Cummins, Duramax or Gas? Help!!!

[hobigusn]

I'm a diesel machanic for the navy. I love diesel engines. I'm haveing such a hard time figureing out what truck to get. It will be used as a daily driver. So I don't need 2wd. i would like to keep the truck as simple and as many MPGs as possible. No 4wd makes it lighted and a better ride and no front drivetrain to worry about. I've driven Chevys all my life. The LB7 has injector problems. The LLY has overheating and injector harness problems. The Duramax needs injectors about every 100K miles. 3k on injectors every 100K is not a big seller. And they take 3 days to install. Buy what about a Cummins. Great engine, but i don't know about the rest of the truck. The Dodge's lift pump will go but the injectors seem to last far beyond 100k. I've heard things about the interior and parts haveing premature wear. And as i'm a fan of chevy but live the Cummis. Or i go all out practical and get a gas truck. Unleaded is 20 cents cheaper then diesel. I could drive 36,000 miles in a gas truck for the extra 5k i would spend just to get a diesel truck. If i have the money by the time my enlistment is up i really would like a diesel, but which one is the right truck? Any opinions and personal experiences would be helpfull.

 

[HBarlow]

You're on a Dodge-Cummins website. Our members own and drive Dodges with Cummins engines. We believe they are great trucks.

What do you really want to know?

 

[hobigusn]

I know the engine is great but is alot of little stuff breaking. Do you believe a dodge is a good daily driver in Michigan? Lots of potholes and cold winters.

 

[jgillott]

I know the engine is great but is alot of little stuff breaking. Do you believe a dodge is a good daily driver in Michigan? Lots of potholes and cold winters.

The questions you are having, could be answered easier if we understand how you are planning to use your truck. Do you tow or haul a lot on a consistant basis? How many miles will you be driving a year? Do you have or plan on having family to haul around with you? Will this be your only vehicle? Do you plan on driving it in the snow? How much are you planning to spend when you purchase?



A lot can be said for matching the truck that you purchase to the duty cycle that you are going to use it for. Give us some more info and I'm sure we can be of more help.

 

[Grizzly]

As far as I'm concerned there's no other choice, get a Dodge Cummins turbo diesel.

 

[Wiredawg]

There is a variety of uses and applications... dayly driver, towing and hauling. My wife drives her '03 2500 about 38 miles each way to work. I have an '09 4500 I drive 6 miles each way to work and they work great. Our decision to buy deisel trucks is longevity and durability. We buy 'em new an run 'em at least 10 years or more.



I spent 30 years in the Air Force, and while assigned in DC, used my '02 3500 dually as a daily driver. Gotta lotta looks driving down town and parallel parking in the city.



Test drive some gassers and deisels to see what feels good. And shop around for the best deal. You can save thousands or over pay thousands. Look on e-bay... several dealers post there.



Anyway, let us know what you decide to do.



wiredawg

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

I second what Grizzly says. Also, the Cummins will achieve 20% to 30% better fuel efficiency over a gas motor, especially when put to work. That will substantially offset the fuel costs you mentioned earlier. I have had very little go bad in any of my dodges, and I have had more than a few over the years.

 

[hobigusn]

The questions you are having, could be answered easier if we understand how you are planning to use your truck. Do you tow or haul a lot on a consistant basis? How many miles will you be driving a year? Do you have or plan on having family to haul around with you? Will this be your only vehicle? Do you plan on driving it in the snow? How much are you planning to spend when you purchase?



A lot can be said for matching the truck that you purchase to the duty cycle that you are going to use it for. Give us some more info and I'm sure we can be of more help.

Gladly, i will give more info. any help would be great! i do not tow. driving about 20k per year. Yes on the family to haul around. Yes it will be my only vehicle. Yes to driving in the snow. Michigan winter lasts 6 month it seems. looking to spend $20K on a 04-05. i plan on keeping ti till it dies. that's why longevity is such a consern. But i've seen gassers go over 300k. (dad's last 2 chevy astro vans went over, 300k and 350k)

 

[hobigusn]

I second what Grizzly says. Also, the Cummins will achieve 20% to 30% better fuel efficiency over a gas motor, especially when put to work. That will substantially offset the fuel costs you mentioned earlier. I have had very little go bad in any of my dodges, and I have had more than a few over the years.

$3. 09 for unleaded at 18 MPG. $3. 29 for diesel at about 23 MPG. Think 23 is a realistic number? That comes out about the same in price-milage. Now a 04-05 gas truck is $16-17k and a diesel is $17-22. I just ask is that extra cost up front worth it for a person like me? Would maintance costs be more or less for a diesel?

