deserteagle56
Adventurer
The 5.9 Cummins is definitely the "simpler" engine compared with the 6.7 - no worries about all the pollution control crap the newer 6.7 is saddled with - and that same crap is usually what causes problems needing expensive repair.
If you find a low-miles 2003 or newer 5.9 engine noise is not much of a factor. What you also need to consider is the transmission behind the engine. If you are going manual tranny, then no problem. If you need an automatic transmission then you need to know that the 5.9 engine came with a 47 or 48RE 4 speed automatic that can also be problematic. The 6.7 engine will generally have the 6 speed or 8 speed automatic behind it and those seem to be holding up quite well.
I just happend to luck out when one of my neighbors decided to get rid of his 5.9 - because it has the manual transmission and his wife just could not learn how to drive it. 2004 model with only 50,000 miles on it - I just turned 67,000 miles and I'll own this truck until I'm too old to drive! I get 13-14 mpg with the below setup and it will pull any hill without my needing to shift out of overdrive. Love it!
But...if I were buying new I'd definitely be looking at the new Ford with the 7.3 gas engine instead of any of the new diesels. Those new diesels have too many problems, and for where I take my rigs dependability is paramount!
If you find a low-miles 2003 or newer 5.9 engine noise is not much of a factor. What you also need to consider is the transmission behind the engine. If you are going manual tranny, then no problem. If you need an automatic transmission then you need to know that the 5.9 engine came with a 47 or 48RE 4 speed automatic that can also be problematic. The 6.7 engine will generally have the 6 speed or 8 speed automatic behind it and those seem to be holding up quite well.
I just happend to luck out when one of my neighbors decided to get rid of his 5.9 - because it has the manual transmission and his wife just could not learn how to drive it. 2004 model with only 50,000 miles on it - I just turned 67,000 miles and I'll own this truck until I'm too old to drive! I get 13-14 mpg with the below setup and it will pull any hill without my needing to shift out of overdrive. Love it!
But...if I were buying new I'd definitely be looking at the new Ford with the 7.3 gas engine instead of any of the new diesels. Those new diesels have too many problems, and for where I take my rigs dependability is paramount!