1500 diesel trucks

"BadMotorScooter" (badmotorscooter) 11/26/2019 at 11:00 • Filed to: None

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What’s your take on the state of diesel power for half-ton trucks? I’m looking specifically at the new GM 3.0 liter inline 6 available in the 1500 trucks. I used to be a big diesel fan, and owned 3/4 and 1-ton Duramax trucks, but never a half-ton diesel.

The GM 3.0 diesel is rated for 460 ft-lb of torque, same as the 6.2 gas V8, although the diesel makes more torque lower in the rev range. The diesel is supposed to get around 5 MPG more overall and my experience with diesel is that real world economy is often higher than EPA estimates. That’s roughly 25% improvement in fuel economy vs the gas 6.2 and possibly more in real world use.

The problem with diesel today is the overall reliability and performance of the emissions equipment. I’ve heard and seen a lot of problems with the particulate filters, which are expensive to repair or replace. The DEF systems also seem to have some issues especially in really cold weather. Have these issues been resolved in the latest gen engines? Is diesel power worth it versus the proven reliable gas 6.2 V8? The diesel and the 6.2 cost the same - $2500 upgrade on the GM trucks. Which way would you go?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 11:04

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I’ve never had issues with DEF systems on two newer diesels, a 2012 dura max and a 2015 Power S troke. You do need to run them on the highway for a while for the regeneration cycle so not the best rig for running around town with a lot of starts and stops. I have to admit that I dislike having to add DEF every 5,000 miles or so. It gets really annoying and DEF is not free. 

Nibby > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 11:07

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but muh v8s

CalzoneGolem > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 11:08

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1500 diesel trucks is a lot of diesel trucks.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 11:08

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We just got a new Ram 1500 eco diesel for small in- town deliverys. It’s nice, rides good, engine runs  smooth, good for the intended use work got it for.

WiscoProud > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/26/2019 at 11:13

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What kind of distances do you need to keep it healthy? My commute is 25 miles, but routinely takes 45 minutes with traffic. Would that be enough? 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > WiscoProud 11/26/2019 at 11:16

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I think that would be plenty of time for a regeneration  cycle. Since it only regenerates after so many operating hours or miles you only need to run it like this once every few weeks. 

WiscoProud > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/26/2019 at 11:18

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I knew it only happened occasionally, but i’ve read horror stories about them clogging up and burning the cars due to not being able to complete the cycle. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > WiscoProud 11/26/2019 at 11:21

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Our chevy started to stink when we were only using it to run around town for a month. I took it out and ran it hard for about 30 minutes and the piss odo r went away. None of my co-workers know how to do an Italian tune up.

Shift24 > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 11:29

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Wait till they are used so kinks are ironed out , come to ohio and delete all that crap. No inspection and no emissions unless you're in Cleveland 

jminer > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 11:36

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I bought a TDI jetta recently and love the Diesel driveline, but it is a pain to fill up sometimes if I’m honest. Less than half the filling stations around carry Diesel anymore and a fair percentage of them have the old large size nozzle.  

nermal > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 11:41

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Depends on how you plan on using it. All short trips? You’re gonna have a bad time. Frequent trips of > 1 hr on the interstate, preferably with a medium-to-big ass trailer? They’re great.

The 1500s are just like the 2500/3500s and all other modern emission-controlled diesels - They need to be driven under load for extended periods of time to keep things running properly. If not, they just get clogged up.

Also, if you get one, plan on doing the maintenance yourself. Oil changes & fuel filters are the most important. 

BadMotorScooter > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/26/2019 at 11:42

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That’s what I experienced with my prior 6.6 Duramax. They do best with some highway miles or a load on them to let them burn off the DPF. I’ve also seen where the DPF have a finite useful life and can’t be cleaned, although this is supp osed to be somewhere well north of 100k miles. But still an expensive repair when that happens. I’ve seen trucks have DPF problems well under 100k miles too. I wonder if the smaller 3.0 would have a better DPF cleaning process.

BadMotorScooter > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 11/26/2019 at 11:44

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No issues with the DPF clean cycle with in-town use? What kind of MPGs do you see?

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 11:48

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I don’t know anything about diesel, but I’ve heard that calculating the maintenance and fuel economy together often makes gas and diesel trucks turn out to be about the same ownership cost wise. Might be worth doing for your case 

WiscoProud > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/26/2019 at 11:48

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Its kinda funny that isn’t common knowledge for diesel vehicles. You see tons of complaining about the emissions devices, but little about how to keep them in good health. 

Cé hé sin > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 11:58

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Given that I’m from a place where it’s been decades since you could buy a vehicle like this with anything other than a diesel. I’m afraid I can’t really comment!

Cé hé sin > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/26/2019 at 12:00

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Does everyone call Adblue DEF over there?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Cé hé sin 11/26/2019 at 12:02

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Yes, we have several different brands so generally it’s refereed to as Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).

BadMotorScooter > Cé hé sin 11/26/2019 at 12:03

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Yeah, in the US it is generically called DEF = Diesel Exhaust  Fluid. I believe Adblue is the VW brand name?

Cé hé sin > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 12:24

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I’m told Adblue is a term registered by the German motor industry. It’s universally used though regardless of supplier.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 12:41

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I can’t say from first hand experience, but the general consensus seems to be the earlier emissions stuff is crap but the recent trucks have it down for the most part.

BadMotorScooter > nermal 11/26/2019 at 13:00

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I wonder if the half-ton diesels will hold their value like the 3/4 and 1-ton diesels. In a half-ton chassis, the smaller diesels seem functionally similar to the big gas V8 options, so not the big performance gap li ke with the 3/4-ton diesels. Anyone that does any really serious towing is getting a 3/4-ton or 1-ton, where the half-ton diesel is more of an economy play that also has good performance. 

nermal > BadMotorScooter 11/26/2019 at 17:14

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Looking at advertised pricing for Rams, since those are the only used ones out currently, there’s really not much difference between used gas & diesel 1500s. On the bigger trucks it’s ~$10k difference across the board. 

I think that you are correct on the different target markets. On the 1500s the diesel is a lateral move from the gas option, on the bigger trucks it’s a yuuuuuuge upgrade.