Time For A New Truck!

bartlettj wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:
Hate to burst your bubble, but I would not trust the computer's mileage on these trucks. I reset the computer and record my hand calculated numbers every fuel tank on my 2014 and it has always been off by 2-3 mpg except on long trips with a few stop/starts on the tank. According to fuelly, the average hand calculated numbers for the 6.4L is around 12 mpg which is about $.25 per mile at the $2.99 per gallon you stated. The average for the Cummins is 15.5 mpg which is about $.23 per mile at the $3.49 per gallon you stated.

You have to count DEF and oil/fuel filters if you are going to count $/mile. That adds up.

I really wasn't trying to do a diesel versus gas comparison, but rather give the OP an idea on what to expect based on the prices per gallon he stated.

However, to answer this. Yes, I have done the math and it is a wash. DEF usage is around 775 mpg with an average 15.5 mpg in diesel. Price per gallon is $2.80 at the pumps which comes out to a $.004 cost per mile to add to the $.23 per mile I stated earlier.

The oil and fuel filters do cost twice as much as the 6.4L. However, due to the fact that the PM interval on the Cummins is twice as long, it is basically a wash there. Now you can say that since the factory oil change recommendation for the Cummins every 6 months then it would come out to be more expensive, but most don't go by that just like most 6.4L owners don't abide by the mid-grade 89 octane fuel recommendation which would also make it more expensive.

Either way, this has been gone round and round here and in other forums and it always comes out to basically the same costs between the two for most people once you add it all up along with depreciation and such. However, most HD diesel owners mainly buy them for the added pulling power and capability.