Diesel vs gas. Which one is better?

[tdhanses]

Nope...I will be rebuilding the 7.3 I just bought...Nobody talks about the weight of the EV...we are a long way off from a true offroad EV, plus gonna take a big solar panel to charge it to get out.

The unknown is, will you rebuild it if fuel costs are 5x higher or if service stations change to electric charging stations and fuel becomes hard to find?

I don‘t see this happening for 25 years though as the transition will not be immediate.

 

[Mtnboy]

Good timing for a thread like this....

I just ordered up a full delete system for my truck, it will be going on the morning after my warranty expires.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Good timing for a thread like this....

I just ordered up a full delete system for my truck, it will be going on the morning after my warranty expires.

Well done and your diesel will run like a diesel should afterwards.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

The unknown is, will you rebuild it if fuel costs are 5x higher or if service stations change to electric charging stations and fuel becomes hard to find?

I don‘t see this happening for 25 years though as the transition will not be immediate.

Rebuilding a motor right now that's gonna require a lead additive for the fuel..point is there will still be a market to service gas motors way after I am dead and gone. Gas may not be economical by then but it still will be way easier to diagnose and fix issues than any EV.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

I have found that diesel fuel works best in Diesel engines while gasoline works best in gasoline engines, but not so well when you try to use gasoline in a Diesel engine or diesel fuel in a gasoline engine. Although this is just from my experience. Hope this helps settle the debate.

Ouch... that sounds like a bad day..

 

[Doc Holliday]

Well done and your diesel will run like a diesel should afterwards.

I got 67K on my duramax and its 5 years old. Any reason I should not delete?

 

[RockinRam96]

I got 67K on my duramax and its 5 years old. Any reason I should not delete?

Nope. Do it asap so you don’t have head gasket issues


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jbrow327]

Nope. Do it asap so you don’t have head gasket issues


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How do you not get caught with a deleted truck? How do you get the emissions done yearly?

 

[Zak406]

Emissions on diesels are exempt in pa and to my knowledge we have no smog test. I’m a diesel fan personally but I can see both sides of the argument. The maintenance and fuel cost imo are a wash when you factor resale value. The one flip of the coin comes with fixing it when it breaks.

 

[RockinRam96]

How do you not get caught with a deleted truck? How do you get the emissions done yearly?

No emissions testing here in NY. As long as there are no check engine codes present the vehicle passes emission tests. A turner reprograms the computer so it isn’t looking for the emissions sensors.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jbrow327]

To emissions testing here in NY. As long as there are no check engine codes present the vehicle passes emission tests. A turner reprograms the computer so it isn’t looking for the emissions sensors.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They don't physically check underneath?!?!

 

[ToolMann]

If I ever move out of a county that requires emissions, I'll delete. Otherwise I'm stuck with it.

 

[RockinRam96]

They don't physically check underneath?!?!

Yes they do but all their looking at are exhaust leaks and potential safety hazards. Can’t expect mechanics to know every make and models emissions equipment.

Plus I have retained all the emissions equipment on my truck. For the DPF filters I cut them oven and beat out the media. EGR has been disable through tubing and a plug welded in the cross over pipe.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Farmhand1]

So this is the opinion of a heavy equipment mechanic.

Unless your towing on a daily occasion I would go gas. The common gas engines have no problems going well over 200k if maintained well in pickup trucks. The cost of servicing a diesel pickup vs a gas pickup is the biggest thing. Your gonna have maybe 50 bucks in an oil change in any gas pickup if you change it yourself, while the cost of fuel filters drives that price up to almost 200 bucks a pop in a diesel. You can get away with running 87 in almost any gas pickup while a diesel needs much better fuel quality. The price of parts and used engines is much cheaper in a gas truck than a diesel.

Also God forbid something goes wrong in a diesel after treatment system out of warranty cause that will most likely be a big bill.
You will have more power in a diesel, and sometimes better gas mileage. I use my truck mainly highway miles, some offroad, and a little towing so my 5.3 liter Chevy does just fine. If I could afford a diesel maybe I would go that route, but maintenance is key to everything lasting.

In a camp setup it would depend. I've dealt with very few natural gas generators. I've seen the harbor freight gas generators run for a long time with no maintenance.

 

[RockinRam96]

I don’t get how you guys are spending upwards of $200 for an oil change?! It is less than $100 for me but I do it myself.

Rotella 15W-40 oil - $35.00
Quart of Lucas Oil Stabilizer - $12.00
Napa Gold oil filter - $12.00
Just around $50 to change the oil.

For the fuel filter, I have converted it to a Cat spin on filter the OE Naps gold filter was around $50 alone. The Cat filter is only $25 and a much fiber and more efficient filter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fatcamp]

We use gas in an F250. Just don't pull heavy enough to justify diesel hassles.

 

[ranchhand02]

On one side you have the gas camp. They'll say things like diesel emissions systems are very problematic. You have to drive tons of miles to hit break even due to the very expensive diesel engine option. Oil changes and fuel filters definitely add up for diesels.

On the other side is the diesel camp. They'll say things like diesel engines last much longer than gas engines. Diesels pull better in the mountains. You can just delete it(illegal) and get rid of all of it's emissions equipment problems. Some of them will recommend a diesel for someone looking at pulling under 5k pounds. Seems like overkill.

Personally I think gas does fine up to 12k or 13k, using a 3/4 ton or 1 ton of course. Above that, diesel seems to be the correct choice.

What do you guys think? Debate.

I think you are spot on as for as a gas towing vehicle. I have a diesel, but I pull over 20K. It also depends on how far you are pulling. If you are going across the country the diesel would be a better options.

 

[tdhanses]

So this is the opinion of a heavy equipment mechanic.

Unless your towing on a daily occasion I would go gas. The common gas engines have no problems going well over 200k if maintained well in pickup trucks. The cost of servicing a diesel pickup vs a gas pickup is the biggest thing. Your gonna have maybe 50 bucks in an oil change in any gas pickup if you change it yourself, while the cost of fuel filters drives that price up to almost 200 bucks a pop in a diesel. You can get away with running 87 in almost any gas pickup while a diesel needs much better fuel quality. The price of parts and used engines is much cheaper in a gas truck than a diesel.

Also God forbid something goes wrong in a diesel after treatment system out of warranty cause that will most likely be a big bill.
You will have more power in a diesel, and sometimes better gas mileage. I use my truck mainly highway miles, some offroad, and a little towing so my 5.3 liter Chevy does just fine. If I could afford a diesel maybe I would go that route, but maintenance is key to everything lasting.

In a camp setup it would depend. I've dealt with very few natural gas generators. I've seen the harbor freight gas generators run for a long time with no maintenance.

The diesel engine option only costs $900 more then the 5.3.

Maintenance isn’t bad, oil change cost me $65 using Amsoil oil and AC Delco filter and fuel filter around $35, fuel filter every 30k and I do my oil every 5k.

 

[Joseph Floerke]

Diesel all the way. Once you get use to the torque it feels weird driving a gas.

 

[PA Hunter]

The towing torque on a diesel is night and day difference. Bought my first diesel Ram in 2003 and would never buy a gas truck ever again. I also would never buy a hybrid or electric car ever.