Diesel discussion

[wyldman]

NOTE - This thread was split out of another one after it got off-topic.We can continue the discussion here,in the correct forum.

Originally posted by thesnoman
Dodge had trouble with their diesel trucks too and upgraded the front axle on 4x4 diesels in 2004 to a AAM axle with heavier tubes and beefier joints than a D60 that it replaced.

Wrong,wrong,wrong.The D60 was one stout unit,and still is.The ONLY reason they went to AA was disputes over other Dana axles in other product lines.

Never seen many problems with the Dodge front axles.

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by wyldman
Wrong,wrong,wrong.The D60 was one stout unit,and still is.The ONLY reason they went to AA was disputes over other Dana axles in other product lines.

Never seen many problems with the Dodge front axles.

Wrong Wrong Wrong, The axle that replaced the D60 that dodge used DOES have thicker axle tubes than the one it replaced. Dana may make optional tube thickness thicker than the one they supplied for the Dodge front end but the one AA is supplying are rated at a higher capacity than the Dana they replaced!! You need to recheck your data.

[thesnoman]

As further note, the new AAM Front axle Dodge uses has a rated capacity of 5500lbs vs 4800lb or 5200lb for Dana axles used in Dodges and the new AAM also has 1.4 inch dia axle shaft with 33 splines vs the danas 1.31 inch dai axle with 30 splines.

[John DiMartino]

the snoman,what "problems" are you reffering to that happen to the D60 front axle in the Dodges? You'd think with my truck being a diesel,quad cab,being run fairly hard,and over 100K now, hanging the 810 /or Bozz 9'2"v Id have seen some of these problems. i also work on a lot of Dodges,the only things we see on the Dodges that arent normal wear is the track bar,they wear fast,but there are several aftermarket fixes that permenantly address this issue,and the steering boxs on some trucks,again there is an easy/cheap aftermarket fix that addresses this and cures that problem that affects a few trucks. Niether of them have anything to do with the axle itself. Ball joint/u joint wear isnt high from what ive seen. Ive never seen a snapped/bent D60 from plowing or overloading. There have been front brake wear issues ,but these are caused by the rear brake bias being low,once that is fixed,the front brake wear comes down to normal.I have seen several Ford F250TBB,and chevy IFS with tweaked parts though.
I find it ironic that your bashing the D60 thats standard on a Dodge, while ford/gm guys spend thousands to get this axle under there 3/4 tons to increase the front end capacity.
On the new GM IFS,s we've seen 2 2500HDs with duramaxes explode the RF cv joints pulling in 4lo on blacktop,(hook em up with a chain) style.They also have extreme toe in when pulling hard or on 4hi launches,due to the flex in the the entire front end and the design of it. My friends 01 Dmax has had a boss 8'2" v since new he runs it fairly hard,his next truck is going to be a Dodge,due to the front end wear.he's on his 3 front end rebuild (all ball joints,tie rods,idler/pitman arm.),and he doenst plow commerically only his business and 4 houses.that truck has about 85K on it now,otherwise its been a great truck.

[cat320]

thesnowman I can see your point as only putting low miles on and just useing it to plow a gasser is better for some but what if it was someone who puts alot of millage plows tows and wants the power and fuel econmy of a diesel . That's wjy I said GM messed up In my opinion there is no excuse for not having the proper front end on a diesel for a plow. I think it has got to a point that for the cost of the equipment we are purcheasing and the intended use of it we should be able to get want we want. If someone id not a diesel guy that's fine but don't make a truck that you can't put a plow on , all the old trucks 3/4 - 1 ton had the old front end and you just put a plow on it .I think they need to be going back to that way of producing a truck and have it as standard equipment.

[thesnoman]

Yoy have to put on a awful lot of miles with no breakdowns to come out ahead with a diesel these days as much as they cost (about 200K).

Yes I think GM missed the boat a bit myself too. But I must say that my 2000 K3500 SRW with its IFS handles better with a plow than any plow truck I have owned or driven with a straight front axle hands down. Not torque whip the steering wheel either when crowding it in a turn. I would LOVED to see someone build a truck with a solid front axle and CV's by the wheel instead of U-joints.

[PSDF350]

snowman i get allmost 20mpg in my diesil. if i had the 5.4l or the v10 i would be getting no where near that in my truck. so i think your 200k is off a little. not to mention the Power i will nver own a gasser again.

