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Diesel Advice

MMc - 7-20-2016 at 01:54 PM

I am looking for a new truck to take to Baja. What I am looking for is a 3/4 4X4 ton 8 foot bed truck. I don't much care if it's a Dodge, a Ford or a GM. I have no issues with Toyota but I want a 3/4 ton truck. It will mostly be a driveway queen. The last truck I had, I put on about 10,000 to 12,000 miles a year. For those kinds of miles I would rather not purchase a new one. Having looked at what's out there there are more diesel 3/4 tons then gas used. I would prefer gas as I don't know anything about diesel. I will not do much towing and milage does not matter.

A couple of questions regarding diesel motors:

How do they fare only being driven 12,000 miles a year?

There are good and bad Ford Diesels, what are the good ones, and what are the bad ones?
GM have had some good and some bad motors too, can anybody tell me about those?

I understand that Dodge had transmission issues, have those been fixed? What year were they fixed?

I hope we can answer these questions before it's jacked.

SFandH - 7-20-2016 at 02:20 PM

Sounds like you want to avoid these "Power Stroke" diesels:

"Ford Motor Co. has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over claims that it sold defective diesel engines in its 2003-07 Super Duty pickups and E-series vans.

The now discontinued diesel 6-liter V-8, manufactured by Ford's former diesel engine supplier, Navistar International, had myriad problems with the fuel system, turbochargers and other major components."

http://www.autonews.com/article/20131024/OEM10/131029950/for...

[Edited on 7-20-2016 by SFandH]

Howard - 7-20-2016 at 02:24 PM

I have a Ford 2000 F350 Diesel with 179,000 miles on it with no engine problems. The transmission just went out and had it fixed, $4,900 later.

My friends have a 6.0 and have had nothing but problems with it.

TMW - 7-20-2016 at 02:46 PM

Are you pulling an RV trailer or loading a cab-over on it?
Why does 10,000-12,000 miles per year rule out a new vehicle?
What will you be using it for and/or where are some of the places you want to go to?

I'm not a Dodge fan but many people that own a Dodge Diesel love them and from the mileage they quote they last a long time.

My opinion of diesels are: The fuel is messy to deal with, unlike gas. To get work on them in Baja is iffy at best. Older ones are too noisey. But to pull a large trailer they are king.

chuckie - 7-20-2016 at 02:47 PM

I have a 1996 Dodge 12V Diesel with 376000 miles on it...Many in Baja. It sat in my yard in Mulege for 7-8 years, being driven when I came down. They do need to be started once in a while to keep fuel in the lines..It LOVES Mexican diesel...I drive it daily ...It gets heavy use...pulls big trailers 16-22 MPG...Fords suck...My Daughter has 2 Duramax;s....No Thanks

BajaUtah - 7-20-2016 at 02:55 PM

I have a 99 Ford Crew Cab long bed 4x4 with the 7.3. I bought it specifically for that motor/cab combination. Parts are cheap and readily available - with some 1 year exceptions for my early 99 but there are work arounds. Loves Mexican diesel up and down the peninsula.

20mpg with a full bed. 16mpg with a trailer. Ugly enough that it doesn't get second looks at the check points. Not so ugly I get sent to secondary.

bkbend - 7-20-2016 at 04:40 PM

Ford 7.3 or Dodge 5.9 are what you are looking for in a diesel. Try to find one that hasn't been modified, extra horsepower you don't really need is what kills trannys, but 200k miles is still going to be a long life for an automatic. If you get something from back into the 90's the Dodge body parts will fall apart before the Ford. Not sure about 3/4 ton but I had a 1 ton Ford and the leaf spring front will shake you apart off-road, Dodge coil springs are much smoother. Extra weight of a diesel will wear out front end components quicker than a gasser. I get 50% better gas mileage in a Dodge 5.9 diesel than I did with a Ford gas 460, but if you aren't driving a lot of miles or pulling a load, a smaller V-8 gas engine might be best.

MMc - 7-20-2016 at 05:17 PM

Thank you all for the replies.

TMW I surf, finish and kayak. I tend to remote beaches on the Pacific side, where I post up for anywhere from 3 to 10++ days and camp very comfortably. I have owned small trucks, 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks, 3/4 suit my needs the best now and in the future plans . A new 3/4 ton 4X4, 8 ft bed camper shell, rack and extended cab is $50,000 that a lot of dollars for 12000 miles per year.

bkblend, thanks for the engine size. I know the leaf spring bounce

I really do not want diesel because of the cost of ownership, weight, and problems in Baja getting work done. The reason I am looking at them is because there's a lot of them out there.

