Gas or Diesel...

[Tackbtch]

So I have owned both gasers and diesel PUs, The last several years being Diesel. I work road construction, spring thru late fall and lug around a camper. The last gaser was a 98 Chevy 1/2 ton, nice truck. But when I went from a shoe box camper to a 28 footer the half ton wasn't cutting it. Have owned Chevys, Fords, and now a Dodge...all diesel. Point is, I get better mileage and power pulling the camper , thus saving some on the fuel bill....but when you lose an injector pump at $ 1100 is the diesel truck really worth it??? I have moved up in the company now far enough now that I drive a company truck and pull the stabbing cabin with that...my Dodge stays home all summer. Thinking about trading the Dodge for a gaser ...... Dino

 

[xrated]

gas....sure is nice to know the car is gonna start when it's cold. and not gel up on ya when your driving down the rode.

 

[spring snow hero]

I just did the math like this. 15k miles a year. $1.70 for gas, $2.70 for diesel. average fuel mileages at 14 for gas and 20 for diesel. (both could be low or high depending on your choices) if you do the math they are within $130.00 a year in fuel costs.

if you tow anything the diesel will smoke it for mileage. if not the gasser is easier to deal with. diesels typically have the best of cooling and drivetrain and of course if you ever drive a modded diesel you can never own another un boosted gasser

 

[clarson80]

If your not pulling anything with it, I'd look for a gasser...
I feel that I need a diesel for all the towing I do for work in the summer.
...but in the winter it sure would be nice to have a gasser that I wouldn't have to worry about gelled fuel, cold starts, and long warmup times.

Injection pumps sure are fun to buy?...I bet you have a 98-02 dodge...put in a fuel pressure gauge if you keep it, if the lift pump is good, the inj. pump should last a long time.

 

[Tackbtch]

If your not pulling anything with it, I'd look for a gasser...
I feel that I need a diesel for all the towing I do for work in the summer.
...but in the winter it sure would be nice to have a gasser that I wouldn't have to worry about gelled fuel, cold starts, and long warmup times.

Injection pumps sure are fun to buy?...I bet you have a 98-02 dodge...put in a fuel pressure gauge if you keep it, if the lift pump is good, the inj. pump should last a long time.

99 thank you, just installed a in the tank lift pump this summer, so a long with the reman inj. pump comes a low pressure warning light. Truck has 128 K miles.I belive this crapy fuel we burn...low sulpher ....doesnt help Dino

 

[clarson80]

I hate to say it, but that in-tank set up isn't the way to go. A lot less pressure with that setup. And if your warning light comes on, and the filter isn't dirty...out comes the tank. I relocated my lift pump from the engine block to the frame just in front of the tank, easy access if it takes a dump and a lot less vibration/heat.

 

[spring snow hero]

I too have a frame mounted pump, in fact two of them. I can switch the plug from one to the other and be on a new pump in 5 minutes. the lift pump is the achilles heel of an otherwise good setup.

the light is good, it will tell you when it's dead, a guage is better, it will tell you how its health is. idle and wot pressures can vary a lot.

 

[76FOMOCO]

let me guess the first pump dies at 75k right?
buddys truck made it to about 3 miles from the parking lot on a ride.....and tow job.
good idea dodge!

 

[opus]

Gas!

 

[Tackbtch]

Gas!

If Subaru made a truck that could haul more than a bale of hay at one time ....you would have one EH Dino

 

[opus]

But I can haul 2 bales in my Brat.

 

[Tackbtch]

let me guess the first pump dies at 75k right?
buddys truck made it to about 3 miles from the parking lot on a ride.....and tow job.
good idea dodge!

Dont know??? bought the truck with 119 K miles on it. Installed the new pump with in the first week. Dont know yet if the lift pump was the cause the warning light comes on at 5 psi or less... yes I agree the gauge is the way to go , but being laid off now for the winter the light is all I could doo...got it from a freind for free the truck is 120 miles away from home, not very handy to wrench on. Waiting for the pump to show up, will install and run it to the real Diesel shop and have it checked out. Dino

 

[Sambo11]

I currently have both. Wife has a supercrew 5.4gas I have a crewcab 6.0. Unless i'm pulling my 28ft enclosed or the boat, I would rather drive her truck than mine. It rides better easier to get around in, especially in the snow, fuel cost less for the gasser and you can get it anywhere. The only time I can get 20 with my diesel is if I keep the magic RPM number under 2k or about 67-68mph. With the 5.4 if I drive 65-67 I can usually get 18 on a consistent basis. I have no problem pulling my enclosed or the boat with the 1/2ton if its short distances but I definitely notice a difference when I pull them with my superduty. I must be getting old because the ride quality alone sells me on the supercrew over my superduty

