Should I switch to diesel?
I'm not trying to start another gas vs. diesel thread, but need some real world anecdotal input. We just completed a 1000 mile round trip from West Virginia, through the mountains, to Murrells Inlet,...
Forum Discussion
I went from a 2006 ½ Silverado CC short bed with a 5.3l to a 2013 ¾ ton Silverado CC standard bed with the Duramax 6.6l last November. I read a lot of different forums and talked to as many guys driving ¾ ton diesels (and gassers) as I could for about a year.
I came to the conclusion early on that unless someone pulls a lot, meaning at least 50-60,000 miles or more a year, it’s hard to justify a diesel based on economics. There’s the $8k or so upfront cost of the diesel to consider, and from what I saw you’re going to pay that whether you buy new or used.
I bought mine new with a 10 year extended warranty and plan to keep the truck until one of us turns to dust, so whatever repairs that might come up I’ll spread that cost over a longer period of time.
I do however, so far, think some of the other operating costs are often overstated in the gas vs. diesel debate, at least relative to how much truck you get with a ¾ ton diesel. I’ve kept track and over the past 6 months, doing the same kind of driving, I’ve spent just under $60 per month more for fuel with the Duramax than I did on my old truck. The old truck got 23-24 mpg on the highway and 16-18 in town. The Dmax is getting a solid 19 on the highway and 14 in town empty. I’ve got 5,200 miles on the truck so I’m expecting the mileage will get a little better as the miles rack up.
My fuel filter, right now, is at 90%, I just put 3.5 gal of DEF in the truck last week at $36 and I’m almost due for an oil change (probably this week) which will run $75. I won’t have to pay that because the salesman told me the truck had free oil changes for two years (and the other half bought her car from the same guy at the same time I bought my truck). But even at that, if I did pay for it that’s $111. In the same time frame I would have had one oil change and close to another on my old truck at $40 a pop. So there’s not that much difference.
As far as towing, there’s no comparison between the 5.3l and the 6.6l Dmax. That’s what you pay for. My camper is just under 6,000 lbs. loaded and the 5.3l did a respectable job but I always knew it was back there. I’ve had it out and towed about 100 miles with the Dmax and it’s just a world of difference. Very soon we’re going to a camper that’s 8,500 lbs. dry so that’s when the Dmax will really earn its keep.
We’re planning a trip through the Kentucky and the Smokies first of next month so I’m anxious to see how this truck does with this camper.
I came to the conclusion early on that unless someone pulls a lot, meaning at least 50-60,000 miles or more a year, it’s hard to justify a diesel based on economics. There’s the $8k or so upfront cost of the diesel to consider, and from what I saw you’re going to pay that whether you buy new or used.
I bought mine new with a 10 year extended warranty and plan to keep the truck until one of us turns to dust, so whatever repairs that might come up I’ll spread that cost over a longer period of time.
I do however, so far, think some of the other operating costs are often overstated in the gas vs. diesel debate, at least relative to how much truck you get with a ¾ ton diesel. I’ve kept track and over the past 6 months, doing the same kind of driving, I’ve spent just under $60 per month more for fuel with the Duramax than I did on my old truck. The old truck got 23-24 mpg on the highway and 16-18 in town. The Dmax is getting a solid 19 on the highway and 14 in town empty. I’ve got 5,200 miles on the truck so I’m expecting the mileage will get a little better as the miles rack up.
My fuel filter, right now, is at 90%, I just put 3.5 gal of DEF in the truck last week at $36 and I’m almost due for an oil change (probably this week) which will run $75. I won’t have to pay that because the salesman told me the truck had free oil changes for two years (and the other half bought her car from the same guy at the same time I bought my truck). But even at that, if I did pay for it that’s $111. In the same time frame I would have had one oil change and close to another on my old truck at $40 a pop. So there’s not that much difference.
As far as towing, there’s no comparison between the 5.3l and the 6.6l Dmax. That’s what you pay for. My camper is just under 6,000 lbs. loaded and the 5.3l did a respectable job but I always knew it was back there. I’ve had it out and towed about 100 miles with the Dmax and it’s just a world of difference. Very soon we’re going to a camper that’s 8,500 lbs. dry so that’s when the Dmax will really earn its keep.
We’re planning a trip through the Kentucky and the Smokies first of next month so I’m anxious to see how this truck does with this camper.
