what new diesel do you trust? going gasser?

[bloodyWEST]

I am starting to dream of a new 4 door family truck

Chevy is right out, i simply do not care for IFS. My 06 Duramax company work truck is great, but i dont care for it.

i plan to keep my 97 12valve as "my" truck, but i would like something more modern, that isnt falling apart, with cold AC and 4 doors for the family.

I live in CA so EGR deletes are not an option. i know all the new diesels have quirks, and for a rig that will not tow too often(still have 12v for that) im having trouble justifying the price of a diesel.

looking at used trucks, i like the 08-10 fords. i would only go dodge for the cummins, but i know everything newer than 98 has fuel quirks. obviously the 6.0 ford is out, as i dont want to throw $$ at Bullet Proof to make it right. i hear the 6.4 and 6.7 scream, but I know they are very complicated.

honestly at this point i am looking at newer 3v V10s and the new 6.2 gasser.

as i am leaning tword gas, my work truck has 225k miles on it so i am trying to read up on the new trucks, as i will probably replace it in the next year or two, and it will certainly be diesel, 2wd 3500 dually.

we are all capable of going off on tangents, and thats fine. just want to here everyone's "why"

 

[huntsonora]

I find myself in the same position. If you are keeping your 12 valves I would get a gasoline engine that gets good mileage. The cost of diesel and oil changes combined with the fact that they don't get any better mileage made my choice easy.

 

[Kaisen]

You left out a bunch of choices

Based on your only three choices, I'd go with the 6.2L gas Ford if you need greater than 8600 GVWR (eliminates all but three manufactures) and demand a solid front axle (eliminates all but two).

 

[bloodyWEST]

this may sound silly, but Im sure some of you can relate.....

my wife wants full size, she doesnt want a 1/2 ton (what can i say....Im a lucky man)

this will be her DD and will see lots of mellow dirt roads on the weekends.

the more i explore CA, i realize our jeep is extremely capable as a hardcore wheeler, and that a stock 3/4t 4x4 with good tires will get us 99% of the places we want to go.

so yes Kaisen, i guess it just boils down to Ford engine choices (she likes ford)

her dream truck is a 94-97 CC LB f2/350 4x4. they are at a bit of a premium these days, and I cant rationalize spending that much $$ for another older truck.

 

[Flys Lo]

I would chose an 05+ 6.0l before choosing a 6.4.

A 6.4 gets horrible gas milage unless tuned, radiators collapse, and they have most of the issues the 6.0l does, just with a more expensive fuel system. They can make obscene amounts of horsepower though.


The Ford 6.7 has proven to be very durable however. There have been some reports of issues (water in fuel grenading fuel pumps, and requiring replacement fuel systems... 10k repair), and some early exhaust valves cracking on the bank that does the regenning (TSB for it), but both are exceptionally rare. With no lift/tires, most people are getting around 20mpg highway.

The 6.7 Cummins falls to the same fate of the 6.4, first gen emissions systems without urea injection, which means their regens eat a lot of fuel. Although I believe their '14 trucks finally got Urea injection.


That said, my money, I would find a lightly used gas model. The gas models depreciate a lot once they are driven off the lot. The 6.2 gets a bit better gas milage than the V10's - although no other gas engine will touch a 3V V10 with 4.30 gears towing.

 

[Kaisen]

so yes Kaisen, i guess it just boils down to Ford engine choices (she likes ford).

There's nothing wrong with a 6.8L V10, esp the more powerful 3V versions. The 6.2L V8 would just be the newer choice. Both are good motors. The V10s are more "known", both the good and the bad. I had good luck with mine.

 

[bloodyWEST]

thanks for the usefull unfo on the 6.4 vs 6.7

That said, my money, I would find a lightly used gas model. The gas models depreciate a lot once they are driven off the lot.

that is exactly what i have been seeing, and why the 2-3 year old gassers as so tempting

 

[bloodyWEST]

There's nothing wrong with a 6.8L V10, esp the more powerful 3V versions. The 6.2L V8 would just be the newer choice. Both are good motors. The V10s are more "known", both the good and the bad. I had good luck with mine.

thank you, and correct me if im wrong, along with the 3V updated motor, those newer trucks get the new radius arm suspension, bigger brakes ect ect


edit: also, thanks Kaisen for your help....i know your a chevy guy, and i already ruled that out.

 

[redthies]

I voted 6.7 Cummins, but to be fair, I chose the least distasteful of the three poll choices. If I HAD to buy new that's probably where I would go, but I hate buying new. It would have to be Dodge or Ford for me as I just don't like any of the GM products made after around 1990.

In you situation where keeping the 12v around was in the cards, I would look for a 3/4 ton gas job. Maybe a nice granny driven Power Wagon? Assuming I could ignore the horrible fuel economy.

 

[bloodyWEST]

I voted 6.7 Cummins, but to be fair, I chose the least distasteful of the three poll choices. If I HAD to buy new that's probably where I would go, but I hate buying new. It would have to be Dodge or Ford for me as I just don't like any of the GM products made after around 1990.

well, you and me are on the same page.....that doesnt help me pick out a ford though.

