Chevy 6.0 liter gas vs. 6.4 Powerstroke

[miko]

Ok guys,

I have a 2004 Chevy 2500 with a 6.0 liter gas. I am thinking of trading it in on a 2008 Ford powerstroke with a 6.4 liter.

I do not pull anything other than a boat a few times in the summer and of course the enclosed trailer for the sleds in the winter/ haydays. Other than that I drive 20 miles round trip for work every day.

What are the pros and cons of me going to a diesel?

Thanks!

 

[rdr99]

Price of diesel fuel keeps going up, that is the only con I have.

 

[Iceman56]

I say get the 6.4 ditch the DPF and get some good tunning from SCT and you'll never be happier. I am a big fan of diesels from any brand, if you do any towing at all you'll love the 6.4 compared to the gasser....JMO

 

[diggler]

the 08's are lemons, plus it gets about 10-12mpg, not to mention takes longer to warm up, breakdowns are twice as pricey, when you have problems with the 08 they have to pull the cab off to work on alot of things. dont get me wrong i have a duramax and love it, had a 08 6.4 for a work truck and did pretty well minus 3 radiators, a turbo, 2 injectors, all in 120,000.

you just got to ask yourself is it worth having a diesel when you drive 20 miles a day, and it takes 15-20 mins to warm up? plus as mentioned above it keeps going up.

 

[AndrettiDog]

Your 6.0 is an under achieving motor with low fuel mileage (coming from a die hard Chevy guy). I just don't think the 6.0 was much better than the 5.3 other than torque.

Anyway, I have a smoker now and I absolutely love it! Diesel is a little more (about $.20/gal). I think most diesel guys are full of $hit on the fuel mileage thing. Yeah, I do much better under load than a gasser, but don't expect 25 mpg. One con to diesel HD trucks is that they don't ride near as "cush" as my 1/2 Chevy did. Sometimes I miss that truck for daily commutes and parking. My big HD with airbags reminds me it is an HD all the time. I would say go for the diesel but the last truck I would buy would be the 6.4 Ford. I would much rather have a Duramax or Cummins. Now that being said, the Ford guys will come swinging (protecting their purchase!).

 

[Racer220]

Now that being said, the Ford guys will come swinging (protecting their purchase!).

Doubt it haha ^^^^. Coming from a 5.3 to a DMax it's hard to ever imagine having anything other than a smoker at least for pulling. Mileage for me is no different in city driving compared to my 1/2 ton. I drive 20 miles round trip to work as well, but highway and pulling trailers avg. easily 2-3 MPG better than the gasser. AND the torgue/power of the diesel is unmatched when you have anything behind you. I haven't heard too many Furd guys supporting their rides, much less anyone else that drives a DMax/Cummins (around my area at least). There are good running PS out there, but to each his own. If you want a ride similar to the 1/2 ton GM trucks then definitely stick with a GM truck. I've never been in a 3/4 or 1 ton Cummins or PS that didn't beat the piss out of you on every single bump you go over. IMO the justification for going diesel in general was never having to worry about power when I was pulling a trailer. It also closed up a huge void that gassers can't fill when it comes to pulling really heavy stuff. Do some research as there are tons of deals for about every truck. Fuel & maintenance will be the biggest factor right now because of the price increase compared to gassers. If you're going to be paying for the stuff anyway, what's a few more bucks?

racer

 

[vdo1948]

You just got to ask yourself is it worth having a diesel when you drive 20 miles a day, and it takes 15-20 mins to warm up? plus as mentioned above it keeps going up.

I'll second Diggler. Love my Dmax but my 13 mile commute in winter is freeing butt cold unless I do a 15 minute warm up before driving. And that's with a cold front. Diesels take forever to warm up.

 

[Deepsnowisthewaytogo]

I am selling my 08 diesel, to buy a gas engine truck instead.
Tired of all the headaches, and poor mileage.
My old gas powered truck always ran good, got as good if not better fuel mileage, cost less to buy, and to service, and just simply made me smile more.
Maybe if all i ever did was tow a trailer that weighed more than 15,000 pounds, the diesel might be better. But for commuting, towing maybe 20% of the time, driving the kids to school on occasion, doing a parts run, and that sort of stuff, i really do not need a diesel.
Besides i never tow more than 9,000 pounds anyways.
A gas engine will pull 9K just fine.

 

[Highmarker]

Yeah diesels are fun but i think some people lose sight of the fact that you don't NEED one to pull a few snowmobiles around. Even an enclosed loaded up might be around 7K max at the very most. Any gasser will do that just fine. And require ALOT less maintenance and cold weather issues. Not to mention cheaper.

 

[yamahaboy701]

I have a 2003 1500HD 6.0 and I like everything about it but the mileage (12-14mpg) and the 4 speed. I added a full exhaust (headers back), intake, and had it tuned using EFI Live by Justin at Black Bear Performance. Completely different truck now! Still going to get a DMAX in a few years but my drive is only 5 minutes to work and that will not work well with a diesel until I get a beater to drive to work.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

buy a 6.4 intake, dpf delete... and spartan tuning.. crap your pants. get good milage, and have real power. I love gas trucks and they are definately nicer come winter time compared to diesels, and costs are lower.. but man, once you have the power, its hard to go back. I know mine, its awsome, set cruise. go. hills, whatever.

 

[miko]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm still confused. I know the maintenance is more and price of diesel is more and more to maintain in the winter but the power and fuel mileage is hard to pass up.
The truck I'm looking at has the DPF delete and tuning done to it already and I was told it is getting better fuel mileage than my 6.0 liter pulling or not.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Clarke673]

i would probubly go with the 6.4

I? ma a hard core chevy fan, but i never realy liked the 6.0, and my friemds 08 king ranch is a nice fawking truck. Just got done fixing his tail light and i was reminded of how nice the inside is. It is sweet. I wouldn't buy one over a new duramax, but i would over a new dodge, no questions asked!

My dream truck is a 2011 GMC denalie, 4 door short box, grey color, fully loaded with sun roof, heated seats, DVD player, 4" lift, 35" tires, sweet bumpers all the way around and a sick sled deck. Ohh it's nice to dream!