Why We SWITCHED From Ford 7.3L Gas to DIESEL

[@TheBandit7613]

Living in the west with high mountains everywhere I go, I stuck with my diesel F350 FX4. It's important to ignore manufacturers new oil change specifications. I change the oil at 3000 miles and trans oil at 30,000 miles. Coolant at 50,000. Over 200,000 miles and zero issues. Still runs and looks like new. With the aux fuel tank holds about 140 gallons of fuel so I fill up where prices are good and that saves a few bucks.

[@fuzzywigglebutt]

If you are adding 140 gallons of diesel that is an additional 950+ pounds of payload. That would put a lot of people over weight (especially in an F250). But the travel distance sure would be nice. 🙂

[@ZonaJim]

The Ford 6.7L diesel is a great powerhouse. But its biggest weakness is the CP4 fuel pump. If it fails, you can expect to pay around $12K - $14K for repairs. And an extended warranty will not typically cover the damage because Ford will blame poor quality fuel. If you plan on keeping the F250 for several years, I'd suggest you invest in a DCR fuel pump or disaster prevention kit from S&S Diesel. It's much less expensive than a CP4 destroying your fuel system. At the very least, make sure you add a good fuel additive such as Archoil or Hotshot every time you fuel up.

[@rickytecon5726]

I had a 'disaster prevention kit' put on my 2014 6.7 F-250. I also always change the fuel pumps every 10,000 miles. We've been towing with it going on 11 years. No problems. *Knocks on wood*. The DEF system has been a problem tough.

[@sarahann530]

​@@rickytecon5726 How much does a new fuel pump cost you every 10k miles ?

[@12055isgod]

Upper oil pan gaskets are pretty pricey too. Have to Drop the axle and transmission. Typically shortly after 100k mile warranty ends on our work trucks; $7-9k, but those are 450-550 chassis, so higher labor rates.

[@rickytecon5726]

@@sarahann530 I change the fuel filters every 10k. Not the fuel pump

[@sarahann530]

@@rickytecon5726 Then why did you post that you changed the fuel pump every 10k ?

[@glennbishop-smith9957]

I bought one of the last few 3/4 ton Chevys that came with the 8.1 liter gasser and an Allison 6-speed automatic, this was spring of 2007, we tow a 10,000lb 5th wheel. 150,000 miles now and no engine problems. We have looked at getting a new truck but there are too many stories like this one about the new big gas engines from all three manufacturers.

[@deltabravo1257]

The 8.1 with the Allison was the holy grail of GM truck gas engine combinations.

[@ReflectedMiles]

Ford does a lot of things differently, and after watching friends suffer the same kinds of issues as in this video plus repeating transmission problems, I have just stayed with my old GMC and plan to just make it force me into something else. Just crossing the 210k mark and have only had the usual high-mileage maintenance items from an oil-pressure sending unit to oxygen sensors.

[@Thesaltymedic36]

I had the 8.1 in my suburban with the 4L60 and it towed my trailer like a champ. Great engine, wish I had the Allison

[@ReflectedMiles]

@@Thesaltymedic36 Sure it wasn’t the 4L80? Awfully big power for the 60.

[@Thesaltymedic36]

@@ReflectedMiles yes you are correct. My 95 S10 has the that one 😂

[@Mike-te1xx]

Great video. Have a 2024 F350 tremor lariet with 7.3 gasser. After owning 2 diesels from a different manufacturer and having multiple issues with both under warrenty, I wanted the 7.3. We don't tow heavy or often. Absolutely love the truck.

[@Azntrutek2012]

Say whatever to convinced yourself to buy a nee truck. After all it is your moeny, your truck. Who care ! Lol

[@BrigT262]

Great comments

[@harpandharley]

Nicely balanced story. I went with a Ram 2500 w/6.4 gasser because it worked for my situation perfectly though I would have gone for a diesel if I could afford it. Keep up the good work!

[@leestanphill1]

I had a 7.3 2022 F350 Lariat and went back to a ram 3500 dually after 2 years. No complaints on the 7.3, I loved driving it day to day and towing flat but really missed the torque and exhaust brake in the mountains.

[@robertjanderson88]

A couple corrections to your video: 1. Ford engine/drivetrain warranty on your truck was 60,000 miles (or 5 years); 2. Following your first video, I took my 2021 F350 7.3L in for an oil change and investigated an extended warranty (since I was at 59,000 miles) and was told that repairing the cam/lifters would be a little over the $3,000 range if the valves didn't get bent/damage the pistons. So far, we're happy with the 7.3L gas engine and it tows nicely. I'm hoping ours was late enough in 2021 to not have the issues.

[@larryw5429]

You are very very wrong on the price of lifter failure. Yes you are right if you just change the cam and lifters. But that isn't all that happens when they fail. When they fail they send metal thru out the engine and destroys the bearings on all engine components and also wrecks the oil pump! Thats why its 12 grand because no one is just going to replace lifters and cam to have the rod and crank bearings spin at another few thousand miles!

[@ClaytonYatescarenthusiast]

If you at minimum change oil around 5k miles you'll do great. Avoid the 10k oil changes. The oil get way below grade at that mileage and lifter see damage first. Every situation is different and even gas fuel quality plays a big role. Long drive vs short. But in general change oil earlier than normal.

[@markreams3192]

The cam problem with the 7.3 is mostly with the de tuned work truck engines with high idle times. The engine has a variable pressure oil pump that doesn’t get enough oil to the cam at idle. It’s rare that the pickup engines have this problem. RAM just did a bad design on their engine. The cam placement is such that it doesn’t get enough lubrication. GM has cam and lifter issues as well.

[@jedi_knight_PhD]

I have a 2020 6.7L Powerstroke with a custom tune from PPEI, a sinister cold-air intake, and a bank's 5-inch exhaust. It produces 615 HP and 1,275 lb-ft of torque. I add hot shots to every tank of fuel. The truck has 200,000 miles on it. All stock emissions are in place. I have had zero issues. I average 15 MPG pulling a load and 27 MPG at 55 with no load.

[@glennbeadshaw727]

You're quite likely won't have any less problems with your diesel unless you keep on top of its maintenance like a saint and you'll enjoy the costs of that

[@scottgorman7166]

Yes sir, you nailed it!

[@Slythey]

frying pan into the fire

[@robertstembridgejr7532]

Yeah ok...I've got close to $28,000 into my F450! The 6.7 Took A Shit at 130,000 not to mention all the other problems! Stick with Regular Gas Engines from them!

[@glennbeadshaw727]

@@robertstembridgejr7532 friend of mine traded his 2018 Ram Cummins which he had deleted and the dealership took $8,000 off the trade-in value to return it to s t o c k and kept his tuner parts

[@draginfly1299]

I have a 2021 E350 Super Duty Cutaway with KUV service body on it. With tools weights close to 12000lbs. Has a Godzilla with a 6 speed and 4.10 gears. Has been tuned by Five Star Tuning 87 heavy tow and 93. Currently have 64000 miles with ZERO issues. It is a beast!!! Love it!! I am a stickler about maintenance. Full synthetic fluids for everything - 5000 oil changes and 30000 trans and rear differential. No issues. Maintenance is everything. I’m very happy with my truck

[@jaybeauvais4311]

Gets like 2 mpg

[@draginfly1299]

No, I’m getting 12 and I can get 14 if I stay off the throttle. The tune not only helped with fuel mileage but, really increased the horsepower and torque! Not to mention I also had the factory 87mph governor removed!

