Gas or Diesel??

aNNieNsaLTIE · Post by **aNNieNsaLTIE** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:40 pm

I am looking for a Truck. Looking for a 4x4, crew cab for the little ones to come along, and short bed pick up.............. I strongly want to go diesel and this will be my tow vechicle and daily commuter. Just looking for something I can load up the boat, gear and family if need to comfortable.

I do not want a suv... I test drove a ford 250. it was the fx series. I like the size of the cab. it feels comfortable for the family and myself. the only thing is the sticker price of the one i drove was 51k$$$

I also drove a dodge and the power and balance towing my basscat feels perfect.... I have not seen the dodge megacab in person but looks huge in picture.

what you guys think.........

kane-o · Post by **kane-o** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:48 pm

steven, have you thought of getting a demo truck ? something that only has a few hundred miles, it will save you thousands of dollars... but if money is not a problem, personally i would stick to a gas truck, i have a gmc 4-wd and love it, and the new gmc's are getting like 20 mpg with a v-8, plenty of power and nice comfort... good luck and post up the new ride when you get it...

bassdaddy · Post by **bassdaddy** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:22 pm

I've been a diesel guy forever. There was a time when I didn't even consider a gas rig because the upside of a diesel for pulling heavy stock trailers and the price of diesel fuel made it an easy choice. I currently own a diesel, but I'm sure it's my last one. Now, a boat is the heaviest towing challenge I have, so I just don't see how I can justify the extra initial expense of the diesel engine...especially since the price of diesel is now typically more than the two lowest grades gas. Some other old guys will remember when we could by diesel for half the price of gas. No one has ever been able to explain to me how the hell that changed. The extra intial cost of a diesel rig penciled out back then, but it doesn't anymore.

kane-o · Post by **kane-o** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:29 pm

its the cheapest of all the oil products to make, a lot less refining than say the other 3 grades of gasoline. but yet its the most expensive ? it use to be so much cheaper compared to regular gas, why is it now so expensive ?

offduty · Post by **offduty** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:41 pm

kane-o wrote:its the cheapest of all the oil products to make, a lot less refining than say the other 3 grades of gasoline. but yet its the most expensive ? it use to be so much cheaper compared to regular gas, why is it now so expensive ?

Because they know they can get it and there are plenty who need it. Its a consumer nation and trucks haul it all. Bottom line is better profit in a virtually unchallenged market, Fuel is not a nicety its a necessity.

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:50 pm

Have an '05 Dodge with the 600 series motor - and a 6-spd manual 4x4, longbed, crewcab.

If I stay out of the turbo at 55 mph on the flat land - I can get 27.4mpg. Towing the boat to Castaic, Millerton CL @ 75-80mph I get 18 mpg. Wife around town as it is her truck and daily driver - 19.6mpg.

The back seat is a little less to be desired for comfort - and I have yet to of been in a Mega-Cab so I can not say how those are more comfortable for the back seaters. I always have long beds for my trucks as I need the room for anything and everything.

The new Dodges - the milage is a little less with the newest motor- but that is alot in part to the injuction of fuel into the catalatic converter to burn off the carbon build up. They also have a "Jake Brake" now as a stock feature for braking w/o having to use your brake pedal. I will never sell this truck - and fully expect it to go 500k or better before I retire.

Stay away from any Ford Diesel if you are shopping used with the 6.0 motor. They blow ALOT from the EGR system that was poorly designed.

Good shopping to you !

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:54 pm

kane-o wrote:its the cheapest of all the oil products to make, a lot less refining than say the other 3 grades of gasoline. but yet its the most expensive ? it use to be so much cheaper compared to regular gas, why is it now so expensive ?

Because C.A.R.B. (California Air Resources Board) - Regulated that Diesel's have less than 5 parts per million of Sulfer in it. (Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel - That the sulpher was a required lubricant in alot of the older motors like my past MBZ) -- So it has to be "refined" even further thru more catalist cracking in the process.

You can blame that on your CA Govt appointed board of left wing nuts with their own agenda.

I love Diesel's ... and If I can soon afford another one - I would not hesitate to buy it for the family.

The thing to look out for ..... By 2015- CARB is requiring that ALL Diesel fuel in CA be blended with 10% "Bio-Fuels" !! That crap will have to come into alot of the refinerys on rail-cars to be off loaded and mixed into the run-rown tanks.

If this S**t blows my motor like when CARB first went to Low Sulpher Diesel and ruined my MBZ motor on the 5th tank filling sice the sulpher was cut - There will be even a bigger class action lawsuit than last in '93 that will further bankrupt the State.

aNNieNsaLTIE · Post by **aNNieNsaLTIE** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:29 pm

Dan,

I saw a 2002 f250 crew cab today. 4x4 and only had 53k miles on it. It was actually traded in yesterday so it's not even priced yet. The truck is clean though. I asked what the price was and they told me they have not got around to pricing yet....

Eveything seems good except it dosen't match the basscat!!! Still considering it but at the same time shopping around!!!

what do you think?

Steven

Zak Elrite · Post by **Zak Elrite** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:20 pm

I have an "06 F250 and love it! As someone said in an earlier post, you have to watch out for the '00-'03 (maybe '04's) because of the turbo issues but other you won't find a tougher truck. With the money you'll save getting a used one you'd buy an aftermarket/extended warrenty for the engine/drive line. The cummings motor in the Dodge IS hard to beat and will last you 500k miles but the truck itself will fall apart around you. That's the bad thing about dodge... Good luck and IMO, the Ford is the way to go!

bigjosh15 · Post by **bigjosh15** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:57 pm

Diesel all the way!!! Since you said this truck will be for everything including your family, Id say try looking for a 2005 or 2006 Dodge ram 2500 Mega Cab. Best truck out their IMO. Theres to much room inside.

