Seeking opinions on less-noisy diesels

[SaskCampers]

Don't let anyone kid you about the new diesels not stinking. IMO in cold weather the new ones stink worse than any of the old ones ever did. I hate being anywhere around them in the winter. Oh and I do own a John Deere diesel tractor that has none of the emission stuff and is not near as stinky as the trucks.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by SaskCampers

Don't let anyone kid you about the new diesels not stinking. IMO in cold weather the new ones stink worse than any of the old ones ever did. I hate being anywhere around them in the winter. Oh and I do own a John Deere diesel tractor that has none of the emission stuff and is not near as stinky as the trucks.

As someone that has owned two modern, 2007+ diesels as well as 3 pre-2007 diesels I can say you have no idea what you're talking about. Perhaps the ones you've been around have been "deleted" but winter or not, my newer diesels have not smelled.

The tuned and deleted trucks are another story.

[Lins]

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

As someone that has owned two modern, 2007+ diesels as well as 3 pre-2007 diesels I can say you have no idea what you're talking about. Perhaps the ones you've been around have been "deleted" but winter or not, my newer diesels have not smelled.

The tuned and deleted trucks are another story.

Agreed.

[jake wolfpack]

I'll key on some info I haven't seen addressed.

You don't want a 6.4 powerstroke. Way to expensive to keep on the road. There's no debate with anyone on that statement. So that puts you at 2011 or newer 6.7. It's a great motor that got better every year. 2011 being the worst year to own with radiator and turbo issues and the 12 having the same bearing issues in the turbo. 2015 got a new turbo with improved exhaust brake and power upgrade. So ideally a 15 or newer powerstroke, but I would still buy a 13 or 14 if I found a nice truck at a price I was happy with.
As for the noise. They're extremely quiet. My 16 is impressively quiet and my neighbors 17 is even quieter imo.

[Ejs4029]

Originally Posted by B and B

Doug is correct and I agree. Beside me at the camp I am at now the Dodge is very noisy, brand new 2500 2018 model. The owner mentioned my Ford SD is quite, he is correct. Chevy are quite than Ram as well.

I would say my RAM diesel is nosier then the Chevy or Ford....However, my DW has no problem falling asleep as soon as we hit the road

It does get pretty good gas mileage though last week on a solo 1000 mile round trip carrying the DW myself and about 500llbs in the bed the computer said 25.0 MPG after stopping for fuel and hand calculating it was 23.02 MPG

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

I would say my RAM diesel is nosier then the Chevy or Ford....However, my DW has no problem falling asleep as soon as we hit the road

It does get pretty good gas mileage though last week on a solo 1000 mile round trip carrying the DW myself and about 500llbs in the bed the computer said 25.0 MPG after stopping for fuel and hand calculating it was 23.02 MPG

That's because the RAM guys seldom can afford that really, really expensive option.................a muffler! LOL

Tell wife to go drive one or ride in one. Both of you will change your mind. I wouldn't ever own another gasoline truck for any use. I have one diesel and two gas trucks now. Nuttin' but diesel from now on. The rest are toys.

[Lins]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

I would say my RAM diesel is nosier then the Chevy or Ford....However, my DW has no problem falling asleep as soon as we hit the road

It does get pretty good gas mileage though last week on a solo 1000 mile round trip carrying the DW myself and about 500llbs in the bed the computer said 25.0 MPG after stopping for fuel and hand calculating it was 23.02 MPG

Yup our younger daughter would never fall asleep in our VW or our previous gas truck. Now that we got the Cummins, the wife and both girls will fall asleep as soon as we’re on the road for any extended period. We call it their Kryptonite

[Ejs4029]

Originally Posted by Lins

Yup our younger daughter would never fall asleep in our VW or our previous gas truck. Now that we got the Cummins, the wife and both girls will fall asleep as soon as we’re on the road for any extended period. We call it their Kryptonite

I feel like a long haul truck driver...The DW is snoozing the two dogs are snoozing just me awake on the lonesome highway

[Kaadk]

Has the OP taken one for a test drive yet? If so, this may be moot, but if not, I recommend at least trying one out. All the diesels we test drove I never detected a smell, and all of them were quieter than my Ram's 5.7 Hemi I was replacing.

Unfortunately, despite there not being a smell, there was still 'something' DW was reacting too. Every single one caused her to have headaches, especially when reversing. So now I'm stuck with my gasser 6.2 F250, and trying to figure out which gas stations I can fit through with the fiver so I can ensure my lousy 8.6 MPG doesn't interfere with our long distance trip plans.

[rick42wood]

I have a 2013 Ram 3500. It is as quiet as a gas motor in the cab and a little noisier outside. Certainly not annoying. The only time I smell diesel is when they let an apprentice change the fuel filter.

[sk734]

Duramax is quiet and very little to no smell. Go drive one. They are also very powerful workhorses when towing.

[Muzzledan]

I get nothing but compliments on how quiet my 2014 Duromax is. People don’t believe it’s a diesel.

[quadandtoolguy]

We bought a 2017 F350 Diesel and it is so quiet. A couple weeks ago, I actually came home, pulled under the living room window where my wife was sitting on the couch and came in the house and startled her because she didn't hear me pull in. She's also commented on how quiet it is when riding in the truck. We've been very pleased with this purchase.

[Gonefishing1]

I have had rams and fords. They have come a long way first diesel I Hd was a ram when they first came out with the diesel. Smoked and very loud. Then had f250 same smoked and loud. Been driving diesels for at least 15 years. Trading about every 2-3 years. They have come a long way driving a ram 2500 diesel you can’t tell the difference between it and gasser. Until you do maintenance. Traded in an f250 diesel both great vehicles. Take the wife and test drive she will be surprised

[paulmcalexander]

I have a 2002 duramax 2500 Silverado with only 117K miles, louder than the newer trucks, but the only real smells are first starting on a cool morning. It can pull about anything I want to put behind it, a 35 foot Blue Ridge 5th wheel or my 23 ft travel trailer.

[Moochie6903]

I have a 2007 Ram with a 5.9 Cummins. Pulll a 40 foot fiver. No smell at all. A little loud when pulling hard but definately bearable. Diesel is the only way to go pulling larger trailers imo.

[itat]

I have never owned a diesel (although I’d have no problem owning one) so I can’t comment on whether or not they are noisy or smelly to operate. What I can say, based on my experience as a filling station jockey when I was younger, is that the actual diesel fuel smells much worse than gasoline and it’s much more difficult to get the smell off if you spill any on your skin or clothing. So the OP’s wife may not be willing to fill up the diesel truck.

If I were ever to buy a diesel, I’d definitely skip the 3/4 ton and go with a 1 ton because the heavy Diesel engine robs a fair bit of the truck’s payload capacity.

[txmoto]

I have a 2015 Ecodiesel it’s my work truck so I didn’t buy it. I drove it for months before I found out it’s only a V6. Amazing little engine. Dodge is now offering that on the 3/4 ton. If you aren’t pulling enough to need a 1 ton I’d consider it. 110,000 miles absolutely zero problems. I have pulled some loads but not an RV. I have a small MH for RV.

[aeblank]

Originally Posted by itat

I have never owned a diesel (although I’d have no problem owning one) so I can’t comment on whether or not they are noisy or smelly to operate. What I can say, based on my experience as a filling station jockey when I was younger, is that the actual diesel fuel smells much worse than gasoline and it’s much more difficult to get the smell off if you spill any on your skin or clothing. So the OP’s wife may not be willing to fill up the diesel truck.

If I were ever to buy a diesel, I’d definitely skip the 3/4 ton and go with a 1 ton because the heavy Diesel engine robs a fair bit of the truck’s payload capacity.

I agree on the fuel smell. Very few places have the plastic mits, either. It doesn't evaporate, so the residue is always all over the pump.

[jdtractorman]

My wife likes our Sierra 2017HD Duramax 4WD better than my 2015 Sierra 1500 4WD in both quiet and ride quality. Pulls our big 5th wheel like it's a toy.