Do diesels make financial sense?

ShinerBock wrote:
Why would someone get a 410hp/429lb-ft 6.4L HD over a 383hp/400lb-ft 5.7L HD if the total cost of ownership is more? Does it make financial sense for such a small performance gain that could probably be made up for with a tuner?

Because a 2500 5.7 has a lower GVWR and tow ratings along with payload ratings.

5.7=9,000 GVWR
6.4=10,000 GVWR
Base payload on a 2500 CC LB 4x4 5.7 is 2180 lbs. 6.4 is 3140 lbs.

Why would someone get a 410hp/429lb-ft 6.4L HD over a 383hp/400lb-ft 5.7L HD if the total cost of ownership is more? Does it make financial sense for such a small performance gain that could probably be made up for with a tuner?

I will say it. Yes, an HD diesel may be cheaper depending on your fuel prices, the interest rate of the loan, taxes in the area, resale values of your area, and the brand. Although cost is not the reason why one buys an HD diesel just like cost is not the reason one buys a V8 Mustang over a V6. There is added value like power, performance, and capability with the V8 Mustang and those are the reason why people buy them.

Not everyone will have the same outcome. Some areas have a huge difference between the gas and diesel prices. Some areas may see that the gas engines hold their value better or the diesel loose more value depending one local sales of each type. Some people may only be able to get a 7+% interest rate(which I don't think anyone should buy a new vehicles with this kind of rate) while others may be able to get a sub 3% or 0% rate. Some brands have diesel PM intervals at 15k while others are 10k. Some brands require special expensive oil and filter for their gas trucks and others don't.

All of these come into play when you are calculating total costs over a certain period of time I would suggest for you to do the math yourself to see which would be better cost wise for you. I posted mine earlier.





Even if it came out to be a few grand more, I (and most other diesel owners) would gladly pay it for the added performance and capability. That is not a lot to pay for the amount of power and torque you get. Hell, many who upgrade from base gaser engines to higher power and performance gaser engines probably pay more for their upgrade and in most cases they never get it back in fuel. So why do people only focus on getting your money back on a diesel and not a 5.7L Hemi over a base V6 3.6L? Or a GM 6.2L over a 4.6L? Or a 5.0L over the 3.3? Or a 6.4L HD over a 5.7L HD? Why doesn't anyone talk about getting your money back on those engines?

Dayle1 wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:

Dayle1 wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:
I think you got that backwards, it's the diesel boys that are always trying to say the diesel is cheaper than a gasser.

Got some examples that you can reference??

You new here? Just start looking through 462 page diesel vs. gas sticky at the top. You'll find hundreds of examples; in only one thread. Or you can just read the first page of this thread.

You need to look in a mirror to see new, got you beat by just 16 years. And in all those years, I've never heard anyone claim than an option costing thousands of $$ is somehow cheaper. If the manufacturers discovered this FACT, they would just raise the option price even more. Since most of the discussion is usually around miles required to break even, it is clear that diesel costs more. But when it comes to tow vehicles, I don't try to use cost to justify my engine choice.

I wasn't talking purchase price. I was talking Total Cost of Ownership. That's what this whole thread is about, TCO (aka "Financial Sense").

dodge guy wrote:


Umm! This was a Super C! Meaning it was an MDT chassis probably a freight liner M2 with an 8.3 ISB Cummins And Allison trans!

So this wasn't even the Ram Super C and was a Frieghtliner? Bahahahaha! I am sorry but that is funny right there. Man, if I got a trophy for every medium duty Freightliner I passed I would have a bigger trophy room then John Force. Hell, my old S10 4 banger could pass one of those. Thank you for filling my morning with laughter.

Me Again wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

dodge guy wrote:


Whatever makes you feel better about driving a diesel. And yes you can hear the roar of the fan over the Cummins or whatever diesel was in it. They don’t spin a lot of RPM but the fan does!

