Are diesels worth it, for costs per mile?

Your topic suggests you are trying to cost justify on a cost per mile basis. I would expect the cost per mile for diesel to be higher based on initial purchase and ongoing maintenance therefore making the cost justification difficult. Having said that, I switched last year and love it!

IMHO if you can afford to purchase the diesel truck, after your first trip towing a camper, you will never look back!

Rlaubert wrote:
Diesels are much simpler engines than the gas counterparts...

I don't follow your rationale. Lack of spark plugs is about all I can think of, but that doesn't make it a lot simpler.

mbutts wrote:
I cannot guarantee your results, but my "dreaded" Ford 6.0 diesel (the WORST diesel ever in the history of man, according the the Internet), costs me a lot less than $15,000 per year to maintain.

Oil change (15 quarts + filter) costs me about $60 since I do it myself.

#1. You were talking to a Ford dealer!!
#2 as stated above, even the notorious Ford/Navastar, which I believe has the higest maintenance cost of the big three will be NO WHERE near that in maintenance cost. Not really much greater than a gas engine.
You could have a repair bill that high if you blow a head gasket. I don't see any higher cos for maintenance than a gas engine. Oil change one every 10,000 miles DYI about $40 to $50 depending on getting oil on sale.

As mentioned, oil and filters cost more but it's a wash as I change ours once a year, that is all that is necessary given the miles we put on it. Other than an a/c pump, our Cummins (purchased used) has been absolutely trouble free for four years. If you are not doing a lot of towing and are not in the mountains with a heavy trailer a gasser will do just fine, the extra up front cost of the diesel might be hard to justify. After having a diesel, I would rather fight than switch.

I just switched from a 8.1 big block gas engine to Duramax diesel in March. Truck has 4500 miles so far with towing about 900 miles and absolutely love it. I have friends and family with GM 2002, 2003, and a couple 2007 models. The 2003 has had injectors replaced but that year was known for that. Rest have been all normal maintenance. Don't know much about the other makes except a ton of Ford issues have been posted on the forum. I'm betting the dealer you were at didn't have a diesel in the model you were looking at and was steering you to a truck in stock for the quick sale. Randu

I bought my first diesel in 2008...from then on I will only have diesels.

For towing the difference between gas and diesel is noticeable. I have had no major issues with the engine or transmission. The only problems I had were with fit and finish which were corrected by the dealer.

Keep in mind when you read forums:
> The majority of people don't post on forums
> Most people reading forums are there to gather information, either about a problem they are having or to find out about something they are considering or to provide feedback.
> Those who do post are either answering or asking a question like yours or have something to share or complain about.
> Often when there is a problem, there's more to the story. For example one forum I read you would think that the Duramax diesel have injector problems. But in reality it's the older first generation engines used by professional transporters who drive hundred of thousands of miles each year that have had injector failures.

When you read forums the majority of posts will be about a problem. It's rare to read a post where someone is writing how wonderful something is just to say it. Most of the time it's like this response, someone has asked a question and I answered it because I really like my diesel and haven't had problems.

I pull a 38 ft 5th wheel that weighs 15,000 lbs. At 61 MPH the tach is showing 1800RPMs. The truck is pulling the 5th wheel without strain. No strain means longer life.

I just gave my Dodge 3500 Diesel Dually to my son-in-law as we are now on the road in a diesel motor home. First very few people have any issues with a diesel engine. The upkeep is not much different than a regular engine other than the fact that the oil is a little more expensive and you need more of it. Filters still need to be changed etc. In my opinion the dealer was speaking out of his A$$. Newer engines will require the cow piss, but that in once every 15,000 miles (I think). Diesels are much simpler engines than the gas counterparts and will last for over a million miles if properly maintained.

I cannot guarantee your results, but my "dreaded" Ford 6.0 diesel (the WORST diesel ever in the history of man, according the the Internet), costs me a lot less than $15,000 per year to maintain.

Oil change (15 quarts + filter) costs me about $60 since I do it myself.