[@bigvol1596]

Maybe math is hard for some folks. Mine is tuned and I get 15.5 on the Highway running 72-74

[@bentleydawg8573]

In 2001 I bought an E350 extended 12 passenger van. We have a big family, kids like to take friends, so we needed the seats. We pulled a modest 6k lb camper. I went back and for a while on the gas vs diesel. Finally decided on the Triton V-10. Got a 4:11 limited slip rear end. It was a towing machine for sure. Our first trip was 3k miles from western Washington to Colorado with 12 passengers. It was a fun time. We went over 11,000 ft Red Mountain pass. Didn't have any trouble with it. I just bought another tow rig. This time an F250, used, with another gas motor. I just don't need a diesel for what we do.

[@9002-bv9xz]

I've had my 2012 F250 6.7 since new, currently sitting at 190k. Only issues I've had is a thermostat needed to be replaced at around 100k. Otherwise zero issues with the engine/transmission! A couple things to be really strict on: only use high quality 5W40 engine oil and change it often (6000mi); change fuel filters annually and fuel up only at reliable stations; invest in Forscan software so you can do some of your own coding and also force a parked regen; change out the coolant at minimum every 4-5 years; ensure your crankcase ventilation system is operating properly; do a pan drop and fluid/filter change on the transmission at 5 years/100k. This will ensure none of the pan bolts break off from age/corrosion, and replenish the fluid additive pack. Let the truck warm up but don't idle it excessively. Best of luck! Thanks for the video and honest convervation

[@JeffParker-lu5kq]

Less than 1% have any issues. Im a contractor, and I'll never go back to diesels again . Last fuel pump cost replacement was 12 k on a duramax . 95 k on my 7.3 and never has let me down . I use it hard in the mountains of Montana ..

[@1798iscomingback]

Ford put the godzilla on Motorhome chassis that are rated 30000lbs GCWR so towing a 15k lbs 5er is not the reason for the failure.

[@RVMiles]

Absolutely.

[@treeamigo8447]

They fail because of that oval logo in the grill

[@mmmd3429]

7.3l gasser is a beast

[@Kinginwar]

​@@treeamigo8447did you listen All new push rod have same issue

[@molonlabe287]

@@treeamigo8447 yeah thats why they sell more than anything else 🙄, what a dork🤣I guess your other choices is either a maxi-pad on the grill or the fiat with the uterus emblem.🤣

[@dave4nier]

Great honest video. When I researched the 7.3 Godzilla, your original video came up, I subscribed right then and there. I have a 2020 F350 Lariat crew cab long bed with the 7.3 gasser and 3.73 axle ratio. I tow a 2022 Grand Design Reflection 295RL, and it weighs in at the CAT scale at about 11,500 lbs. (We are a bit overweight, but my solar and inverter setup puts the extra on the pin and the truck is still 800 lbs under for the payload...the trailer axles and tires are also within weight specs). I am happy with this setup. We usually travel several weeks at a time, last year we left Mass and traveled the east coast to Florida and back, we took 5 months. I tow at 60 mph, and lock out 9th & 10th gear. I get just about 9 mpg, and the truck runs down the highway at about 2k rpm. I think it is a great combination, we usually do about 325 miles between stops, and I can easily do that without having to stop and fill up with the trailer attached. On the truck alone, down south where the terrain is flatter, I get about 16 mpg. When I bought the truck, it had one previous owner who special ordered it and traded it in at 22,000 miles. He special ordered the exact same truck, the only difference was the color. I also bought the extended warranty so I am covered bumper to bumper to 100,000 miles with no deductible. I now have 43,000 miles on it and am happy, although I do watch for any sign of the lifter issue. I have been watching for a 2023 model but they are hard to find. The original owner of my truck just traded in his 2022 and ordered another brand new one with the same configuration. He tows snowmobiles and boats.

[@RAM-on8xb]

I went from a gas 3500 Ram to a diesel 3500 Ram and it is a world of difference. I pull a 13700 pound 5th wheel. I am over the mindset that you can never have too much truck.

[@jedi_knight_PhD]

100% I have owned Diesel trucks since 2005. I have owned all three truck types and never had issues. I currently own a 2020 6.7L Powerstroke.

[@RonRussell-sj1zf]

Failing lifters is just unacceptable in this day and age, I mean they've been around for years!

[@trex860]

Probably made in Mexico junk.

[@mathieugauthier3088]

Yet, every manufacturer has that issue...

[@RonRussell-sj1zf]

@@mathieugauthier3088 yeah, it must be a wave of engineers that need to be re-educated on lifter design.

[@melissasmess2773]

I've had a gen 2 Cummins since 1999, no problems. It might be the best light truck diesel engine ever made.

[@goneawol7498]

….and you can tow, let me guess 12,000lbs?

[@preachers4135]

B series Cummins for the win! Pre-aftertreatment boondoggle also. 👍👍👍

[@smiley3303]

Great engine but the rest of the truck is not great. Tow ratings are pathetic back then.

[@betterwithrum]

Agreed, I’ve got a 3rd gen with 220k it’s running great

[@betterwithrum]

@@goneawol7498so what, I’d rather pull something light and have a truck that isn’t 90k and choking on its own exhaust.

[@occasionalrv]

Well done with no bias. We own a 2021 F250 with the 7.3 gas engine. 50k miles about 60% of it is towing. We tow a 7k lb Airstream. So far the truck has been fantastic with no problems. We do have a 100k 84 month full power train extended warranty. Hopefully we never have to use it.

[@michaelwalker8501]

For the record, the engine is warranted up to 5 years/60k miles.

[@Tool0GT92]

I don't know how many miles he had but a lot of times you have a time getting an extended warranty that's any good once the warranty is up.

[@michaelwalker8501]

I wasn’t even referring to an extended warranty. I’m sure he was past the 60k mile mark, but he said in the video it was only covered until 36k miles. The Ford Factory Powertrain warranty is 5years/60k miles.

[@Theo8863]

I eliminated the troubles with delete. Removed all pollution control. Runs so much better. Cooler and more milage. I use Archoil keeps the lifters clean and many other benefits. Check into it. 185,000. Only normal maintenance.

[@cammie1le235]

I traded my 2021 Ford F250 Tremor 7.3 for a 2024 RAM 2500 Cummins after I noticed a huge decrease in gas mileage and a slight lifter tick on cold starts and when at idle. I had heard a ton about the 7.3 lifters failing in and around 60k-70k miles and I was right at 45k on mine. I traded it in and was given a very good trade in as well and I can now tow a bigger trailer and not have to worry about missing a gas station to fill up the 7.3.

[@michaelburt1946]

It always amazes me how quickly people come to the same conclusion that I did. Towing an F350 diesel with a 42 foot fifth wheel is not fun. It’s a lot of work. I now run around the country and a 20 foot class B van and I’ve never been happier.

[@patricksquires77]

No judgement for any RVr but yes - More full timers trend smaller than trend bigger if they travel allot. All trade offs.

[@rickytecon5726]

Getting ready to do the same thing. I'm just tired of towing. Glad to read this and hope I feel the same way.

