I'm going to be in the market for a diesel pick up soon and I'd like to know which of the big 3 do you guys think is better? Right now I have an F-150 that I'm happy with and would consider an F-250 but after the whole 6.0L fiasco with it's 60 or so recalls, I don't know if I'm ready to jump on a new Ford diesel.

To me, I personally think that the Cummins in the Dodge is probably the best diesel engine out there but after having two Dodges in the past, the engine might be great but the problem is the rest of the truck.

Now the best combo right now would have to be the Duramax with the Allison transmission. I don't really like the blocky lines of the Chevy but the Duramax has proven itself reliable and the fact that it was designed by Isuzu only adds to it's appeal.

I remember a while back reading that the new diesel trucks would need to have a fluid added to it to help with emissions and that I should avoid newer trucks for this reason. Can any of you guys verify this? Thanks.

2011 model Ford's and GM's have to use Diesel Exhaust Fluid. Its basically a Urea mixture. It is to help cut down on regen cycles to clean the Diesel Particulate Filter. The Dodge 2500/3500 do not use this, but the 4500+ model have DEF if I recall correctly.

The 6.0L ford isnt a bad engine, but you need to get work done to it to make sure it is reliable. Head gasket replacement and head studs are a big improvement. Delete the EGR system and put a 4" straight pipe and you will have a solid truck.

With a Duramax you have LB7's that had injector problems, but they got the BEST fuel economy of them all in stock form.it has an Analog turbo with wastegate.

LLY Duramax's upgraded to a VVT Variable Vane Turbo. The issues that were present from those models were overheating problems when towing HEAVY and some injector harness problems.

06 LLY/ LBZ are the most desireable engines in the classic body style, because they have awesome power in stock form and still get good fuel mileage. Only issue i have seen with these are glow plug controllers and once in a while the tranny cooler lines leak atf. All the trucks gm made from 99+ have the issue of transfer case pump rub failure. It is where the oil pump support clip wears a hole in the tcase from the inside out. Many companies have a fix for this. I hope this helps you out!

Why Diesel?
6.0 Gaser
http://www.chevrolet.com/tools/byo/byoC ... &region=20

dont get a diesel unless you absolutely need one.

the new f-250s with the 6.2 gas motor from what I hear are powerful and tow great.

I talked to a guy that went from a 6.4 diesel to the 6.2 gas and loves it.


x2 on what Marcus said.

a low mileage Ford 7.3 or Chevy LBZ is the way to go if you dont want a brand new truck.

Why not get a diesel. I drive an 2002 2500 4x4. I don't absolutely need it but it's nice. I do not recommend getting a 2500 gas engine unless you like 9 or 10 miles to the gallon. I get 25 mpg on the highway doing 85 and 19 in the city. If I had to get a different truck today it would be an 06 cummins with a manual transmission. I have never been a dodge fan until I bought my truck. Ford's 7.3 for is a reliable way to go also.I would personally not own a brand new diesel truck right now. None of the three engines have convinced me yet. Durmax was never a question for me because of it's aluminum block, although as long as you keep the alision warm it is an awesome tranny up to about 450-500 hp

im driven a 7.3 ford excursion right now and love it. I put an exahust and a mild tow(80hp) program on it and it drives great. I am gettin 14 in town and 19-20 on the highway at 70. 80 drops the milage quite a bit to about 16mpg. at 55 I am getting about 23-24 mph. Ive got 173000 on it right now and have had zero problems. My truck is a 2000. a friend of mine has a 97 and he had to put a new tranny in it at 260000 but other than that no problems. If I were to buy another I think I would get a 2002 (still the 7.3) f350 crew cab lwb. I hear the 2011 are the cats meow but I would never pay that much for a truck. 4-5 years old and half price or better is the way to go. hell a diesel isnt even broke in till about 75000 miles. Good luck.

I want my next truck to tow over 12,000 lbs and I've been looking at some used trucks but it seems they aren't easy to come by here in Florida. Most of the guys that have them use them to pull their boats and aren't getting rid of them any time soon.

It took me 6 months to find one and I found 2 I wanted the same day. It came down to an 02 7.3 and a02 cummins. Same cab stour both 4x4. Looked at them both and the dodge was in better condition.

ive got an 07 classic duramax 2500 ext cab short box 4x4. its a great truck. motor is strong on the highway and has enough balls for what i do bringing it on construction sites everyday.

12000lbs, youre looking at a dually for sure. i've never had one but thats what i would be looking into if i were you. eventually i'd like to get a utility body 4 door 3500 but we'll see.

i think modifying these trucks is what fries them. you spend all that money on a truck just keep it dependable. i've ridden in chipped trucks and they are cool but if you want to go fast just get a mustang or something haha

Rob, you don't think a 3/4 ton truck will handle towing 12k if the trailer has brakes on it? I'm actually trying to steer away from a dually because they don't fit anywhere around here and I'll be driving it everyday.

I have towed Right about 14k with my 250
Just make sure it has breaks

you can absolutely tow 12k with a 2500. i pulled my 24' Baja outlaw with a chevy single cab 1500 for two years. it weighed almost 10k lbs.

I have an 06 LBZ HO. I own an excavation company. Mine is a 3/4 ton and I often haul a 12k pound John deere 333D skidsteer. I also carry a 16K pound John Deere 450J LGP with not a problem one. Now my gooseneck trailer has good brakes. I have had a couple of times when the trailer brakes wasnt working and as long as you have adequate room you can stop safely with no issues. When pulling either of the two i still get 11 to 12 mpg. Empty with no trailer im getting 22 on the interstate and 19 in town. As soon as i have the extra cabbage im going to bypass the EGR which should add 5-7 mpg. I have owned all three of the major diesel trucks and will never step back, yes back to either of them. I love my bowtie!!

