3/4 Ton Gas Jobby

Radar78

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So I’m considering switching directions and buying an older (8-10 years) gas, 3/4 ton truck. I’d love a newer diesel but that’s becoming a rich man’s game and I, unfortunately, am not a rich man. What’s everyone’s experience with the old 6.0 litres in the Chevs? I’ve heard they’re gas guzzlers but how bad are they actually? Are they a pretty reliable engine otherwise? What about the 5.7’s in the Dodges? I know many had that bad tick but isn’t there a fix for that? Are they underpowered in the 3/4 ton chassis?


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turbo392

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I thought all the HD gas Dodges were 6.4s? I’ve had several 5.7 trucks and I wouldn’t want them in a 3/4 truck. They are good motors, just they are built for high revs and not low end grunt and this would be especially noticeable in older trucks before the 8 speeds came out.
 

brokenbones4

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I have a 2015 Chevy 2500hd. Just rolled over 200000 and it has been extremely reliable. I had to replace two broken manifold bolts early on which was minor. I have always changed my engine and transmission oil before needed. I bought my truck with a 6" lift and 35" tires, my average mileage is 20 liters per hundred. With two sleds and gear it is basically off the chart. I recently changed to 4.56 gearing and that made a noticeable improvement on the bottom end with almost no change in mileage.
 

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catalac

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I have a 2013 245,000km and a 2019 both 2500hd 6.0, underpowered, 18-20L / 100 empty. But they work just fine. if that’s what the budget allows either would suit I suspect, just not the power of a diesel gets a bit old.

2013 did pop 2 exhaust manifold bolts which is a common item kits off net to fix seemed to work ok
 
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Mountainman52

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The newer GM 6.6 liter gas job is a nice motor, 6 or 6.2 liter, bigger or dual exhaust and air intake help the mileage out. They are both reiable motors.
 

RXN

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I have a 2007 (newer body style). 6.0L 6spd auto. Crew cab 8ft box. 3500. Single rear wheel.
Empty I get about 630kms to a tank. (Usually putting in 110 to 120L each tank).
One sled on the deck. Drops to around 580kms.
2 on the deck around 500kms.
Towing a trailer. 400kms. (26ft holiday trailer, not sure the weight).
2 quads a dirt bike on the deck with the trailer in tow. Think I got 390kms or 380. Was just under 400. To that tank.
 

rknight111

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The newer GM 6.6 liter gas job is a nice motor, 6 or 6.2 liter, bigger or dual exhaust and air intake help the mileage out. They are both reiable motors.
Very thirsty motors as well. We went to vale for a weekend and the fuel bill was $568 dollars. And the thing couldn't hold speed in cruise going up hills was from 116 to 108 climbing. Wasn't impressed with the power it was a 6.6. I'll keep my diesel and all we had was 2 sleds on a deck.
 

ABMax24

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Kind of hard to beat this price point. Can drive a ton of miles on one of these for the $20k you'd save not getting a diesel. No a gas doesn't tow like a diesel, you have to let the transmission downshift and let the engine spin to make the power, but you'll still get to your destination. The bonus being you can get a rebuilt gas motor for the price of injectors and injection pump on a diesel.

 

sirkdev

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Kind of hard to beat this price point. Can drive a ton of miles on one of these for the $20k you'd save not getting a diesel. No a gas doesn't tow like a diesel, you have to let the transmission downshift and let the engine spin to make the power, but you'll still get to your destination. The bonus being you can get a rebuilt gas motor for the price of injectors and injection pump on a diesel.

All valid points, I get them, I had a 22 7.3 ford and couldn't do it hated every minute, I have never spent so much on fuel in my life. I do tow a fair bit and that was a struggle for sure. I am back in the same truck but a diesel again and happy happy. I would guess that any money I saved on maintenance I would have easily burnt in fuel. Gas was 600km to a tank empty, diesel is 950km.

The price of used diesels is for sure insane right now and I if I didn't need one I would be getting out. The next year is going to be a big reset on vehicle prices. I think the way to go right now is minimal investment for what meets your needs and ride the wave for a year.
 
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adamg

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The price of used diesels is for sure insane right now and I if I didn't need one I would be getting out. The next year is going to be a big reset on vehicle prices. I think the way to go right now is minimal investment for what meets your needs and ride the wave for a year.
That's what they said last year. And the year before. And here we are, no sign of downward trends on vehicle prices.
 

