03 Ford 3/4 ton diesel

[LPChristensen]

I guess I am not what your guys would call a real diesel purist because I have never liked the sound of a diesel engine, liked the power, the economy and the reliability, but the engine's "voice" always left me a little flat. I had a 2nd generation Cummins that I liked very well, then I lost my mind and traded it in for 3/4 ton V-10. When I heard, and then test drove, my first 3rd generation Cummins, I thought that this was a diesel that I could be happy living with, had all I wanted in a diesel, and it sounded good. Well, today I drove my friend's new Ford 3/4 ton 4X4, long bed, crew cab, Laredo 6. 0 diesel and his in cab noise level was less than my new 3500 4X4 Laramie, and less than another 03 2500 Dodge SLT, 5. 9, that I drive once in awhile. I don't believe that my buddy's truck has a much power off the line, compared to mine, but his is an automatic and mine is a 6 speed. But it is quiet. Sitting next to each other, they both sounded about the same, the Cummins might have been a little more quiet. But inside, his had the edge. I would guess that Ford must have used more or better sound absorbing material. Have any of your other guys driven a new 6. 0 Ford diesel? Did you have the same experience? I am a long way from switching, but I was much more impressed than I thought I was going to be.

 

[KBennett]

I am kind of the same way.

My '04 is the second diesel I have owned (I had an '03 for three months) and sometimes the diesel is a little noisy especially because I owned a smooth and quiet Tacoma before the Dodges. The turbo sound is cool and I think I am going to upgrade the exhaust to something louder.

At least the Cummins sounds like a real truck diesel but the Ford has that metallic sound

 

[EMD-Run8]

Yup, I know what ya mean. I test drove an extended cab 2wd. It was very nice-------smooth, quiet and the torqshift transmission seemed to work as good or better than a co-worker's crew cab DMAX/ Allison I drove. But!--------I don't know if you have followed some of the threads on the Ford diesel sites or not, but I had gathered enough info before the test drive that in my mind I just couldn't get past thinking about how many more moving parts in the motor. Not to mention the turbo with its pivoting "pawl" like vanes------too many moving parts! Oh, and did you look under the hood? Whew!!!!! Ieeeeeeeyyaaaa!! Scary! Some of the reliability problems say "run! don't walk away! Let's see, there's the famous "romp romp", crankcase full of diesel, porous block and head castings which seemed to have caused all manner of leaks and such and I think the term "re-flash" was used so many times that it seems to have become common language now. Probably even has a reference to 6. 0 PSD's in the dictionary because of it! That being said, I will probably drive another one when I get ready to buy my truck in the next few months for the sake of objectivity as well as a GMC DMAX/Allison. I'm pretty certain though that if I buy new it will be a 2500 QC ST with an HO/six-speed! Now what is interesting is some of the nice B5. 9 installs I have seen/read about in Ford 250/350 trucks. I do like the look of Ford trucks and a full crew cab would be nice. Now with a honkin' Cummins under the hood we might just be onto something!!!!

Also, I understand what you mean what about engine noise but I guess I've never thought about it much. From my '80 Rabbit in high school to my '92 D250 to the Class 8s I drove for two years and now the Locomotives ( I just got called for a trip-----why else would I post at this hour of the day?) I run as an Engineer-----I guess I just never gave it much thought but it is kinda nice! It just occured to me---I must be a diesel nut or something! Doh!!!!

 

[DPKetchum]

Ford been working on in cab noise a lot this year or so. I'm sure some of the tech stuff from the new F150 is carrying over. Its advertised as the quietest truck ever produced. But NO V8 diesel for me. Looked under the hood of one and between the GAS like under hood heat that came out of it and THE cramped engine quarters NO WAY.

 

[Prairie Dog]

The noise level in the cab is what surprises me about Larry's observations. I parked my new 03 next to a new 6. 0 at a local dyno event last winter and everyone compared them side by side. Mine was more quiet, and obviously smoother. Mine also did better on the dyno by about 15 H. P. and 70+ lb ft of torque. I had about 3k miles and he had less than 100 though. I don't know how much difference that made.



Scotty

 

[DPKetchum]

It dosen't me. Ford been pushing QUIET,plush etc. Any one know apples for apples weight of Ford/Dodge/chevy just curious?:-{}

 

[JNutter]

I drove a Ford withthe 6. 0 and a 2003 Dodge witht he H. O. CTD in the same day, about a month ago. I was deciding on which to buy. I had owned a '94 F240 IDI with the factory turbo (turned up a bit) for the last 5 years and it was a good truck, so I was going to give the 6 liter a fair shake and maybe even buy one if it made a lot more power than the Cummins.



It turned out that there wasn't a lot of difference in power or noise level on the two trucks that I drove. The Cummins clearly had the edge in simplicity, reliabilty and economy though.



I didn't even consider the Duramax. The different expansion rates of the aluminum head and cast iron block were more than enough to scare me away. The soccer mom friendly front suspension on the Chevy 4x4s didn't exactly make me get warm and tingly inside either.

 

[TCDiesel]

Truck

When the new 6. 0 was released their was all this POMP how great and powerfull this new motors is ,visit their forum buy backs,no start,contaminate oil,etc. Now for some reason everything is related to software problems,and the fix all is the 04 engine.