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by PSDF350
snowman i get allmost 20mpg in my diesil. if i had the 5.4l or the v10 i would be getting no where near that in my truck. so i think your 200k is off a little. not to mention the Power i will nver own a gasser again.

I can get 17 on highway with my K3500 with a 5.7 and I average about 10 plowing snow. When you factor in that a truck with a diesel and a automatic cost about 6500 more plus higher insurance (cost more to replace) higher maintaince cost, (more oil and costly filters) Electric bill to keep it warm in the winter and son on. YOu will find that you can buy a LOT of gas with the money you save by getting a gasser and that it takes a long time to balance books and if you have to replace injectors and pump out of warranty on a deisel, you will never break even. Hey, I am not knocking them if you like them but they are not cheaper to own unless you drive them 200K plus AND have no breakdowns. Most diesel owner only compare MPG, not all of the costs listed above. When diesels were a 2200 dollar option, they could pay off a lot sooner but those days are gone and as high tech as they are now I can not see them running 5 or 10 years without costing big $$$ to keep them running or repaired. Long gone are the simple, cheap and long lifed reliable diesels for P/U's. Also, with direct inject gas engines on the horizon with big gains in power and economy, (they can run much high compression too without fear of knock) and stricter deisel emissions in 2008, diesels will soon loss even more appeal.

[wyldman]

Diesels will pay off,even if you don't do the mileage.It's called resale value.9 times out of ten,you will always recoup your $$$ in the resale value.

Diesels (most) will outlast a gasser 2:1.A Cummins will outlast a gasser 4:1 easily.

Diesels are better for plowing because of more manageable low end torque and traction.Gassers will get stuck in conditions where a diesel will keep on pushing.

Diesels don't cost much more to maintain.Yes they use more oil,and the filters are more expensive,but it's not much more.See next point below

Ever tune up a newer gasser ? The plugs are $15.00 each.Some wiresets are $250.00.Distributor caps and rotors (if still used) are big $$$.Price a coil pack for some of these trucks,again,big $$$.None of that crap on a diesel.

Diesels really shine as they will get at least double the gas mileage when plowing.Gassers suck back fuel like crazy.Diesels don't vary to much when plowing.

[PSDF350]

what wyldman said. plus oil changes are further apart so more oil equals about the same. diesils rule

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by PSDF350
what wyldman said. plus oil changes are further apart so more oil equals about the same. diesils rule

How do you figure? You can go 4 or 5000 miles with good oil in a gasser (a lot further if it is synthetic) and conventional diesel oil cost more too, I know because I use it in my tractor.

[PSDF350]

5 to 7k in diesil and not much more expensive i payed almost 45 for oil change in f150 i pay 65 in f350 diesil. 150 changed oil every 3k miles diesil evey 5k. quess thats how i figuire. i would like to know where you come up with your figuires if you dont run a diesil. i've run gassers all my life till this diesil and as far as i'm concerd best investment i ever made.

[Honest Mike]

Dave, Im not taking either side in this arguement, especially not Snomans because I dont even like him :D, but if you were paying close to $45 for an oil change on an F150, you were being way overcharged in my opinion. An "ordinary" gas engine holds 5 quarts of oil, some hold 6. A 7.3 or 6.0 diesel holds how many, 13?? Again I am not taking sides, but there is no way in hell that you can have an oil change done on a diesel for as little as a gas engine. It holds twice as much oil and thensome and the filter is much bigger and more money to buy. Also you dont have to change the oil on a gasser every 3k miles, yes you should, but most of my customers dont, they push it much further, to like 5k miles. It all depends on how you put the miles on. If you do alot of highway driving, then you dont really need to change the oil at 3k mile intervals. If you do alot of stop and go, and rarely get on a highway, then 3k miles is a good way to go, or even sooner. I have a guy that works next to my shop. He drives way over an hour each way to come to work everyday. I do his oil changes. In like 3 weeks or so time, hes ready for another oil change. The 3k miles is over already, but he keeps going. He goes about 2k miles over on the sticker I put on the windshield, then he gives it to me to change it. He never had a problem doing it that way, the car has almost 200k miles, early 90s Honda Accord. Just an example that a gas engine can go as long as a diesel on an oil change. Mike

[John DiMartino]

Just a FYI,the Dodge Cummins calls for a 15000 miles oil change interval.This is even in extreme service,how many gassers will go that far,and last well over 400K miles? Thats with dino oil,with synthetics,and bypass filtration these can be extended to well over 100K per change,so long as bypass and full flow filters are replaced as required. Personally i dont think there are any savings in running a diesel for oil change purposes in the long run ,the savings comes in resale/fuel costs,and maintenance costs(tune ups).