Trashy

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I had a 2010 GM 2500 6.0 with 3:73 gears and loved it. I have a 08 Chev 6.6 diesel and they would get the same mileage, but the Chev would out torque the GM
The company I work for has all 6.2 Fords and they work good. Same as the GM 6.0
You can get a Ram 3500 with a 5.7....... heck you can find any old 3 ton grain truck with a 5.7 lol.

Looking at newer gas pots...... 6.4, 6.6, 6.2, 7.3, their all going to be the same. It's about what badge is in the grill that you're comfortable with.
 

sirkdev

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supply and demand have changed, default rates are rising, lenders are getting much more picky about loan to value and credit, buddy works as a GM salesman and said in the past month its much harder to get a person approved than previously. Canada is a unique beast though because the good used inventory is drastically overpriced due to all the good units getting exported.
 

ABMax24

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All valid points, I get them, I had a 22 7.3 ford and couldn't do it hated every minute, I have never spent so much on fuel in my life. I do tow a fair bit and that was a struggle for sure. I am back in the same truck but a diesel again and happy happy. I would guess that any money I saved on maintenance I would have easily burnt in fuel. Gas was 600km to a tank empty, diesel is 950km.

The price of used diesels is for sure insane right now and I if I didn't need one I would be getting out. The next year is going to be a big reset on vehicle prices. I think the way to go right now is minimal investment for what meets your needs and ride the wave for a year.

Sure I like my diesel too, but the OP's looking at gas due to price point. Not going to lie I was cursing my diesel last summer dragging the fifth wheel all over northern Alberta, Northern BC, and NWT. Paying a 75cent premium for diesel was ridiculous, a gas pot would have cost about the same for fuel on that trip even with the higher fuel usage.

The economics on a used diesel don't pencil out, a $20k gas job vs a $40k diesel is a no-brainer. For example, if a diesel gets 14L/100km and a gas 22L/100km, at $1.50/Liter (assuming gas and diesel are the same price) you'd have to drive 166,000km to make up the $20k price difference, assuming maintenance costs are the same. And every time diesel is more expensive than gas, which it is a lot lately, that payback period lengthens.

New trucks it makes sense for diesel at a $10k price premium in terms of both resale value and fuel savings if driven much over 100,000km.
 

rmk600700

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Sure I like my diesel too, but the OP's looking at gas due to price point. Not going to lie I was cursing my diesel last summer dragging the fifth wheel all over northern Alberta, Northern BC, and NWT. Paying a 75cent premium for diesel was ridiculous, a gas pot would have cost about the same for fuel on that trip even with the higher fuel usage.

The economics on a used diesel don't pencil out, a $20k gas job vs a $40k diesel is a no-brainer. For example, if a diesel gets 14L/100km and a gas 22L/100km, at $1.50/Liter (assuming gas and diesel are the same price) you'd have to drive 166,000km to make up the $20k price difference, assuming maintenance costs are the same. And every time diesel is more expensive than gas, which it is a lot lately, that payback period lengthens.

New trucks it makes sense for diesel at a $10k price premium in terms of both resale value and fuel savings if driven much over 100,000km.
Doesn’t make sense the last couple years with diesel costing 50% more than gas. I sold my diesel when the price was close in late 2021 and have been laughing at the price difference every time I fill up,
Smiling that I’m not paying diesel prices. There is no replacement for the way a diesel tows but truth is a lot of people driving them would be better off in gas job or even a half ton for that matter. I agree with the OP on diesels becoming a rich man’s game.
 

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Oil changes and fuel filters have gone up 40% on my diesel. I do fuel filters every second oil change and those alone are 165$ from ford and 140 from supply stores. I’ve had to by ford the last 2 times as I couldn’t get any from the supply stores in town. Oil filter is now around 40$ and with an air filter I’m around 230$ just in filters. Then 13liters of 0-40 oil and I’m around 400$ for an oil change doing it myself. A gas engine I feel would be under a hundy. With fuel at about 40-50c more per litre having a diesel just doesn’t make sense. I use this truck for work and have a large drop in tool box so I’m hauling a bunch of weight all the time but a 1 ton gasser would do it no problem. I have 365000 on the truck and am hoping to get another 365 out of it. I just can’t justify a 100000$ to buy a new one. I can barely make any money on this one anymore so definitely don’t want any payments on a new one.
 
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