Diesel Question

[tessiers]

The other part of the maintenance deal is drive train, I have a 350 gasser and have never had any drivetrain issues, a good friend of mine has the same year model truck with diese. We haul very similar trailers with the same load. He is always fixing some drivetrain issue. The diesel has too much power for pickups. Who needs 0-60 times hauling 5 tons anyway?

 

[PoorMansCat]

I always here people talk about how expensive maintenance is on a diesel. I have yet to see a big difference on an annual basis. Oil changes cost me $69.99 at the dealership, gas motor would be $29.99. Oil gets changed every 10,000 based on the GM driver info display, about twice a year on my 03, 3 times on the 08. My 05 Tahoe was changed every 5,000 miles so that is an extra $10 every 10,000 miles. Diesel is 12% higher right now, $3.69 vs $3.29 for unleaded at Murphy/Wallyworld. My diesels get at least 12% better mileage than a gas P/U, especially when hauling a trailer, so that is a wash. Injectors and pumps are expensive, mine were done under the 100,000 warranty/recall. But a gas motor needs tuneups which mine do not. My tailgate latch broke last week, the $1.59 plastic clip would be the same on a gas P/U. My 03 has 167,000 miles without any significant repair cost for the motor. I did have to rebuild the front diff when a bearing went bad, cost would have been the same for a gas motor.

As has been said in previous posts, it's rare to hear anyone say they wish they had bought a smaller tractor. But you do see posts where they wish they had a gas motor when something breaks in the diesel motor, but I don't see a lot of posts where someone says I wish I had a gas motor instead of a diesel when hauling a loaded trailer. My wife and I, we both love our diesels. I have factory duel 105 amp alternators, 100 amps at idle, helps charge the trailer batteries. Not available on a gas motor. Gas motors and diesels both have their places. That's why they sell both. You have to decide which is best for your situation.

One thing I have noticed is that the cost of normal maintenance items for diesels had increaded dramatically...
The fuel filter for my 06 Dodge is $7.00 for a Fleetguard filter... The new "regen diesels" multiple filters are WAAAYYY higher!!.. The new Ford filters (there are two of them) are just rediculous.. The new diesel oils for the regen engines can't be pushed out to extended intervals where the old CI oil could......

 

[kenmac]

The other part of the maintenance deal is drive train, I have a 350 gasser and have never had any drivetrain issues, a good friend of mine has the same year model truck with diese. We haul very similar trailers with the same load. He is always fixing some drivetrain issue. The diesel has too much power for pickups. Who needs 0-60 times hauling 5 tons anyway?

That usually comes from someone adding more power ( chips, boxes, etc, ) to a drive train that wasn't designed for the x tra power. I know several that have done this and complain about a weak drive train in the truck:confused2:

 

[grsthegreat]

A friend of mine kept trying to get me to chip my 94 dodge diesel...telling me about all the great MPG and performance hes getting for doing it. I never did it, and mine is still running. His now sits with a dead engine. Ive not heard what is actually wrong with it yet, and i don't think hes torn into it yet. But i just believe that messing with the engines design parameters is just asking for problems. They design these motors to the absolute minimum they can get away with to save $$, so adding power to it cant be good thing.

I only routinely drive my 05 F350 maybe 1 day a week and during spring/summer i haul the 30' horse trailer alot. Otherwise it just sits. This probably isn't the best thing to do for a diesel, but i have no need of it for anything else. They say to change the oil every 7,500 miles...but that may take 2+ years. not sure if thats good thing to wait every 2-3 years or not.

 

[Willl]

my 94 dodge diesel,,,
They design these motors to the absolute minimum they can get away with to save $$, so adding power to it cant be good thing.

I thought you had a Cummins in there ?

 

[grsthegreat]

I thought you had a Cummins in there ?

It is a cummins, but its not a semi's engine. I asked the drealer about the possibility of increasing the pick up in the engine when i had the transmission rebuilt, and they WONT do it.

 

[kenmac]

They say to change the oil every 7,500 miles...but that may take 2+ years. not sure if thats good thing to wait every 2-3 years or not.

I use synthetic oil. I don't put 7,500 a year on my truck . I do change the oil once a year. These boxes (or what ever they call them) put alot of undue stress on a stock engine block & all the internal parts , the entire drive train. It dosen't matter the brand. Chevy, Ford etc,

 

[PoorMansCat]

It is a cummins, but its not a semi's engine. I asked the drealer about the possibility of increasing the pick up in the engine when i had the transmission rebuilt, and they WONT do it.

A dealership cannot legally alter the fueling of an engine unless they can certify that it still meets EPA requirements for that engine model/year configuration.
I have increased the power in my Dodge and it is a much better truck since doing it. The factory settings are for 50 state compliance, I do not plan on my truck ever getting to all 50 states, so I'm not worried about 50 state compliance.. The HP that I have added has actually made it easier on the rest of the truck when pulling heavy loads...

 

[WilliamBos]

While I love my diesels I dont know if I would buy another. The new Ford 6.2 for example is a very capable motor in a 3/4 ton truck. No way I would have it in a 1 ton though. Same for the GM 6.0 for most people and the Dodge 5.7.

Will they replace the diesel, no.

My friend just had to have some work done on a 02 Dmax. Injectors and the other items were nearly $5000

Chris

I agree totally!! I know I can justify a 2500HD for my next truck, but it will be a gas 6.0, just can't justify a DMAX. Wish they would put an Allison behind a 6.0 though.

 

[WilliamBos]

Is that because it's 8 cyl & no room under the hood ? I only have 6 injectors & plenty of room under the hood. I can replace all 6 myself. If I owned a V8 with no room in the engine bay, I would also have the work done

That has NOTHING to do with it, the injectors cost a fortune, and at flat rate they are pricey. And the injectors on the LB7 require the valve covers to come off. For every generation after that, that step is not required.