diesel or gas

[70rs]

I suddenly want a diesel truck much less now.......

Thanks for the info. And for crushing my dreams........

[wmhjr]

Originally Posted by 70rs

I suddenly want a diesel truck much less now.......

Thanks for the info. And for crushing my dreams........

Don't let the previous scares mess with you. I can find a gazillion tech bulletins about pretty much any vehicle out there and have NEVER in ALL the owners I know, meet and see observed a "$12,000" rebuild on a diesel fuel system. I'm not saying there can't be problems but the statement to avoid a diesel if at all possible? Are you kidding me? Better tell all commercial trucking they're screwing up. Truth is - and it's fact - we've been slow to catch on but diesels are here to stay and for good reason. I'm not a fan of e urea based systems but..... And to pick on the cummins of all the diesel motors? The only medium duty engine option? Wow. I guess it just reinforces my avoidance of all the "analyst" opinions. Btw I do know of two people who had warranty fuel related issues that were completely covered.

Bottom line is this. I've got a number of diesel vehicles. Some are 50 yrs old. I've got a truck with 230k miles on it that runs like new, though it does have the typical cheap a$$ dodge interior. I do NOT run biodiesel, which can introduce all kinds of issues. And here's a question. There are a bunch of folks on this site who pull with diesels. Who hearer has found all kinds of water in their fuel, or has paid $12k for a fuel system rebuild. Buehler? Ferris?

[WSSix]

I really appreciate everyone's replies.

I currently live where it is flat but will be running to Colorado and back often. I even hope to return to living in Colorado. More times than not I'll be hauling a motorcycle in the bed up and down the grades not the car. I'll also be going on many of the trails in Colorado but nothing serious so I'll have 4wd. I really would like this truck to be the last vehicle I ever buy that's not a toy or project that's why I am getting a CC eventhough I have no family and am not popular enough to need four doors. In the future, I'm sure four doors will be utilized.

I'm getting the 2500 for towing and ruggedness. The issue is diesel or gas. I'm finding trucks in my price range ~$15k both diesel and gas loaded the exact same way. These are 03-early07 Silverados. Mileage is very different with the gassers around 80k to 100k and the diesel 150k and up. The long term value of the vehicle is a factor though a smaller one. I can afford a diesel and I love the pulling power. I'm just trying to be smart and logical about this decision and not let emotion control my purchase.

Thanks

[Vegas69]

I met a new neighbor last night and he has an 07 Dodge with a cummins. He said his turbo has been out once or twice because he's not driving it long enough at highway speed. Dodge gave him a DVD and said he must drive it at 55mph for at least an hour continous every two weeks. Take it for what it's worth.

[WSSix]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I met a new neighbor last night and he has an 07 Dodge with a cummins. He said his turbo has been out once or twice because he's not driving it long enough at highway speed. Dodge gave him a DVD and said he must drive it at 55mph for at least an hour continous every two weeks. Take it for what it's worth.

That has to do with the new emissions stuff I believe. My last job we had two 14 passenger church type buses that we would run on his one route that had very few riders. Anyway, the buses lidled for long periods. SES light came on often. Finally the Ford dealership figured the problem out. The solution was to drive the buses more. So the drivers would come in 30 minutes early and drive on the loop around Athens to get everything hot and cleaned out. Problems went away.

This is why I am sticking to pre-emissions diesels so 07 Classic Silverados and older. No emissions BS to deal with.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I met a new neighbor last night and he has an 07 Dodge with a cummins. He said his turbo has been out once or twice because he's not driving it long enough at highway speed. Dodge gave him a DVD and said he must drive it at 55mph for at least an hour continous every two weeks. Take it for what it's worth.

Good points Todd -- Diesels were not meant to be your daily commuter truck 5 miles one way to work... They want to do "work".

I've only had ONE issue with my Ford 6.0L (a computer that died a month ago - replaced in a couple hours and $1200) -- which everyone says is a POS.... and the reason for that, I BELIEVE, is because the 85K miles on it are almost all hiway and towing... and I have the Banks system which also includes the brake controller (like a jake brake). The truck gets used and used hard -- I give it no breaks (or brakes either!) going up or down the hills... and because of this - I think the exhaust gets burned clean - which keeps the injectors clean - and I have it serviced religiously! I don't want problems when I'm on the road... so I'm very pro-active with the services. I use AMSOIL synthetic diesel oil and I change it every 3000 miles -- and I use a Pure Power cleanable screen SS mesh filter.

BTW -- 85K --- and never changed the PADS on the brakes! Thanks to the Banks Brake! I rarely use the brakes... I'm telling ya - they have that down pat! Since I typically haul long distance - the miles add up without touching the brakes. If I was doing stop and go - I'd be on a the second set of pads and probably a rotor change. I've had the tranny fluid changed at least twice - with flushes - and ditto the radiator... flushed and new coolant. Belts have been changed and I had the radiator hoses changed at 75K.

I did have the entire front suspension rebuilt... again --- being pro active. I thought it was getting a little sloppy so just had them replace everything. It was 3 grand - but I want my steering up to snuff --- and I don't want to find out it's not, while I'm in a corner with a trailer pushing my butt around!

The only other thing I've learned is to periodically change the turbo pressure side hose (from the turbo to the intake)... it gets saturated with oil and will blow off just about the time you're really putting the boots to it... and putting that on while leaning over a hot motor SUCKS! So I now just change it out and use the good silicone turbo hose. I even discussed this personally with Gale Banks at this years Grand Nat show when I met him at the NHRA musem, and he told me they have seen the same issue... the hose just gets hot oil blown into it until it is "gone".

[wmhjr]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I met a new neighbor last night and he has an 07 Dodge with a cummins. He said his turbo has been out once or twice because he's not driving it long enough at highway speed. Dodge gave him a DVD and said he must drive it at 55mph for at least an hour continous every two weeks. Take it for what it's worth.

Buddy of mine has a brand new dmax chevy. He's been told something similar from gm. It is emission related. But it wasn't that he had to drive 55mph, just that he had to drive it to get the EGTs up enough and then use it for an hour or so once every 2-3 weeks.

[GregWeld]

Bottom line on all these trucks (and cars too!) is you have to take care of them for them to be able to take care of you. All brands are good these days. I steadfastly refuse to say one is better than the other... they've all had issues and they've all had good engineering working on fixes. I had two Cummins Turbos in my boat - and they never failed me and if you want to work a diesel hard - put it in a 25 ton boat and run 'em at 2200 RPM for hours on end. That's max torque output spinning 28" 4 blade wheels... In a boat - there is no "coasting" like you do in a car/truck.

Just change your filters - and oil - and run 'em hard. Diesels do not like being coked up.

[ALLSPEED01]

Do they make "real" trucks that aren't diesel? Go diesel for sure! In my opinion the Dmax is best all around, Cummins best for all out towing, and the Powerstrokes will do the job especially when modified a little bit. There is a ton of aftermarket goodies for all of them.

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by wmhjr

Buddy of mine has a brand new dmax chevy. He's been told something similar from gm. It is emission related. But it wasn't that he had to drive 55mph, just that he had to drive it to get the EGTs up enough and then use it for an hour or so once every 2-3 weeks.

Yep, Jeff's is a late 07 and that's when it started according to him. He also mentioned the fluid for GM I believe.

Just to add lots of fuel to the fire....
http://www.chevrolet.com/hd-to-hd-truck-comparison/