diesel or gasser

sneakypete · Jul 25, 2016

I've had two duramax's, first was an 2005 Chevy quad cab it was oa great running truck. I now have a 2014 gmc Denali quad cab, even better than the 05. It has a 36 gallon tank, the 05 had a 24 gal tank. The gmc avg. 20 mpg on the trip last year to northern BC. I'd definetly look for a newer model with a 36 gal tank and engine brake! Forget the gas model if you're gonna pull a trailer. I pull my boat the weighs 320o lbs with ease. You can't beat the Allison transmission either.

Jrod · Jul 25, 2016

I just bought my first diesel. 2002 3/4 ton gmc hd. Friggin power up the ying yang. I was always turned off by the smell and sound, but it doesn't smell nearly as bad as I thought and quieter than anticipated. I live in California with horrible smog laws. If passing smog is not an issue the gm gas motors are unreal. A new cam and computer work and the 6.0 will be putting out well over 400 horses. Our smog laws don't really allow us to do such things. Diesels even have to pass smog. Here anything 2007 and earlier doesn't have smog equipment, just a cat. So I wouldn't buy anything here newer than that here. I don't know what it is like there; I would expect different.
Plus when diesels need work it is much more expensive. Hit up the LS and diesel forums and creep around

mnhoundman · Jul 25, 2016

I have a 2015 GMC 4 door 2500 HD, it has the 6.0. I was pondering between this and the duramax. I mainly was getting it to plow snow so I wanted the gas, but pulled an 8x20 ice castle to Wyoming last year and wished I had the duramax, got about 7 miles to the gallon, but for just one trip a year I'm not sure on the duramax. And I didn't want to deal with it in -30 zero!

velvetfvr · Jul 25, 2016

Buy a diesel, straight pipe it, throw on a programmer and you'll get a rig that'll run much longer than a gas truck, have more power, and you'll get the best fuel efficiency. Just don't look into upgrading a diesel, gets way to expensive.

Matthoek21 · Jul 25, 2016

I have the GMC Denali 2500 6.0 with a propane kit so I can run both unleaded and propane. I'm in the propane business so that's the reason for the duel fuel. If I weren't in the propane business and running around basically for free then I would have gone with the diesel. I put a leveling kit and 295's on my truck and the fuel mileage is awful. Maybe 8mpg now. Before the bigger tires I was only getting 10-12 mpg. If your pulling trailers go with the diesel for sure. You can always add propane injection for more power and even higher fuel mileage. A lot of 18 wheelers now use the propane injection system. Really pays for itself if logging trucker miles. Good luck with whatever you do. Oh I am putting a chip on mine as soon it comes in. I ordered one last week. I'll let ya know how that goes.

go_deep · Jul 25, 2016

I have a 3/4 Chevy gas. I've replaced the transmission and countless other front end, and drive train parts. If your pulling anything buy a diesel with an Allison transmission. The HD gas is a joke. Forgot to add why it's a joke, I've only got 113k miles on mine. Ford and dodge make an equally good diesel, but if you will only drive a bow tie make sure it has an Allison

Colorado Cowboy · Jul 25, 2016

I am on my 3rd diesel, first one in 1984. My 1999 had 300K miles on it and no issues with engine or trans. I have a 2013 now.....oh forgot to tell you they have all been Fords. No gas rigs for me.

mntnguide · Jul 25, 2016

Retterath said:
thanks for the feedback! I dont drive my truck a whole lot cause my main job i work for a utility and drive my bucket truck home every day and night and my personel truck sits in the back garage. I used it only for hunting and fishing and now using it for my elec business i started after my main job. If a diesel sits for longer periods in the garage do they gum up or need to be ran quite a bit?

Newer diesels do just fine. .if you don't touch it for a month or more in winter and temps are getting freezing, just make sure to put fuel additive in when you fill up and the first time u start it let it run a little bit before taking off...ohh and block heaters are a life saver for those of us in the cold weather states...while I was working powerlines off helicopters this past winter my truck would not move for a month or so and be in 0°and below temp often. ..I'd get home from a hitch and it would start up no problem without even plugging it in. .I have a 12 F350 with the 6.7...Diesel is the way to go!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

buckbull · Jul 25, 2016

I don't have (nor need) a diesel truck however my sister has a business that requires pulling a trailer. She has 3/4 ton trucks. Both ford and chevy gassers have had their issues. Transmissions on the Chevy, Ford was just complete junk (blown spark plugs, 2 trannys, exhaust manafold, etc). The ford was so bad she has vowed to never own another. The duramax with that allison transmission hasn't given her any problems.

Colorado Cowboy · Jul 26, 2016

My 99 F350 Powerstroke 4x4,with the Ford 3 speed od tranny lasted 300,000 mile with any major problems. Tranny had never been apart, just serviced and a replacement wire harness seal. I towed a 29' boat that weighed in at 13,000+ and lots of smaller stuff too. The point I make is that these trucks are pretty bulletproof....IF you service them. I serviced my tranny every 40 to 50 K without fail! Oil changes every 4 to 5K miles. I got 100 K miles out of my brakes.