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

$3. 09 for unleaded at 18 MPG. $3. 29 for diesel at about 23 MPG. Think 23 is a realistic number? That comes out about the same in price-milage. Now a 04-05 gas truck is $16-17k and a diesel is $17-22. I just ask is that extra cost up front worth it for a person like me? Would maintance costs be more or less for a diesel?

I think it is about equal on maintenance. The gas motors have ignition components that require periodic maintenance; diesels do not, while the diesel has a fuel filter that is changed more often than a gasser. Diesels take more oil than a gasser. It all depends on your use and preference. The diesel torque come on very early and runs faily flat. Great for towing and in the hills.

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

First of all... THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION!!!

I've owned all diesel vehicles since 1998 and have been more than impressed with mileage and power! It all depends what you are gonna use it for. If you tow a lot then a diesel will be the best by far, but to each his own I guess.

A 5. 9 without emissions garbage would be the most trouble free in short trips or a modded 6. 7 (if you're brave enough to void warranty)

Gassers aren't all bad since it's much more appealing to the eyes looking at the prices of fuel now.

Best of luck to whatever you choose and if it's a Cummins... Welcome to the forum!!!

 

[hobigusn]

I think it is about equal on maintenance. The gas motors have ignition components that require periodic maintenance; diesels do not, while the diesel has a fuel filter that is changed more often than a gasser. Diesels take more oil than a gasser. It all depends on your use and preference. The diesel torque come on very early and runs faily flat. Great for towing and in the hills.

I know that on a Duramax the injectors are almost routen maintance at 100K miles. What about the Cummins?

 

[moser11]

I am a relatively new Dodge Cummins 12v owner and honestly wasnt the biggest fan going into it ... ... ..... Best truck ever... . easy to work on..... relatively cost effective ( by comparison) and great mileage... ... Very glad I listened to my buddy who found me the truck... .

 

[KB0OU]

I have a 96 with over 400k miles on it, original injectors, all I have done to them is to bench check them a couple of times.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

$3. 09 for unleaded at 18 MPG. $3. 29 for diesel at about 23 MPG. Think 23 is a realistic number? That comes out about the same in price-milage. Now a 04-05 gas truck is $16-17k and a diesel is $17-22. I just ask is that extra cost up front worth it for a person like me? Would maintance costs be more or less for a diesel?


I can not tell you what to purchase, but I do not think you will ever see 18 mpg with a gasser, a Hemi? more like 8-10 mpg if your light on the gas pedal you might see 18 with a diesel.

 

[champspa]

when I bought mine ,way back when, diesel was . 10 to . 20 cents cheaper than gas and I figured over 100k the engine would pay for it's self that's including 4 or 5 miles to the gallon better mileage . well they're not 5k more anymore for diesels and they don't sell a Slt for 27k anymore so look at all the models all the power they make , all the warranties , how hard they are to work on, and go figure . I came up with Dodge . you come up with yours.

 

[AWeiman]

but I do not think you will ever see 18 mpg with a gasser, a Hemi? more like 8-10 mpg if your light on the gas pedal you might see 18 with a diesel. [/QUOTE]



before we bout our 06 we looked into a half ton with a hemi and even test drove one. best i could find on the web was guys getting 12-14mpg with a hemi. if you going to buy a 3/4 ton truck you stand a pretty good chance of being pleased with a ctd.

 

[hobigusn]

but I do not think you will ever see 18 mpg with a gasser, a Hemi? more like 8-10 mpg if your light on the gas pedal you might see 18 with a diesel.

I think the chevy 5. 3 get 18. I was hopeing a 2wd 04-05 quad cab would get 22-23 as a daily driver.

 

[AWeiman]

I think the chevy 5. 3 get 18. I was hopeing a 2wd 04-05 quad cab would get 22-23 as a daily driver.

i think that going with a 2wd is gonna get you closer to 22-23 than a 4wd however i think 18-20 would be more realistic. as stated before, on this site most will tell you go with the ctd cause it is proven and reliable. if it was me that is what i would do.

 

[hobigusn]

i think that going with a 2wd is gonna get you closer to 22-23 than a 4wd however i think 18-20 would be more realistic. as stated before, on this site most will tell you go with the ctd cause it is proven and reliable. if it was me that is what i would do.

Thank you for all your help. It's nice to straighten out my thoughts. Do you think a diesel makes a good daily driver?