[PSDF350]

mike your right it was 35 bucks for the 150. in the owners manual it recomends every 3k in harsh conditions or 5k not. on the diesil it is 5k in harsh 7500 not. oil change in diesil last time 66 bucks at dealer. 150 was done at jiffy lube but they didn't have filter first time went for oil change so went to dealer, and instead of every 11th free it is every 6th.

[Pelican]

I've bought my diesels because I wanted to.

TORQUE!!!

For hauling and towing a diesel can't be beat. In snowplowing as Chris says, you can get yourself out of spots with a diesel that you can't with a gas job. I've plowed with both.

The diesels are smoother in response than gas engines so you can sneak up on that "break traction" point and walk yourself out of spots that you'd be stuck in with a gas powered truck.

You can go 4 or 5000 miles with good oil in a gasser (a lot further if it is synthetic) and conventional diesel oil cost more too, I know because I use it in my tractor.
I pay $1.33/qt for Shell Rotella T, a top rated diesel oil. Where are you paying less for a quality motor oil?

I've been plowing with diesels for 7 years and had an issue with gelling only once due to bad fuel. I cut the tank with kerosine and was back in business in an hour. Last season we had record low temps for an extended period and I had no fuel problems at all.

I've had gas powered vehicles freeze up as well due to contaminated fuel, they are not immune.

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by Pelican

For hauling and towing a diesel can't be beat. In snowplowing as Chris says, you can get yourself out of spots with a diesel that you can't with a gas job. I've plowed with both.

Is this ever a line of pure and utter BS!!! I will match or beat your diesel ANY day in any snow in any weather with my gassers.


The diesels are smoother in response than gas engines so you can sneak up on that "break traction" point and walk yourself out of spots that you'd be stuck in with a gas powered truck.

Another line of pure BS. Gas engines have no turbo lag or boost and have a very smooth throttle responce and are far more trackable for idle to load than ANY diesel hands down. (you must have had some bad or poorly tuned gassers or you do not know how to drive one, I have driven them both big and small) One winter I watched a guy in a dually Dodge with a Cummis in it get stuck in deep snow near my house on a drifted country road late at nite. Everytime he tried to climb out the boost would kick in a spin wildly. It just would not feather the way he needed it to. I easily pulled him out with a 79 J20 Jeep P/U with a 360 gas motor in it and I backed into the mess to extract him too.


I pay $1.33/qt for Shell Rotella T, a top rated diesel oil. Where are you paying less for a quality motor oil?

I use semi synthetic or full synthetic (depends on vehical) and I spend less on oil and filter over all than you do easily


I've been plowing with diesels for 7 years and had an issue with gelling only once due to bad fuel. I cut the tank with kerosine and was back in business in an hour. Last season we had record low temps for an extended period and I had no fuel problems at all.

I have been doing it for 20 years!! In this time and before it I have seen a LOT of diesels stopped to bad fuel or gelling. Fuel quality has improved a little bit but it can still be a problem below zero. Plus , I never have to heat my motors to start them and can drive off instantly if need be.


I've had gas powered vehicles freeze up as well due to contaminated fuel, they are not immune.

I have NEVER had it happen in 20 years of doing this and I use no additives either and I have plowed at minus 40 a few times too which I doubt you ever have. (you have to mix kerosene with plow hyd fluid to get it to flow correctly as not even sythetic flows good at that temp and I used 12 to 16 ounces in auto tranny too at those temps) You must use very poor gas and/or let them sit a lot in varying temps with nearly empty tanks and are picking up condesation in tank. You may have poor gas caps too.

I lived in Montana for a spell in the mid 90's where plow trucks were a dime a dozen and NONE of them were diesels (40 below was not uncommon in the area I lived) because they parked all of the diesel P/U's in the winter there when it got cold.

[PSDF350]

Originally posted by thesnoman
Is this ever a line of pure and utter BS!!! I will match or beat your diesel ANY day in any snow in any weather with my gassers.



