I know some of you are tired of hearing me sing this same song but I work as a field service engineer/national fleet manager for a class 5 through 8 truck and diesel engine manufacturer. Between our in house built diesel engines and joint ventures around the world we build 3.0L up to 13L diesel engines. We also use thousands of GM gasoline engines in specialty vehicles such as UPS delivery vans and RVs as well as 6.7L to 15L engines from Cummins. While if it wasn't for the diesel engine I probably would not have a job but I have to tell you modern diesels are not worth owning when a gas engine is available in the vehicle platform you're looking at. Diesel engine powertrain inception cost is ridicules, fuel is more expensive, durability and reliability is way down, fuel economy is way down and overall cost of ownership is sky high. And if one thinks they are going to save a bundle on fuel economy by choosing a diesel engine in a vehicle where a gas engine is available they are sadly mistaken. I find the vehicles we build with gas engines leave production to never be heard of a gain while the diesels tend to make many trips through dealers before 100,000 miles. The days of trouble free 100 to 400,000 mile diesels engines is GONE. One set of injectors or a turbo replacement instantly dissolve any fuel economy savings that a diesel would deliver over a gas engine. Gasoline guys replace $100 worth of spark plugs and wires around 100,000 miles while it is not uncommon for the diesel guys to pay $5000 to $7000 in injectors and turbos around 100,000 miles. Then if there is a catastrophic failure of a turbo that wipes out an engine you're looking at a $12,000 to $20,000 repair meanwhile a catastrophic failure of a gas engine where a replacement is necessary will run around $4000 to $6000. The argument of higher resell value of diesels is very overstated. I know many dealers that do not give any premium trades for incoming diesel trucks. Many times the trade value will actually be lower than a comparable gas truck when the mileage is over 150,000 just due to the maintenance cost and the risk of reselling a boomerang.
On the other hand, obviously if you're towing huge loads majority of the time or have some ridiculously large rig like an Earthroamer a diesel is the obvious choice in order to propel the beast but for your average Joe, diesels are a “want” thing more than a “need” thing. Those that must have a diesel are better off buying a 2006 or older diesel truck. I will also say this though, of the big three pickup manufacturers the RAM with the Cummins has the fewest issues compared to the PowerJoke and Dirtymax but that isn't really saying much. Cummins engines and aftertreatment systems have plenty of issues of their own. You all can keep your diesel wishes while I keep shaking my head every time I hear people whine about the lack of a diesel in the Wrangler or RAM. Get over it, you're not missing anything. The US government has taken the balls off diesels engines period. It gets harder and harder every year to bite my tongue every at the Overland Expo when the Jeep/RAM guys do their open forum with the Indiana Jones hat wearing overlanders in the crowd whining to them about lack of diesels in the PW and Ruby. It seems to me so many of these guys that know little about the mechanical realities of vehicles have this stigma where diesels are king because they are popular with the other Indiana Jones hat wearing guys in Australia, Africa or some far off land that is perceived to be better than the US. Of course, periodicals like Overland Journal and articles right here on the portal further pound that BS in people's heads where diesel is king. Rant off :sombrero: