Gas VS Diesel F250

These debates are entertaining to say the least. As someone who is trying to decide on a new truck, I find myself going back and forth between a gas and diesel truck.

I can afford either one, but I'm basically cheap, but I also like nice stuff, etc. etc. So I really don't know which way to go. I will probably buy a loaded out gas engine model or a lesser diesel. I sure like leather seats though.

spud1957 wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

spud1957 wrote:
Seems a lot of talk about the gasser's "redline" needed to go up some steep grades. The 6.2's redline in 6000. Way above HP and torque. Absolutely no reason to go that high.

In another thread there is picture posted by a strong diesel proponent of his dash showing pulling a grade at 60mph. What the picture also shows MPG at about 4 AND 3000 rpms which is 500 rpms below his redline. So, a diesel roaring up a hill just below his redline is OK and isn't as loud as a gasser?

Maybe the fact that he is climbing a 6% grade running 29,000# GCW and still able to go 60 should be why diesel owners smile.

I believe that he was showing 2.800 rpm, which is about 80% of red line. If a 6,000 rpm red line gaser it could only turn 4,800 rpm and with trying to 29,000# would not likely happen at 60 mph.

My point is not a 6.2 pulling GCWR of 29,000lbs. That's ludicrous. The diesel is pulling a 6% grade at less than his rated GCWR and he is at 80% of his redline. If I had a GCWR of 29K, I too would have a diesel.

I am almost at 90% of my GCWR and I too can pull a 6% grade at 60 MPH and do it at 4000 RPMs or 66% of my redline.

So for diesel owners mocking gassers that they have to pull 6% grades at redline is not completely accurate and also a bit hypocritical.

Well 80% is not red Line it is 80%, I know that I have far less HP than you and a 5er with a higher GVWR, and to at about 19,000# to 19,500# GCVW which is better than 95% of GVWR, and still can pull 6% grades at 55 to 60. I usually don't go over 2,300 rpm, as I have a 3.55 rear gear.

My truck idles at near 25% of red line!! 850 and 3,200, so 80% isn't really out of the question.

wing_zealot wrote:
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Now I expect to hear about how you passed 12 gassers sitting beside the road in the mountains. More rhetoric, when facts are scarce.

Been there, done that, too. ;)

It looks like things break at times. Them's the hazards and no one is immune to problems while many do enjoy less problems than others. Fortunately trucks these days regardless of brand enjoy less problems.

I've been towing with Cummins 5.9L & 6.7L diesels since 2001. I've never spent a cent for anything other than routine maintenance, nor have I ever been stuck on the side of the road.

Why did I go from gassers to diesels? Our 1996 Ram 3500 dually (8.0L V-10/47RE 4 speed automatic) got 6.5 MPG pulling our 2000 Jayco Designer XL 3610RLTS on a given route through the Texas Hill Country. Pulling the same trailer over the same route, our 2002 Ram 3500 dually (5.9L Cummins HO/6 speed manual) got 11.5 MPG. On the 6% grade on I-10 into the east side of Kerrville, the 1996 was in 2nd gear at 3500 RPM to hold 55 MPH when towing. The 2002 would pull the same grade in 6th gear at 65 to 70 MPH towing the same trailer at 2200/2350 RPM (4.10 axle).

Here in Texas, you can hardly give a gas engine dually away at trade-in time, whereas the diesels will bring a premium.

To each his/her own, but a diesel (especially pulling the 5th wheel we're towing now) makes perfect sense for us.