Another line of pure BS. Gas engines have no turbo lag or boost and have a very smooth throttle responce and are far more trackable for idle to load than ANY diesel hands down. (you must have had some bad or poorly tuned gassers or you do not know how to drive one, I have driven them both big and small) One winter I watched a guy in a dually Dodge with a Cummis in it get stuck in deep snow near my house on a drifted country road late at nite. Everytime he tried to climb out the boost would kick in a spin wildly. It just would not feather the way he needed it to. I easily pulled him out with a 79 J20 Jeep P/U with a 360 gas motor in it and I backed into the mess to extract him too.



I use semi synthetic or full synthetic (depends on vehical) and I spend less on oil and filter over all than you do easily



I have been doing it for 20 years!! In this time and before it I have seen a LOT of diesels stopped to bad fuel or gelling. Fuel quality has improved a little bit but it can still be a problem below zero. Plus , I never have to heat my motors to start them and can drive off instantly if need be.



I have NEVER had it happen in 20 years of doing this and I use no additives either and I have plowed at minus 40 a few times too which I doubt you ever have. (you have to mix kerosene with plow hyd fluid to get it to flow correctly as not even sythetic flows good at that temp and I used 12 to 16 ounces in auto tranny too at those temps) You must use very poor gas and/or let them sit a lot in varying temps with nearly empty tanks and are picking up condesation in tank. You may have poor gas caps too.

I lived in Montana for a spell in the mid 90's where plow trucks were a dime a dozen and NONE of them were diesels (40 below was not uncommon in the area I lived) because they parked all of the diesel P/U's in the winter there when it got cold.




snowman i quess we should all :notworthy down to you and your infinite wisdome and sell our diesil trucks. heck if they dont use them in montana we must be wrong:rolleyes: on second thought i think i'll keep mine and just ignore your moronic opinions.

[Pelican]

Is it just me or do things always seem bigger and better in Donnelsville?????

[PSDF350]

Originally posted by Pelican
Is it just me or do things always seem bigger and better in Donnelsville?????
its such a big and better place Steve i've never even heard of it. but i quess that could just be me;)

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by Pelican
Is it just me or do things always seem bigger and better in Donnelsville?????

No need to get ugly here, we are just a little more down home and have more common sense than to say something stupid like a diesel P/U will go places and push snow that a gasser will not or that you need a 40 or 50 grand truck to do it effectively, PLEEASSE!!! I have pushed snow with loaded old 6 bangers 3/4ton's in past years that some diesel P/U's would be pressed hard to even match. Even my old 2 ton plus JD tractor with a mere 27hp will put up quite a fight with snow when asked to. It is the weight, (ballast) traction and gearing of the truck that pushes snow not big engines. You do not need 300hp, or even 150 HP to push snow effectively in a P/U. If you do not realize that, you are in the wrong bussiness.

[wyldman]

You are partially correct,you don't need a lot of power to push snow,as it's all about gearing.But......

If you want to crawl along along in first gear,in 4WD low,then fine.

I need to get stuff done quickly.When we get a lot of heavy wet snow,I don't need 4 low,and can plow it up like nothing.The gas trucks will do it,but their productivity slows down somewhat.

When we get those real nasty,slippery conditions,and the snow is like cement,the diesel is easier to control,and will push better\further than the gas trucks.Back in the Blizzard of 99,we had more snow than we could keep up with (for 3 weeks).The gas trucks would only get so far,and then that's it.Even my truck had a hard time,but it got through it.The diesel just puts so much more tractable power to the ground.

BTW,the gas trucks were properly set up,with dedicated snow\ice tires,and lots of ballast.

To say a gasser is more tractable than a diesel is just outright absurd.Why are most pulling trucks diesel ?

The diesel will save the average person $3300.00 in fuel over a period of 100,000 miles.That number goes way up if your plowing\towing\working the trucks hard.So over 300,000 miles,you've saved almost $10,000 in fuel,no tune ups (at least 2 on a gasser at big $$$ these days),and a motor rebuild\replacement on the gasser.

The only time a gasser will pay off,is if your short term leasing,as the added cost of the diesel will not offset the savings.

So,I'm not saying all gas trucks are junk,or cannot plow snow,as we all know they can.The diesels just do it a little better,that's all.If you search the net,and various other discussion forums,you will find this topic has been beat to death,and the diesels always come out on top.

[Pelican]

No need to get ugly here

You tell me I'm full of BS and then come up with that line???

Now I'm certain things are different in your neck of the woods!

[ratlover]

Why dont you talk about turbo lag to the kid in the new mustang I had an encounter with ;) (I didnt know he wanted to go and he got the jump on me) Or tell the guys cutting 1.6s 60's that chevy IFS is weak. I run a 9'6" EZ V on my truck, how much freaking bigger of a blade do I need?(Well......actaully every time someone talks about their blizzard I start to get plow envy, almost wish I put one of those up front)

I dont find a whole lota controlability difference between a gasser and a diesel. What I do like about my diesel when plowing is that its fuel usage dosnt drop as bad as a gasser and it runs cool as a cucumber(as long as you keep it under 85 when the air temp is above 60 :eek: :greenange ) Average driving? My truck is a blast to drive :D

[speedracer241]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by thesnoman
[B]Is this ever a line of pure and utter BS!!!

Another line of pure BS.

I am getting tired if reading posts of this nature!!!

You have to remember there are possible customers reading this site.

The attitude of thesnowJACKASS just floors me every time he posts. Always trying to pick a fight, and with veteran members that have been here from day 1.

This is a PROFESSIONAL site.
Lets loose the attitude,
Mark K

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by ratlover


I dont find a whole lota controlability difference between a gasser and a diesel. What I do like about my diesel when plowing is that its fuel usage dosnt drop as bad as a gasser and it runs cool as a cucumber(as long as you keep it under 85 when the air temp is above 60 :eek: :greenange ) Average driving? My truck is a blast to drive :D


So is my gasser and one tank will run me longer than I want to run (about 12 hrs) so it is not handicapp. Mine never gets warm even when it is 90 plus with A/C on traffic, It has yet to hit 200 on gauge in 5 years no matter what I do or speed I drive it never moves more than a needle width or so. Best cooling system I have ever had on a truck! (10 bladed clutch fan with a big 3 core radiator with a aux engine oil and tranny cooler from factory) It never breaks a sweat!

[ratlover]

I have never had a problem with a gasser with a proper functioning cooling system but with a plow upfront i have had gassers that get hotter than i like or I need to slow down to keep em cool enough. A diesel handles having the air being partialy blocked to the radiator especially in cold weather much better than a gasser in my expereince. A properly functioning gasser will function fine though, I aint saying if you run a gas motor while plowing your going to constanly be boiling over.

Time between fill ups is nice but the big thing is a diesel's milage dosnt change much regardless what you do to it. Were a diesel shines in terms of fuel usage compared to a gasser is when you work em. How many times a year do you plow though? Will strict fuel economy while plowing pay for a diesel motor? No way. A diesel can pay for itself in many ways though depending on what you do and what you want. Thats the bottom line.

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by ratlover
I have never had a problem with a gasser with a proper functioning cooling system but with a plow upfront i have had gassers that get hotter than i like or I need to slow down to keep em cool enough. A diesel handles having the air being partialy blocked to the radiator especially in cold weather much better than a gasser in my expereince. A properly functioning gasser will function fine though, I aint saying if you run a gas motor while plowing your going to constanly be boiling over.



I had this problem on one truck once, I replaced the clutch fan clutch and the problem went any. My k3500 never changes temp plow or not, hot or cool, slow or fast. I do hear the clutch fan engaging breifly from time to time during warmer winter days though. GM got this one right I guess. Never had a truck with a 10 bladed clutch fan before either.

[wyldman]

I've moved some posts to a new thread here,as it was clogging up the original thread,and was way off topic.If anyone wishes to continue the discussion,please feel free,but keep it clean and free from jabs and insults.

[Dockboy]

Originally posted by thesnoman
diesels will soon loss even more appeal.

NEVER!!! At least for me;)

You are a piece of work "thesnoman"! LOL!!!

It will be an interesting winter this year, that's for sure:headwall

[CT18fireman]

That doesn't even make sense.

If you were trying to say that diesels would lose appeal, I think you are surely wrong.

Around here at least the Fords dealer that I know reports that 80% if his Superduty line sales (F150 only comes with gassers) are Diesels. He doesn't even stock gas models, only demos.

When you are towing around here most people want the steady mileage and power of a diesel. Maybe in the flatlands things are different.

