diesel question

[walaby]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Until you've owned a Duramax.
We all love our trucks !!!

But the RAM can pull a house!

Mike

[Crusader 816]

Ya cummins over Duramax any day.

[John Dorsey]

If your a new diesel owner make sure you get a good overview from someone knowledgeable in the service department. Things like where is the exhaust brake, should I always use it comes to mind. Took me awhile and finally I had to read what that funny looking button was. I hit twice for auto because manually setting it is beyond my comprehension. Also if you run the exhaust brake a lot in town you seem to burn more DEF. Figuring out the trailer brake takes a minute too.

[modelrr]

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and replies! Much appreciated!

[Computer Nerd]

I have a 2014 Silverado 3500 Duramax. I love it. DEF is not a big deal, it's available at truck stops and most gas stations, and in jugs at Wallmart. I love my truck. I pull a 14000 lb 5ver and I get between 11-12 mpg when towing it depending on terrain and starts and stops. I get 21-22 mpg hwy when not towing.

[2Evil4U]

Your economy will depend on your gears. My new 17 is getting about 18 empty and about 10 towing our 9500# TT.

Don't forget the extra maintenance required for the diesels. 12qt oil changes. Two fuel filters ($140) to change every other oil change. My Aisin needs a trans fluid change every 30k for around $400. Then every 67.5k it needs a big service including cleaning the egr cooler that's around $900.

Just so you're not surprised.

[Hersbird]

Never believe 1/2 these mileage claims, they are most likely talking reading the overhead (or wherever it is) computer also know as the lie-o-meter. To be accurate it needs to be done over hundreds of miles from fill up to fill up. Then logged over multiple fill ups and averaged. Even done that way people often will throw out a few bad ones for whatever reason but never the good ones. I can get my lie-o-meter to show over 30mpg even over 100+ miles but A. It's not accurate, and B. Then not showing what it takes to accelerate, warm up, drive across town, etc.
That said, I know a guy who legitimately got over 2000 miles on a single tank on his stock 6.7 Cummins (over 70mpg) . He did it multiple times and it takes "extreme" practices like engine off coasting, and pulse and glide.
I get 20-21 unloaded long trip with a 2004 Ram, 6 speed 4x4 With 3.73 gears and taller tires, and about 12.5 towing. That is at about 68 mph in both cases. Day to day it does about 13-14 mpg unloaded, more cold starts, city driving.

[spock123]

What is the warranty in miles and months on a Ram, Ford or Chevrolet on the drive train? A 3500 diesel

[polishdon]

Originally Posted by 2Evil4U

Don't forget the extra maintenance required for the diesels. 12qt oil changes. Two fuel filters ($140) to change every other oil change. My Aisin needs a trans fluid change every 30k for around $400. Then every 67.5k it needs a big service including cleaning the egr cooler that's around $900.

2 fuel filters every other oil change? Is this a Cummins thing? I have 15% life left on my original fuel filter and have 32,000 miles, but I have a Chevy.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by walaby

But the RAM can pull a house!

Mike

I relocate Apartment buildings with mine.

[2Evil4U]

Originally Posted by polishdon

2 fuel filters every other oil change? Is this a Cummins thing? I have 15% life left on my original fuel filter and have 32,000 miles, but I have a Chevy.

Mine is a Cummins. Not sure about other brands but replacing both fuel filters is on the maintenance chart every other oil change.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by polishdon

2 fuel filters every other oil change? Is this a Cummins thing? I have 15% life left on my original fuel filter and have 32,000 miles, but I have a Chevy.

Got two oil changes on my duramax and Fuel filter is still at 91% $94.00 for oil change.

[2Evil4U]

Originally Posted by spock123

What is the warranty in miles and months on a Ram, Ford or Chevrolet on the drive train? A 3500 diesel

I think my RAM is 3/36 b2b, 5/100 power train. Power train is defined as lubricated parts so it wouldn't include engine sensors or maybe even intercoolers.

[polishdon]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Got two oil changes on my duramax and Fuel filter is still at 91% $94.00 for oil change.

Yeah sounds like our fuel filter lasts much longer, but I believe ours will be closer to $250 to change when it's time.

[Ejs4029]

Originally Posted by Broadway Joe

I get 13-15 mpg around town (many lights). On the highway I have seen a high of 24, but usually 20-22. Towing 8000 lbs I average 11.5 to 13 mpg.

That's real close to what my 2015 Ram with the Cummins get's..In town maybe 14-16 mpg. On the highway the same and towing my 8k the same.

Towing From Southern CA to NC when I moved the gauge said 13.0 Mpg hand calculating it was 12.0 for 2463 Miles and averaging 56 mph. Going through Texas and Oklahoma I was hitting strong head winds so I thing the MPG could have been better overall.

I replaced both fuel filters when they were at 0% which was 15K at the dealer it was $235.00

I buy DEF at Walmart SuperTech Brand it's $7.88 and always found it no more then a month old on the shelf. I fill it up at the 1/2 way mark. Never had any issues and have 22K on the truck now.

[CWSWine]

I think the best part of owning a diesel truck is being able to use the truck lanes when towing. I seen gas pumps that would be a nightmare to try to get truck and 5er into even at some truck stops.

[SlfMdeFam]

Just sold my 09 Duramax and bought a 17 Cummins. Much quieter and a much smoother ride. The torque of a Ram is by far better than any other diesel on the road. It won’t win any races but it’ll pull a house off its foundation. I bought a 2500 4x4 CC short bed. Pull a Rockwood 5er. I’m not concerned with mileage so I never pay it much attention. Def is everywhere and it’s cheap. I’m sold on Ram now.

P.S. the mini diesel that Nissan has in its wannabe full size truck isn’t even the same engine. Do some research.

[CWSWine]

If you want to compare ride between manufactures be sure to include the GMC 1 ton. I went from a F350 1 ton went to a GMC Denial 1 ton and night and day difference between ride. Power wise the F350 might have a slight edge but anything over 800 foot pounds of torque shouldn't make a real difference going down the road. I never towed with RAM but did test driver one and still thought the GMC road better.

[tuckerdog1]

This started to drift.
DEF is a non issue. Cheap & available most everywhere. I get it at Wally World.
Fuel mileage ( as mentioned earlier ) will vary depending on a LOT of factors. Tire pressure, towing ( and what you're towing ) or not towing. Wind at your back or in your face. Load weight. Even a bed cover can help. So hard to say what MPG you'll see.
BEST I ever saw was from Alabama to Texas. Mostly level, no wind to speak of, not towing, have bed cover & averaged around 65 MPH. The lie-o-meter had me at 26 MPG.
Towing I average around 13 MPG. The BEST I've seen towing was 19 MPG ( strong wind at my back ). Worst was the next day, with that same wind in my face 9 MPG.

Fuel filters are pricey. I once found them ( OEM ) for $70 for both. My brother was recently here for a visit and wanted to change his. Best we could find was $102. But they are an easy do it yourself job.

When you buy, check if your dealer has any oil change package deals. My brother paid $900 and gets lifetime oil changes. No such luck where I bought mine. Best I could do was 6 oil changes for $350. That was still cheaper than doing it myself. For another $50 ( $400 total ) they rotate the tires at every oil change. I went for that.

Tuckerdog1

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by polishdon

Yeah sounds like our fuel filter lasts much longer, but I believe ours will be closer to $250 to change when it's time.

Honestly...l think the dealer only charged an additional $43.00 for fuel filter. I'll have look at my last copy to be sure. Certainly wasn't $250.00 or even over $100.00, but I'll look to find exact price.