Very durable truck. Give this truck a look and Im sure you wont be disapointed.

Josh

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:34 am

Steven .....

In all true honesty - Stay away - and FAR AWAY from the 6.0 Ford Diesel engines !

Unless it has already been replaced under warrenty -- or you can purchase an extended FACTORY warrenty to go along with it in the purcheae on your end.

Honestly .... I don't care how clean the truck looks right before 63-68k miles has on it. It will blow due to the ERG - and you will get stuck with an $18k bill for an engine replacement ..... But at least it will allways look nice parked in your driveway if can keep waking it.

Send DAKINE198 a PM -- His blew his 6.0 no fault of his own pre-fising @ CL - I knew his milage when it blew within 3k miles before he even posted it up on here. - Just saying

At least his was covered under FACTORY warrenty ! -- Even though it cost him alot of time, trouble and headache when it broke down. (Two weeks or better with rental car and a boat still up therre when he lives down South)

Here is another very recent 4th party (active web forum) review on the Ford 6.0 motor in today's world.

~~> http://refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=841617

Take it for what it is worth ... But make sure you can get at least a FULL TRANFEARABLE FACTORY WARRENTY for the 100k minium - and try to blow it up asap for a replacement -- Then you can start all over as many many others already have -- or are now sturating the market with. If it blows out past the 100k miles ,,, You are on the hook to fix it all on your own.

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:54 am

The 2002 should have the 7.3L not the 6.0L that was released in 2004.
Smitty

Bill K · Post by **Bill K** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:34 am

kane-o wrote:its the cheapest of all the oil products to make, a lot less refining than say the other 3 grades of gasoline. but yet its the most expensive ? it use to be so much cheaper compared to regular gas, why is it now so expensive ?

Gentlemen and women. It is very simple. More of us bought diesel than gasoline and therefore the companys and state began to show less profit ( 30 million or more a quarter was not enough) Sooo Diesel price went way up to make up for it. It is stupid, since Diesel is a by product of gasoline ( Look at how it came about in Germany and why it is called Diesel--Google the history) Nothing but greed and sock it to the people.. Bill K

Ringer · Post by **Ringer** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:02 am

If you can buy that low mile 2002 with a 7.3 it is a bulletproof engine and will give you another 250000 miles easily. I have a 2004 F-250 with the 6.0 and after spending $5700 it is now also a good engine. They knew those engines had EGR cooler and headgasket issues from the start. If I was buying today I would buy a gasser but the pulling power of a diesel is awesome to have and I bought it to run it 300000 miles and plan to do just that. No truck payments is a good thing.

aNNieNsaLTIE · Post by **aNNieNsaLTIE** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:52 pm

so the dealer called me today and told me they wanted 24,995.............I looked at kbb.com and it suggested 22k..... should I bargin?? I told the guy I couldn't come down today since it was monday and I had to roll out a new program at work, I LOVE RETAIL!!!.........

The dealer tells me he just giving me first dibs but has about 3 more customers lined up and waiting........... Should i jump into this deal or shop more.... I love the truck but, if i pay 3 grand more and that's not including all those garbage dealer fees.The truch should atleast match the boat, right????????????

Steven

Ringer · Post by **Ringer** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:09 am

I just checked the autotrader and there are not many 7.3 engines for sale so I am editing this post where I called the salesman out on the price. I would not pay over $20000 for the truck but it is the last great Ford diesel and hard to find one.

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:10 pm

I had an 04 f350 with the 6.0 and it was a great truck, only problem I had was blowing the hose off the turbo due to a bad connecting system, sold it going strong with about 96,000 miles. My friend has an 05 with a 6.0 and the 05's have a problem with a plastic oil pressure fitting that is located under the intake manifold. These fittings crack and you lose pressure then the computer won't let the motor start due to low oil pressure. After he got that fixed ($2,800) hasn't had any other trouble. I know he has over 180,000 on it and going strong.

James

aNNieNsaLTIE · Post by **aNNieNsaLTIE** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:04 pm

i was told the transmission is pretty bad on a 2003 f250. is that true aswell??

Thanks,
Steven

Jason Milligan · Post by **Jason Milligan** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:17 pm

I just switched over to a diesel rig and I never want to go back to GAS again. I bought an 06 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins. 22 mpg just driving around and 18 mpg towing, usually faster than the posted speed limit

In AZ I was able to set the cruise at 80mph while towing the boat and pull a 6% grade without the transmission downshifting. Try that with a GAS rig! It'd wind out to the moon at 4mpg.
What's also cool about a diesel is you can throw a cab over camper on it and tow your boat and the truck can actually handle it. My girlfriend has a Ford with the 7.3 that has 268,000 miles, many of which were towing a gooseneck horse trailer. It's a 6 speed manual. My grandpa owns a transmission shop and yes, the AXOD or Ford auto transmission sucks!

My opinion is biased since I love my Dodge Cummins, but I'd check out an 06 or early 07 Dodge. After 07.5 they threw a bunch of smog on the motor and had to go with a larger displacement to get the same horsepower and worse mileage.

If you're stuck on Fords...I'd get the 7.3

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:53 pm

I had a 7.3 prior to my 6.0 and it rotted from the inside out due to metelurgy problems....Found out the hard way that you have to flush out the antifreeze on a regular basis, it literaly ate holes through the aluminum water passages that cooled the turbo.... and every other piece of aluminum attached to the block....crazy stuff....

James