I also drive the DMAX and yeah this thing is bad, no bowtie just Got More Cash!

some of yall reported fuel mileages sound really high..

just saying

Lol i noticed that too i do good to get 14.5 unloaded

I am running an 08 LMM DMAX and on the 90HP tune on the way to florida on I-10 i got 22.4 but thats not putting my foot in it at all, just straight 65-70 mph

Hand calculated, just sayin straight turbo back exhaust

You gotta get the right fuel to air ratio. If you're blowing black clouds you might wanna think about your air flow. I started at 16 and $400 later got to 25. It also has ALOT to do with your rear ends. I got someone on this site who can vouch

04.5 LLY, PPE level 2 (i think 90hp) 4" downpipe back, afe turbo mouthpiece, egr blocked, pcv reroute, SBC dual disc clutch, leveling kit, and 305s on stock aluminum wheels. I have never seen over 20 mpg hand calculated.

3.73

i get 14-15 hand calculated in my 02 powerstroke with just a exhaust and intake. No chip.

20s for any powerstroke or duramax sounds high..



guy i used to work with got 22 in a stock 06 cummins driving from eunice,la to college station,tx every week.

Yeah muddawg you should be getting at least 20. I am a diesel mechanic and you have it tuned right. I also run 373 gear ratio my exhaust is zero back pressure 4 inch turbo back. All I can say is i only have 6 cylinders and maybe that's where the difference is. And for everyone who thinks dodges have bad injection pumps that is false. It's the lift pump on the back of the block. It runs dry and then the fuel lubricated injection runs dry and burns it up. So anyone who has a 24v cummins put a fass system on it. You save that $1200 injection pump cost

Not just injector pumps the whole common rail system sucks IMO. I am somewhat of a diesel mechanic myself. The injectors are just to small for 33000 lbs of fuel pressure. Diesel is not that clean a 3 micron filter will help if you wanna change filters every 2 weeks lol.

Thanks for all the help guys, I see all of you really know what you're talking about. I was also just looking at some of the used trucks in my area and it's amazing that some of these trucks that are only 4 years old are half the price already. So I'm definitely going to be taking a look at the used ones a lot more.

[quote="MaXXis85"]
The 6.0L ford isnt a bad engine, but you need to get work done to it to make sure it is reliable. Head gasket replacement and head studs are a big improvement. Delete the EGR system and put a 4" straight pipe and you will have a solid truck.quote]

X2
i drive a 06 f250, they are a reliable engine once you get the kinks worked out. the oil you use is the key, one engine may run better on a certain oil and another engine may not ive seen it time and time again on powerstroke.org, i changed the oil weight in mine and it helped the slow starting tremendously and it didnt have a stutter in the mornings anymore when it was cold. the ford gold coolant will clog the oil cooler and then you have nothing but problems from there, do a good coolant flush and run some cat elc coolant and a coolant filter and you will have a good engine. ive deleted my egr, 4 inch turbo back exhaust and i run 140hp tune and it will flat out haul arse. i need to get mine studded and black onyx gaskets and mine will be good to go. plus you cant beat the look of the F250 by far the best looking truck on the market IMO.

yep you would be a sucker to buy new. I calculate my milage also, my computer, after i reprogramed the truck says Im getting on average 24.3 mpg. The last time I figured it out I was at 18.4
7.3 w superchip(80hp)
4" turboback
AEM Intake

With any diesel, i would recomend these simple mods. They allow the motor to breath and the chip alters shift points as well as adding hp and the truck accelerates like a gasser. And if you got a jack azz on your tail you can punch it and dump alot of black smoke on em.

My thoughts- Do you guys Mod everything? there is alot of money being thrown at diesel technology right now, I wouldn't be throwing any serious cash around on the current diesel engines. IMHO. What is wrong with the 6.2lL ford gas engine?

damn avatar...thats the end of this thread. you prolly wont even make it to this post.

With government mileage and emission restrictions, Id get a powerful engine that will do over 55mph while you can.

chico, i know the truck can pull 12000lbs but its beating the shit out of the truck. if you've got some serious road trips with 12k i'd definitely would look at atleast a 1 ton if not a dually. theres no sense in beating up a truck if you don't have to. the dually's are rated for like 15,000lbs towing i think.

Im a builder, i bought my truck for loading it up to max with lumber on the racks, pulling a decent size trailer, and when a truck gets stuck or we sink the lull i gotta be able to get it out.

I know what you mean when it comes to trying to park these damn things. One of my guys has a 4 door 8 foot bed 2500 and its a land boat. smoothest full size i've been in but you can't park the thing anywhere.

Just to clarify, duramax engines are iron blocks. They are NOT Aluminum. To the guy who is getting over 20 mpg hwy and 19 city I don't belive it. If you have a tuner your DIC mileage you see on the dash is not accurate with any tune you run. My 07 LBZ with a PPE standard tuner on the 90 and 160 HP tunes I get 17.5-18 mpg at 70 mph flat. Mixed driving I get 14-15 mpg. Towing my Toyota 4x4 I get 11 mpg. This is with 33" tires on H2 wheels. All the guys who get crazy mileage i'n a heavy diesel truck is most likey lying. Granted if you have a stock height truck with stock wheels and tires and a tuner then I can see 21-22 mpg hand calc other than that the little computer that tells your mpg isn't accurate.

Just Sayin...

Maxxis....your knowledge of diesel pick-up truck engines is quite astounding!

thats cuz all he does at work is play on the internet and look at trucks....its like porn to him