I'm considering purchasing a diesel f250 or F350. I've only had trucks that take regular gas. I've heard that they get better gas mileage and last longer but anything other than that? Is there more maintenance? Higher overall costs? Any ideas and advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Other questions ~ are you towing heavy loads alot? ...then definately diesel. Do you live in very cold weather (like, Wisconsin where you live)? ~ it depends, you may need to use an engine heater. No big deal though. Do you want to do modifications? if so diesels are easier to get HUGE power gains with mods.

If you off-road alot the V10 has a bit of advantage as it's lighter and easier to negotiate around trails, hills, and general manuevering. However I have seen some modded-diesels just at the sand dunes.

Really it's all in all what you need it for, but ultimately you what .

Good luck!

sorry about the caps ~ not yelling, just seperating the question from the answer better

 

Everything is bigger. 15 quart oil changes, 8 gallons of coolant, 16 or so quarts in the tranny, etc. Maintenance is a bit higher, but not by much IMO. Mileage is better, but you've gotta keep your foot out of the go pedal. My last tank was 18.65 MPG, doing all highway driving at 72 mph (2000 RPM). Tank before that was 16.5 or 16.6, doing 74 MPH. Big difference. That tank had a bit more in town driving (maybe 50 miles), but you get the point.

 

More oil...15 quarts in 6.0L. Filters, air, gas and oil cost more. Extra battery. Maintenance is more. IF you tow heavy items frequently YES. If not, NO!

 

tons more power if you tow. the newer diesel have higher costs then the older ones but aslong as you take good care of it it shouldn't be to much more expensive. they can be harder to start especially if you live somewhere that gets cold.

 

Once you go diesel, you'll never go back.

My next truck will be diesel.

 

Diesels are great and I love mine and wont ever go back but they are not cheap to fix when they break and who ever came up with the saying "Go big or go home" must have been a diesel tech. Just in the short time I have had mine I have replaced the turbo that would have been a 2k repair bill had I not had a 30 day warranty and I have two injectors that I am going to need to replace shortly at $250 each plus labor. This fridays trip to the dealer for an oil change and change the fuel filters is going to cost me about 225. Just think long and hard before you pull the trigger on one of these trucks. Also dont forget the additive for summer and winter at 7.89 for a 32oz bottle since I see you live in Green Bay.

 

Untrue Kool-aid

 

I mean there are some exceptions...

 

 

Do you have to change the oil every 3k or 5k or 8k... Is it like a gasoline engine?

I'm looking at one right now and never once did i think about maintenance cost.

 

Oil changes every 5K. Maintenance on a 7.3 is a bit more than a gasser, but not bad. Its more for a 6.0 or 6.4 though.

 

We have had a lot of trouble out of our '01 F-250 7.3 diesel that we have on the farm. (eating transmissions, radiators, fuel filters, fuel pumps, etc). It's junk IMO. 3.5 gals of oil v/s 6 qts for the v10. It eats air filters like candy. It powerhopps like crazy in soft dirt. (but it doesn't break it ) It's noisy and it stinks.

The 2- '00 F-250 V10's have been relatively maintenance free, and they both have over 100,000 miles more than the diesel. They're quiet, and they cost over $5,000 less. That'll buy you 2,000 gallons of gasoline @ $2.50/gal. (about 25,000 miles worth of free gas)

Pros of the diesel: You can burn offroad diesel. (much cheaper) They get better fuel economy on no-load road trips and idling. More or less equal when pulling a load. You can put stacks on it, and make it blow smoke out of them!

I am looking into buying a V10 F-350. I'll let you know if it is any good or not.

One point that most folks miss is that F-super dutys ride terrible. I mean TERRIBLE! I wouldn't suggest them as a daily driver, unless you have iron kidneys! They do handle loads better than F-150's though.

 

One point that most folks miss is that F-super dutys ride terrible. I mean TERRIBLE! I wouldn't suggest them as a daily driver, unless you have iron kidneys! They do handle loads better than F-150's though.

Amen- took me 6 months to get used to it and i have coil springs up front. The boys with leafs up front on the older super duties are troopers.

 

What do ya expect - it's a REAL truck!