Rusty

Wait till you get to pay out for , belt tensioners, turbo oil lines, fuel filters, the water pump on my 7.3 literally grenade'd and took a bunch of other stuff with it and scarred up the rad that was over 2g's. Over the 5 years I had it it cost me over well over 5 thousand in just the engine related repairs without the tows or maintenance costs, or the downtime for my business, there is a lot of money lost when you got 5 guys on the jobsite being held up and having to shut down, even for only a day, but you still gotta pay them. These are not even major repairs when it comes to a diesel no matter what brand. Sure it can happen with a gasser to but not nearly as much cost and downtime. My 6.0 Savvana has been in the shop twice in 4 yrs one for ball joint @$400 and one for corrosion on a connector under the fuse panel@$200 no engine related issues at all and no shut downs. Almost no const companys own diesels around here I know cause I work with most of them and neither do the utilities. & if you think that a diesel in Ontario gets better value when you sell it then think again cause rust is a great equalizer and it doesn't care what engine is in the truck

My F350 6.7 SRW diesel got 12.2 mpg average over 3200 miles pulling a 40 ft 16500 GVW 5th wheel. I have got as high as 21 mpg empty and some times 18 mpg. It depends on the Ctane rating. B20 cuts 1 mpg while B5 increase the mpg because it actually increases the Ctane rating over 45 While B20 decrease Btu's too much. Some states like California require a Ctane of 50 which is the same as Europe. However most states allow a Ctane of 40. A Ctane of 50 will provide the best fuel mileage as well as better lubrication of the injectors.

Diesel trucks are better suited of heavy loads and some 5th wheel trailers demand a diesel truck which provide the best performance as well a towing capacity.

So just for comparisons sake. My 12 Ram CTD cost $68 for an oil change. A 2500 6.4 is $40.00 at the same dealer. An F150 5.0 is $46.05, probably cause of the 8qts needed. If paying $22-28.00 more twice a year is way more expensive then I guess some need to ride a bike. Not all diesels are expensive to maintain. 1 $60.00 fuel filter a year for my Ram. I should say I do go to the bank and get loan every year so I'll have enough money to maintain my CTD. Not. :)

I've spent $40-50.00 (difference for two oil changes) on a crappy dinner and guess what? I still go out to eat.

rhagfo wrote:

spud1957 wrote:
Seems a lot of talk about the gasser's "redline" needed to go up some steep grades. The 6.2's redline in 6000. Way above HP and torque. Absolutely no reason to go that high.

In another thread there is picture posted by a strong diesel proponent of his dash showing pulling a grade at 60mph. What the picture also shows MPG at about 4 AND 3000 rpms which is 500 rpms below his redline. So, a diesel roaring up a hill just below his redline is OK and isn't as loud as a gasser?

Maybe the fact that he is climbing a 6% grade running 29,000# GCW and still able to go 60 should be why diesel owners smile.

I believe that he was showing 2.800 rpm, which is about 80% of red line. If a 6,000 rpm red line gaser it could only turn 4,800 rpm and with trying to 29,000# would not likely happen at 60 mph.

My point is not a 6.2 pulling GCWR of 29,000lbs. That's ludicrous. The diesel is pulling a 6% grade at less than his rated GCWR and he is at 80% of his redline. If I had a GCWR of 29K, I too would have a diesel.

I am almost at 90% of my GCWR and I too can pull a 6% grade at 60 MPH and do it at 4000 RPMs or 66% of my redline.

So for diesel owners mocking gassers that they have to pull 6% grades at redline is not completely accurate and also a bit hypocritical.

I don't get it. All the gas guys say how cheap it is to maintain and repair the gas motor. All the dealers are charging close to $100 per hour labor rate. I have owned diesels for over 25 years and could count on one hand the times any of them were in the Ford repair shop. I keep all the filters and fluids changed regularly. That must do the trick !! I hear from people all the time how it cost an arm and a leg to get their car/truck repaired. If you own a diesel and it has motor problems or if you own a gas motor and it has motor problem and goes back to a dealer it is going to cost big bucks !! They don't work on gassers any cheaper than they do diesels. That excuse is getting kind of old. There is a...right tool for every job... why do you think all the Construction Co, Utility Co, Gas and Oil Service Co , etc. etc. all run diesel trucks ? Sure they have gas trucks too but they are for just carrying people and small items around. I don't care what anyone decides to own...but there is a....right tool for the job.