Questions about Diesel Maintenance

[otrfun]

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!

[ScottG]

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

[ib516]

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.

[Bedlam]

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.

[agesilaus]

1. Yes that's true
2. 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.