My next truck (4x4, CC) has to have a minimum 3000 lbs. of payload. That leaves me with either a 1 ton diesel (3500-4000 lbs.) or a 3/4 - 1 ton gasser (3200-4000 lbs.). I've run my gasser vs. diesel numbers as far as purchase price, MPG (towing & empty) and resale. I'm familiar with what's needed to maintain a gasser; however, never owned a diesel. Here's what I know, don't know, about diesel maintenance:1. Oil costs are approx. double vs. a gasser due to twice the oil capacity.2. Oil filter. I assume these cost a bit more than a gas oil filter?3. Fuel Filters. Assuming DIY replacement, what can I expect to pay for filters? How often?4. DEF. 2-4 cents of DEF used per a gallon of diesel??5. Valves. Under normal operating conditions is adjustment ever necessary? If necessary, cost?6. Injectors. Under normal operating conditions is maintenance/replacement necessary? If necessary, cost?Other diesel specific maintenance items I may have overlooked?Thanks!

1. Yes that's true2. I don't recall paying more than I did for my gasser.3) About $50 for my truck but that is for two filters. One under the hood and one under the truck.4) $11 (Walmart price) for about 3000 miles, or .37 cents per mile.6) No maintenance in the short term, maybe the 100K or higher mileage maintenance requires something. I haven't checked it.Your gasser has injectors now days so that's not unique to diesels. Except for the higher cost for oil changes I haven't noticed any major expenses that I didn't have with my gas engine truck.

Depends on the diesel. I would argue that a Cummins diesel 2006 or older isn't any more expensive to maintain than a gas powered truck of the same era. Oil cost is double, but it goes 2x as far between changes. Oil filters are $20 and fuel filters are about the same ($15 - $20). They both need brakes and tires, belts etc, and the gasser need spark plugs and PCV valve that the diesel (2006 or older Cummins) doesn't. I will agree that if a diesel breaks down (engine related), it can be very much more to repair than a comparable gas engine truck, and that the newest crop of diesels might be more expensive to maintain than the older ones, so they might be more than a new gasser -- but I'm not as familiar with them as I've never owned one.I wouldn't let maintenance costs influence your buying as I think they are pretty close. Resale, initial cost, what you plan to use the truck for, and in what conditions would be better metrics to decide which one to buy IMO.

I cannot give you specifics to your choice, but I found diesel maintenance is less often than gasoline but more expensive. Diesel repairs are also more expensive than gasoline, but happen less frequently. Mileage is better with more expensive diesel fuel. These items pretty much all cancel out each other for my use.What you have to decide is whether the initial cost of the diesel is something you are willing spend. Yes, you will get some of this back on the resale end and your vehicle may sell faster because it is diesel powered, but don't expect all of it back.For me, the loads I put on the vehicle and the terrain I drive put the gasoline engines toward the limits of their capacities. Since I knew I was going to get bigger and heavier RV's in the the future, I did not want the gasoline engine to be limiting my choices. If I knew my needs would not increase or would decrease, I would have bought a gasoline powered truck.I do not use my new truck as a daily driver and rarely used my previous truck for short trips, so diesel was a good option for me. If I had short runs between shutdowns, I would be looking at a gasoline truck since the current diesel emission systems require the engine to get up to operating temperature to work properly.

A lot of bad info and assumptions out there. Do your research.

ib516 wrote:Depends on the diesel. I would argue that a Cummins diesel 2006 or older isn't any more expensive to maintain than a gas powered truck of the same era. Oil cost is double, but it goes 2x as far between changes. Oil filters are $20 and fuel filters are about the same ($15 - $20). They both need brakes and tires, belts etc, and the gasser need spark plugs and PCV valve that the diesel (2006 or older Cummins) doesn't. I will agree that if a diesel breaks down (engine related), it can be very much more to repair than a comparable gas engine truck, and that the newest crop of diesels might be more expensive to maintain than the older ones, so they might be more than a new gasser -- but I'm not as familiar with them as I've never owned one.I wouldn't let maintenance costs influence your buying as I think they are pretty close. Resale, initial cost, what you plan to use the truck for, and in what conditions would be better metrics to decide which one to buy IMO.Completely agree. It also depends a lot on who's doing the maintenance. My Diesel costs the same to change the oil except for a little more oil, but the oil costs less.Changing the fuel filter every other oil change is recommended, but they are not expensive. With the right fittings changing it isn't messy, but does require priming the system. The actual oil changing is way easier than my cars.The MPG for the diesel is way higher than the gasser pulling or not. It's not struggling to do it either, and wearing the engine out. The MPG doesn't cover the difference in price of the fuel though.

