Cutiegirlracing
But think about it you get you money back when you sell or trade in. Diesel have a much higher resale value. Trucks like mine are going for around 24k used the same ones around here are going going for less than 20K.
CGR beat me to it but she is dead balls accurate. I have found that the diesel holds its value MUCH better than gas, so much so that it may actually be more expensive to own the cheaper gas version.0 -
quote:Originally posted by agman1999
Unless you pull a trailer almost constantly, and you're driving the truck constantly, you probably can't come up with an economic justification for buying the diesel. I've been through this on the company trucks I've purchased. They are driven over 40,000 miles a year, and are used to haul loads and pull on a regular basis, and I still can't justify spending the extra 5-8K for the diesel option.
I find that statement extremely difficult to believe.
In other words, if you want it, and you can afford it, buy it. Just don't try to come up with some sort of logical argument for buying it.
I vigorously disagree, and I have posted this before.
My Ram 3500 CTD averages 19.7 mpg. The exact same truck with the gasoline engine (Hemi 5.7L V-8) averages less than 10 mpg, and it has significantly less pulling power!
I drive my truck 20K miles per year... 20,000/19.7 = 1016 gallons of diesel fuel consumed.
Drive the same 20K with the gas engine... 20,000/10 (I am being generous on the milage for arguements sake) = 2000 gallons of gasoline consumed.
Now, let us do so more simple math... (calulations are based on my local fuel costs)
1016 gallons of diesel x $2.909 = $2955.55
2000 gallons of gas x 2.959 = $5918.00
You do the rest of the math... but it comes out to nearly $3000 per year difference[:0][:0][:0]
Yes, the Cummins diesel engine in my Dodge Ram cost an me extra $5500 when I bought it, but in less than two-years, it has paid for itself[^][:0][^] If that is not reason enough for you, maybe you should reconsider the facts.
Bert... A Dodge CTD driving fool[:D]0 -
I have a 2008 Ford twin tubo 6.4 it's great 650 ft lbs at 2000 rpm 350 hp at 3000 rpm. 0
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