Diesel Thoughts

ponykilr

Guest
You folks who have owned diesels, are they worth it? Seems like the regular maintenance as well as expensive repairs (injectors, pumps, turbos) can add up pretty quickly. I am considering a used 3/4-1 ton pickup and am torn between the torque and mileage of the oil burner and the lower cost and cheaper maintenance of a gas burner.

Don't tow a bunch, but do pull a tractor to the mountains on occasion and we may buy a camper before summer.

Three of my diesel shop owning customers say they wouldn't own a diesel pickup....

What says the collective?

I am looking at a 97 (old body style) Ford F350, has just under 200K. New injectors, new lift pump, new tank pickups and glow plugs. I think it is a sound truck. Zero rust, great interior.

I am also looking at a 1986 F350 with a 460 manual. It is $3500 (orig wrote 2k, had a brain fart) cheaper.

Both are solid front axle heavy duty old workhorses that look great (I am a vintage kind of guy).
 
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I personally love mine, but they have been fairly trouble free. I've got 195k miles on my car, and all it's needed is 1 turbo hose, an alternator, and a left front CV axle and wheel bearing. Total for all those parts is less than $500. I change the oil every 10k miles at $40, which works out to the same as a gasser every 5k miles at $20, plus I only have to do the labor half as often.

I haven't owned the Duramax as long, but it had 290k on it when I bought it, and now has 315k. Thats only a small snapshot, but other than the known issues when I bought it (front ball joints and steering worn out), I haven't had to do anything to it. It pulls so much better than the gas trucks I've had and is just flat out fun to drive. Also, I do everything myself, so the only cost of repairs is the parts. Barring something major like a rod through the block, nothing will be outrageously expensive to repair.

I'm now looking a newer vehicle for my wife, and we're considering the diesel Grand Cherokee's.
 
I recently switched from a diesel to a big block gas engine. I have not towed with it yet so I can't compare the towing. but I can already tell you it gets about 6-7 miles per gallon less empty on the highway than any of the last three diesels I owned. Those were a 96 f-250 with powerstroke, a 2005 duramax and a 95 gmc with 6.5. However, I think it really depends on your driving style. If you can handle traveling and taking of slower with worse gas mileage but cheaper fuel, then go with a gas engine. If you want to take off faster and stay at a higher speed on the hills with better gas mileage and higher fuel cost go with a diesel. though I love my new truck, there are definitely some things I miss about my diesels.
 
I've ran my own shop for 8 years now working primarily on diesel trucks. Would I own one? Heck no, not unless I had a use for it that would return my investment. The diesel trucks are more expensive to repair plain and simple. If I was going to own one it would be a 94-98 dodge or atleast something 12v.
Anything 03 or newer is a crap shoot.

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It is funny how the diesel shop owners pretty much say the same things. I guess another thing to consider is that with a gas truck, if it breaks I can fix it myself. I am a Snapon dealer now but was an ASE Master most of my life, just didn't work on diesels.


The V10 is surely intriguing. I like the indycar sound they have.

It seems this is a lot like Glock vs. whatever.
Some people love diesels, no matter the economics.
Some people like em but choose gas.
Some people hate diesel.

The 97 is $8500. 200K,XL trim (manual windows, vinyl bench, ect)These old body style diesel trucks bring mucho dollars. My fear is that I buy it and some expensive thing breaks or it dollars me to death. Never having owned one it is a little like jumping into the unknown. The Gas gauges do not work and the seat has a small amount of wear on the edge.

The 86 is 5K, and is a pwr window, DL truck. It has new tires. It needs a dash pad, seat looks like new and paint is faded, solid and rust free and just has that vintage look. I would put a factory grill insert back in it.Two tone blue and white with white plain wheels. $5K...F350s from these years are higher than 150-250s due to solid front D60 axles everyone wants.

I can get a V10 truck under 10K which is my limit for what I want to spend. The Super Duty trucks are very nice, ride great and are much more modern than either of the other two. The V10 would probably do anything I would want. But in that body style I might would wish I had gotten a 7.3.

For the difference in dollars, the old 86 could have a sprayed in liner and new paint and be a real head turner.

Whatever I get would sit mostly during the week. It would make far more trips to Lowes than pulling a big trailer to the mountains. But, I would need to be able to jump in it and head up to work on our retreat monthly or pull the tractor up there maybe once or twice a year. I don't plan to head cross country with a travel trailer.

Gosh, I never thought I would be so torn on this.
My 05 expedition was totaled, we are down to one car which is my wife's 00 Expedition (but I have a work veh).