[@preachers4135]

“Towing an F350 diesel with a 42 foot fifth wheel is not fun.” I hear it’s common practice to put the cart before the horse but I found it a lot easier to tow the trailer with the truck.

[@patricksquires77]

@@preachers4135 🤣

[@michaelburt1946]

@@preachers4135 my bad

[@careyolson3446]

Your candor is greatly appreciated. Hard to decide one way or the other when you're in the "grey area".

[@oldengineer1519]

I have the pro trailer backup assist on my F-150 and after trying it once decided to stick with the steering wheel. After years of backing trailers this way it has become natural for me. We also have the 360 degree camera pkg and I really like it. Not only does it make getting into tight parking spots easier I like being able to see where the truck sits backing into a campsite. It turns out my wife likes it too since it eliminates her having to run back and forth to check the various truck blind spots for clearance from objects.

[@stevedaniels3064]

I am missing what this has to do with 7.3 gas vs 6.7 Diesel?

[@WisconsinDIYGuy]

Agree with a lot of what you said. Gas tows fine. I've owned the ford 7.5L for 10 years. Did fine. And drove. 7.3L godzilla on one long trip. That had no issues pulling mtns. Downshifting is what transmissions do. I don't look for a vehicle with the intent of avoiding that. I like how you mention payload.

[@mikeussery4583]

I have owned Fords, Chevys, Toyotas and one thing still rings true. If you pay X$ extra for 4 wheel drive or X$ extra for a diesel, you will get it back in resale value.

[@jayf6525]

When I bought an F250, I never considered for a second not getting the diesel. It’s a beast. So impressive.

[@jedi_knight_PhD]

100% I have owned Diesel trucks since 2005. I have owned all three truck types and never had issues. I currently own a 2020 6.7L Powerstroke.

[@drswanny9000]

I have the ‘23 F350 platinum SRW with the diesel engine…. I pull a Grand design reflection 303RLS. Could not be happier. Just above idle at 70 MPH going up hill…. The cameras? Wow! I could not park it without them. FYI there is a camera button above the center screen. Use this when pulling INTO a parking space.

[@markcowart6887]

Another good video Jason. I’m surprised being able to fuel up with the truckers didn’t make the plus list for a diesel truck. Less hassle than navigating gas pumps…

[@Badgeweefixstuff]

You do have a point 🛠️🇨🇦

[@joedonbaker1673]

Yes, great point. I tow with gas and have to look on google maps before pulling into a gas station to make sure I can maneuver around. Truck stops are usually okay... With diesel you can almost be assured that you'll fit.

[@gregormaitland5065]

Access to diesel is a double edge sword. Yes, on the interstate it can be easier (as there is usually more room at the diesel pumps. However I live in the northeast and we use our gas F350 to tow our horse trailer. What I’ve noticed is that a lot of the small town gas stations we go to in NH, VT and ME don’t have diesel.

[@stevedaniels3064]

truck lanes are filthy! Diesel fuel all over everything and the ground. Hard not to stink your whole truck up when you have to walk in diesel fuel. I drive away if they don't sell diesel at the car lanes.

[@TheMootster16]

I run a 6.4 hemi in my 2500 ram regeared with 4.88s truck has 240k on it and hasn't skipped a beat. I tow commercially with it. Best choice i could afford. And with the lifetime maxcare warranty it was a no brainer vs a diesel at the time

[@MYJ61]

The word I got was that the cam followers are made of laminated steel and that they are delaminating. They get smaller, hence the diminishing fuel range, then eventually eating into the cam shafts.

[@thedogvs.catshow770]

Great video as always! I thought you might mention my biggest beef with HD gas trucks… I drive a Ram 2500 gas with a 30 foot Airstream. Not the biggest rig in the world, but filling up at the “civilian” gas pumps is a major pain! Usually there’s only 1 or 2 pumps we can fit at, and at busy gas stations we may sit for 20 minutes waiting for that perfect combination of gas pump and traffic to be able to get to the pump. I’m going to get a diesel next time just so I can use the truck pumps! Sounds silly but it’s a huge stress getting gas.

[@stuartstuart866]

I watched another KZbinr mechanic, and he talked about non OEM warranty companies replacing failed engines with junkyard replacements, that were clearly left out in the weather and in pretty rough shape. Factory (OEM) warranties supposedly give you a new engine.

[@calledtojourney]

Yep, only OEM warranties are worth the paper they're printed on.

[@cordellroberson532]

- Factory (OEM) warranties supposedly give you a new engine. sadly they give reman engines, unless reman aren't available AND they have excess new engines vs trucks they wanna build. or you will wait for a reman to come out.

[@patricksquires77]

I did not know I can shop GM/FORD extended warranty after & separate from dealer of vehicle purchase Learn something from this channel all the time!

[@calledtojourney]

Yes, the only extended warranties you may want to buy are directly from the manufacturer of your vehicle, NOT the dealer. Do some searching for feedback on dealer warranties, and you'll find lots of horror stories and lawsuits.

[@ernestdesimone2234]

I have had people approach me to ask if my truck was gas or diesel, I say gas and they proceed to tell me that I made the right choice because they spent so much money fixing their diesel. If you tow something really heavy, I can see where you need the diesel. If you have a family to squeeze into the camper, I can see having a big(ger) fifth wheel. If you are just an old retired couple, you can downsize the trailer (less $$) and downsize the truck (less $$) and go with a gas engine (less $$). If you are dead set on having the diesel and the giant fifth wheel, go for it.

[@TonkaFire2019]

I’ve had 2 3.0l Duramax, they’re great to drive with great fuel economy. But I’m done with it 6.6 gas Chevy 2500 is next

[@michaelfrussell]

Thanks for giving a very nuanced analysis on diesel vs. gas.

[@Freightmeister]

Liked this editorial format. Well done Jason. Sounds to me like you’ve done the right thing for you/your family, at this point.

[@tremr86bullnbronc9]

2022 tremor 7.3 here, have 79k on it. I noticed a very low inconsistent rpm tick at 60k. No engine light or low oil pressure light or performance issues and most people probably wouldn’t notice the noise. I only noticed when leaving a drive through and hearing the echo off the wall, but ended up needing a new oil pump after the dealer finally “replicated” the noise and using an engine stethoscope. Original oil pump had some play in the main gear. Luckily had the extended warranty. Awesome truck so far other than that. It makes me wonder though, if I hadn’t noticed that and it got worse, would the oil distribution to components like lifters have been impacted causing some of the issues that others are seeing? Maybe the root and overlooked cause is the oil pump itself on most of these? Similar issue to what mine had

[@MSparks9509]

Owned a deleted 2014 Ford 6.7 F250 for 10 years. Really enjoyed the truck. Put 15-20K miles a year on it. Got into a 2024 F350 Tremor with the 7.3. Like the truck but the gas mileage is terrible which is a shock to no one. I only tow at most 10-11K pounds and I only do long trips towing (4-10 hours) that a few times a year. Most of the time the truck is empty running around town. It tows a 5K pound boat locally or to boat ramps within an hour of my house. My yearly truck mileage also dropped to 10-15K tops each year. So I’m the “prime candidate” for a HD gasser. If I start driving more again or start doing more long trips in the future I’ll most likely jump back to diesel. The fuel mileage and the relaxed interstate towing nature are noticeable. I have to manage what gear the truck is in much more when running the cruise control at 70 through rolling hills and the Appalachian mountain range much more than my old truck. Which is to be expected but still. So as always buy the truck that’s best for your needs! Don’t worry about what everyone else is using. Use what’s best for you and your personal needs. For me at this current junction in time it’s a HD gasser. But that very well may change in the future and I could end up back in a diesel.

