diesel or no diesel?

Well-played...

 

What kind of driving/mods is causing 11mpg? Just took a 800 mile trip and got 18.5 mpg down and 17.5 mpg back and averaging 16.5 just driving around home. 5.7l 4x4 crewmax. By contrast my father in laws dodge Cummins mega cab gets 20mpg on the same trip. So for the gas/diesel price difference I come out ahead. I get towing if you have large payloads all the time then diesel makes perfect sense.

 

Maybe wait and see what happens with Diesel prices after Jan 2020 when all shipping supposedly switches from fuel oil to low sulfur diesel. That is a huge new demand for diesel that’s about to come on line.

 

Ummm.... there's a HUGE difference between a Ferrari and a Mustang. The price! But I hear you. I have driven a diesel F-350 as a daily work truck. It did fine on the road, but not so fine off of it. I would get stuck in wet grass fields in this thing (???) Granted, it didn't have offroad tires, but I don't think it would've mattered. It was SO damn heavy.

 

These new diesels HATE being babied and used as a grocery getter. If you don’t drive long enough to get it up to operating temp for a bit, you’re going to run into issues. The solution would be to delete though and a lot of problems would be eliminated

 

Very good point.

 

Yea, DPF gets clogged and what not. My diesel was deleted so I never had any issues. As for stock, usually if the computer detects a buildup it will tell you to keep the engine on until the soot is burned off so still as long as you follow directions you will be fine.

 

It's funny watching diesel owners act like their trucks are monsters off-road when in reality even with AT tires, they will never be as good as something that's lighter with the same tires.

 

true! but your truck looks pretty modded like some of the diesels I've seen. We all think its cool, but others may think over the top. You see what I mean? To each their own.

 

dude that sounds awesome! I love Canadian country!

 

Totally agree. Diesels drive fantastic. I drove a 2019 Ram 2500 Cummins last night. Drove like a dream. No diesel smell in the cab, and looks amazing.

 

the only mods I have are 275/70/18 St Maxx's and 6112s at 1.9. I live at 5000 feet elevation though and only city driving.

 

I hear ya. It is a bit ridiculous but that's part of the appeal to me. To each his own.

 

I concur with your assessment sir.

 

True, but the average joe won’t want to wait in their driveway for the regen to finish or keep driving until it’s complete

 

I drive a lot for my job which ends up being a lot of highway miles. Assuming this particular issue wouldn’t be an issue for me?

 

Nope. I wouldn’t think so.

 

I have a new 2018 Ram 2500 Cummins Big Horn (SR5 equivalent trim basically) got into it a few weeks ago for about 47k. They're practically giving them away right now...leftover 2018s that is. These sticker for 60 to 65k. My truck was about 63.3 sticker.

So far I absolutely love the way it drives and handles. It makes me WANT to tow our Travel trailer where I used to be a little white knuckled with the Tundra. Right now I'm getting about 18mpg combined which I used to get 13.6 with Tundra on 275/75/18s and mild lift 6112s with 5160s in rear. I got 24mpg on the highway keeping it around 70-75. Best I could do in tundra stock (before mods) was 17 to 18 on the same highway keeping under 70mph.


I was hesitant to get into a FIAT but I test drove all big 3 HD diesels and the Ram was most appealing to me based on driving, handling and interior design fit/finish was superior to GM and Ford (just my opinion). I'm cautiously optimistic and it's way too early to know how itll hold up but so far I've been extremely impressed!!!

 

Older diesels were great. The 7.3 Powerstroke was probably the best motor ever made. But back then, Cummins and then the early Duramax/Allison weren’t too far behind. These days, with all the new emissions equipment, it’s another story.

Example - my friend owns a moving / trucking company. He does runs for Relco and has his own tractors and trailers all over the place. I don’t know how many box trucks with sleepers her has, but it’s a lot. Up until last year, he was buying one brand new chassis with a completely rebuilt pre-emission motor. The big companies were pumping these things out as “reconditioned” units. Unfortunately, the government stepped in and limited the number they could put out each year and the cost went up. So, he spends a ton of time and money keeping his old iron on the road. The new stuff seems to be constant headaches, especially the box trucks, but even the $150,000 tractors go in to limp mode regularly. He only keeps the newer stuff in warranty now, that’s how bad it is. So IMO, ya, the new emissions stuff completely ruined the diesel.

 

I'll be patiently waiting for my new diesel to be terrible and fall apart. So far it has been amazing.

 

If you delete, diesel is great. If you can’t delete, why bother with a diesel. Unless you tow everyday.

 

The RAMs do drive nice. Probably the most comfortable inside of all the trucks. However, did you get the extended warranty? Several friends here at work with RAMs all are very thankful that they have extended warranties. On average they are towed about 3 times a year. Not to be a downer on your truck, I admit that they are nice; just the experience here at our office.

 

Its good for a laugh thats for sure!

 

I am the opposite. I like the smell of older diesels - don't really like the faint smell of cat piss from the new ones. I also like how loud the older ones are.

I think that you should buy a diesel if you tow heavy loads frequently - or, if you just plain like diesels. If you are buying it to get better mpgs for a DD truck - that is goofy. It will take a long time to offset the initial cost on fuel savings alone - then if you factor in all of the other extra expenses that come with owning a diesel, it just doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

I'm told SeaFoam is a good alternative diesel additive to Lucas.

 

I like you! I am also a diesel fan. I grew up on a 5000 acre farm. Diesel tractors, diesel trucks, even my Mom's Mercedes Benz was a diesel. I love the smell of diesel fumes hanging in the air on a crisp winter morning loading corn from the combines - good memories.
I would love to have a Tundra with the Land Cruiser diesel engine. That's what I grew up with.

 

Tracking on front end components, Trans service and checking julian dates on DEF. Had not looked into the Lucas Fuel lube... so will have to research that.