Here are pics

ai7.photobucket.com_albums_y252_ponykilr_00y0y_1og9Fxg9689_600x450.jpg

ai7.photobucket.com_albums_y252_ponykilr_00F0F_jPhvTE1Yrb8_600x450.jpg​
 
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ponykilr said:
It is funny how the diesel shop owners pretty much say the same things. I guess another thing to consider is that with a gas truck, if it breaks I can fix it myself. I am a Snapon dealer now but was an ASE Master most of my life, just didn't work on diesels.


The V10 is surely intriguing. I like the indycar sound they have.

It seems this is a lot like Glock vs. whatever.
Some people love diesels, no matter the economics.
Some people like em but choose gas.
Some people hate diesel.

The 97 is $8500. 200K,XL trim (manual windows, vinyl bench, ect)These old body style diesel trucks bring mucho dollars. My fear is that I buy it and some expensive thing breaks or it dollars me to death. Never having owned one it is a little like jumping into the unknown. The Gas gauges do not work and the seat has a small amount of wear on the edge.

The 86 is 5K, and is a pwr window, DL truck. It has new tires. It needs a dash pad, seat looks like new and paint is faded, solid and rust free and just has that vintage look. I would put a factory grill insert back in it.Two tone blue and white with white plain wheels. $5K...F350s from these years are higher than 150-250s due to solid front D60 axles everyone wants.

I can get a V10 truck under 10K which is my limit for what I want to spend. The Super Duty trucks are very nice, ride great and are much more modern than either of the other two. The V10 would probably do anything I would want. But in that body style I might would wish I had gotten a 7.3.

For the difference in dollars, the old 86 could have a sprayed in liner and new paint and be a real head turner.

Whatever I get would sit mostly during the week. It would make far more trips to Lowes than pulling a big trailer to the mountains. But, I would need to be able to jump in it and head up to work on our retreat monthly or pull the tractor up there maybe once or twice a year. I don't plan to head cross country with a travel trailer.

Gosh, I never thought I would be so torn on this.
My 05 expedition was totaled, we are down to one car which is my wife's 00 Expedition (but I have a work veh).

Here are pics

ai7.photobucket.com_albums_y252_ponykilr_00y0y_1og9Fxg9689_600x450.jpg

ai7.photobucket.com_albums_y252_ponykilr_00F0F_jPhvTE1Yrb8_600x450.jpg​
Click to expand...
I too am a snapon dealer!!! I have a v10 excurison and love it other than the 11-12 mpg empty. I have replaced the motor due to a spun rod bearing but I still would do it again on a heart beat.
 
Judging by the pics, I'd say go for the 97. It's 11 years newer, is in better shape cosmetically, and doesn't cost THAT much more. Talk him down if you can, even if it's only to 8000.

Does the 86 have AC? I'm sure the 97 does. Consider that.

I've never known many Fords to have fuel level sending units that worked. Not a big deal to replace them.

Personally, I like manual windows and locks. Unless you lose an arm, that window is probably still going to roll up and down. I absolutely HATE replacing window motors or screwing with anything inside the door on any vehicle. I'm also a big fan of vinyl seats and floors.

Also, I'm guessing the 86 has a 460. If so, seeing single digits while towing wouldn't surprise me.


With all that said, I think 5000 is way too much for that truck in that shape. You can buy the drivetrain of that truck for about half of his asking price.
 
I've said it a couple times...get on Craigslist and look in TX. I bought my 99 7.3 6spd w/160k for $6k, new tires, camper top and plane ticket I have $7200 in it.

BTW, its for sale for $10k!
 
Ill toss my .01 in cause that's about all it's worth. I own a 02 f250 diesel, I only use it to tow my jeep once a month or so. I know someone that has a camper that has the F250 V10, he wishes he had the diesel. It's one of those things, you need to decide what's best for you. For me, I don't want to have to deal with a V10 gas guzzler and struggle pulling the mountains as my buddy does. When I tow I want to be able to pull the hills and not worry. Yes a diesel can get expensive quick, with a 7.3 there really isn't much that will go wrong and it will outlast that V10 any day and hold its value. Look at the whole picture and decide what's best for you. One last thing, you say all diesel shop owners say go with gas? My buddy owns a shop and wouldn't use a gasser, he would rather have a diesel for towing any day.
 