[@scottgorman7166]

I had the 6.0 and had nothing but problems for 10 years. Ford keep offering extended warranties for 10 years. Interesting!

[@SK-qt1rm]

So, my Chevy 2500HD was first year model of diesels with DEF. I had multiple DEF issues starting at 35k miles. I always buy extended warranties from the manufacturer. 75k later I wanted to renew, one dealership said GMAC doesn’t do that anymore and wanted to sell me a different extended warranty. When you read the fine print, doesn’t cover DEF. I declined. I went to another towns Chevy dealership…”sure, no problem”. I got an extension for 108k miles from GMAC. Used it. Now I know more about DEF, last fix was about 20k ago. (154k). YT has good vids about changing Tank parts. Off the shelf warranties are a side hustle for some dealerships that have lots of exclusions. Side note: shortly after purchase, Chevy issued service bulletin extending DEF warranty to 100k or 10yrs.

[@pistol90pete]

I'm fixing my 2003 Ram 2500 w/ 5.9L 24V cummins. 200K and running well but it will need injectors soon probably. The NEW diesels all suck from what I see on KZbin. Amazing that the 7.3 PS and 5.9 cummins were so simple and bulletproof yet engineers, EPA, govt, etc. thought these were great improvements! Scary proposition buying a newer truck these days because they ALL seem to have issues which is too bad.

[@bigvol1596]

Ford has stated it’s from years ‘20-‘21 year models. Since those years, issues have been under .03% and the 7.3 has had great success. If you look at the comments on here they are all those specific year models. We’ve had 2 of the 7.3 Fords a ‘22 and and ‘24 we just bought. Tbe ‘22 we put 127,433 miles on it before we traded for the ‘24. Truck also averaged 13.4 MPG for the life of the truck while we had it, and that was leveled with 35s. We looked at the 6.4 Rams but the Fords felt better on the road, so that’s what we went with

[@davidhillbrand2302]

Great perspective on the gas vs. diesel question.

[@olebloom1641]

I've had a 7.3L Diesel with a tune on it that pulled hard. The only long lasting diesel from all three brands. I was hoping one of the big three would ink a deal with Scania N.A. for one of their engines. Solid engines with no emissions craziness and still passes tier 4.

[@rooster-zg4oo]

Cummins were always more reliable engines. A 12 valve Cummins is more reliable than the 7.3 diesel

[@jaydoubleu101]

At minimum I'd suggest an S&S Disaster Prevention Kit to contain the shrapnel from the CP4 pump failure. $500 plus install, but it could be a difference of being stranded in the middle of nowhere, and limping back to a place where it could be serviced.

[@jeffclark4008]

Bought 3 2021 F350's with the 7.3. they've been really good. Very powerful and pretty okay on fuel, but one of them blew a motor at 120k. We changed plugs at 60k, but that was it. apparently that's not good enough. Several plugs fouled, clogged the cats and blew the motor. Lesson learned on my part

[@michaellopour7409]

A lot of the problem with extended warranties is that a middle man prices in pure profit. Paying basically at cost for an extended warranty is really good insurance. Ford warranties are a good example, as long as you live in a state that allows you to purchase across state lines.

[@nairbudy6403]

I wish you all the luck and that you don’t encounter “diesel problems” that seem to plague modern diesels.

[@warrenscorner]

We purchased a Silverado 2500HD with the Duramax in 2013. It has 110k miles now and it’s still running great. It’s been all over the country, up and down all sorts of mountains. We’ve pulled trailers with it and even had a truck camper for awhile. I will never buy another gas truck.

[@pierredelecto7069]

Lots of folks switch from gas to diesel then switch back years later when they get charged 5k or more to replace their DEF system. I drive a huge variety of diesel equipment and it's not what it used to be.

[@TonkaFire2019]

Until you can delete them

[@pierredelecto7069]

@TonkaFire2019 yeah careful man. The day is coming when you won't be able to register it anymore. Almost every state is cracking down on modifications to these systems. The few states that don't are considering it. It's popular with voters, most people don't want extra smog so that we can spend less on truck repairs.

[@SK-qt1rm]

Other Trade offs with gas/diesel: gas has spark plug changes every 30-45k, diesel has point changes every 100k or so. Everything costs more on a diesel. Where I’m at, a lot of shops stopped working on diesels, too much hassle. Diesels last longer, but in the rust belt, does that really matter. Diesels have more power, but do you need it. You have to buy DEF, that is a whole separate bag of worms. If you run out of gas in a diesel, you have to prime the pumps….you can’t just add more.

[@TraconWizard]

If you're traveling, finding a diesel mechanic just adds to the stress.

[@paulroesner]

Thanks for sharing the info. Coming from a 21 F250 Godzilla, towing a 27ft toy hauler, then a 38ft travel trailer, and finally our current 35ft fifth wheel for a couple months; then traded the F250 in for F350 Dually Diesel to tow the 35ft fifth wheel, because we were severely over payload. I was very happy with the F250. I think it could cover a lot of use cases for the need of towing once in a while for your weekend getaways. The low end torque was class-leading in the gas category, Engine braking in my opinion is better than the Power Stroke. However, I just passed 40k on the Power Stroke, and possibly noticing better acceleration and breaking performance as it is breaking in. Gas milage is maybe 10-20% better overall. The extra range with the bigger fuel tank and better gas mileage is amazing for the quality experience on towing days. However, the most common oversight I do not hear about the gas vs diesel is that while towing, you can go through the large parking lot tractor pump area with a diesel discount card. Miss all the traffic of small cars and tight spots. Plus, the fact the diesel motor is calm and quiet while towing at highway speeds. So far we have 13k miles on the Power Stroke across 10 states. Never once has it ever downshifted on me while towing our 15k lbs 35ft fifth wheel with about 800lbs of gear in the truck. I'm happy to pay the premium for just the last two facts alone.

[@ClaytonYatescarenthusiast]

Its really important for people to understand that extended oe oil changes are an issue. This issue goes back to. Way back and the issues is oil. Change at 5k and run a quality synthetic that is thicker than recommended. If the recommended is 0w30 run 0w40 or if its 0w20 go 5w30. Dont go running 15w50 or something stupid. Honestly the 0w40 isnt a good option as it goes out of grade really quick. Better would be 5w40 or 5w30 and change earl ish. 5 to 7500 is about all you should go. You wont have issues. If you do the next issue would be extended idle time. Even worse if the engine is hot. Like just pulled a big hill then you stop to get gas and leave the truck idling for 10 plus minutes.

[@jmonte58]

Now that you have the Ford Diesel 6.7, you should look at Bank Power, the pedal monster, Banks I Dash super gauge & batamonster, Banks Ram-air, Air Element, Monster Exhaust system, Ram-Air Differential Cover kit, Air Temperature Sensor, Psia pressure sensor, fluid Temperature sensor, starter cable and kit, universal OBD II splitter. This what I recommend for your truck. Also Amsel oil for the engine and differential This what I put in my truck. I don’t work for Banks, I just saw on KZbin and I do not regret the investment in my F250 super duty.