Whatever brand you pick, keep it serviced. Money well spent!

buckbull · Jul 26, 2016

Colorado Cowboy said:
My 99 F350 Powerstroke 4x4,with the Ford 3 speed od tranny lasted 300,000 mile with any major problems. Tranny had never been apart, just serviced and a replacement wire harness seal. I towed a 29' boat that weighed in at 13,000+ and lots of smaller stuff too. The point I make is that these trucks are pretty bulletproof....IF you service them. I serviced my tranny every 40 to 50 K without fail! Oil changes every 4 to 5K miles. I got 100 K miles out of my brakes.

Whatever brand you pick, keep it serviced. Money well spent!

Not trying to ruffle your feathers CC. Hard to argue with the luck you have had. The 7.3L is a beast and well made engine. If I was going to go ford, I would avoid the 6.0L at all cost, way to many problems. Cost Ford umpteen millions of dollars in warranty work.

xtreme · Jul 26, 2016

I thought I would answer just for fun. My Ford FX4 5.4 is a pleasant truck to drive, quiet, good handling, good brakes, blows spark plugs. Last blown plug this month broke the plug and coil while flopping around. Amazing how much the manufacturers get away with. Transmission is weak, gas mileage is nil horsepower is nil. Another truck is an 07 Dodge, a certified lemon. The Dodge is 6.6 diesel. The emissions gave lots of trouble, the turbo went south, the trans wont stand the current horsepower, however I am getting buy. If towing heavy loads, I will prevent it from up shifting to the higher gears. The Dodge has awesome brakes and a jake brake. Horse power is between 450 and 535 adjustable. Even at 400 hp it will outrun my corvette, at max it is a hoot to drive Indicated fuel mileage is 22-24. The tuner lies, its like 19 and always has been. One more truck is my 79 chevy 3/4 454. It was my brothers truck and is getting a build. I am restoring it as best I can and will use it for local tow with a little over 400 hp. Trucks should be fun, turn them up.

Colorado Cowboy · Jul 26, 2016

buckbull said:
Not trying to ruffle your feathers CC. Hard to argue with the luck you have had. The 7.3L is a beast and well made engine. If I was going to go ford, I would avoid the 6.0L at all cost, way to many problems. Cost Ford umpteen millions of dollars in warranty work.

You are completely correct. I've owned diesel PUs for over 30 years. There have been some "turkeys", but most have been great products. My point was made in my last statement. Treat them right and they return your money spent, and lots more.

sneakypete · Jul 26, 2016

My first Duramax had 230,000 on original brakes with 80% left, my tire guy says by far the best braking system of the ford, dodge& GM.

JimP · Jul 26, 2016

Your brake wear is going to depend on how you use them. If you are doing a lot of city driving and towing and not using the trailer brakes to stop you then they are going to wear a lot faster on the truck. I have a 20 year old Ford F350 and am still on the factory brakes, but then I use gears to slow down along with my trailer brakes when towing and I avoid driving in the city with it at all cost.

As to which vehicle to get, if you do tow a lot then the diesel hands down but just remember that everything on a diesel cost quite a bit more than a gas truck from oil changes to any other repair. Plus the initial extra cost of the diesel over a gas engine. Right now most manufactures are charging around $10,000 extra for the diesel option.

packmule · Jul 26, 2016

Matthoek21 said:
I have the GMC Denali 2500 6.0 with a propane kit so I can run both unleaded and propane. I'm in the propane business so that's the reason for the duel fuel. If I weren't in the propane business and running around basically for free then I would have gone with the diesel. I put a leveling kit and 295's on my truck and the fuel mileage is awful. Maybe 8mpg now. Before the bigger tires I was only getting 10-12 mpg. If your pulling trailers go with the diesel for sure. You can always add propane injection for more power and even higher fuel mileage. A lot of 18 wheelers now use the propane injection system. Really pays for itself if logging trucker miles. Good luck with whatever you do. Oh I am putting a chip on mine as soon it comes in. I ordered one last week. I'll let ya know how that goes.

We appreciate your willingness to blow through propane. Have you had to talk to a person in TX about PHMSA in the past couple of weeks?

We run duramax w/allisons. Actually just sold one of the "daily drivers" that I rarely drove..('13, 39k miles)....I'll probably regret it.

Gr8bawana · Jul 26, 2016

Right now I have a 97 dodge gas pickup with the 5.9 engine. 252,000+ miles on the original engine and trans so that's pretty darn good I think. Now that my wife and I are retired we have more time to go hunting and fishing so we take our 25ft trailer. When towing it I get around 7mpg, on a good day I might get 9-10 on flat ground. Hills of any kind are a killer even with the 4.10 gears I had installed. Fully loaded it only weighs in at about 8500lbs.
My next truck will definitely be a diesel. My brother tows my trailer when we go hunting together with his 2004 dodge diesel and it is a beast compared to my truck. It will take the hills at 70 and never downshift out of overdrive. So far the only problem he had was having to have the trans rebuilt at 200.000 miles.
Good luck in your search for your new diesel.

Matthoek21 · Jul 26, 2016

packmule said:
We appreciate your willingness to blow through propane. Have you had to talk to a person in TX about PHMSA in the past couple of weeks?

Heck yea I'm burning it up.
I have not. What's going on in TX?

diesel or gasser

Veteran member

Veteran member

Active Member

Veteran member

Veteran member

Veteran member

Veteran member

Super Moderator

Veteran member

Very Active Member

Veteran member

Super Moderator

Veteran member

Very Active Member

Super Moderator

Veteran member

Administrator

Veteran member

Veteran member

Veteran member