Only miles and time will tell,

 

[smartineau]

Quiet is great, but I wish my truck made more noise, (this will be fixed soon). I can understand wanting that quiet noise after driving a gasser, but like was already mentioned: simplicity is good. If an old 12valver was an option I would have got one of those and doctored it up.



Steve



give me a little more noise and I'll certainly take the reliability of a Cummins

 

[JDerbedrossian]

the fords are so quiet inside the cab cause they got all that heat shielding on the firewall, on top and on the sides of the engine compartment. thats what happens when you mount everything on top of the motor

 

[SSage]

I test drove a F-350 Crew Cab 4x4 6. 0, very quiet. Looked at a few more, all had the problems we hear about. No power under 1800, well actually more like 2000 on the one I drove 4 months ago.



I also figured that a "real" crew cab would have better access to the rear seats. The floor space is real narrow when you get in. Fit and finish was well below Dodge and GMC/Chevy. The dually trucks I saw had heavy orange peel on the rear fenders too. The dealer wanted to sell it, but I couldn't deal with all the issues, like the noise and vibration in the steering. At the end of my test drive the truck stumbled and the AC never fully cooled the cab. That truck had a whole bunch of problems including loose door panels on the rear doors. A lemon perhaps?



I looked at the GMC, to much clatter in the cab, not enough low end and its really more like a car than a truck. Fit and finish was very good. The power was not there with the auto compared to the Ford or Dodge. Above all else I don't like the front end at all. The prices were great though with all the big rebates.



So, we bought another Dodge. No complaints except from a little vibration in the steering wheel at 65 mph. The only things I really liked about the Ford was the hubs and a lack of interior noise. The truck was really quiet inside, pop the hood and wow, it becomes very loud at idle. I was surprised its still so loud outside with the Dura and Cummins being so much lower in noise.

 

[y-knot]

I don't know about you guys, I could never figure out why someone would buy a diesel then complain about the noise??? Or even talk about it..... it is a DIESEL, and it is not suppose to sound like a gasser. Yes you had a TOYOTA Tacoma, so what. . They are apples and oranges... . different worlds and they can not be compared. I hate to say this..... but before trucks became "cool and in style to drive", I never ran into someone who bought a DIESEL, and they complained about the NOISE. Back then, only Farmer, Construction Workers, Service Businesses, Delivery people, ect drove trucks with diesels. They were not accepted in most social circles, and pretty much anyone seen driving one was condemd as a "low life". Of coarse, the trucks were cheaper, cause they didn't have to ride like a car, didn't have leather seats, DVD player, Electric mirrors, ect. And people that thought they were noisy, bought cars. I think it was in many aspects better that way, real men bought them, and real men drove them. .

 

[SSage]

I like a quiet cab, I like diesels too. I work around heavy equipment at work, I don't need anymore noise. I love the new ISB. On long trips its much less tiring, but still loud enough to know your driving a cummins.

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by SSage

I like a quiet cab, I like diesels too. I work around heavy equipment at work, I don't need anymore noise. I love the new ISB. On long trips its much less tiring, but still loud enough to know your driving a cummins.

Dean

 

[smartineau]

Larry after re-reading some of the posts I figured out why the Ford was so much quieter. The motor died yet again!



steve

 

[Prairie Dog]

That's cold (but funny) :-laf

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

Sorry, But I wont buy a new 03-04 yet... ... ..... can't hear the motor. I won't have something that is that quiet. I want to know/hear what is happening with the motor/driveline. But I guess I could straight pipe it... .

 

[LPChristensen]

Y-Knot, gimme a break with this "real men bought them and real men drove them" macho crud! I enjoy the sound of an nice street rod, I enjoy the sound that my Harley makes, I enjoy hearing pistols, revolvers and rifles fire, I enjoy the sound of my power tools, I even enjoy the sound of my chain saw. But that doesn't mean that I would enjoy hearing a loud diesel engine for 8 or 10 hours when I am using my truck to pull a load or haul something someplace. I really like my 3rd generation Cummins compared to my old 2nd generation and the reasons are more power and less noise. And because I enjoy a little more civilized creature comforts in the cab, I think, does not reflect poorly on my manhood. If you want a "real man's truck" without air, radios, CD players, comfortable seats, carpet and a loud engine pounding away a few feet from you, I think you will find few people trying to outbid you for such a vehicle. The Ford is quiet, and I for one, wish that the Dodge truck with a Cummins engine was as quiet.

 

[DPKetchum]

Quiet has turned out to be FINE. I first said same thing then as it grew on me I much prefer this diesel noise over the LOUD kind. I think Powerstrokes be it quiet or LOUD sound like junk at at a stop light. DuraMax not as bad but lots of Powerstrokes make some strange noises sitting at intersections. And be it a Ford diesel or a Chevy diesel THEY ALL turn to look at a 03 DODGE diesel.

 

[KBennett]

Great reply Larry!

Thanks for defending us "quiet" guys. Unfortunately y-knot decided to get a little personal and bring up his idea of a REAL MAN.



This is y-knot's exact quote from another post talking about 4 wheel steering in 05 where he brought up a few things Dodge could do to improve their trucks: "Maybe a true crew cab would be nice. How about some more seating options, captains chairs, or a seat that feels good".



We all have our wants and I will leave it up to my wife to decide what a real man is.



y-knot, consider yourself flamed!