Would you buy diesel again?

burningman wrote:
The downhill braking provided by an exhaust brake is similar to the gas engine’s with its throttle closed. It’s just shutting off the air post-engine rather than pre-engine.

I would get a gas truck if I buy a new one. They’ve regulated the economy out of new diesels.

Depends on the exhaust brake system. On a gasser, you only get the difference between a vacuum and ambient air pressure: 14.2 psi at most. On some diesel exhaust brakes, the exhaust pressure is up to 40+ psi, so you've got 40-14.2 or 25.8 psi. Almost double. My 6.7 ******* better downhill than any gasser I have owned.

Also, my 2015 6.7 gets identical mileage to my 1999 7.3 driven the same way with the same camper on the back. And yet has about twice the power.

The downsides of diesel are:

* Capital cost
* Repair complexity and expense, should it be needed
* Reduction in payload

The upsides are:

* Fuel economy
* Power
* Power
* Power

When the first Cummins were out I had a V10 Dodge and I used to laugh at them huffing and smoking and snorting up grades when I passed them. But times have changed. I've yet to find a freeway grade that the 6.7 won't pull, fully loaded, without downshifting or strain of any kind.