[@greghanson5864]

Have now, in three years, added 70,000 miles to our F250 6.7 diesel that pulls our 30’ Airstream effortlessly averaging 14ish mpg when pulling and 20 mpg when not. Was it a little on the expensive side? Yeah. Has it been a great vehicle for us? Absolutely! Good luck with yours!

[@deltabravo1257]

How does your truck get better MPG when towing compared to not towing?

[@greghanson5864]

@@deltabravo1257 Sorry for fat fingers. Should read 14ish when towing!

[@adamhart7777]

We have had a 2022 F250 since June of 2024. It had 42,000 miles when we bought it. It now has 49,000 miles. I did all the maintenance I could think of the week we got it home, oil change, fuel filters, transmission and differential fluid changes and air filter. Was running very strong while towing and then lost a lot of power. Ford looked it over and couldn’t find anything wrong. When I got it home all I could think of was it must have gotten some bad fuel even though I always buy from the same Shell station. I replaced the fuel filters and yup, they were filthy with only 4,400 miles on them. The truck runs super strong again. What a pain in the butt. I’m thinking of selling it and buying a new F250 with the 7.3 and 3.73 gears. On paper it shows it will tow more than my 6.7 with our gooseneck trailer. I’m thinking I would rather spend more money on gas than the constant maintenance on the diesel. The CP4 issues kinda worry me too. I’ve heard many stories about Ford not covering the CP4 failures because they say people used contaminated fuel. How and the heck are you supposed to know the fuel you buy is contaminated?

[@KU9L]

We bought a 2023 Chevy 2500HD with the 6.6L gas engine. It does wonders towing our 2023 GD Imagine 2670mk weighing 8495#. We have 14K miles on it now, 9.5.mpg towing 17-19 mpg not towing on long distance highway miles. We just purchased a 2025 Brinkley 5W the same 33 ft length as our TT, but 6,000 pounds heavier GVWR. We are going with the Gen-Y Gooseneck pin box to utilize our 3,508# cargo capacity in the truck to stay in good terms with our pin weight. The 14,495# GVWR of our new 5W will be a challenge, but the floorplan allows external storage fore and aft to balance out things. We tow twice per year from FL to IL to CO and back again as we are now semi-retired. We don't drive fast and we take plenty of Harvest Host breaks. During our 6 months in Colorado we very lightly use our Chevy as we have 4 work trucks owned by our consessionaire employer. We may go diesel, but our 3/4 ton worked great for our new TT when our 2017 F-150 struggled for road stability when we shifted from our Lance TT to our GD TT. Before we leave Cheyenne in October we will hit the Cat Scales to adjust where our loads sit to make sure we are not overloaded on the truck side. We added 3K# Sumo Springs to our truck rear axle for reducing bottoming out on bridge expansion joints & the Gen-Y pin box will reduce the chucking once broken in. I know our fuel economy will be more like 6 mpg, but that 6.6L gas engine is a pussycat so far. Doing 6-8K miles per year seems to limit its wear and tear, we will see how we do on both our IL & FL stops in Oct/Nov. Of course our Dodge Ram friends think we are highly underpowered & not so safe, but so far the numbers work for us. We shall see. Cheers, David & Sheila Knapp

[@scottmichaels12]

I had a Toyota Tundra (1/2 ton) gas, that could easily tow 8500lbs. If you're new RV is 14,000lb, you definitely need a minimum of a 3/4 ton diesel, not gas. Just because you CAN tow with your current vehicle, doesn't mean that you SHOULD tow with your current vehicle. That's a lot of stress on a 3/4 ton gas engine. I currently have a 3500 Duramax dually towing about a 15K fifth wheel and it's perfect. I'm not a "RAM" guy, but your RAM friends are correct, you are highly underpowered. Your current truck will be just fine, until all of a sudden it isn't fine anymore, and you will regret towing such heavy loads with that particular truck. Hopefully your warranty will cover all of the damage that you're currently doing to it.

[@KU9L]

@@scottmichaels12 After looking at hundreds of 3/4-ton diesels al.multiple brands, none had enough payload capacity to not be overloaded due to the pin weight. The funny thing, our 2023 gas 6.6L has the same TQ & HO that our 2008 diesel had and we towed a 5W weighing 15,000 lbs all over the country. That 2008 6.6L diesel had virtually no exhaust breaking & the TH mode had virtually no help in slowing mountain passes. I do not know what this engine/trans combo was intended, but 3rd gear in TH mode has x100 more holdback than my 2012 F-350 dually had. Life is full of mysteries.

[@coozhunter4434]

We did the same and pulled to Alaska no problem. Absolutely love our 6.6 gas 😉

[@rontaylor2094]

I keep my vehicles a long time. My gas trucks I've had never lasted that long. Part of the problem was small engines and plenty of weight equals a new engine. I bought my 1997 F250 supercab with the 7.3 liter Powerstroke diesel in 2000 with about 84,000 miles on it. The previous owner pulled a 5th wheel constantly with it. I now have 277,000 miles on it and it sat for 18 months when the transmission went out at 220,000 miles. It's a 27 year old truck and still runs great. Longtivity is what I'm talking about without major repairs. Yeah..I know the transmission was pretty major. I'm looking at new trucks this month and yes it WILL be a diesel. I've had plenty of people tell me these new diesels will not be as trouble free as my 7.3 has been and the real culprit seems to be the emission control system and especially the regen systems that pump hot gasses and soot back into the intake system. I'm just hoping for the best. Will I get 300,000 to 500,000 miles out of the new engine..I don't know. What I do know is I'm keeping my old truck and will continue to use it also. I just need new door hinges on both doors and new headlight assembly's as mine are all scratched up and foggy looking. Age get to all of us.

[@tmtex]

I have a 30ft, 7500K max camper, TT not 5th wheel. I had a 2020 F-150. It worked fine, but could struggle with mountains. In 2022 , I was browsing for a F-250, which were no where to be found. I happened to find one 6.7 and they didnt ask the 20K markup. Big game changer. Truck loves hauling the camper. hauls right up the hills. Now with that said, I do I like driving it around, no. It like riding in a stage coach from the 1800's. I do have another daily driver. If it was available I would have gone 350 but the 250 is great.

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

Component parts are so $$ these days that an extended warranty is more attractive than it used to be. The TIPM on my Jeep Liberty was $1,300 (just the part!). Never mind the diagnostic fee. I installed it myself.

[@babyreps365]

That's been the plan for awhile bud. Endless monthly car payments and extended warranty. So much wasted money.

[@donorcutt3605]

Love your podcast! We are US residents traveling in a slide-in truck camper on a Ram. Traveling in Newfoundland our Ram 2500 had a module malfunction and found our US warranty is not recognized in CA and neither are FORD warranties. This also applies for Canadian purchased vehicles traveling in US. Being former Toyota Tundra owners (Toyota does) we were shocked to say the least! (Yes, I know the meaning of “assume”! ) I have now spoke with many Ram and Ford owners on the road and not 1 owner has said they knew this! Would love to see you dig into this and help us look at options, if any! Sure has a sobering impact on travel to Canada!