Desertbull - 7-20-2016 at 05:26 PM

99 Dodge Ram 4WD Diesel ... 900,000 miles ... Abused off road in Baja everywhere ... driving south in a couple days and it has never left me stranded. Has towed hundreds of other trucks out of the worst places ... I have 3 other Dodge Ram diesels all super reliable and high mileage just got back from 6,000 mile adventure in the great white north!

image.jpeg - 108kB

David K - 7-20-2016 at 05:31 PM

Nice B&W Tim!

chuckie - 7-20-2016 at 05:46 PM

Kool The 1990 I gave to my boys has 893,000 on it,,Heads never been off...1 Ton Dually

elgatoloco - 7-20-2016 at 07:48 PM

I feel less then worthy with my 1999 7.3 and 319,000. :no:

Hook - 7-20-2016 at 08:51 PM

The problem with the 99-03 Ford diesel trannies was the single disc torque converter. If that has been replaced with a triple disc one (04-06), the tranny will last a long time. I learned of this when I bought my 00 F350 and replaced the TC immediately. No failures for 230k, so far. I do run nothing but synthetic tranny fluid and I have an external tranny filter. I also put in a tranny temp gauge, to know where I am at.

There are other minor issues with the 7.3L engine. The original cam position sensors failed early and left a lot of guys stranded. Just carry an extra one, they are cheap and easy to replace.

Those engines used to require a coolant additive to prevent cavitation in the cooling jackets. Subsequent coolants that prevent this cavitation like Fleet Charge and Final Charge make this unnecessary for 100-200k miles. By then, you should be changing your coolant, anyway.

The additive did play havoc with the seals in the water pump and sometimes the thermostat housing. But most any truck from this era has probably had those replaced long ago. If an owner is still using the old FW15 coolant additive, it will probably recur.

One other bothersome fix was an injector wiring harness that passed the injector wires into the valve cover to the injectors. This was a plug assembly with a plastic clip that could become loose, over time, and inhibit the signals to the injectors on one side or the other or both. Someone figured out that if you took a US quarter and inserted it into the clip, it would increase the tightness and keep the clip in place. Literally a 25 cent fix . Google it, there are videos on the fix. It's not that hard at all.

Those are the main ones. There are certain fixes that many made to the fuel lines from the tank that eliminated air intrusion. Mostly, it quieted the engine while running. If the truck has rubber fuel lines along the rail, on either side of the fuel pump, it has been done.

The Cummins 5.9L engine is definitely superior to the 7.3. Problem is, you still have a Dodge chassis and body and interior around you. Everything just feels cheaper than the Fords, especially the seats and the dash. Things fail faster. The Dodges of the same era had smaller cabs, which accounted for part of why they were more economical to run.

MMc - 7-20-2016 at 09:04 PM

Thanks guys, I am looking at post 2010 trucks, If I can find a gas I am on it! Lots of diesel's floating around. The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

bajaguy - 7-20-2016 at 09:22 PM

Gotta chime in here......have a 2011 Ram 2500 4 door, 4x4 with the Cummins diesel. 40,000 miles, not a problem. very comfortable and a great ride.....in fact the wife prefers to drive the Ram. very happy with the rig and it is one of the Ram models that does not need the DEF fluid.

Never take it south of Guerrero Negro due to the lack of ULSD fuel

mcnut - 7-20-2016 at 09:52 PM

I have a 04 Duramax with 160k miles, used to pull a 23" travel trailer with 2-3 motorcycles in the bed.

My thinking is that diesels like to work, like to pull something. IMO if you don't do heavy hauling I don't think the extra $ is worth it. Light loads the gas is the way to go unless a couple of mpg sways you.

Bruce

mtgoat666 - 7-20-2016 at 10:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by MMc

I am looking for a new truck to take to Baja. What I am looking for is a 3/4 4X4 ton 8 foot bed truck. I don't much care if it's a Dodge, a Ford or a GM. I have no issues with Toyota but I want a 3/4 ton truck. It will mostly be a driveway queen.

What's a driveway queen? Sounds like you want a truck so the neighbors can see your truck. What's that all about?

BigWooo - 7-21-2016 at 05:35 AM

I had a 2002 Ford 1 ton with the 7.3 liter diesel. The motor was bomb proof. I did have to replace the cam sensor, as probably did most owners. I would imagine if you buy one now the sensor has already been replaced. I had to have the transmission re-built at about 60,000 miles. One thing I didn't like about that truck was the frame. It had a bend near the rear axle that cracked on mine, both sides. Had to have it re-enforced. I drove it on some pretty nasty roads with a camper on it though. As mentioned earlier it ran beautifully on Mexican diesel.

