Diesel Trucks

JaycoAngel wrote:
A newbie here to the forum. Would like to ask diesel owners if they would recommend a diesel for use as a primary vehicle (short trips to the grocery, etc. when not pulling). We have heard that short trips are hard on the injectors.

Your big problem is going to be trying to stay warm in the winter. Make sure you get a good winter coat and hat.

When working not long ago, I only had a 1 mile drive to work, so to try to avoid clogging the particulate filter (DPF), I would leave early and make sure the engine reached operating temp. Also made sure to drive it as often as possible at highway speeds to offset the short trips. In spite of all my efforts, I was nearly left on the side of the highway due to the DPF being over-clogged. "Critical" I think was the word that showed up on the dash warning me of the problem. Fortunately a dealer was about 30 miles up the road so I was able to make it there, slowly. (I was losing engine power the whole way). Dealer had to do a manual regen to clean the filter, at a cost of $200.

While diesel tows like nothing else, I have gone back to gas. Tired of the diesel maintenance costs and DPF headaches.

I started driving a diesel truck in 1983 as my daily driver. Ran it without any problems for 25 years. My current DD is another diesel. Other than the standard problemshipping with a 2005 Ford 6.0, there's been no problems driving it to the grocery store.

Bill

2014 CTD 3500. I live in the sticks and drive 10 miles for anything and then snowbird for 7 months. If I was still working and starting it twice a day to go 6 miles to work in the winter I wouldn't buy one. Or then had to go out a few hours after getting home from work to drive 1/4 mile to the store isn't what I would put a diesel through. When working I had a Silverado 4.3 gasser that was warmed up by the time I got to work.

I dont know how far back it goes but my sons 2012 CTD require a 67,500, 125,000 mile egr cooling system cleaning and crankcase filter replacement. Sons 2012 was always sooted up and popping codes. Dealer tech said dont idle it and take it out and run it in 5th for as far as reasonably possible at high speed.

Another son has a 2013 2500 DEF lives in Colorado and daily drives but also keeps it on the cord all winter.

My 2014 def doesn't give that maintenance procedure at 75,000 and has never had any problems. I did the egr cooler and egr valve maintenance for my son. I understand it's about a $1,200 service?? I'll be doing his again at 150,000 along with a valve adjustment. I joke with him that he wasn't working it hard enough but now he moved up to a 35 ft FW and runs it in 5th to keep it "On the pipe". I often run mine in 5th unloaded to keep it percolatin. It's a truck engine not a car.

Cooler coming off



EGR cooler full of solvent. Ends capped



EGR Valve



I also addressed some corrosion at the turbo housing inlet to hose connection. Iirc the CC filter, cooler plugs, gaskets were $165

three of us in the neighborhood have had multiple diesels that were used for towing and daily drivers. several racked up well over 250K miles, others over 100K miles, often during the week with 5 mile or less trips. Several were pre DEF units, several are now units using DEF.

Issues: None. IMHO no different than any other vehicle used as a daily driver.

the newer diesels warm up much much quicker than those of even 10 years ago.

It's not advisable for any vehicle (except maybe electric) to be consistently driven without getting up to running temperature.

Thanks to all for your replies!!

No problems with using them as a daily driver

Buy what you like and drive it. That is what I did. Keep up with the recommended service, use quality motor oil and get your fuel from a place that sells a lot so you are getting fresh fuel.
Mine gets driven anywhere from less than a mile to 400 per day. It also sometimes sits for weeks without being started. It is good to get it up to operating temperature when using it whenever possible.
Mine is my daily driver, just lately I do not have to drive it daily. In the past I drove it the same as I did any other vehicle I have owned. This one has served me well for the past 13 years.

We have a 2008 32-foot FW.
When we travel, it is pretty loaded with 'stuff'!??