Considering Trade from Gasser to Diesel

I had an '04 F250 6.0, an '07 F350 6.0, and now a 2012 F350 6.7. Before that all gassers.
Did not have any repair costs that I had to pay for on any of the diesels, except squirrels/rats chewing wiring and vacuum hoses. Only minor other issues all covered under warranty.
Oil changes and fuel filter changes are more than a gasser. But is not prohibitive at all. I used to do my own to make it cheaper, but now just let the dealer do it. My dealer gives every 4th oil change free. So after two changes in the truck and two in the wife's car, I get the next truck oil change free. Lowers the overall costs.

I traded from a gasser to a diesel last summer and I have actually saved money. I spent a little more and went with synthetic oil which is supposed to allow for longer duration between oil changes. That cost overall is about a wash for my gasser. However the diesel is getting about double the mileage of my gasser and is my daily driver. So I am actually saving money on fuel despite the price difference which here is about 50 cents. The overall maintenance is more but the intervals are generally longer so it really comes out very close in cost. Repairs if things actually fail or break is usually the bank breaker for most people. Example: One week after I bought my Dodge an injector failed. I bought with no warranty so I had to argue with the dealership and eventually I paid labor. The whole bill was $750.

don't get a 2500 duramax.....get a srw 3500

going from a an '04 gas to '12 diesel I've changed the oil twice (at 10k) $36 per change. No fuel filter yet good for 2 years or as it stnads now 49K miles.

fuel mileage increase 3 MPG running #2 vs 93 octane

maintenance difference is neglible

How many miles are you planning on putting on the truck?
You will have 0 repair cost on the diesel for the first 100k because you have a warranty. After that I'd say you're still minimal repair up to 200 k.

No noticeable difference in cost to maintain.

You will have zero cost of repair on a new Ram Gasser as they have a 100K power train coverage also, and we now offer a 6.4 litter Hemi in the 2500 and up. I think if I were going to buy a 2014 I would look hard and long at this one.

As for cost it's about a wash unless you buy new trucks ever 2-3 years.

Don

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I have a 2005 Ram diesel and a 2003 VW Jetta gasser. Both are at 120,000 miles and the Ram has had one repair with the fan clutch. The Jetta has cost far more in repairs, fortunately some under warranty, many not for the same mileage. We lost a coil on the Jetta on a trip and it took out around $1200 worth of stuff with labor. The thermostat is about $300 with labor, the timing belt at VW with labor is near $1000. So, repairs are at the labor rate of the dealership regardless if gas or diesel. Parts are a little more for the diesel but labor is about the same. If you keep a vehicle long enough the entry fee difference between a gasser truck and a diesel becomes a moot point and in most cases the diesel will bring more on resale. The biggest issue is whether what is being towed or hauled is more than around 10,000 pounds and after about 12,000 pounds you are solidly in diesel terrority. Gassers just don't have it for those kind of weights especially in the mountains where the turbo diesel provides essentially sea level power up to around 12,000 feet and the gasser loses 2.5 percent of it's sea level power for each 1000 feet elevation. By the time you have crested the summit of a 7000 foot mountain pass the gasser has lost more than 15 percent of it's power; the diesel none. That is huge for those towing in the mountains. The power difference in towing between your gasser 6.0 and any of the turbo diesels is not in the same hemisphere. You will wonder why you waited so long to get one.

gmcsmoke wrote:
don't get a 2500 duramax.....get a srw 3500

Based on the GM towing guide for a Regular cab, SRW, diesel, 4X4 I would loose 100 pounds towing capacity by going to a 3500 vs. a 2500. For the added cost it doesn't make sense to me IMHO.

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
You will have zero cost of repair on a new Ram Gasser as they have a 100K power train coverage also, and we now offer a 6.4 litter Hemi in the 2500 and up. I think if I were going to buy a 2014 I would look hard and long at this one.

As for cost it's about a wash unless you buy new trucks ever 2-3 years.

Don

Don
"Chrysler the only one to pay back 100% of their loans from the Government. *The Old Car Company" still owes 1.6 billion. Is that better Chuckles"
And Ford is the only one to not need Govt loans. Just sayin;)