Rather than follow what everyone else is doing, I try to rationalize what is best for me. I normally drive my truck around 15000 miles per year, but tow less than 2500 of those miles.
When I fueled up last week, I gave a cool $.60 per gallon over regular gas ($4.299 for diesel vs. $3.699 for regular gas, which equates to about $15 per tank of fuel more for diesel.
The diesel air filter is about $50 more than a gas.
Fuel filters for my diesel are also about $50 more than a a gas and have to be changed twice as often.
Oil filter is about $15 more for my diesel than a comparable gas.
My diesel takes 15 quarts of oil compare to 6 or 7 for gas engines.
Manufacturers are recommending fuel condtioner at about $5 per tankful for the diesels.
Initial cost is $7000 to $8500 more for a diesel.
If I towed a lot more miles or if money was not a factor, I would probably own another diesel. It real life, I feel like I am wasting money every time I do regular routine maintenance or fuel up my diesel.
Sure the diesel will be worth more than a gas powered similar truck for trade in or resale, but not nearly what the diesl cost originally.
I think many of the people on here are want-to-be big rig drivers. They want dual wheel diesels, like the big boys. Since I have driven big trucks over more of my adult life tha I want to admit, I don't care about that.
I expect that Ford (and the others will follow) will probably expand their turbocharged, Eco-Boost, style engins into the larger displacements, which will give us the (now) diesel benefits of wider torque bands and less power loss at higher elevations.
My work truck, a 2011 Ford F-250, has the Ford 6.2. To say the engine impresses me, is a major understatement. It compares with my son-in-law's V-10 in power and much better fuel mileage.
I expect a gasoline powered truck is in my future. It's basically a dollars and sense thing for me.