[gslam88]

Guys,

I have to add my little .02 of opinion here... but I look at the short pocket effect that I see on the diesel while out plowing ...

an example for me that shows it well ... last season during one of those longer storms of snow... 30+ in early dec.. I ended up filling up my truck 3 times... vs someone I know that filled up his gas truck 5 times... we both were out just as long... had just as much work to get done...and that shows me that I did not spend as much on a day to day basis.. while plowing and ideling... and working....

now as far as ideling... I would have to look it up for the formula .. but I seem to remember from another diesel site.. that someone asked how much fuel was burned ideling .. it worked out to be something like 2.5 hours of ideling only burned something like less than 2 gallons... I don't know the answer, but what would a gasser burn just running for 2 hours...

Snowman.. you said you get 12 hours out of a tank... and in 44+ hours I got 3 tanks... hummm... sound like your gasser does burn more fuel than my 6.5td

The last bit I want to say

Do you think we are back again way off the subject of the dodge axles???

Pete

Jesse... I believe the ads for litchfield ford put them as # 1 ford dealer in the area... I beleive it...

this is just my .02 and I could be wrong ... and I will admit that I do not know it all....

[Lawngodfather]

Originally posted by wyldman
The diesel will save the average person $3300.00 in fuel over a period of 100,000 miles.That number goes way up if your plowing\towing\working the trucks hard.So over 300,000 miles,you've saved almost $10,000 in fuel,no tune ups (at least 2 on a gasser at big $$$ these days),and a motor rebuild\replacement on the gasser. I was going to pick a quote from thesnowman, but this is what I was going to say. A frined and I figured it would take 120k miles to recoupe the cost of the diesel in hard costs, but the soft costs its self is what I was after...

Wintertime. I left truck running with heat on for 2 weeks straight.

Nice n toasty warm when I got in it and didn't have to wait to warm it up......Top that gassucker......

And do they still make big trucks with gas in them....NO....

I think the late 60's was the end of that. You aint going to find a gas engine in a tractor anymore...

Most of what Wyldman and John D said I found in the likes of my truck.

Oh and John......thanks for talking me into this AWSOME truck.

w 4:10 I can cruise at 70 on the higway and I forget a 10k trailer is back there.

[Lawngodfather]

This truck would of been dead at 100k miles with a gas engine


Can you say 382,xxx miles...........

Say it with me thesnowthing....

Three hundred eighty two thousand miles....

[Lawngodfather]

this one has almost 300k

[Lawngodfather]

Gassuckers eat your heart out

[Lawngodfather]

Oh these rear disk breaks are the shiznit

[Lawngodfather]

Ohhhhhhh the pain of your 7 foot plow....

It can't push this monster...

all 10' which would take you 2.5 passes to cover.

[gslam88]

Hey Godfather...

I hate to say this, but your about a little less than 1/2 thru the life of your truck...

what are you going to do...if you drive it say 30k per year... you only have 15 years left on the truck... so that means somewhere around 2018 or so you make have to look for that new nuclear powered dump truck.... with the load teleporting transporter

oh wait... you can't do that with a gas motor... hummmmm

pete

[Prosno]

Amen godfather! very well saidplowing!

[Pelican]

Thread closed, AGAIN!

Chris set very specific guidelines on how to debate here, they were violated.

There will be no further insults towards anyone from any party that will be tolerated.

[wyldman]

I reopened this as it was a good discussion,so lets continue it that way.

One more insult,or any more name calling,and it will be closed for good.We can all play nice in here. :D

[ratlover]

Chris is a big dork! :p j/k:D

One thing that hasnt been mentioned in this tread yet is chicks dig big trucks that blow black smoke pimp

I actually think Diesel is gaining appeal and going to become more mainstream. There are many people that still view diesels as "big slow loud trucks that require lots of extra matinence and tinkering" but I think thats slowly changing especially with the new generation of diesels that have made leaps and bounds. There will probably be a time when its popularity will start to decline but I see diesel as becoming much more mainstream in the next couple years especially as the masses become less "ignorant"(I mean in the strict definition, if anyone thinks its a jab go read a dictionary) to the new generation of diesels and they lose alot of thier stigmas.

[JohnnyU]

I agree 100%.

I would like to see diesel catch on here like it has in Europe. It seems like a much better fuel source, and would decrease the fuel consumption of this country (hopefully)

Fuel cells and hybrids are fine and dandy, but I think we should concentrate on the technology that we already have, and is so far ahead of gasoline... but that's just my $0.02

[wyldman]

Diesels in europe are mainstream now,in fact petrol cars are dying a slow death.

It would be great if that stuff takes off over here.Look at the new TDI's with the new PD system.It's a great engine.

