Diesel vs Gas

Bogger

Bogger of the GBCA
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
24,426
Reaction score
18,506
Location
Down by the Bay
you mean the Dodge thats parked in the shop while you take the chevy out to work??????

I work in the oil patch and drive a 2010 dodge dually with almost 98,000 km's on it with no problems and original front end that is still tight. Seen quite a few chev company trucks where the front ends were shot after approx. 65,000 km's of driving roads like the Two Lakes, Willow Creek, Pole Cat, Sierra and southern Saskatchewan highways.
 

Bogger

Bogger of the GBCA
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
24,426
Reaction score
18,506
Location
Down by the Bay
I just put a deposit down on a 6.0L 1500HD crew cab tonight pending inspection tomorrow, the 4.10 gearing lets me pull 9900lbs with a payload of 2783lbs, I have no intention of putting a deck on though, if I did I'd have gone with a 2500
 

RMK Junky

Active VIP Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2009
Messages
3,258
Reaction score
1,044
Location
Grande Prairie AB.
Website
www.snowandmud.com
I just put a deposit down on a 6.0L 1500HD crew cab tonight pending inspection tomorrow, the 4.10 gearing lets me pull 9900lbs with a payload of 2783lbs, I have no intention of putting a deck on though, if I did I'd have gone with a 2500

Going to be thirsty with that gearing but pull like a mo fo.
 
Last edited:

Bogger

Bogger of the GBCA
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
24,426
Reaction score
18,506
Location
Down by the Bay
I've come to the conclusion that for the 10k km I put on my truck each year, fuel economy is not much of an issue, so long as I can squeeze 500km from a 98L tank I'm fine with that... Not sure what was up with my diesel but I was only getting about 450-500km from a 130L tank on that old 6.5 and that was a step up from my old 454 which got me about 325km to a 130L tank. So I'm getting a little better with each one...lol

Condition, maintenance records & original owner were the big sellers for this one...


Going to be thirsty with that gearing but pull like a mo fo.
 
Last edited:

ZRrrr

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
3,338
Reaction score
3,495
Location
In my head
These threads are always fun to read. You will get 50% of the people for one side and 50% for the other. Good thing most information is free and doing the research will help you feel good about the decision you make.

I was in your position about a year a go. Had a great half ton but was interested in diesel for a variety of reasons. Ended up recently purchasing an 09 F 350 in mint condition with full service history.

What I find is that guys with halfers are chasing more horsepower, as I was, adding exhausts, programmers, etc. You know the drill. In the end you gain a few ponies and likely have to rum premium fuel. Mileage gains are slight, but I found myself mashing the go pedal more so any mileage gain was a wash. With the diesel, you get the power and most guys end up chasing fuel mileage, again adding the usual upgrades. However I find with the diesel it does indeed improve mileage and seems to be getting better with time and use. I find the diesel actually has calmed my driving habits a bit and that too will be better for mileage. Where our halfer struggled was pulling the travel trailer. It did a great job in ideal conditions and would even rock on the hills, but add a head wind or being loaded to the nuts for a long journey and we would notice it working hard. Mileage went down the tubes. This summer, with the diesel, our mileage should be amazing. To me that equates to fewer fuel stops and more fun at the campsite. Not to mention no worry about hauling anything my wife, kid(s), pets want to bring along. That to me equates to a large safety and comfort factor!

Safety was a big part of our diesel decision. I have found the diesel to be so much better in the winter than the halfer. Stability, traction and all that metal wrapped around us.

As for the oil change expense, I think it will be a wash for me. If you shop around you can get the oil and even factory filters at a good cost. My labour is cheap and I find fluid changes on the diesel easier than the halfer. During the towing season I was changing fluids more often on the halfer due to how much it is working. With the diesel, purpose built to work hard, I will not be doing added fluid changes over the towing season.

Some complain about the ride of a 1 ton, but with a small investment in a couple aftermarket parts and playing with tire pressures you can have it riding like a half ton. Wife and child are MUCH happier now.

I was not willing to take the big hit up front by buying a brand new diesel. In my research it seemed the first three years of the F 350's is the worst, with depreciation about $10,000 per year. Ouch! 2009 had everything I needed/wanted. Went out of province as most here were beat to crap and people wanted crazy money. I also liked the fact the 09 would allow me to get rid of all the mileage limiting pollution equipment easily, which will also extend the life of the truck. With proper maintenance this truck should last me a looooong time.

Heck, there's even a health benefit to owning a big diesel......you park farther away and walk more.

In the end, cost of diesel ownership will be a wash for us, with the benefits of safety and comfort.

Just one mans opinion.
 

~Rowdy~

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
3,738
Reaction score
5,042
Location
Alberta
These threads are always fun to read. You will get 50% of the people for one side and 50% for the other. Good thing most information is free and doing the research will help you feel good about the decision you make.

