Opinions on older diesel trucks

[newbury]

My reasons for wanting a diesel include ability to put a 50 gal tank (or two) of fuel in the back cheaply and able to let it idle in the summer to run the a/c.
An extra 100 gallons of fuel would give an extra 1500 mile of range.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I'm rocking a 2004.5 with an LLY currently sitting at 224k miles, not much rust and no blow by in engine. Occasionally a no start condition when hot weather hits due to air getting in fuel line. Causes from injectors to crack in low pressure side fuel supply to filter head......still figuring it out. Else runs like a champ.

 

[Hay Dude]

I think there is a need for diesel engines but as of right now, I do not have one. I would rather not ever have to have one again. Gas engines can be great pulling machines. the Ford 7.3 Godzilla gasser is a beast of an engine and we run them in our F650's here. My favorite engine that Ford makes is the 6.2 which are extremely reliable. I have seem them go frequently 600K+ miles and even past a million miles with nothing but regular maintenance. Where I live, everyone , even teenage boys and yuppy dads who don't pull anything, wants a diesel. it's a silly fad for some weird reason.

Gas engines are easier to work on, cheaper to maintain, and cheaper to buy. I also think they sound much better than a diesel does too because I love the sound of a v8 gasser, and despise the sound of a turbo whining.

Yup, we all like what we like.

Shoot us a odometer pic of one of your work trucks with a 6.2 with over a million miles. Would love to see that. I’ve only seen a few million+ mile gas cars in my life. Since you see them in Ford trucks frequently, it should be easy.

I couldn’t do diddly with a gas V-8 for my needs. They don’t pull jack and they guzzle gas when you ask them to pull anything much more than a 10k trailer. For guys towing light to moderate, yeah they are a better choice.

Haven’t seen a gas engine meant to pull anything more than a smaller to moderate size trailer in a serious commercial truck for 40+ years.

My sons friend is a electrical power company linesman. He runs newer F-750 utility trucks with 6.7 powerstrokes and some with gassers in them and said they are really weak.

 

[sandman2234]

Supposedly, I am first in line to buy this 2003 2500 with roll up windows and no carpet. It is a 6 speed manual tranny. My little sister won't let it go until My 95 year old Dad passes, so it may end up having issues from sitting. I made trips out there and started it every six months, but now it has been moved so it is probably just sitting.
My 3 sisters all think they could use it to make garbage dump runs, or to pick up large purchases, but none want it for a dailey driver. Only one of them could back it up with a trailer behind it. Once they see what it costs to maintain a diesel, things will probably change.
David from jax

 

[JeepHead]

Shoot us a odometer pic of one of your work trucks with a 6.2 with over a million miles. Would love to see that. I’ve only seen a few million+ mile gas cars in my life. Since you see them in Ford trucks frequently, it should be easy.

I couldn’t do diddly with a gas V-8 for my needs. They don’t pull jack and they guzzle gas when you ask them to pull anything much more than a 10k trailer. For guys towing light to moderate, yeah they are a better choice.

Haven’t seen a gas engine meant to pull anything more than a smaller to moderate size trailer in a serious commercial truck for 40+ years.

My sons friend is a electrical power company linesman. He runs newer F-750 utility trucks with 6.7 powerstrokes in them and said they are really weak.

I am at work currently and not at the service shop. It would require quite a bit of effort to drive there JUST to snap an "easy" picture to prove to you what I say is true. To be honest, I couldn't care less whether you believe it or not. It changes nothing either way. But if you spend a little time poking around the WWW, I think you will see the 6.2 is pretty legendary for it's reliability and long life.

I agree if a guy is towing really heavy a diesel is the way to go, it will do it easier and with less fuel consumption. What I like about a diesel is you have that pulling power in the low RPM's verses a gasser peaking RPM's under heavy loads.

I no longer tow heavy. 10K is probably my limits these days and will probably rarely exceed that need again which is why I say I hope I never need to own another diesel. I do not like them and don't want to own one. My Nephew lives 3 miles from me and has offered his Duramax to me whenever I need it.

Your son's friend has an opinion and that's great. Does he know that the Ford 6.7 puts out 50 pounds more torque and 75 more HP than the Cummins does? He would probably think the Cummins is even weaker.

I have owned a few diesels from the 5.9 to the 7.3 and the 6.0. I also had the 6.7 as a company truck when I worked in mining. I have always liked an inline engine more than a V engine.

 

[Snobdds]

I have always liked an inline engine more than a V engine.

What makes an inline better than a v configuration?

 

[JeepHead]

What makes an inline better than a v configuration?

I never said they were better. I said I liked them more.

 

[Snobdds]

I never said they were better. I said I liked them more.

Why do you like them better, then?

 

[JeepHead]

Why do you like them better, then?

Because some of the best engines I ever had were inline. Super easy to work on as well.

 

[Snobdds]

Because some of the best engines I ever had were inline. Super easy to work on as well.

I was anticipating something different...