It would be nice too,as there are so many alternative,and renewable fuel sources that will replace diesel with few or minor modifications to the current technology.Imagine if the OEM's started building vehicles designed for these fuels ! omg

[ratlover]

Oh yeah BIOdiesel:cool: One of these days I will be getting on the veggy train.....too many projects and not enough time:(

[CT18fireman]

American diesel engines are just starting to catch up with European technology.

Yes the Americans make a lot more power, but the foreign diesel have been smoother, quieter, more drivable and need less tinkering to run for years. Engines like the VW TDI are still ahead IMO.

My grandparents had and I have inherited a 75 Mercedes 300D. It has a five cylinder diesel and runs like a top after 30 years. Can you ask for more?

Popularity of diesels here will mean even more improvments.

[Pickering Snow]

Diesels are the way of the future sorry if i insult anyone here ran almost all 5.4 in the super dutys they were kiling me iam down to two and the only reason i still have them is i would have to give them away know owning three 6.0ls iam happy and in the long run saving money period


oh ya the wife hates them the chics dig them:D

[wyldman]

Originally posted by Pickering Snow
oh ya the wife hates them the chics dig them:D

You must be married to my wife ! omg

[Dockboy]

My wife sometimes thinks I care more about my diesel truck than her!!:eek: :argue :rolleyes:

[EZSnow]

I was actually having this chat at Applebee's last night. A friend is looking at starting a business in which he will need more truck than his F150. One guy says "diesel ain't worth the money" I said, "it is"... on it goes. Bottom line is this; anybody who says a diesel isn't worth the money has never owned one... the only caveat that may apply is that owning an "old" diesel doesn't count. Maybe only the last 8-10 years or so- if you've owned one of these, and worked it, you'll never go back.

Oh, there are the skeptics, like my wife- She wasn't even going to ride in a "stinky" diesel, or a "rough" one-ton, for that matter. She wanted a 454 suburban. So I got a diesel F350... now go ask her what kind if vehicle she wants next... Yep, an Excursion. Then ask her what kind of fuel it should burn... (with a smirk, she'll say-) DIESEL!!

I just don't get it- I can road-trip from MN to northern IN (500 miles) on my 27g tank. If it runs out at the pump thats 18.5mpg. I don't know of any gasoline-powered vehicle that can do that, only to hook up to a 12,000# fifth wheel and drag it home with ease- still pulling almost 12mpg. No chevy 350 or 454 can do both, nor can a ford 5.4 or 6.8 for that matter.

I just blue-booked my truck, came to $31,180.
Booked it without the diesel?... ... $26,100.
A 2005 Gasser 40,900
a 2005 Diesel 46,700 (similarly equipped)

If you take the price difference of the new trucks and the price difference of the used trucks, a little quick math tells me that diesel only REALLY cost about $800 over the life of the vehicle- seems like a no-brainer to me. How long does it take to save $800 in fuel? Not long- nevermind that the simple convenience of diesel power is worth every penny of the $6000.

You wanna plow with gas? Have at it!

[John DiMartino]

I agree EZ snow, i still hear about how slow the diesels are.These guys havent driven anything modern at all.The last slow diesel was in the mid ninetys. ( i wont miss the slow,stinky 6.2GM and 7.3 navistar IDI's).Most diesels today are the top of line engine as far as performance goes. I know the Ford 6.0 outperforms there own 6.8V10 and the Dodge Cummins"600" blows the hemi away in every situation even empty in equal trucks.
I have converted about 10 people that i know of ,to diesels,just by owning mine.
The power alone is worth the money to buy a diesel,the fuel savings are a bonus.

[wyldman]

Originally posted by John DiMartino
i still hear about how slow the diesels are.These guys havent driven anything modern at all.

If your truck wasn't so fast,then the other diesels wouldn't seem so slow. :burnout

:D

[Lawngodfather]

Originally posted by wyldman
If your truck wasn't so fast,then the other diesels wouldn't seem so slow Bwhahahahaha

[Coldblue]

hey, ill be the first to stand up and say ill never go back to a gas powered truck. ive owned mine for about a yr and wouldnt trade it for nothin. im now working on the wife, she wants a vw, and i said, ok as long as its a diesel!!! i have the bombing bug as well and i cant say it doesnt get me introuble but, if i knew the power u could produce out of a diesel and still have it street driven, i would have gotten rid of the gas powered turds a long time ago!


hey, john, truck and trans all still in one piece!! for now :D