In my experience with the Dodge trucks and Cummins 5.9 12V diesel the payback was fairly quick, if you consider that I was able to put 300,000 on one truck with zero major repairs. Sold it still running fine so I don't know how much further it went. I did have to replace the clutch once, both front wheel bearing cartridges as it was a 4x4 and of course the serpentine belt and adjust the valves when the spirit moved me. Considering the longevity and the savings over time from the better fuel mileage I imagine breakeven was probably around year four. Since this was a 3500 dually if you compared a similar gas engine truck I would guess the gas rig would get about ten MPG average if you're honest. I got 17 to 19 depending on load, and for pure city driving 15. Newer engines I understand are nowhere near as efficient and trouble free.
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2016 Diesels? Duramax, Cummins or Powerstroke?
- Thread starter JGibson
- Start date
old-iron-habit
Senior Member
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- Nov 22, 2012
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- Moose Lake, MN
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- Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
I owned a 2003 Ram 3500 dually that I loved the drivetrain but the truck has something wrong constantly. I currently own a 2000 F550 and a 2006 F350. All are straight sticks and both trucks are worked harder than maybe they should. I bought the 550 with 140,000 miles on it. At 150,000 miles it dropped a piston and tore the engine up bad. I replaced it with a International "short bus" school bus engine from the same year with 125,00 miles. Changed oil pan and front timing cover only for correct fit in the 4 wheel drive. Found that previous owner had a chip that was set to max with out the Cat back exhaust system. That is probably what caused the piston failure. All has been good now. If I was going to buy a new 550 class truck I would take a real hard look at the International Terrastar. IAvailable with automatic only I was quoted about $74,000 with multi use flatbed, 4 door, 4 wheel drive. both air seats and all the options you can dream about. I would do more research on their engine if I was going to buy. A new F550 at my Ford dealer starts at $68,000 as a plain jane. But at them prices I would have to look at the gas engines real hard also. Guess I will keep what I got. None of them are worth anything on trade so may as well run them as long as possible.
ericscher
Well-Known Member
I have a 3/4 ton chevy with a 500" gas engine and a 1 ton chevy with a Duramax.
I never appreciated how much of a power advantage these diesels have over gasoline. Until now. Also, the purified pee you have to use (DEF) isn't as much of a pain as you'd expect.
I can't tell you which of the three are better, although I'd suspect that any of them would be fine.
I wouldn't buy one new though, not unless I could reasonably expect to be in business long enough to amortize it over 10 years.
I bought my SRW 1 Ton Chevy with the LML Duramax earlier this year. It's a 2011 and had 162,000 miles on it when I bought it, which means it was driven 40,000 miles a year. I'm guessing it was used by the original owner (a dealership) to pull a car hauler trailer from auctions.
I paid $25,000 for that truck and it pulls 18,000 pounds better than my 500" chevy pulls 12,000.
I never appreciated how much of a power advantage these diesels have over gasoline. Until now. Also, the purified pee you have to use (DEF) isn't as much of a pain as you'd expect.
I can't tell you which of the three are better, although I'd suspect that any of them would be fine.
I wouldn't buy one new though, not unless I could reasonably expect to be in business long enough to amortize it over 10 years.
I bought my SRW 1 Ton Chevy with the LML Duramax earlier this year. It's a 2011 and had 162,000 miles on it when I bought it, which means it was driven 40,000 miles a year. I'm guessing it was used by the original owner (a dealership) to pull a car hauler trailer from auctions.
I paid $25,000 for that truck and it pulls 18,000 pounds better than my 500" chevy pulls 12,000.