Diesel Question...

I can't imagine ever going back to gas. We're on our 3rd Duramax (by choice) and haven't had a problem with any of them. I'm certainly not saying that they are better than the others, just that we've never had a problem with ours. Also, Please, Please, Please get a big enough truck. Not just enough to get by, or "it'll pull it"...

diftw wrote:
We are hoping to be able to get one more truck before we retire. Would love to think about a diesel but am scared to death of getting into major repairs down the road. Have any of you had these fears? Keep thinking about the Ford 6.0/6.4 issues and how upset we would have been if we spent that kind of money and had those issues. Even more upset if we were retired with a limited income.

Thanks.

My suggestion would be to get a new one with a long warranty (Ram with Cummins has five year 100k). The other guys, not so much.

If you don't need the power to tow 14K pounds, I would stick with gas.
The new gas engines have 400 hp lots of torque, are reliable and less money.
Fuel costs are a wash considering up front costs and maintenance. The emissions systems on the new diesels are show stoppers for me.

I really, really enjoy towing with a diesel. Longer distances between fill ups, much better fuel economy, and effortless uphill runs.

As Turtle said, do your homework. I spent a few months reading and asking questions at Powerstroke.org before I bought my Ford 6.0 last year. There are Duramax and Cummins forums, too. Good investment of time.

If you want to buy Ford, get the 7.3.

We made the mistake and bought first year 6.4 (paid top dollar) and then ended up spending an additional 10K in cash and our warranty company paying 19K to replace the motor.

If you have the option to get an extended warranty through your bank or credit union, go with Route66/ACS. They will take care of you 100%. I can't recommend them enough and have the receipts to prove it!

Good luck!

They are all reliable now but just like anything else made by man there is always the chance of a breakdown. If it's out of warranty than yes it could be costly but so could a gas motor if the right part broke.

If you go around worrying about this stuff it is going to eat at you all the time and take the enjoyment out of your trip.

If you want more truck than what is in your siggy then you could just move up in truck size and stay with gas. If you want a diesel just because you want it then make sure you can afford the issues that may come with it.

When I bought my '05 Ram Cummins all I heard was the trans will go and the frontend wouldn't hold up. I'm still driving it on the original trans and frontend parts. Well over half the miles on it are towing miles and most of those are with a programmer turned all the way to max setting. Just take care of what ever you get, don't try to make it do more than it can do and it will last you a very long time no matter what you get.

I bought my first diesel 3-1/2 years ago with 194,000 miles on it. Now has about 227k, it's also a plow truck, runs like a champ. High maintenance. It's a 1999 Ford 7.3 Liter F350 I have been checking these out for a while. My recommendation is to stay away from the 6.0 Fords bad design on the engines head gaskets go as the head studs get stretched under heavy load. rumor has it that they finally straightened out the mess with the 2015. That problem can be fixed with a head stud kit.

My dad puls his TT with a 2006 GMC Duramax Diesel, Crazy powerful and regular maintenance has been ok for him, it's been a solid truck he has overr 100k on it. I really like my Ford but I do all the repairs myself too to keep costs down.
Good luck!

huh this is my first post on this site. Just call me Newbie!... For now.. I'm Kevin

Just like anything, you have to do your homework.

Some on here will say "they all build good trucks now days." I say BS to that. There are some diesel engines that have had problems and they have changed a lot of parts to fix those problems. IMHO stay away from those engines and brands.

Some have had the same basic engine design for years. IMHO stick with those brands.

Also stay away from first year engines and fixes.

I will say it again, do your homework and you will be fine.