Questions about Diesel Maintenance | Good Sam Community

rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 02, 2015
gtsum wrote:
I went from gas to diesel and would never go back. I think you can make the argument either way about which cost more to own and operate (fuel vs gas price, maintenance costs, repair bills, upfront cost vs resale cost, etc, etc), but bottom line is they tow better. I like how they drive better as well (ie not revving to 4000 rpms to make any power). I ordered my diesel new and have 100k bumper to bumper warranty..got it for less than 1k...if something happens after 100k miles, so be it...

Honestly, if someone is basing a decision on a few hundred bucks either way on maintenance or buying 2 batts vs 1 batt, I doubt they should be buying a new truck in the first place

I bought my 2001 Ram/Cummins with 234,000 miles! why, well it was in the best shape of the one I had looked at, one owner, no bumper to bumper warranty. The biggest repair to date new clutch, it was my choice to step up to a double disk clutch about $1,000, works great pulling 11,000#! Currently at 278,000 miles and it all still works.
gtsum
Explorer
Jan 02, 2015
I went from gas to diesel and would never go back. I think you can make the argument either way about which cost more to own and operate (fuel vs gas price, maintenance costs, repair bills, upfront cost vs resale cost, etc, etc), but bottom line is they tow better. I like how they drive better as well (ie not revving to 4000 rpms to make any power). I ordered my diesel new and have 100k bumper to bumper warranty..got it for less than 1k...if something happens after 100k miles, so be it...

Honestly, if someone is basing a decision on a few hundred bucks either way on maintenance or buying 2 batts vs 1 batt, I doubt they should be buying a new truck in the first place
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jan 01, 2015
Just for funs on a older 5.9 '03 305/555 HO Cummins in a 2500 truck.

1. I use Rotella 15w-40 from Walmart/farm stores so we have an idea of actual oil prices per qt. The '03-'07 Cummins HO has a 7500-15000 miles oil change schedule @ 12 qts.

2. I use Fleetguard oil filters recommended by Cummins @ 13 bucks so using a 7500-15000 mile or in between its cheaper than any comparable gas engine.

3. I use (1) Cummins recommended Fleetguard fuel filter at 13.50 buck from my Cummins dealer. Its a 8 min job once a year or 20k miles which ever rolls around first.

4. no def.

5. Cummins says to check valves every 150k miles. I did mine at 152k miles. Really a simple job.

6. injectors ? No issues with 255k miles on my Cummins.

This is my story and not everyone should/will have the same story as all diesel engines aren't as cheap to operate as the old 5.9 Cummins.
N-Trouble
Explorer
Jan 01, 2015
1Longbow wrote:
When I bought my 2008 cummins ,the dealers had the oil change for life deal,and while it saved some money ,it always seemed they found something else to charge me for every time I brought it in. I don't think I've ever changed the differential lube more in any truck I've ever owned. But to continue with the "free" oil changes you had to do what they said needed doing. The final straw for me was when a service light came on ,at 65000 miles and they told me it was an $800 charge to change a filter and clean some emission screen. They truck run perfect,and Cummins list no such thing. Come to find out its a Dodge thing. I decided to go else where.

^^THIS^^ is why so many dealers are offering up these free oil changes. Get you in the door to nickel & dime you. Once my new truck leaves the lot I'm not going back to the stealership unless I have an issue under warranty and on their dime.
1Longbow
Explorer
Jan 01, 2015
When I bought my 2008 cummins ,the dealers had the oil change for life deal,and while it saved some money ,it always seemed they found something else to charge me for every time I brought it in. I don't think I've ever changed the differential lube more in any truck I've ever owned. But to continue with the "free" oil changes you had to do what they said needed doing. The final straw for me was when a service light came on ,at 65000 miles and they told me it was an $800 charge to change a filter and clean some emission screen. They truck run perfect,and Cummins list no such thing. Come to find out its a Dodge thing. I decided to go else where.
wintersun
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2014
1. Oil costs are approx. double vs. a gasser due to twice the oil capacity.
2. Oil filter. I assume these cost a bit more than a gas oil filter?
3. Fuel Filters. Assuming DIY replacement, what can I expect to pay for filters? How often?
4. DEF. 2-4 cents of DEF used per a gallon of diesel??
5. Valves. Under normal operating conditions is adjustment ever necessary? If necessary, cost?
6. Injectors. Under normal operating conditions is maintenance/replacement necessary? If necessary, cost?

