MPG
Depends upon a world of things. But to state that, a 6.7PSD gets better MPG than say, a 6.2 gasser (ford) isnt that cut and dry. Most peeps I know running the 6.7PSD empty and light towing are seeing anywhere from 12-18MPG My 6.2 gasser gets the same. Factor in the cost of fuel and things get even more similar. Factor in the cost of DEF, fuel filters, etc, etc, and the cost per mile for everything fuel leans heavily in favor of the gasser.
DEF, fuel filters, extra maintenance do factor into the cost per mile, but the thing you're forgetting is that diesel trucks, in general, retain much more of their value on the used market versus gasoline variants. Go compare what 2006 5.9L cummins Rams are getting vs 2006 Hemi Rams are getting if you want to see an example of that.
Also, mpg still lays decisively with the diesel engine. The Ford 6.7L is noted for not getting the best of mpg, however, the 6.7L Cummins does a bit better (a TFL review saw it getting as high as ~22 mpg hwy, which far surpasses what a comparable gasoline v8 is capable of). Similarly, the 2.8l duramax gets far better mpg than what any gasoline v6, turbo or NA, is capable of getting.
Payload
Payload capacity for the same truck, diesel and gas will ALWAYS be higher with the gasser.
No and, ifs or buts about it. The gasser simply weighs less, and allows for a higher payload.
Yes, but when discussing the shortbox SRW variants of the 3/4 ton's (at least for the Ram 2500), the difference in payload between gasoline and diesel is ~100lbs, if that. That difference is so small, it's barely worth mentioning. The payload differences for the DRW variants are much more pronounced, but still either engine is giving you in excess of 5klbs of payload to work with....you'd be hard pressed to
need the extra payload if going with a DRW truck.
Towing
Light to medium towing the advantage still goes to the gasser. Enough power, cheaper fuel, and all around lower operating costs. As mentioned already, heavy towing is a different story. Even then, is takes a LONG time for the diesel to start paying down when compared to the gasser.
I couldn't disagree more. Towing
anything a diesel engine is going to yield better mpg's and it will have an easier time versus a gasoline one. The operating costs per mile might be a little bit higher for the diesel, but again remember when it comes time to sell, you'll get more of your money back with a diesel versus a gasoline. That aside, even with the added operating costs with a diesel engine, there is a breakover point with the added cost items (DEF, fuel filter, oil changes) at which an owner will start to save money by driving a diesel over a gasser....YMMV when you hit that breakover point depending on driving habits, MSRP, ect.
Engine life
Good luck. By far the biggest reason I went gasser with my latest purchase is diesel repair costs, and the seemingly "rolling of the dice" with the new diesels. Coming from a 7.3, I simply do not trust any of the new diesels yet. Not to mention the repair costs when something DOES go wrong. FYI, it costs more for a replacement set of injectors for a 6.7 than it does for an entire long block for a 6.2 gasser.
I can't speak to the GM and Ford engines, but the 6.7l Cummins has a b50 life of 350k (the estimated mileage at which 50% of the engines will require major repairs). Many diesel engines live well beyond that mark without major repair, but please tell me which modern gasoline engines have the same rating. Please tell me which manufacturers of gasoline engines even provide that rating. I know people here will refer to the million mile Tundra or LC 100's with 350k on the original engine, but the question is what % do those examples represent out of the total # of engines made? Diesel engines are
rated for longer lifespans; you might find gasoline engines that last just as long, but those are exceptions to the norm.
Considering the average ownership of any vehicle is FAR shorter than the average engine lifespan, the diesel vs gasser engine life argument is even more irrelevant
Agreed on the average time of ownership, but the diesel lifespan advantage isn't irrelevant....it factors heavily into why they demand higher resale values on the used market versus gasoline trucks.
I wouldn't consider engine life to be a factor for either the gas or diesel. To say diesel will last longer than gas is outdated rhetoric.
It isn't rhetoric, it's based on the engine lifespan ratings actually provided by the manufacturers and its based on the fact that modern diesel engines are built to withstand greater stresses. There is a reason diesel engines, even modern ones, are quite a bit heavier than comparable gasoline ones. The rhetoric I see is you saying that engine life is the same between a diesel and gasoline engine, which simply isn't true. Or Clutch, talking about how all his friends are moving away from diesel trucks because of money and complexity:
Yeah we have been over this before many times...the engine itself will last...it is all those spendy components of the diesel engine some guys don't like when it is out of warranty. Several of my friends have gone back to gas, because they rather spend their money elsewhere than trying to keep them going. A lot of gone back to 1/2 tons too, much cheaper to maintain and fuel.
It's funny how anytime a poster asks questions about buying a diesel, a whole bunch of diesel naysayers chime in and talk about all the supposed reasons why buying one doesn't make sense. The general consumer seems to think otherwise, as indicated by the strong sales #'s for diesels in the 3/4 ton, and more recently the 1/2 ton and midsized, market segments.
If the OP wants to buy a diesel truck, for sure there are maintenance factors to consider. But trying to dissuade him from such a decision through scare tactics and exaggeration is a bit silly.