[@scramjet4610]

Another KZbin channel focusing on F250 diesel trucks suggested that he thinks a main reason for the CP4 fuel pump issues is simply not keeping the fuel filter clean and carelessly putting DEF or gasoline in the diesel tank.

[@briankiefer856]

Yes, the Ram 2500 6.4L’s cam shaft, lifters, and roller pins, are the primary cause of the dreaded “HEMI TICK.” This is caused from excess idling. At idle throttle, the pump is producing pressure at around 650rpm. At this rate cycle, oil is not being circulated in capacity at or around the lifters and roller pins. This causes scarring and separation of the pins and lifters, as metal is grinding on metal, from lack of lubrication. To solve this issue, replace cam, lifters, roller pins, and oil pump to Hellcat parts. This modification produces higher oil pressure, and more than adequate lubrication at the lifters and pins, preventing engine damage, at idle speed.

[@sherriweber7105]

Thank you Jason for saying why you bought diesel and not gas. I’m happy for you no matter what you buy! Im glad you got a truck that runs good and that you debatable to worry about getting the other one fixed. Do you have fifth wheel anymore? Or you just have the IBEX? I’m glad you bought something you wanted and liked. As long as you like it that’s all that counts. I like it too! Tell Abby hello! Have a great night and eeek. See you soon!

[@Tool0GT92]

Bought my first GM last year - 2024 Silverado 3500HD with the gas engine and the 10 speed and its been great. I like all three of the big truck companies, but right now if you want a gas truck I'm recommending the Chevy.

[@MannyWC]

Same with the Ram 2500s- cams and lifters go if idling too long; the oil doesn’t make it up to lube them.

[@JBidensucks]

Sources ????

[@leonajameson8902]

I have a 2006 F350 one ton. That motor is crap but it is still going strong and I still love it.

[@RelaxedEZ223]

My 07 Chevy HD, diesel and Allison transmission, is the best truck I've ever owned. Only a quarter of the computers and sensors.

[@timaz1066]

I’m so glad I own a 2000 Monaco dynasty that I full-time in. No diesel emission crap at all and it runs great.

[@nicolachoate7098]

Years ago I had a 2500 Suburban with the 454 gas engine. Driving through the Rockies with an 11,000 pound trailer I would go up to the passes at 40-45mph. I also had a Silverado with the 5.3 L engine, pulling a 5000 pound trailer. I topped the Continental Divide at 30 mph. Going uphill from Hoover Dam on I-11 I was not sure I would make it to the top. I was probably doing 15 mph. With my diesel Silverado pulling an 11,000 pound 5th wheel, I can accelerate up that hill or any pass in the Rockies. I will never go back to a gas engine truck.

[@sarahseevinck8470]

We towed all summer (3 months full time) about 10,500lbs 37ft travel trailer with our 2020 f250 gas truck. It's the base model and the smallest engine (6.3l??). For the most part it towed great and gas stations were not a problem except a couple of small older ones with tiny gas stations. We did struggle a couple of times with engine temperature and torque climbing some short steep grades. But we climbed back and forth over steep mountain passes a ton in record heat, so I was surprised that we had only 2 times that it struggled. But we nursed it over those sections and lived to tell the tale. I wish we had gone f-350 and older, maybe diesel too. I don't like the environmental impact of diesel (but who am I kidding, we've been driving an f-250 all over the western US for 18 months, there are greener choices I could have made than owning a super duty of any kind!). It came down to our budget and not being able to find that vehicle at the time. Next year we are trading out for a LQ gooseneck horse trailer - so now I really wish we had the f-350. But we have what we have and we are underwater on it so I think we are planning to keep it for now. Mostly we love it. and now we have an EV on lease for around town, so that's nice. All in all, we came back to the US to RV and adventure and that's what we have done. It unfortunately takes really expensive 'toys' to do that. It's not sensible. But neither is not living life to the fullest! And now we are home from our extended trip, I'm itching to get out camping every other weekend. Thankfully, you can camp all year in Utah in amazing scenery. We are lucky that we get to do these things.

[@gorvyourself]

We had a 2020 7.3 as well and loved it. We towed heavy all over the US. It’s a great engine but like you we change to 6.7 as well as we looked for over a year for a used 7.3 with 4.3 back and could not find one. It happened at the same time as diesel pricing went below gas

[@jdright1157]

I consider your take as an honest objective opinion, thank you! As an owner of a 2020 F250 Lariat (built in January of said year, just before to great shutdown and supply chain issues, which may have led to your issues, jmho...) we did recently look at a 2023 F450 dually... but could not justify doubling the loan payment. So far, from northern Ohio and currently in northern Texas, I am a little hyper vigilant to any odd or strange noises based on your experience. But so far, I am happy with my F250 7.3L gasser. But still... 🤔... and we only have half the mileage you had... I am still trying to be optimistic 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lesnewsom6000]

Thank you! I was, WAS looking at a used 2021 F350 with the godzilla motor and, it has 72k miles on it! I wanted the truck, but really did not need to get a 350. This was enough of a reason for me to refocus. Thanks!

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

Decades ago my 327 V8 Chevy Impala sedan was backfiring , the problem was #7 cylinder - it turned out that the lifter had gone bad and flattened the relevant cam. So I removed the pushrods and ran the engine as a V7 - which worked great. I did change all the remaining 7 lifters - which had a lot of gummy varnish on them - so from then on I only used synthetic oil to reduce the possibility of sticking lifters in the future.

[@tycotoys]

I no longer buy Ford trucks, too many reliability issues, now use a GMC Sierra HD with Duramax/Allison combo and zero issues. What good is all that power if it’s in the shop all the time.

[@derekheuring2984]

I recently retired and as a retirement gift to myself I decided to buy a new or near 4X4 pickup truck . I saved $50,000 cash and had a trade in worth $10,000 so I started researching what was available in both gas and diesel for around that price point. I was willing to have a small note but hoped to find a truck for $60,000. I was initially thinking diesel because I'm also going to buy a small couples travel trailer to tow behind. I talked to several friends who own diesels to get their input, especially one who deleted his 2019 6.7 and installed the disaster prevention kit in case his fuel pump failed. I thought, why buy an engine that needed so many modifications such as removing the DPF, EGR, and DEF systems and then needing to retune the motor. My friend told me how the EGR clogs the motor up, the DPF will eventually need replacing, the motor goes into 'limp' mode if you run out of DEF, and you need a new engine if the fuel pump fails. AY CARAMBA! NO THANKS! Add to that diesel is more expensive than gas and oil and fuel filter changes on a diesel engine are twice that of a gas engine. For me it was a no-brainer, I wanted a gas engine. The lower mileage I would get with the gas engined truck would be more than offset by the maintenance costs of the diesel so gas it was! For those of you interested I picked up a lightly used 2022 Power Wagon with the 6.4 Hemi and BONUS!, it had $30,000 of upgrades that came with it. I paid $59,000 for it last May and after two off-roading trips I couldn't be happier! I just got back from a 4 day off-roading trip to New Mexico and average mileage for the entire trip was 13.6 mpg. I can live with that.

[@markwiegard8384]

Use diesel fuel additives to keep the re-burn exhaust system clean. Makes a difference to include mileage, about 1 mile per gallon. Not that big but just for keep the exhaust reburn cycle clean is worth it.