When I bought my current truck, Ford was having a lot of problems so I got a 2008 1 ton Silverado, LMM. I've had several trucks and this is by far my favorite. Drives smooth, very powerful, offroads well, and so far has been very dependable. I really like the independent torsion bar front suspension. I put about 11,000 miles on it per year. It's been running almost purely on LSD in Baja Sur for the last 6 years. My dad bought one about the same time I did, he recently sold his with nearly 300,000 miles on it, and all he ever did was routine maintenance.

In the past most people recommended having a secondary fuel filter for a diesel. I think the fuel storage in Baja has improved to a point that the diesel doesn't get the fungus (or whatever that brown goo was) anymore. I have a secondary fuel filter on mine and in the last 6 years I haven't found any debris in it. I really doubt the second filter is necessary anymore.

[Edited on 7-21-2016 by BigWooo]

chuckie - 7-21-2016 at 05:38 AM

I think he wants you to come sit in his driveway, Goatley

MMc - 7-21-2016 at 08:16 AM

I am in a place in my life that I can afford a truck for baja. I drive a lot for work and own/drive a Honda and a Ford most days. The truck doesn't fit in the toybox so it sits in the driveway. If you are suffering from truck envie that's your issue.

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by MMc

What's a driveway queen? Sounds like you want a truck so the neighbors can see your truck. What's that all about?

Hook - 7-21-2016 at 09:17 AM

Unless you are towing something north of 7.5k lbs, I dont think I could justify buying a post 2010 diesel truck. The gas trucks have gotten better and better mileage, while the smogged diesels have remained the same or gotten a bit worse. It takes too much fuel savings to make up for the premium that diesels carry in sales prices; though a used truck probably minimizes this, somewhat.

Diesel is still more expensive than gasoline in most (but not all) states.

MMc - 7-21-2016 at 09:37 AM

Hook, I agree 100%, finding a gas 3/4 ton is not easy! The reason for the post is to figure out if I might think about getting a diesel. There are 3 to 4 times more diesels out there then gas.
Thank everybody for the answers.

Bob and Susan - 7-21-2016 at 07:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by MMc

Hook, I agree 100%, finding a gas 3/4 ton is not easy! The reason for the post is to figure out if I might think about getting a diesel. There are 3 to 4 times more diesels out there then gas.
Thank everybody for the answers.

you must not live in California...there are more gas 3/4 tons for sale there and texas too...

I've been looking...price doubles for a diesel (almost)

mtgoat666 - 7-21-2016 at 10:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by MMc

I am in a place in my life that I can afford a truck for baja. I drive a lot for work and own/drive a Honda and a Ford most days. The truck doesn't fit in the toybox so it sits in the driveway. If you are suffering from truck envie that's your issue.

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by MMc

What's a driveway queen? Sounds like you want a truck so the neighbors can see your truck. What's that all about?

no truck envy here! i hate driving trucks! too big to park, too wide to drive comfortably. i pay people to do the trucking, while i drive something more enjoyable! :lol:

bajatrailrider - 7-22-2016 at 07:17 AM

Your too stupid to drive a truck,question is how did you get a license. :?:

mojo_norte - 7-22-2016 at 08:37 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

no truck envy here! i hate driving trucks! too big to park, too wide to drive comfortably. i pay people to do the trucking, while i drive something more enjoyable! :lol:

A truck of some flavor is a necessary tool for Baja - what if your Yugo breaks down in 7 Sisters ?

chuckie - 7-22-2016 at 08:53 AM

Goatley travels in a Palinquin, carried by coolies...More greener...Coolies wear Birkenstocks to avoid injuring the flora..

TMW - 7-22-2016 at 09:38 AM

MMc go to http://www.autotrader.com/

Put in what you are looking for and see what comes up. I did a search for a Ford F250 4x4 for under $35,000 2010 or newer with in 300 miles and a lot trucks popped up.

[Edited on 7-22-2016 by TMW]

bajatrailrider - 7-22-2016 at 10:59 AM

I think that's a smart decision. As when I got my new Dodge 4x4 diesel in 1996. I used it for pulling 40ft house trailers.Never had any problems with this bad boy,but hardly use it anymore. I only keep it now,so when my little 4x4 trucks get stuck. It is able to pull them out.

bajatrailrider - 7-22-2016 at 04:49 PM

My Dodge diesel has pulled out my stuck Bronco/Toyota race truck/Nissan Diesel/And everybody else in town. If it gets stuck its D9 time.

MMc - 7-23-2016 at 11:41 AM

Well thanks all. I was concerned about having a diesel sit and run it around town on the weekends looks like I don't have much to worry about. Now I just need to find the right truck.