look on C/L i got my 2000 extend cab 4X4 DRW 7.3 xlt auto for $10,000 & ONLY HAD 120K MILES
 
jeffsjk said:
Ill toss my .01 in cause that's about all it's worth. I own a 02 f250 diesel, I only use it to tow my jeep once a month or so. I know someone that has a camper that has the F250 V10, he wishes he had the diesel. It's one of those things, you need to decide what's best for you. For me, I don't want to have to deal with a V10 gas guzzler and struggle pulling the mountains as my buddy does. When I tow I want to be able to pull the hills and not worry. Yes a diesel can get expensive quick, with a 7.3 there really isn't much that will go wrong and it will outlast that V10 any day and hold its value. Look at the whole picture and decide what's best for you. One last thing, you say all diesel shop owners say go with gas? My buddy owns a shop and wouldn't use a gasser, he would rather have a diesel for towing any day.
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I think the reason you hear that so often is simple. If your not using the truck as it was intended such as towing or working its just not financially smart. If you tow with it or work the truck absolutely buy one. But if your only towing light and very occasionally look smaller. Nothing wrong with a diesel truck just not as economical if it doesnt serve its purpose. About 30% of the diesel truck owner I see actually use them towing or working.

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I'll throw my .02 in here. I've been in diesel performance since 2006. I'm on my 5th Cummins and had a CRD Liberty. 2005, 1994, 2007, 2010, and now a 2003. I grew up farming with gas and diesel tractors, repairing them ourselves because we couldn't afford paying someone to fix them. My dad has three 7.3's. A 95, 96, and an 84 that used to be a 6.9 but is now a 7.3. The only truck I haven't spent a lot of time around is a Duramax. With what you're looking to spend, I would either buy a diesel that's old enough to be mechanically injected, or a gas truck. You can buy a lot newer, nicer, and more comfortable gas truck for the same money. Unfortunately the EPA has caused the pre-2007 diesel trucks to be worth gold. When you get into the older trucks such as the 94.5+ Fords and 98.5+ Dodges, you can start running into electrical issues that can be a total nightmare to track down, and potentially cost you as much as you have in the truck to repair. Or you might buy one that never gives you a minutes trouble the whole time you own it. That's a decision you have to make. Is it worth it to you. No more than you will be towing, I think a gas truck would be just fine.

One thing I can tell you that will apply to any diesel. The do not like to sit. Some are worse than others, but none of them do well sitting for any length of time. Especially that OBS Powerstroke you posted above.

I drive my 03 Cummins every day and it's my favorite Cummins I've ever had. Gets 23-24 mpg around town and 27 hwy. It's an 03 2wd quad cab 5 speed. It hauls the family around great, has a bed cover for trips, and I can tow about anything I want to. I bought it back in the spring with 119,000 miles for $12,800. As long as I am able to, there will be at least one Cummins powered truck in my driveway. I don't need it, I don't have to have it, but it doesn't cost much to operate, and I enjoy driving it. It is basically the perfect all around truck for what I do. If I left it sitting and only used it when I actually needed it, then it would be a different story. I have an old 77 Chevy that I drive every now and then, maybe every two or three months, moreso in the winter when I need 4wd. I don't run it near as much as I should. It sits for months at a time, but every time I get in it, it fires right up.

I have a soft spot for 80-86 Ford trucks so I would grab up that 86 in a heartbeat. I'm in the process of putting a 12 valve Cummins in an 86 F-350 right now. You could buy it, paint it, spray a bedliner in it, find you a big block ZF5 5 speed to put it in, and have a very capable tow rig that would be easy to work on, start up no matter how long it sits, and still be under budget. The only reason I bring up the 5 speed swap is because you said you would be driving it to the mountains. It would definitely make it more highway friendly and save you money in fuel. I would also think that the 86 with power windows has more chance of having A/C than the 97 XL.
 
You got some good replies here. Can't go wrong with a 97 F250 diesel, damn I miss mine. I think either way you will be fine, as I said for me I would rather have the pulling power of the diesel. Don't look at short term look at long term. You plan on buying a camper, plus towing a tractor, I would buy a diesel but that's just me and I like diesel trucks. You know what they say, real trucks don't have spark plugs. Lol
 
I love my 06 Cummins but I wouldn't own anything with any of the emissions stuff on it.

I think a diesel pickup has to be one of those commitments where you have to own the truck for many years to get the most out of it. For people who need to have the latest and greatest the diesel truck probably isn't the thing for you unless someone else is footing the bill. I don't see how normal maintenance cost more than any other vehicle. My oil change is about 75 bucks (three gallon jugs Valvoline blue and a mopar filter) doing it my self and every three oil changes I change the fuel filter which is about 20 bucks I think (I bought by the case).

It tows great, has tons of power, and I can get 20ish on the highway. Do I personally need a diesel truck?, Probably not but I am glad I have one and I enjoy driving it everyday to work and play.
 
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