 

[cornicejumper]

Not to sure about the dodge and chevy diesels But if your looking for something new We have an 08 Ford powerstroke Granted it is the F450 its only getting 8mpg If they are all that bad it wont be hard to choose

 

[touchofgrey]

I bought an 03 GMC 6l gasser @ auction this spring. Added propane to it in June. Gas is up and down like a bride's nighty, and the propane just kinda stays the same. If I go with another 3/4 ton I might as well buy the 8l instead of the 6. For fuel mileage thou I would go with the 1/2 ton with the 5.3. Between the 2 fuels I have a range of about 1200kms (700+) miles, beats the he!! out of always looking for fuel for that 6l. Found out another advantage with the propane, if I ever lose a fuel pump, I just push a button and keep on driving. Just my .02, off to the auction tomorrow, nice looking 06 quad cab with the 5.3, and it's frckin cold here again, so who knows might have an 03 for sale soon.

 

[Jaynelson]

I just did the math like this. 15k miles a year. $1.70 for gas, $2.70 for diesel. average fuel mileages at 14 for gas and 20 for diesel. (both could be low or high depending on your choices) if you do the math they are within $130.00 a year in fuel costs.

Your calc. leaves out the maintenence variable....

 

[opus]

Your calc. leaves out the maintenence variable....

As well as the initial cost.

 

[Dogmeat]

So I have owned both gasers and diesel PUs, The last several years being Diesel. I work road construction, spring thru late fall and lug around a camper. The last gaser was a 98 Chevy 1/2 ton, nice truck. But when I went from a shoe box camper to a 28 footer the half ton wasn't cutting it. Have owned Chevys, Fords, and now a Dodge...all diesel. Point is, I get better mileage and power pulling the camper , thus saving some on the fuel bill....but when you lose an injector pump at $ 1100 is the diesel truck really worth it??? I have moved up in the company now far enough now that I drive a company truck and pull the stabbing cabin with that...my Dodge stays home all summer. Thinking about trading the Dodge for a gaser ...... Dino

My company has had such ****ty luck with diesel trucks over the last 4 or 5 years, they aren't even buying them anymore. They're buying 3/4 or 1-ton GM trucks with the 6.0L gas motor in them and the Allison transmission. The mechanics trucks they are getting F450's with V10's in them.

I dunno, I got 147,000 miles out of my 5.3L motor, and it never burnt a drop of oil. I really don't buy the argument that diesel motors last longer than gas motors do these days. I fully expect to get at least 150,000 trouble free miles out of my 8.1L big block as well.

I think that ultimatley gas motors are still cheaper for %90 of the people who buy trucks, but no, they don't tow as well ... it's really just a question of how much do you wanna pay?

 

[Vern]

My company has had such ****ty luck with diesel trucks over the last 4 or 5 years, they aren't even buying them anymore. They're buying 3/4 or 1-ton GM trucks with the 6.0L gas motor in them and the Allison transmission. The mechanics trucks they are getting F450's with V10's in them.

I dunno, I got 147,000 miles out of my 5.3L motor, and it never burnt a drop of oil. I really don't buy the argument that diesel motors last longer than gas motors do these days. I fully expect to get at least 150,000 trouble free miles out of my 8.1L big block as well.

I think that ultimatley gas motors are still cheaper for %90 of the people who buy trucks, but no, they don't tow as well ... it's really just a question of how much do you wanna pay?

love the 8.1l, my brothers '03 has around 170,000 miles on it and only problem he's had was the water pump started leakin out the weep hole at around 160,000 miles so that got changed. i liked his truck so much, last fall i went out and picked me up an '01 2500hd 8.1l. these are stout trucks and will pull anything a diesel will and still get decent mileage for a 496ci engine.

 

[Tackbtch]

love the 8.1l, my brothers '03 has around 170,000 miles on it and only problem he's had was the water pump started leakin out the weep hole at around 160,000 miles so that got changed. i liked his truck so much, last fall i went out and picked me up an '01 2500hd 8.1l. these are stout trucks and will pull anything a diesel will and still get decent mileage for a 496ci engine.

So just what kinda mileage doo you get with the 8.1??Just curious what a real world person gets...not the average salesman story. Our son ran a 00 Chevy 1/2 ton with a 5.3, 20 mpg when he drove it proper Ran a sled deck in it with air bags , it got around in the snow good, great ergos, 170 K miles on it with no problems.... Dino