Diesel Trucks

[Trev]

I keep toying with the idea of a diesel pickup.. but I wonder..

Do you have to treat them the same as a diesel tractor? Do you need engine heaters? Do you need to let them warm up for 15 minutes before you go anywhere?

I would assume a diesel is a diesel?

Tks,
Bob

 

[Jeff396]

I've had a diesel pickup for about five years now and have never let it warm up before driving away. I imagine the fact that our tractors are most often used at high revs or working hard with some implement is the reason we need to be more careful with a warm up period. In my truck I just take it easy on it until it reaches temperature. Can't comment on the engine heater as my truck has gone from blustery Tucson, AZ to that winter wonderland of Charlotte, NC./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff

 

[Egon]

Trev:
Do you want the truck for hauling or towing. That diesel option buys a lot of gas.Whatever happened to the GMC?

Egon

 

[Trev]

Hi Egon,

Oh, I'm thinking maybe a daily driver ... something to pick up lumber and misc stuff with ... something to perhaps tow the boat I hope to buy someday.

Mostly, my question was based on the idea that, for example, I take the wife and kids to the movies. We come out 3 hours later, at 5 degrees with a wind chill, and have to sit in the truck twiddling our thumbs for 15 minutes before we can drive home? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bob

 

[cowboydoc]

my question was based on the idea that, for example, I take the wife and kids to the movies. We come out 3 hours later, at 5 degrees with a wind chill, and have to sit in the truck twiddling our thumbs for 15 minutes before we can drive home?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! For the most part you drive it just like a gasser. I have owned diesel pickups since Ford put the first diesel in one back in 1982. Everyone always says there is more maint. but that really isn't too true. The only difference between a gasser and a diesel is the fuel filter has to be changed more often. On oil changes the diesels hold alot more but you also don't have to change it as often either. If you are buying one based on mileage it takes about 60-100k miles to pay for the option. If you consider a much higher resale option it doesn't even take that long.

 

[cowboydoc]

Trev,

Take a look at this review of Ford's newest diesel.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/ke.kb.rp?kbb.IA;;IA139&52761&11;Ford;2003%20F350%20Super%20Duty%20Regular%20Cab&03F3502>2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty</A>

 

[Mark_in_NH]

I still believe that diesal engines have a suoerior life span with proper maintenance. But diesal fuel is no longer the bargain at the pumps as it once used to be and at the additional cost of approx $5000.00 to the sticker price, a diesal engined truck is something that you must really NEED and are going to WORK in order to justify the expense.
For daily use and the occasional towing a gas engine will perform beautifuly. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Clearly a DIESEL engine is not for me.
Heck, I can't even spell it.

 

[Steven]

Wind chill only comes into play when you have skin. The wind chill temperature is how cold people and animals feel when outside. Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature. Therefore, the wind makes it FEEL much colder. If the temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind is blowing at 15 mph, the wind chill is -19 degrees Fahrenheit. At this wind chill temperature, exposed skin can freeze in 30 minutes.

The only effect wind chill has on inanimate objects, such as car radiators and water pipes, is to shorten the amount of time for the object to cool. The inanimate object will not cool below the actual air temperature. For example, if the temperature outside is 5 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind chill temperature is -31 degrees Fahrenheit, then your car's radiator will not drop lower than 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Not sure about warming up the truck, I never had a diesel auto.

 

[AndyR]

I wouldn't say a diesel is a diesel (but I'm also not interested in starting a brand war). I have found that the diesel (truck) takes a bit longer to warm up then a gas engine - so the heated seat option is real nice. Other then that, it's pretty much hop in and go. As has been observed - you can buy a lot of gas for the price difference. However, I can (and will) pull a lot more then a gasser and the diesel will likely far outlast a gas engine.

Go drive a few different trucks and listen both inside and outside. Check the repair shops to see what they see (or even better - don't see). Be prepared to dig deep - my 2500HD with Duramax/Alison, fancy deluxe type interior and extended cab and long bed cost me nearly $40K!