Opinions on older diesel trucks

Hay Dude · Jul 11, 2025

deserteagle71 said:
We're talking about "older" diesel trucks - the theme of this thread. So the only part of the above statement I can agree to is the "cheaper to buy". Around here, if you find an older Dodge/Cummins with the 5.9 or Ford 7.3 Powerstroke that hasn't been abused you'll have to pay just about what the truck cost new if you wanted to buy it. A gas-powered truck 20+ years old sells for $5k or less. Nobody wants them.

I have two, 2004 Dodge Cummins trucks. Don't know how anything could be easier to work on than that Cummins - lots of room around it in the engine bay. That is, if it needed to be worked on. If not abused these engines last half a million miles and nothing needs to be done to them other than oil changes. Granted, it takes 3 gallons per oil change versus 6 quarts but that's peanuts.

All the gas guys repeat the same mantras. To be fair, diesel guys do the same.

If we’re talking lightweight pickups, driven empty nearly all of the time, today’s gas engine makes gobs of power for showing off to your girlfriend, or compensating for other things lacking….

But if you need to tow heavy, or run lots of miles, you’ll get way more miles out of a diesel than a gas engine.

You’ll spend less time at the pump with better fuel economy

And the big one the gas guys don’t want to admit is with a diesel, you get way better resale value. Aside from the Ford 6.2L gasser, a diesel engine will run 2-3X longer on average and the buying public is willing to pay for it.

Hay Dude · Jul 11, 2025

Snobdds said:
What makes an inline better than a v configuration?

LOL here we go!!!!!! (Again).

4570Man · Jul 11, 2025

Hay Dude said:
All the gas guys repeat the same mantras. To be fair, diesel guys do the same.

If we’re talking lightweight pickups, driven empty nearly all of the time, today’s gas engine makes gobs of power for showing off to your girlfriend, or compensating for other things lacking….

But if you need to tow heavy, or run lots of miles, you’ll get way more miles out of a diesel than a gas engine.

You’ll spend less time at the pump with better fuel economy

And the big one the gas guys don’t want to admit is with a diesel, you get way better resale value. Aside from the Ford 6.2L gasser, a diesel engine will run 2-3X longer on average and the buying public is willing to pay for it.

I’m not sure I totally buy those ideas. How many gas trucks are getting engine swapped because they wore out? Probably not many. Usually the gas motor last as long as the rest of the truck. A diesels does resell because but they cost a lot more to start with. It’s not like the gas truck resells for half price. A diesel does get better mileage but diesel also cost more. I have a diesel truck but I also tow almost every day or at least a couple times a week. If I just wanted to tow a couple times a year I’d have no problems driving a gas truck.

Snobdds · Jul 11, 2025

Hay Dude said:
LOL here we go!!!!!! (Again).

I just wanted to see if your thoughts are confirmed.

Another data point.

Hay Dude · Jul 11, 2025

4570Man said:
I’m not sure I totally buy those ideas. How many gas trucks are getting engine swapped because they wore out? Probably not many. Usually the gas motor last as long as the rest of the truck. A diesels does resell because but they cost a lot more to start with. It’s not like the gas truck resells for half price. A diesel does get better mileage but diesel also cost more. I have a diesel truck but I also tow almost every day or at least a couple times a week. If I just wanted to tow a couple times a year I’d have no problems driving a gas truck.

Really? I buy a lot of used stuff and will pay more knowing a diesel engine will run far more hours than gas.
The point you make about the rest of the truck being worn out is highly subjective. If a truck is not rusted, the rest of the truck is relatively cheap to fix compared to replacing an engine.

A non-rusted diesel truck is a hot item. They sell fast and for good coin.

Lineman North Florida · Jul 12, 2025

Well so far so good on this older diesel I bought, I have been towing my skidsteer with it 3-4 days per week and seems to get about 12 mpg loaded and about 17 unloaded, while my 6.0 chevy gas truck got about 8 loaded and 13-14 unloaded and I wouldn't hesitate to hook it to any load I pull as it never failed me , this older duramax diesel does it so much more effortlessly, hopefully I will continue to have good luck, time will tell.