I didn't say it to make me feel better about driving a diesel because I don't have an inferiority complex like some people seem to have here. I said it because I have personal experience on how these Ram transmission operate in stock form. Being in to high of a gear at too low of an rpm(which creates heat in the engine and trans) is a common complaint for the stock 68RFE tuning. If it were a Ford or GM, then I would not have said anything because I don't have extensive towing experience with them.

But hey, if thinking that he was racing you lifts your skirt up then by all means I don't want to be the one to burst that bubble.

Umm! This was a Super C! Meaning it was an MDT chassis probably a freight liner M2 with an 8.3 ISB Cummins And Allison trans!

And it most likely weighed in at 1.5 to 2 times the V-10 and load.

That's my guess too, but it should've still performed much better! And if it doesn't, then that shows the V-10 performs just as good!

dodge guy wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

dodge guy wrote:


Whatever makes you feel better about driving a diesel. And yes you can hear the roar of the fan over the Cummins or whatever diesel was in it. They don’t spin a lot of RPM but the fan does!

I didn't say it to make me feel better about driving a diesel because I don't have an inferiority complex like some people seem to have here. I said it because I have personal experience on how these Ram transmission operate in stock form. Being in to high of a gear at too low of an rpm(which creates heat in the engine and trans) is a common complaint for the stock 68RFE tuning. If it were a Ford or GM, then I would not have said anything because I don't have extensive towing experience with them.

But hey, if thinking that he was racing you lifts your skirt up then by all means I don't want to be the one to burst that bubble.

Umm! This was a Super C! Meaning it was an MDT chassis probably a freight liner M2 with an 8.3 ISB Cummins And Allison trans!

And it most likely weighed in at 1.5 to 2 times the V-10 and load.

ShinerBock wrote:

dodge guy wrote:


Whatever makes you feel better about driving a diesel. And yes you can hear the roar of the fan over the Cummins or whatever diesel was in it. They don’t spin a lot of RPM but the fan does!

I didn't say it to make me feel better about driving a diesel because I don't have an inferiority complex like some people seem to have here. I said it because I have personal experience on how these Ram transmission operate in stock form. Being in to high of a gear at too low of an rpm(which creates heat in the engine and trans) is a common complaint for the stock 68RFE tuning. If it were a Ford or GM, then I would not have said anything because I don't have extensive towing experience with them.

But hey, if thinking that he was racing you lifts your skirt up then by all means I don't want to be the one to burst that bubble.

Umm! This was a Super C! Meaning it was an MDT chassis probably a freight liner M2 with an 8.3 ISB Cummins And Allison trans!

troubledwaters wrote:

Dayle1 wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:
I think you got that backwards, it's the diesel boys that are always trying to say the diesel is cheaper than a gasser.

Got some examples that you can reference??

You new here? Just start looking through 462 page diesel vs. gas sticky at the top. You'll find hundreds of examples; in only one thread. Or you can just read the first page of this thread.

You need to look in a mirror to see new, got you beat by just 16 years. And in all those years, I've never heard anyone claim than an option costing thousands of $$ is somehow cheaper. If the manufacturers discovered this FACT, they would just raise the option price even more. Since most of the discussion is usually around miles required to break even, it is clear that diesel costs more. But when it comes to tow vehicles, I don't try to use cost to justify my engine choice.

FishOnOne wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:
I wonder if a 707 hp Hellcat owner ever loses any sleep at night wondering if he will ever get the extra money back that he could have saved over a 305 hp V6 Challenger?



Yes, this is how stupid this argument sounds to a diesel owner.

Well said.... having said that I find it hard to believe that a ford V10 can out tow any hd diesel. Most likely the wife started yelling at the poor old guy and he had to pull off the go pedal. Ask me how I know!

No one knows the other guys INTENT, unless you talk to them before or after the EVENT! I pass a lot of other vehicles going up passes, and have never know if they are trying to race me, because I normally just blow by them and keep on trucking!

Difference between a kid with a toy truck and what we play with is cost of the toy!!!!! :B :B :B