I was in your position about a year a go. Had a great half ton but was interested in diesel for a variety of reasons. Ended up recently purchasing an 09 F 350 in mint condition with full service history.

What I find is that guys with halfers are chasing more horsepower, as I was, adding exhausts, programmers, etc. You know the drill. In the end you gain a few ponies and likely have to rum premium fuel. Mileage gains are slight, but I found myself mashing the go pedal more so any mileage gain was a wash. With the diesel, you get the power and most guys end up chasing fuel mileage, again adding the usual upgrades. However I find with the diesel it does indeed improve mileage and seems to be getting better with time and use. I find the diesel actually has calmed my driving habits a bit and that too will be better for mileage. Where our halfer struggled was pulling the travel trailer. It did a great job in ideal conditions and would even rock on the hills, but add a head wind or being loaded to the nuts for a long journey and we would notice it working hard. Mileage went down the tubes. This summer, with the diesel, our mileage should be amazing. To me that equates to fewer fuel stops and more fun at the campsite. Not to mention no worry about hauling anything my wife, kid(s), pets want to bring along. That to me equates to a large safety and comfort factor!

Safety was a big part of our diesel decision. I have found the diesel to be so much better in the winter than the halfer. Stability, traction and all that metal wrapped around us.

As for the oil change expense, I think it will be a wash for me. If you shop around you can get the oil and even factory filters at a good cost. My labour is cheap and I find fluid changes on the diesel easier than the halfer. During the towing season I was changing fluids more often on the halfer due to how much it is working. With the diesel, purpose built to work hard, I will not be doing added fluid changes over the towing season.

Some complain about the ride of a 1 ton, but with a small investment in a couple aftermarket parts and playing with tire pressures you can have it riding like a half ton. Wife and child are MUCH happier now.

I was not willing to take the big hit up front by buying a brand new diesel. In my research it seemed the first three years of the F 350's is the worst, with depreciation about $10,000 per year. Ouch! 2009 had everything I needed/wanted. Went out of province as most here were beat to crap and people wanted crazy money. I also liked the fact the 09 would allow me to get rid of all the mileage limiting pollution equipment easily, which will also extend the life of the truck. With proper maintenance this truck should last me a looooong time.

Heck, there's even a health benefit to owning a big diesel......you park farther away and walk more.

In the end, cost of diesel ownership will be a wash for us, with the benefits of safety and comfort.

Just one mans opinion.

Great info and opinion!! Thank you.
 

Pistonbroke

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2007
Messages
3,369
Reaction score
11,219
Location
Cockring, AB
I drive a 2009 chev 1500 and its too small for sled deck and two sleds which is why I am looking to upgrade

You don't need a new truck.

trailer.jpg
 

ZRrrr

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
3,338
Reaction score
3,495
Location
In my head
Great info and opinion!! Thank you.

I remembered something else.....when getting an insurance quote from my agent, the 09 diesel was less to insure than my 05 1/2 ton. She also told me to be happy it wasn't a Dodge as they are the most expensive diesels to insure in AB. I can't qualify her statement personally, but I will be saving a fair amount on insurance with the Ford diesel.
 

~Rowdy~

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
3,738
Reaction score
5,042
Location
Alberta
I remembered something else.....when getting an insurance quote from my agent, the 09 diesel was less to insure than my 05 1/2 ton. She also told me to be happy it wasn't a Dodge as they are the most expensive diesels to insure in AB. I can't qualify her statement personally, but I will be saving a fair amount on insurance with the Ford diesel.

Wonder why Dodge's are more to insure?! I thought Ford's are the easiest to steal?! And why cheaper than your 1/2 ton? Weird.
 

ZRrrr

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
3,338
Reaction score
3,495
Location
In my head
Wonder why Dodge's are more to insure?! I thought Ford's are the easiest to steal?! And why cheaper than your 1/2 ton? Weird.

I too thought it would have been the other way around. She said it has everything to do with the number of claims made here. Too many Dodges on the road? Too many claims? It is strange, but I'm saving money....not going to complain. This Ford i have has the chip key, alarm, immobilizer. Maybe that parts of it. Maybe she thinks I'm cute. :dunno:
 

Mindifismoke?