[@RVMiles]

Any suggestions on brands? I use to run Diesel Kleen in our bus.

[@markwiegard8384]

@@RVMiles I think running any fuel additive to increase octane is a good idea anyway. Diesel is a low grade fuel that can spoil and absorb water. The fuel additive will mix with water and keep anything that might grow in you tank. Best of all, if you have to get fuel from a smaller gas station it helps with old diesel. Anything to keep the diesel mechanic away.

[@bobanddangsjourney]

Great video - we have the 2021 7.3 Tremor (I remember seeing when you. bought yours thinking its a twin). It has eaten 2 spark plug wires now (keep a spare after the first one failed, and that really helped us in the desert when the second one failed ;) . No issues with the lifters yet but we did get the 100k extended warranty mainly because it was a new engine. Fingers crossed. Hopefully the diesel is better to you. Thanks for making this one.

[@TheAbrownie]

Jason congratulations on your truck. I had a 2015 6.7 and just bought a 2024 6.7 H/O love it. But please please use the diesel fuel additive. The CP4 fuel pump needs the extra lubrication. It also helps with the injectors. Enjoy your purchase.

[@RVMiles]

Any suggestion on an additive? I used to run Diesel Kleen in the bus.

[@ProudAmerican101]

@@RVMiles A lot of folks recommend hot shots. What were your oil change intervals and what oil did you use in your 7.3?

[@MSparks9509]

Archoil

[@situationaladventures]

@@RVMilesUsed hot shots for awhile and recently switched to Archoil system (1 small bottle every 5k and regular additive serving from larger bottle every fill up) and have seen longer intervals between regens AND has the lubricity for the CP4. PTT w/ Arod is a great channel to watch for 6.7 PS owners. KYD visited him for a DCR and intake upgrade.

[@grumpy7724]

I bought a ‘20 Silverado 2500HD diesel since I wanted a larger fuel tank that my ‘17 6.2 Max Trailering 1500 didn’t have. I wasn’t overly impressed for the first 9 months. My 6.2 had more HP/LB and was actually quicker accelerating from 50 - 70 when towing our 8K lb trailer. The first time I put the 2500HD to the floor to overtake a vehicle, I was really disappointed in the performance. Over time I’ve grown to like the diesel, I like the low rev torque, quietness and the fuel economy for an 8800 lb truck as it now sits is really good. The roads I travel generally yield 18 - 21 MPG and I’m not paying for premium gasoline any more. I’ve owned and driven several diesel automobiles so I knew I accelerating would be different but was surprised that the HP/LB made such a difference.

[@donniehelmly4920]

I have a 2013 2500HD. With th big V8 gas motor. I pull a 30 foot 5th wheel. I get 11 mph at best. But 160K miles later. She still pulls my 5th wheel through the Appalachian Mountains every year since then. Pulls like a champ.

[@treeamigo8447]

There weren't any big v8 gas engines in 2013.

[@TheFlyingpolcat]

Just the 5.7L Hemi. I had a 2013 2500 Megacab with the 5.7. It was a solid truck.

[@billyschannel997]

@@treeamigo8447 Cough* cough* 6.0

[@schwartz757]

We have been using a 21 F250. Been pulling our IBEX 19MBH. Get 22mpg without and 12.5mpg towing. Good luck!!

[@Qrail]

I have a 1994 Ram 5.9 diesel with 95,000 original miles. Probably the wrong guy to talk here. I think the transmission (automatic) might need a rebuild, but the truck itself keeps chugging along. It leaks a little oil, but on a recent trip from LA to Fresno, I achieved 24 mpg (empty). New truck? No. Mine is fine. And it’s mechanical, not electronic, so I think it will outlive some of the newer junk out there.

[@mrmichaeltscott]

Oh no! That's one engine I was looking at until I heard about the valve train failures. I thought they'd straighten it out by now.

[@calledtojourney]

To be honest, it seems that the lifters going bad on the 7.3L is fairly rare, but when Ford is selling hundreds of thousands of these, even just 1% is a lot of vehicles. There are no truly 'bulletproof' engines or vehicles out there, and something catastrophic can happen to anything.

[@lyleswavel320]

The ford dealerships are stacked up with 2024 super dutys, air conditioning pump problems has people scared

[@mathieugauthier3088]

Changed the one on my 2019 f150 twice already and i'm just under 38k miles

[@wiliamowens]

I’ve got a 2022 7.3 that I pull a 13-14k lb 5th wheel with. I think it’s a great combo. We are weekend campers, and most of my driving is less than 5 miles to the grocery store. That type of driving does not seem good on the diesel emissions systems. So far I’m loving the truck but I’m only at 34k miles, but the lifter issue is a concern. Hopefully it won’t affect me. But honestly the lifter issues seems to be a similar fail rate as the cp4 pump. But like you said at the end of the video, the 7.3 works well for the 10-16k lb campers.

[@RVMiles]

Yeah, seems like it will either hit you or it won't and there probably isn't a whole lot you can do about it, so best to just enjoy the truck.

[@wiliamowens]

@@RVMiles that’s my plan, just keep on trucking. My last truck was a 2002 Chevy with the 6.0 gasser. Not nearly the power of the 7.3, but I drove it for 20 years, and 268k trouble free miles.

[@fuzzywigglebutt]

I am curious as I am considering either an F250 with the 7.3 or an F350 with the 6.7 diesel. Do you have the 34 gallon tank? It seems you would be stopping all the time to get fuel at 8MPG. Do you have issues finding places to pull a 5th wheel at a gas pump? As a note, the reason for the F350 for diesel is that the 5th wheel I am going to buy is at 14,995 max. That is putting about 2,400 lbs of pin weight in the truck and most of the diesels in F250s seems to have payload of only about 2,900. Not a lot of loading up the truck room left. The F250 7.3 I looked at had 3,450 for payload obviously due to the lighter engine. To get the payload with a diesel I would need to go with an F350.

[@douglowney3901]

Just switched to the F250 6.7. Had the 7.3 as well and went through 5 catalytic converters

[@arthurcutting9227]

Diesel is dead, killed by the DPF and EGR requirements. It'll be interesting to watch this play out.😮

[@Aceman597]

Yes and the cost of future maintenance is going to be sky high.

[@MN_Engineer]

​@BrandonLeechTell me how I know you're voting for Harris...

[@JimPenix-u1v]

I don't know...my diesel seems to be doing just fine.

[@GK49245]

Thanks for the details. Good decisions. Had a Sierra 2500 diesel. Terrible truck, especially the engine. Tried to get a F350 gas. Terrible company and dealers. Agree on only a true manufacturer’s extended warranty. Hope this shift offers y’all a reliable, comfortable tow. We downsized from 30 ft Airstream Classic to fiberglass Escape 19 ft. Super duty trucks are off our list, thank goodness. Our current tow vehicle is a 2020 MB Sprinter 2500.

[@nunyobizkneez]

so you went from a lifter/cam $10-12k problem to a $12-14k fuel pump problem? Not to mention the 10spd issues out there also? Good luck.

[@bigvol1596]

You do know they fixed the issues with the lifters and was isolated to ‘20-‘21 7.3s right?

