Diesel vs gas......................

All of this talk about only getting 200k out of a gas engine is interesting. I'm a builder, and the majority of our light duty company trucks have always been gas. They work hard, but we maintain the heck out of them. We have no problem getting 200,000 miles out of any of our gas rigs. They're mostly GM products, and we will usually rebuild an auto trans at least once in 200k, and the assorted water pumps and radiators, but no heads off, etc. We run Valvoline 15/40 fleet oil and change oil and filter every 3,000 miles in the gas rigs. I think almost any modern V-8 should be capable of 200k miles if it's taken care of. Trans and coolings systems hold up much better with regular maint. too. We've stuck with mostly GM products because of the aggressive crate engine program. Economically though we're finding it better to not put the second engine in as problems with rear ends and such seem to start happening long before the second engine is tired.

I recently ordered a new super duty Ford Diesel crew cab dually for my new company truck. I spent the extra money mostly because the section 179 tax deduction lets Uncle Sam pay for fully half of the new truck. We bought new equipment this year for the same reason, it's almost crazy to not take advantage of it if you're self employed. The accelerated one time depreciation on up to 400k a year makes things much more attractive.