I guess the only way i would go dodge, is if everyone was raving about the newer 6.7, but they arn't. it will be interesting to see how the '14 cummins shape up.

I briefly though about the new v6 diesel ram, but that silly car suspension under the front just turns me cold.

 

[Kaisen]

thank you, and correct me if im wrong, along with the 3V updated motor, those newer trucks get the new radium arm suspension, bigger brakes ect ect


edit: also, thanks Kaisen for your help....i know your a chevy guy, and i already ruled that out.

2005 was the big chassis change for Ford Super Duty, including going to coil springs in the front, bigger brakes and bearings (and bigger wheels to clear), the 3V version of the 6.8L V10, and the 5R110 Torqshift automatic (same as the diesel). I had a 2007 Ford Crew Diesel and really liked that truck. I had a 2000 E350 15 passenger with the earlier V10 and that was also a trouble-free motor.

I'm not really a GM guy, I've owned them all. I just currently own a couple GM heavy duty trucks that I like just fine. I can see why people choose other brands if they have different needs, like a solid front axle. I'd buy a 2005-2007 F350 with a 6.8L V10 in a heartbeat if I had that need.

 

[plumber mike]

I traded a 2011 dodge CTD for a 2005 f350 v10. None of the new diesels will perform their best without breaking a few federal laws, which sounds difficult to do in Cali. I would have gone with a 6.0 gasser chevy if I hadn't stumbled across such a giveaway deal on the ford. I am an ifs skeptic, but for anything less than hardcore rock crawling it holds up well and drives like a dream compared to a Ford. There is nothing on the market today that makes me want to rush out and buy new. My next rig will likely be built and not bought. I am somewhat disgusted that new vehicles force me into options I don't want that drive the vehicle cost WAY up for things like emissions equipment, airbags, low tire pressure lights and the like.

So my vote would be a 91 chevy crew cab 4x4 with a 12v cummins and a manual transmission.....and ice cold ac. With some careful planning, a rig like this can be built better, stronger, faster, and just as comfortable for less than the cost of new. You get exactly what you want, nothing you don't , lower registration and insurance, and depending on the age of the chassis, never having someone probe your tailpipe.

I realize I am the minority here, but I'm not the only one fed up with the latest offerings. The only way to effectively speak my voice is to let the new trucks rot on the lot, and continue to personalize,modify and repair what I already have.

 

[Buliwyf]

You haven't mentioned anything that would disqualify the 5.4L, 6.8L, or 6.2L gassers. And you haven't mentioned any real need for a diesel. So get a gas engine. The 6.2L is the best choice. It has the modern direct injection and the power and fuel ec that goes with it.
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The only thing wrong with the 3v 6.8L and 5.4L is a super noisey valve train at idle.

 

[D45]

Dodge Ram......2003 or early 2004 with the 305/555 5.9L Cummins

Almost no emissions and no catalytic converter

Get some good ball joints, a free spin hub kit, have the trans built, and install a good aftermarket fuel system (Air Dog, FASS, etc) and the truck will be rock solid

2003-2004 trucks have an 8 hole nozzle for MUCH better fuel atomization

2004.5+ trucks have a 5 hole nozzle.......yes, they have more power, but run hotter (EGT) and are MUCH more prone to piston melting

555 5.9 and 6.7 injector nozzles have a wide spray angle due to a reentrant bowl design.

600/610 5.9 injector nozzles have a narrow spray angle due to the open non-reentrant bowl design.

555 motor: 143* injector spray impacts annular region of 113* piston bowl, concentrating combustion towards the piston dome. 8 hole nozzles with two injection events

600/610-series: 124* injector spray impacts central region of 140* piston dome, propagating combustion towards the cylinder wall. 5 hole nozzles with three injection events

Bowl volumes are only .7cc different (~1.5%), so the choice doesn't significantly impact compression ratio - every .005" of compressed gasket thickness or piston protrusion is just over 1cc.

Re-entrant combustion is more efficient, reduces thermal flux into the block & head, and allows better piston geometry - especially regarding the top ring land - to handle the heat & pressure

 

[Kaisen]

You haven't mentioned anything that would disqualify the 5.4L, 6.8L, or 6.2L gassers. And you haven't mentioned any real need for a diesel. So get a gas engine. The 6.2L is the best choice. It has the modern direct injection and the power and fuel ec that goes with it.
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The only thing wrong with the 3v 6.8L and 5.4L is a super noisey valve train at idle.

The 6.2L Fords aren't direct injected, just regular-pressure sequential injection like most injection systems. The EcoBoost is the only Direct Inject Ford gasser.

The noise in the 3V Fords at idle is failing cam phasers and VCT solenoids. My wife had a 2006 Lincoln Navigator with the 5.4L 3V and we had this done twice under warranty both sides, twice). Super common. When they're really gone it sounds like a diesel (or rod knock) at idle, but magically smooths out at 1200 rpm and never returns until idle. Google "Ford cam phaser noise" or "Ford VCT solenoid noise". It doesn't really hurt anything, despite the noise.