Vortec V8 vs. Dodge Cummins HO

[ACerf]

Mileage

I get pretty good mileage, I think for a 3500. Most of the time we are getting 14-17 around town and in the high teens on the highway. But most of the time when we are highway driving we are pulling the fiver. Than we are getting between 9-13. It depends on the lay of the land! The Vortec is nice, but GM has been having problem with the engine just stopping for no reason. I work for an RV dealer part time and we had one do that a couple of weeks ago. Light comes on the dash saying "Loss of Power"!

My wife had a customer in her office the other day that had a 03 Chevy Duramax. He told her that he was on his Third Engine! When she told him that we had a Cummins Dodge and no problems, he said I knew I should have gone with that one!

Oh well live and learn!Oo.

 

[lil red cummins]

i now have a little over 1200 miles on her. best overall per tank has been 17. 4mpg. we have been VERY cold here and i have done a lot of idling. my friends with gas trucks are getting somewhere between 9 to 13 in this weather.



fuel mileage will definately be better on the diesel, but dont try to justify the better economy though, because diesel fuel normally costs more than gas here and we all paid at least a $4500 premium for this engine. the folks here that put on 50,000 miles per year (or more) will make out. for the ones like me that will only put on 12 to 14,000 per year it wont be cost effective until around 10years, but i dont care. i just love this cummins too much to worry about the mileage. don't get me wrong, i expect it to get up around 20 in the warm weather and if it doesnt i'll be checking out why. and as far as towing goes, there is no comparison. torque is king!!!!!



jim

 

[DPelletier]

I can easily justify my purchase on better economy where I live. Diesel is about 10 - 20% cheaper than gas here. As far as the cost of the engine goes, mine cost $6,500. 00 Canadian over the gas engine. I expect to get about $10,000. 00 more for the truck when I go to sell or trade it in in 5 years (based on past experience). Around here even an old first gen with a Cummins commands a good price. The same year gas engine truck, you just about have to give it away. Resale may vary from place to place, but around here there is only one economic reason not to get the diesel and that's if you can't afford the initial purchase price.



Dave

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by DPelletier

I can easily justify my purchase on better economy where I live. Diesel is about 10 - 20% cheaper than gas here. As far as the cost of the engine goes, mine cost $6,500. 00 Canadian over the gas engine. I expect to get about $10,000. 00 more for the truck when I go to sell or trade it in in 5 years (based on past experience). Around here even an old first gen with a Cummins commands a good price. The same year gas engine truck, you just about have to give it away. Resale may vary from place to place, but around here there is only one economic reason not to get the diesel and that's if you can't afford the initial purchase price.



Dave

Same around here in NW Pa and NE Ohio. Diesel is generally up to 10 cents per gallon cheaper than gasoline in the summer and maybe a little more than gasoline in the winter (though this winter it's been cheaper all along ($1. 49. 9 today)).



The truck will always be worth more when or if sold and the older it gets the more it will be worth compared to gas. And it pays for itself more and more every day in fuel savings and longevity.



I have had diesels all my life and it always pays to buy one over a gasoline engine - unless you blow the thing up!



Blake

 

[JLehman]

I had a Chevy Z 71 350 vortec that i traded on new o4 DC cause the Chevy wouldn't pull my new 4000# boat comfortably. It pulled it fast enough if you were willin to rev it pretty good, but nothins gonna last runnin at high rpms all the time. About 10 or 11 mpg towing Chevy, 13-14 DC. Chevy screamed at 70+ Cummins loafs.

 

[lil red cummins]

thank you dpellitier and blakers for waking me up on "trade in value" i did not think about that when looking at the cost justification. you guys make me feel even better now. i was already happy with my truck, now even more so. as far a diesel cost goes, it would be nice to see it less than gas. i am looking forward to summer.



once again the TDR proves its value. i am overjoyed with the positive and helpful information gathered at this site.



dpellitier, just out of curiosity, what is the cost per liter of diesel vs. gas up there? my last fill was at $1. 599/gal.



thanks

jim

 

[Dean Upson]

I bought the diesel to tow. I don't know a thing about Chevy gassers, but I would never entertain the notion of pulling my trailer with a HEMI.



Dean

 

[diesel DOG]

A gasser will kill you with the mileage. Even if you have the money as my freind does he said he is sick of stopping for it. He gets about 9-11 and less towing.

 

[DPelletier]

Jim,

My last fill was 65. 9 cents per liter, It's usually about 5 - 10 cents per liter more for regular gas ( X 3. 77 to get US Galls = $2. 48 per US gall).



Dave

 

[DocDetonancour]

More history of C vs. D!

WAS a diehard C man until I bought my CTD in 96 (after many test drives). Recently sold the 96 w/o advertising for over 2x what a gasser would bring! The 96 was a far better truck in so many ways than my previous C's. The 04 CTD is fantastic. I know of many CTD's with well over 100K and NO PROBLEMS. Doc

 

[Hawkeye 04]

My partner went the same day I ordered my truck and bought a 2500 4x4 swb HEMI. He really like the power and responsive throttle it had. The next day he pulled an empty 18' open trailer and on the gentle slopes and mild hills, the transmission was gear-changing like crazy! An empty trailer! He took it back that very same night and traded it for a 3500 SRW CTD and he loves it! It's his first diesel and he's like a kid with a new toy!

 

[Trizae]

got a buddy of my that is a die hard chevy truck guy,,,,,,,,, he has a 98 Z71 with a vortec 350,,,,,, i have to admit,,,, that was a pretty strong truck,,, in fact stronger than the 97 318 gasser i had at the time,



He traded of a 03 2500HD with the 6liter,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, he is talking about buying a cummins now





Any questions



Trey



And just think,,,,,, 2 days ago i was talking about selling my 12valve and buying a HEMI



Glad yall talked me out of it

 

[Big MAK]

FWIW; my Father-in-Law has one of the new Avalanches and he's been trying to figure out how to get rid of it. The 11mpg (average) really bothers him; but the number one problem is it's gutless.



Vs. a HO Cummins? It's not even apples to oranges comparison; atleast both those are in the same genre (fruit). You want awesome power and reasonable economy you're getting the Cummins; the Avalanche isn't on the radar.





..... doh! Just noticed you already have the Cummins! Congrats! Glad you took the time to do some research.

 

[lil red cummins]

WHOA Dave!!!



i guess i won't be complaining about the cost of fuel here. i already knew that the US has been lower in fuel cost than almost anywhere in the world, but did not realize there was that much difference between here and B. C.



thanks for the reply and safe travels



jim

 

[DPelletier]

Jim,

Tell me about it! Lots of people in the lower mainland here cross the border just to buy beer and fill up. Myself, I never felt the effort was justified, but to each their own.



Take care,

Dave