New member
Joined
Apr 17, 2013
Messages
1
Reaction score
4
Location
Alberta Beach
This is just my opinion
I own a 2010 Dodge 3500 CTD great truck, fun to drive but I had to do warrantee voiding mods to get any type of efficiency out of it. For what I paid I don't think it's even close to being efficient enough, but I love the power. I thought I would talk about buying a used truck and what I would pick if I was buying my first truck, recently sold a bunch of stuff and had roughly $10,000 sitting around for a work truck. After weighing out all the pros and cons I opted for a 2004 GMC 2500 HD with the 6 L gas. It had 216,000 km on it when I bought it for $4700. I was willing to spend more but this was the best deal that I could find at the time. I strongly feel that out of the big three GM's gas motor + power train combo is the best bet with these kms. Yes it's a pig on gas and I'm happy if I'm getting 14 miles per gallon but it's powerful and it seems like it's not even halfway through its life. Now I love diesels but buying a used one can be very risky. For example a set of diesel injectors would roughly cost me what I paid for this truck. Also living in Alberta the likelihood of you finding a diesel truck that has not had a few tough days is very rare. For example boneheads with programmers, and the oil patch (guilty of both). Not to imply gas trucks are all treated well, and all used deisels are junk. I'm simply saying the repairs and maintenance are typically a third or less on a gas engine. All in all this is what I did with less than $10000 for a 8 bolt axle truck. I've had this GMC for 3 months and I'm only in to it for $5500 so far and should be able to sell it for $3-4000 after another 100000 kms. So poor gas milage is not such a big issue, an extra $3-5 per hundred kilometres is the difference. So lets say roughly $200 more to drive a gas truck 5000kms now do an oil change on a diesel easily $100 more than a gasser, suddenly there isn't much benefit. But if you wanna beat a mustang at a stop light, and you have a decent savings account. Diesel all day, everyday.
 
Last edited:

ferniesnow

I'm doo-ing it!
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
112,479
Reaction score
86,550
Location
beautiful, downtown Salmon Arm, BC
Rowdy, I will apologize for not back-reading all of the 11 pages but here is my opinion.

I love the GM 6l gas in my 2500HD. It is an extended cab, 4x4, long box so the GVW is 9200. It has been a turn the key and go motor on my last two trucks (ie rock solid). With the 410 rear end I have never had a problem in the mountains (Roger's Pass is a breeze). It does like the petro when working (trip to Whistler with 2 sleds, better half and all our gear we averaged 22l/100km with the Coq and Roger's and not very nice driving conditions. In the summer, on the highway I doo see 15l/100km as long as I'm not on the gas. I have always said, "gas is the cheapest expense on a truck". The "click shift" on the gear shift or manual shifting is great on the 6-speed transmission for hill climbing and engine braking.

I don't put on enough miles (this truck is a 2008 and I only have 128,000 kms) or haul enough to justify the extra ~$10,000 for the diesel set-up and maintenance. As an example, an oil change at my GM dealer is $49.95 +taxes and for a diesel it is maybe double (but I am just guessing).

I am doing my research for a new truck with a new deck and it will be the 6l with a 410 rear end for sure.
 

pete gads

Active VIP Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2007
Messages
508
Reaction score
994
Location
calahoo, alberta
Bought 03 duramax 2500 back in 03, then bought a beater comute vehcile for 4500. Duramax still going strong just for pullinhg sled an 5th gas jobber for running round works great
 

Iron Horse Racing

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2008
Messages
1,499
Reaction score
1,514
Location
Sherwood Park, ALberta
We run around 1000 trucks, with the strong push on urea injection systems (short version, you have another tank to fill with a special fluid) with all the idling issues, we will be switching all diesel trucks out to gas, even the service trucks....

My opinion unless your hauling a load a higher percenatge then running empty, I would go gas....back in the day when diesel was cheap, it made sense, now you pay more for diesel then regular gas....my 10 cents worth...
 

leadfoot33

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
388
Reaction score
225
Location
prince george BC
i went with an 07 dmax (pre emissions) and have no desire to go back to a gas, the power and fuel mileage alone is worth it. 15l/100km in town and 10l/100km on highway if im not speeding. i can get it lower but you are really being nice to it then. mind you i do have a 120hp tune in my truck as well.
oil changes arent a whole lot more but a bit $78 for full synthetic 5/40. where i am diesel is still the same or cheaper than gas so i am lucky that way.
 

sledneck_03

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
2,356
Reaction score
1,571
Location
saskatoon
ive been thinking about the same thing.....

if you buy a diesel its about a $8000 option. If you buy your truck over 5 years at 7% interest that is $1500 interest or $9500 total, which is $160 a month. Are you going to be burning an extra $160 of gas over diesel a month if you got a gasser?

If yes then would you rather have that cash go out the tail pipe or go towards a more expensive truck with better re sale? there is also other factors like oil changes, services, motor noise, and so on that are negatives for a diesel.

I my self really hate how rough 2500 and 3500s are for a daily driver, also hate no auto 4x4. Im hoping when dodge offers the crew 6'6" bed ram later this year it is a heavy half with higher payload cause my crew 5'7" is weak sauce. I really just want what i have now with more payload and a bit longer box.

It ridiculous to buy a truck just to have a deck on it, but when we buy a new house in a year or two its going to be hard to find one that you can park a damn trailer on beside the garage out of site.

Also another perk is i guess dodge offers no diesel charge end of season too??? i think i would swing that way.
 
Top Bottom