Questions about Diesel Maintenance
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. di...
Forum Discussion
My gasser got 9 mpg towing. My CTD gets 11.5. On a 250 mile RT for camping at todays current prices of gas and diesel the gasser would cost 62.49 and the CTD would be 60.62. Reg 2.25, diesel 2.79.
A wash. Oil changes are $52.00 DIY for the CTD. $68.95 at local Ram dealer. Been a while since I've done a gasser but the last one required 7 qts, and with filter was IIRC around $35.00 DIY. So $30 more for oil changes. Fuel filter $62 once a year. That's it for my 12 CTD. I do 3 oil changes a year as opposed to two with my last gasser. So about roughly %150-200 more per year to maintain the CTD.
I just don't see $150-200 per year as being a deterrent when the overall towing experience is so much better. I live in Oregon and whether heading to the coast or the mtns I'm always going up and down hills/mtns. Lots of revving up and down constantly. With the CTD I down shift 1/3 the time. And cruising down the interstate I stay in 6th forever. As far as the higher intial cost of the diesel, I'm not buying into the "it'll never pay for it's self" stuff. Leather seats and running boards don't either. You get it back on trade in.
I don't like to use fuel costs because it varies both ways. Last year (2013) during peak camping time diesel was actually less than gas. This year it wasn't that way but it wasn't that much more for diesel either. And it could go the other way too with diesel being $1.00 or more than gas. So as a rule diesel will be more than gas but for me, it's when it matters most as to what the price difference is. I'm retired so my non camping driving is really limited. I usually go 3 weeks on a tank of diesel. So paying an extra $10-15.00 more a fill up won't break my bank.
A wash. Oil changes are $52.00 DIY for the CTD. $68.95 at local Ram dealer. Been a while since I've done a gasser but the last one required 7 qts, and with filter was IIRC around $35.00 DIY. So $30 more for oil changes. Fuel filter $62 once a year. That's it for my 12 CTD. I do 3 oil changes a year as opposed to two with my last gasser. So about roughly %150-200 more per year to maintain the CTD.
I just don't see $150-200 per year as being a deterrent when the overall towing experience is so much better. I live in Oregon and whether heading to the coast or the mtns I'm always going up and down hills/mtns. Lots of revving up and down constantly. With the CTD I down shift 1/3 the time. And cruising down the interstate I stay in 6th forever. As far as the higher intial cost of the diesel, I'm not buying into the "it'll never pay for it's self" stuff. Leather seats and running boards don't either. You get it back on trade in.
I don't like to use fuel costs because it varies both ways. Last year (2013) during peak camping time diesel was actually less than gas. This year it wasn't that way but it wasn't that much more for diesel either. And it could go the other way too with diesel being $1.00 or more than gas. So as a rule diesel will be more than gas but for me, it's when it matters most as to what the price difference is. I'm retired so my non camping driving is really limited. I usually go 3 weeks on a tank of diesel. So paying an extra $10-15.00 more a fill up won't break my bank.