[@nunyobizkneez]

​@@bigvol1596 he was in a 2020 7.3L....and went to a 6.7L diesel....wow...reading is fundamental....

[@aa5az423]

I have spent $18,000 ($9,000 on two entirely different problems two years apart) on my Powerstroke. I never buy an extended warranty on anything. I'm about to buy a used F350 Powerstroke and it's the only thing I've ever seen in my life an extended warranty makes total sense. It's a must-have.

[@dgambrel9241]

We have all the big brand heavy trucks for work trucks. We just got a brand new Chevrolet 6.6 gas with the Allison, and it is a really strong truck. Even with the hydraulic system and tool bed. I like my duramax, but I would buy the gas and Allison combo in a heartbeat. We have a 7.3 in a 550 and it’s not been much pumpkin

[@kckettridge]

Well....before diesels were being offered as widely as they are now, so many people used gas trucks towing without much issue. Having said that; there are also a ton of medium duty commercial trucks and companies that use the 6.2 and 7.3 liter gassers and a lot of those tow heavy with outstanding results.

[@dustinryan9671]

Pre-2000's many trucks were big block which is why there were less issues.

[@dougbright8202]

Look into the CP4 to dcr fuel pump conversion or the Disaster prevention kit, both from S&S Diesel.

[@pattinewman5186]

My husband and I own a Dodge 2500 diesel and LOVE it. It pulls our 31 ft. 5th wheel so easily up and down the mountain passes with no problem. ❤

[@treeamigo8447]

Well this gentleman bought the Ford so his experience probably won't be as enthusiastic as yours.

[@Edgar-q5n]

What year is your Dodge 2500?

[@pattinewman5186]

​@Edgar-q5n it's a 2020

[@patricksquires77]

I LOVE my Duramax powered 2500. I got tons!, earfulls, before & after purchase that gas was the way to go now. Below is MY OWN decision making. First off - I was biased… I wanted the torque and ‘ease’ of a diesel. Why is it ok for MANY MANY people to judge me that I spent on diesel but NOT ok to judge what they spent on their RV? 😂 … As if 10K is ‘allot’ in many aspects of RVs at campgrounds today? With above out of the way - below is the rest. 10k more for Diesel gets you the below- -Substantially longer warranty in years and Mileage without buying a extended warranty. This is often not known by almost everyone I get slack from about gas. -Depending on platform but most likely a more proven engine and transmission pairing. -A different world for mechanic shops… choose to service outside of your dealer at your choosing but there is excellent diesel shops out there doing fleet on these engines taking them to 500k-million miles and know everything about them. -Higher resale and if above 80k miles… substantially higher resale. -Gas Trucks have expensive catalytic failures today. Thats right!… misfires on today’s large gas engines wipe out today’s 3-5k sensitive catalytic very quickly. & Almost everyone jawing about DEF exhaust issues and expensive repairs is 8 years behind the times. Those DEF failures mostly do not happen as much as they used to. The DEF systems and particulate filters are substantially better on current platforms sold today. If you do not buy a diesel for all short trips and never working hard you will be fine IMO most likely. -Ease of filling when towing…. Note this is not all pure bliss for sure. Sometimes labeling is bad when you need to use fleet card etc… & Sometimes there is not diesel near enough for comfort. -Should be easier to sell - time will tell. At end of the day IMO - Why spend 1-3k on extending warranty when you can spend 10 on diesel, get benefits of diesel, and likely get half or more of the 10k back. 2021 Duramax! L5P 💪 Denali 😎

[@johndennison6093]

Do you daily drive your truck or just for hauling? I here so many things against a diesel if your aren’t towing with it every day. I just don’t think any of the manufacturers would produce an engine that couldn’t be a daily driver as well.

[@that.schamp]

@@johndennison6093 I don't think it's towing or not - it's a matter of rural/highway vs urban driving. Any urban use puts more wear and tear on any engine - especially if you are taking short trips so it doesn't get enough time at operating temperature. Modern diesel emissions also fare poorly in urban use as low temps, short duration usage, and high idle time leads to EGR, DPF, and sensors getting clogged. Petrol engine emissions and control systems have similar problems, but short trips and idling are definitely worse for diesels in current generations. Many of the wear problems with urban driving can be addressed by increasing oil change frequency, and that normally costs less for the petrol engine than the diesel. Also, urban trucks have shorter lifespans due to road damage, crashes, theft, etc (shorter by miles), so there is less opportunity to recoup the additional cost of a diesel via lower operational costs. So use in urban areas points to the gasser - towing or not. For highway mileage, the advantage may be with diesels. It's close. Living in rural Texas, I went diesel because because I cruise 60-75mph for at least 80% of my driving, and rarely take a trip under 15 miles. Looking at data from 6 years on my previous truck, I decided to get a diesel truck. I also considered a second car - a highway econobox or even an EV that can handle the 150 miles I do in a day trip to town. Reality is that I don't drive enough to justify buying a 2nd vehicle. If I had to go 100 miles 3-5 times a week, it would be a hands down win for the second car - but that would push me to the diesel truck because the truck would only get used for towing and longer trips. In urban environments, you also have to start looking at the hybrid truck - or a second vehicle (EV or hybrid). The wear and tear gains of putting most of your short trip mileage on a less expensive, more efficient vehicle make the case for a second vehicle stronger in urban areas. If your towing needs put you in a 3/4 or 1 ton, the case for a second vehicle becomes even stronger for both cost and usability. And once again, having a second vehicle points you back to the diesel truck. If you *are* going to daily drive a truck in an urban environment, you probably want the gas engine or gas hybrid. Of course there are lots of people driving trucks in urban areas (and some in rural areas) who don't even need the truck in the first place, but they are probably not watching this channel... FWIW, after one year and it's second maintenance service in my ownership, my 2021 F-150 (Crew Cab, Standard Bed, FX4, 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel) is operating at $0.01/mile more than my 2017 Tacoma (Double Cab, Short Bed, Off-Road, 3.5L V6 NA Gas) did. Inflation adjusted to 2024, the F-150 is ~$0.02/mile less to operate. Assuming an F-150 base engine would put out the same numbers as the Tacoma (actually a reasonable assumption), that is 125,000 miles to make up the $2500 diesel engine option cost on the sticker. There are some interesting dynamics around resale value when I was truck shopping. For low mileage vehicles, there does not seem to be much of price increase for the diesels. So don't buy a diesel if you will re-sell it after 50,000 miles or less, because you won't get that extra cost back in the resale value. After about 50,000, diesels seem to get a resale value increase, which becomes -very- prominent after 100,000 miles. So you will recoup more of the extra cost of a diesel the longer you keep it in both operating cost and resale value. Buying a diesel there is a sweet spot in used vehicles with less than 50,000. I am really looking forward to diesel-electric trucks. They design goals have them doing 75% or more of my daily driving as a battery electric charging exclusively at home - but still performing well as tow vehicles. They would also have none of the downsides of urban operation, since the generator runs full blast for extended periods to charge the batteries, and it can work as an EV for most short trips.

[@mcgilm69]

I have a 2017 F-150 Platinum. There are things I like, and things I could definitely do without, but the one thing that has spoiled me and I will never own a vehicle without it...Adaptive Cruise Control!

[@RVMiles]

Adaptive CC is soooo great.