Oil costs are about 4x as much as I need to change the oil every 7500 miles with the diesel as there is a soot buildup and even the DIC would indicate a change at 10k miles regardless of whether dino or synthetic base stock motor oil is used. Not only more oil is used but a more expensive oil as well for the diesel.

A fuel filter would last more than 80k miles with my gas engine trucks but with the diesel the replacement is every 10k miles and it is a $40 filter plus the labor or a $103 each change.

DEF is minor at roughly $2.50 a gallon and a gallon lasts on average for 1000 miles. It's consumption is a percentage of the fuel burned so more is used when towing than with normal driving on the highway.

Injectors will cost you $3,000 or more for the parts alone when they need to be replaced and thanks to the much higher injection pressures and dirtier fuel they suffer a great deal more wear than those in gas engines.

With the diesel you will have two batteries to replace periodically but this is not a major expense.

The diesel fuel sells for more than premium gas to any gain in miles per gallon is offset by the higher price at the pump.

For towing over 12,000 lbs. a diesel makes a lot of sense. For a payload of any amount under 8,000 lbs. there is no need to get a diesel engine or the F-450 Chassis Cab class of truck.
Tystevens
Explorer
Dec 31, 2014
phillyg wrote:
I did a lot of research before committing to a diesel truck. I concluded maintenance would be roughly three times the cost of gasser maintenance, paying someone else to do the work.

I just paid the Ford dealership $458 to do oil and filter change, 2 fuel filters, air filter and coolant flush, so I think my research pans out.

I think I could have saved a few bucks elsewhere but didn't have time to shop around before heading out.

Wow, that is a lot. But yeah, if you just drop at the dealership w/o any coupons or specials or anything, you'll pay a lot!

By way of comparison, I could have done the same services on my '06 Duramax for: oil & filter (10 qts, ~$50, always did it myself), fuel filter (only 1, always paid someone to do it -- $53), air filter (~$30 online, did myself), and coolant ($150 @ dealer) = $285, give or take. Could have saved $15 on the fuel filter, but I don't like my hands smelling like diesel!
majorgator
Explorer
Dec 31, 2014
phillyg wrote:

I just paid the Ford dealership $458 to do oil and filter change, 2 fuel filters, air filter and coolant flush, so I think my research pans out.

If you're willing to pay that kind of money for those services, then bring it to me and I'll do it for $10 less.
N-Trouble
Explorer
Dec 31, 2014
Have never understood when your buying a $50k+ truck the whole nickel and diming difference in gas/diesel maintenance cost.

If this is what you are basing your gas/diesel purchase decision on then you probably don't need a diesel. You buy a diesel because you want/need the pulling power.
Tystevens
Explorer
Dec 31, 2014
majorgator wrote:
jerem0621 wrote:
I wouldn't let maintence fees stop me from owning a diesel. If a few hundred bucks a year mean the difference between affordable or not then you are in no position to buy a truck.

^^^THIS^^^
Simple answer: yes, a diesel costs more for routine maintenance. Whether you're buying new or nearly new/barely used, you're going to drop $30K to $50K on your TV. Maintenance fees are so inconsequential to the full cost of ownership.

Yep, this is the right answer. The end amount is inconsequential. Comparing my '06 Duramax to my gas rigs, the increased maintenance each year was negligible. I did much of my own, of course, and it costs a bit more when you have to do it, but overall it couldn't have been more than $100 more a year. Or about the cost of a tank of fuel (at the time, at least).

While I understand wanting to know what you're walking in to, don't get a diesel on a cost-benefit analysis. You'll never pay it off. Get it because you'll love, love, love the way it tows and performs. It was more than worth the extra expense to me.

Good luck!