general Diesel questions: - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Nima** · 03-31-2005, 04:27 PM

Hi everybody;
I always wanted to have a diesel truck. Don't ask me why since I don't have any answer!. For somebody like me a midsize truck does the job, but anyways, what are the advantages/disadvantages of diesel engines? As far as maintenace, performance and even MPGand etc? I only know this much that diesel engines give out more torque and haul better.
Thanks .

curbyk · 03-31-2005, 05:18 PM

Fuel is a little more expensive (around here any way) but MPG on my 03 duramax is probably double that of my 03 GMC gas burner, both are 2500 hd's, pulls without breakin a sweat, you don't loose as much MPG with a diesel as you do a gas burner when pullin, maintenance is a little more expensive but not much (so far any way) engine life is a lot longer (of course that dependes a lot on maintenance and what they are used for). I love mine. I had an 86 burb with a 6.2 and my wife has an 04 VW Jetta with a diesel (45 mpg hwy and 36 city). All of this is personal opinion.

Hope it helps.

Longhorn Man · 03-31-2005, 10:54 PM

One thing commonly overlooked untill it slaps them in the face...replacement parts are generally 3 times more expensive than the gas motors.

Drogster · 03-31-2005, 11:59 PM

Plus initial costs can be pretty darn costly, too...like $5000 more for the Cummins Diesel in a Dodge over the 345 Hemi engine. OUCH.

Tx Firefighter · 04-01-2005, 12:03 AM

I'm getting 20 miles per gallon with my Cummins though. That's about 6 better than the Hemi guys seem to get. Plus, I can out pull them too. It's worth it if you keep your truck for the long haul.

Longhorn Man · 04-01-2005, 12:21 AM

Got a kid at work who is constantly talkin bout diesel trucks, and he boasts about all the power...
Like I tell him... take a large displacement gas engine, put a turbo on it....we'll see who makes more power....and I'd bet you could even get close to it on torque...plus have a much larger power band to boot.

He reluctantly agrees, but he hasn't thought about the whole MPG advantage nor the long life thing that the diesels have.

Tx Firefighter · 04-01-2005, 12:24 AM

You could do that to a gasoline engine I guess. The Cummins is 360 cubes, 18:1 compression, and 20 lbs of boost. It would take quite a beefy gasoline engine block to withstand those forces.

Also, there are more BTU of energy in a gallon of diesel than there is in a gallon of gasoline.

Tx Firefighter · 04-01-2005, 12:30 AM

By the way, here is one of my favorite pictures.

03-31-2005, 04:27 PM	#1
Nima Blue 67 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Western WA Posts: 1,178	general Diesel questions: Hi everybody; I always wanted to have a diesel truck. Don't ask me why since I don't have any answer!. For somebody like me a midsize truck does the job, but anyways, what are the advantages/disadvantages of diesel engines? As far as maintenace, performance and even MPGand etc? I only know this much that diesel engines give out more torque and haul better. Thanks .

03-31-2005, 05:18 PM	#2
curbyk 69 C-10 project Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Eastern, NC Posts: 184	Fuel is a little more expensive (around here any way) but MPG on my 03 duramax is probably double that of my 03 GMC gas burner, both are 2500 hd's, pulls without breakin a sweat, you don't loose as much MPG with a diesel as you do a gas burner when pullin, maintenance is a little more expensive but not much (so far any way) engine life is a lot longer (of course that dependes a lot on maintenance and what they are used for). I love mine. I had an 86 burb with a 6.2 and my wife has an 04 VW Jetta with a diesel (45 mpg hwy and 36 city). All of this is personal opinion. Hope it helps. __________________ 69 C-10 Work is complete

03-31-2005, 11:59 PM	#4
Drogster Stroke it! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Juneau, Alaska Posts: 214	Plus initial costs can be pretty darn costly, too...like $5000 more for the Cummins Diesel in a Dodge over the 345 Hemi engine. OUCH. __________________ Drog Nitrous is for those who don't know how to build.

04-01-2005, 12:03 AM	#5
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	I'm getting 20 miles per gallon with my Cummins though. That's about 6 better than the Hemi guys seem to get. Plus, I can out pull them too. It's worth it if you keep your truck for the long haul. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

04-01-2005, 12:24 AM	#7
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	You could do that to a gasoline engine I guess. The Cummins is 360 cubes, 18:1 compression, and 20 lbs of boost. It would take quite a beefy gasoline engine block to withstand those forces. Also, there are more BTU of energy in a gallon of diesel than there is in a gallon of gasoline. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

03-31-2005, 10:54 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	One thing commonly overlooked untill it slaps them in the face...replacement parts are generally 3 times more expensive than the gas motors.

04-01-2005, 12:21 AM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Got a kid at work who is constantly talkin bout diesel trucks, and he boasts about all the power... Like I tell him... take a large displacement gas engine, put a turbo on it....we'll see who makes more power....and I'd bet you could even get close to it on torque...plus have a much larger power band to boot. He reluctantly agrees, but he hasn't thought about the whole MPG advantage nor the long life thing that the diesels have.

04-01-2005, 12:30 AM	#8
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	By the way, here is one of my favorite pictures. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

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