Would you buy diesel again?

My biggest beef with Diesel is the better than even chance you get it on your hands and feet when fueling. As I shop for a new Diesel truck, my wife reminds me how I bitched about diesel everywhere at most pumps. My old Solera needed fuel every 200ish miles. I look forward to having closer to 400 miles between fill ups.

If it was the old rotary injection pump system with mechanical injectors yes, but not this newer common rail fuel system where an engine can go in as little as 100,000 miles if you neglect to change electronic injectors on time.

Hi Kayteg1,

I have had the exact opposite experience. My diesel class C had minor and sometimes major issues on most trips. Average cost was $0.37 per mile for maintenance. That was not counting tires, brakes or other "consumable" items.

My current gas class C has had one mass air flow sensor replaced in over 110,000 miles.

Kayteg1 wrote:
As I said, I am still buying diesels with not too many drive miles out if sentiment, but over the decades I did it, I saved tens of thousands dollars doing so.
If you drive a lot, grab a pen and paper and calculate total cost to drive 300,000 miles in the same truck comparing diesel to gasser.
Diesel will always win hands down even in times when price gouging makes the fuel more expensive than gasoline.

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.

In a new york minute

HMS Beagle wrote:
While it makes no economic sense, the power is hard to say no to. So yes, I'd only look at diesel again.

As I said, I am still buying diesels with not too many drive miles out if sentiment, but over the decades I did it, I saved tens of thousands dollars doing so.
If you drive a lot, grab a pen and paper and calculate total cost to drive 300,000 miles in the same truck comparing diesel to gasser.
Diesel will always win hands down even in times when price gouging makes the fuel more expensive than gasoline.

Yes.
Got tired of my V10 being passed by diesels on the freeway. This was without any trailer, just my non-slide, non-basement short bed Bigfoot. Really enjoying my Powerstroke.

JimK-NY wrote:
BTW, a factor not yet mentioned is resale value. My 2010 was totalled in an accident and I was amazed at the insurance value. Diesel powered trucks really do well with depreciation. You can get back much of the extra cost upon resale.

It’s hard to get any of the naysayers to admit or consider resale. That would be too easy and the numbers don’t lie, but it would admit that there is money to be had there which would not support the notion that they’re just too gosh darned expensive.
Or it would require some to admit they just couldn’t afford the initial $ outlay which understably is embarrassing. So instead human nature is to berate things that one is envious of, doesn’t understand or things that don’t fit their personal wants or needs.

Andbefore anyone takes this the wrong way, this is not meant to be disrespectful. It is just proof that no 2 people are the same and that we are all entitled to our own opinions whether others agree or not.

burningman wrote:

They’ve regulated the economy out of new diesels.

For you being very well versed in things mechanical, this response is surprising. If by economy, you mean fuel mileage, I find the newer diesel trucks (as do most others, numbers don’t lie) to be nearly as economical on fuel as the old ones.

If by initial cost or purchase price, the upcharge is commensurate with the overall increase in cost of vehicles I think. Especially considering a good chunk of that upgrade cost is now wrapped up in emissions systems whereas it didn’t used to be. Back to the regulation part.

AISURFFISH wrote:
No way i would ever consider one after that 6.4 that left me hanging too many times

Which is exactly what the OP did not ask about....
FWIW, it wasn’t the diesel part of the equation that left you hanging as you described, it was a poorly designed engine that left you on the side of the road.