mtofell1 wrote:
After going from gas to diesel I'd rather not ever go back to gas but would depending on what I need to tow and do with the truck otherwise.
A couple things that drive me nuts with the debates:
Maint. costs for the diesel are exactly the same except for fuel filters. I buy from fleetfilter.com and pay $23 for a a fuel filter. So, there you have it - I pay $50 a year to drive a diesel vs. gas. Oil changes are a wash and actually in the favor of a diesel since they are only needed half as often.
The whole cost of fuel debate is funny and I'm not sure if some of you gas guys are just trying to make yourselves feel better or just don't realize it. $4 vs. $4.50 a gallon is a 12.5% difference. MPGs on a capable gas (let's say a Ford V10) run roughly 10 towing the same load my Duramax gets 13 (and I think I'm being overly generous to the gasser here). Run that through the old calculator and see what you get.
I really have no problem with gas trucks... I've owned them and I'd gladly own one again but come on guys..... let's get real here. There a reason 99% of the commercial freight being hauled down the interstates is done with a diesel truck.
I said the same thing almost thirty years ago. Bored family and friends to tears with praise for the larger than life diesel engine.
Do you really go 15k miles between OCI's? I changed my '03 Cummins at 7500 miles. Same as my current incapable, struggling, screaming, trouble free, issue free 5.4L grocery getter.
I think you're being generous with both the V10 and Dmax. I got 10.5mpg towing 68~mph consistently with my Cummins Rams and 8.5 with my gassers around the southeast. The 18.5mpg I got around town compared to 14~ with the gassers is where the diesels paid off for me. Don't forget to add in the cost of DEF for the new ones! Honest newer diesel owners are reporting empty mileage similar to what I'm getting with my spark plug spitter. "Real trucks don't have glow plugs either!"
Getting real here, if I ever need to haul 80k lbs GCW 2500miles plus a week for a living, I'll buy an OTR tractor with an appropriate HP diesel engine, not a pickup truck with a car sized diesel engine with it's delicate little fuel injection system. It's a pickup truck, not an OTR tractor trailer.:B
