diesel truck, I don't know anything. Help me please

[Special T]

diesel trucks are made for long driving distances and/or pulling heavy loads... If your commute is sort or don't put that many miles on a diesel is not for you... I have an 03 and 05dodge cummins with the 6speed stick 2wd duelly.. has done anything i have asked it to do... They are either parked or driving down the freeway running for more that 2hrs at a time...I will wear out the other componets that are dodge and replace them before i get rid of these 2 work horses...

[JackOfAllTrades]

I fuel up about every 8 days. Lately that's been $3.20/gal. for about a $110 fill up. ~600 miles to a tank unless Its all highway, then she'll go +650. (I runn'r until the low fuel light comes on. Ole' Wilber has a factory 38gallon tank that I've put 37gallons into more than once). I could pay $3.39 just down the road from my home if I wanted to, but I've got my select couple of stations that seem to always have the best price in the county.

-Steve

[6x6in6]

I fuel up about every 8 days. Lately that's been $3.20/gal. for about a $110 fill up. (I runn'r until the low fuel light comes on. Ole' Wilber has a factory 38gallon tank that I've put 37gallons into more than once). I could pay $3.39 just down the road from my home if I wanted to, but I've got my select couple of stations that seem to always have the best price in the county.

-Steve

Care to share where your best prices are?
Fred Meyer on Bakerview I will only do after the Canadian curfew hits around 10:00 PM.   

[JackOfAllTrades]

Fred Meyer at Lakeway. Starvin Sams or Conoco in Ferndale have been the cheapest for the 6 years I've owned my truck. If you pay 'cash' then the BP at Guide and Pole road is sometimes cheaper. Arco in Lynden is sometimes cheaper but they charge to use debit.

Oh,, and Fredies at Bakerview won't let the tab go past $75 on debit/credit. The one on Lakeway will go till its full. I use an air miles credit card to well past $100 to fill there without it stopping on me.

-Steve

[DRobnsn]

I've been ruminating on a new-to-me diesel truck...one thing that is a WHOLESALE turnoff for the newer ones....

MUFFLER FLUID!!!!!!!!!!! 

Another thing to remember about new diesels is the Urea they are requiring them to use. Ford and Chev both use them Dodge is the only one of the big three that hasn't had to use it yet. Urea is a additive that is injected into the exhaust to help scrub the system and is something that will have a tank and will need to be filled at certain intervals. Not sure on price and availability but its worth checking into when considering a new truck. 

What next....Blinker fluid? 

Dodge uses it too.
 
4500's and bigger now, all of them next year.

Could you point me in the direction where you got this info. I know the Cab and Chassis trucks have it but haven't been able to find anything saying the regular pickups would have it.

[6x6in6]

Thank You.

Funny story.
The short little blonde lady that runs the Lakeway Fred's and hides in the little house right off our tailpipes asked me to shut my truck off when I was waiting in line to fuel up a year and half ago.
I had just dropped in some new 240 hp injectors in it and it was hazing to say the least and I couldn't since the egt's were still over 400*. 
But hey, I got first in the sled pull at Berthusen a few hours later.

[jackelope]

I've been ruminating on a new-to-me diesel truck...one thing that is a WHOLESALE turnoff for the newer ones....

MUFFLER FLUID!!!!!!!!!!! 

Another thing to remember about new diesels is the Urea they are requiring them to use. Ford and Chev both use them Dodge is the only one of the big three that hasn't had to use it yet. Urea is a additive that is injected into the exhaust to help scrub the system and is something that will have a tank and will need to be filled at certain intervals. Not sure on price and availability but its worth checking into when considering a new truck. 

What next....Blinker fluid? 

Dodge uses it too.
 
4500's and bigger now, all of them next year.

Could you point me in the direction where you got this info. I know the Cab and Chassis trucks have it but haven't been able to find anything saying the regular pickups would have it.

I just finished all the training on it. It's all on a password protected dealer website  . If I can find something that I have the ability to show you, I will.

[Happy Gilmore]

A buddy of mine owns some Jiffy Lubes and has had training for it. Said it is Urea. Helps exhaust burn off crap. Its going to be like filling up your washer fluid and it can last up to two oil changes but, will be topped off every change. If you run out, he said the computer in the motor will de-tune your power curve to keep under predicted emmissions. Running de-tuned will not affect the motor. Everything goes back to normal when it gets filled. I think he said it may add something like $15 to a standard oil change. Dealers will be charging over $50 is the word. more incentive to change oil at places other than dealers.

[JackOfAllTrades]

For the Ford 6.7:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1022611-another-def-fill-post.html

[jeepasaurusrex]

I've got a 99 F350 Dually 4x4 with a 7.3 and an auto. No real problems to speak of. I did the ball joints a few years back. Had a little incident with the under valve cover harness for the injectors. Other than that, it's been a great truck. I did add an additional cooler to the transmission and I think that is the key to having it survive. I built my own tuner for the motor and get better fuel mileage than when it was stock. It tows anything I want, and gets around 24mpg on long road trips. I average about 18 around town. I got 16.2 towing our travel trailer over the North Cascades this last deer season, and I was not waiting around for anything. My Dad used to have a 81 F350 he had a camper on. He got tired of me waiting for him at the top of the pass and went out and bought a '08 F250 with a 6.4 in it so he could keep up. He is averaging 17mpg with his.

[C-Money]

I am all gas these days. The family and I took our newly purchased  08 Tundra down to our good friends farm to buy a few ton of hay. We put two ton on the trailer and 10 bales in the bed. I know this is not a huge amount of weight, but that Tundra handled it VERY well! Lots of power and very stable. We got 12mpg on the trip home loaded from Goldendale to Moses Lake. I am a big fan of Toyota's 5.7 V-8. Diesel is just not practical for me anymore. If I am moving cows or something heavy I use the F-350 with the v-10 and 6 speed manual. Gas gets the job done for me.

[Rick]

Diesel is just not practical for me anymore.

Diesel isn't practical for a lot of people. I think for a lot of guys,having a big burly diesel is good for their self estem.

If I could talk my wife into either a motorhome,or something smaller than our current 33' fifth wheel,I'd go back to a 1/2 ton gas truck in a heartbeat.

[jeepasaurusrex]

After towing with a diesel, I will never tow with gas again. 

[MuleySniper]

Not to thread jack, but since mileage has been a topic here I'll go ahead. I finished off my emissions delete this evening and I'm happy to report 15.2 mpg's on my short, up and down, stop and go 7 mile drive home from from work tonight.  I should be golden on long hauls towing going camping or fishing.  Oh, and for you gas lovers! The only ones I respect when I blast by em towing up vantage hill are the guys with the Chev 8.1's otherwise move over and enjoy my exhaust
MS

[jackelope]

when I blast by em towing up vantage hill are the guys with the Chev 8.1's otherwise move over and enjoy my exhaust
MS

Now that you have exhaust it will be even better.