Thinking of selling the Duramax and going with gas, mistake?
04-10-2012, 11:45 AM
#121
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 2,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That aint bad. And the engine is a gem.
c.
04-10-2012, 12:16 PM
#122
Rennlist Member
04-10-2012, 01:02 PM
#123
VR is correct a manual is still an option. I'm new on the cummins boards learning everything I can, being a new ram 2500 diesel owner, and they are not having any issues with the auto tranny. Dodge has issues but the tranny does not seem to be one of them. Deletes and reverse deletes are so easy on the Rams and it dramatically jumps the MPG. Ford and Chevy are not as easy or I could not find easy ways around them. Just running too low on DEF on the Ford or Chevy will put you in undriveable limp mode. DEF refill every oil change per 5000miles some say up to 1 gal per tankfull for diesel! I can never get the straight dope on DEF so I just avoided it with the Ram and could not be happier. I used to tow with a chevy suburban 8.1L race a chevy corvette and have an additional $3000 off any GM vehicle through GM creditcard points and that was still not good enough to make me want to deal with DEF.
04-10-2012, 02:02 PM
#124
Rennlist Member
my 23K miles worth of expereince with DEF in the duramax is that I get it topped off at oil changes every 5K miles
I did purposely run it low to experience the warning on the dash... and the first warning I noticed was an alert that said in effect "900 miles of DEF remaining"... plenty of time to react so to speak.
Since then, as I mentioned, just top it up at oil changes... It does not bother me. It certainly is not reason enough to go another route IF that is your only reason. At least in my opinion it is not. the DEF is not expensive... however in my neighborhood diesel is closing in on $4.70 per gallon
:-(
I believe the GM def tank holds roughly 6 gallons -- the 1 gallon of def per tank of diesel is not even close in my experience. My truck is a DD with mixed highway and city. I think I am getting 3 or 4 gallons of def with every oil change at 5K intervals.
I sell industrial equipment and virtually all of it is running DEF (including cummins powered units) and it really is a non issue once you expereince it. it gets low and you top it up... it is that simple... even I can do it and that is saying something
I did purposely run it low to experience the warning on the dash... and the first warning I noticed was an alert that said in effect "900 miles of DEF remaining"... plenty of time to react so to speak.
Since then, as I mentioned, just top it up at oil changes... It does not bother me. It certainly is not reason enough to go another route IF that is your only reason. At least in my opinion it is not. the DEF is not expensive... however in my neighborhood diesel is closing in on $4.70 per gallon
:-(
I believe the GM def tank holds roughly 6 gallons -- the 1 gallon of def per tank of diesel is not even close in my experience. My truck is a DD with mixed highway and city. I think I am getting 3 or 4 gallons of def with every oil change at 5K intervals.
I sell industrial equipment and virtually all of it is running DEF (including cummins powered units) and it really is a non issue once you expereince it. it gets low and you top it up... it is that simple... even I can do it and that is saying something
04-10-2012, 02:37 PM
#125
Nordschleife Master
This would be so much easier if I had some brand loyalty. I've always kind of liked GM, but both dealers are local, and I don't mind the DEF.
Even money gets me either a GMC 2500 Crew SLE Cloth Duramax, which is more on the basic side... or a... Ram 2500 Crew Laramie Leather etc. Cummins, which is pretty well decked out
As a reference, used Rams on Auto Trader seem to go for ~$7500 less than the GMs
Even money gets me either a GMC 2500 Crew SLE Cloth Duramax, which is more on the basic side... or a... Ram 2500 Crew Laramie Leather etc. Cummins, which is pretty well decked out
As a reference, used Rams on Auto Trader seem to go for ~$7500 less than the GMs
04-10-2012, 03:59 PM
#126
Pro
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This would be so much easier if I had some brand loyalty. I've always kind of liked GM, but both dealers are local, and I don't mind the DEF.
Even money gets me either a GMC 2500 Crew SLE Cloth Duramax, which is more on the basic side... or a... Ram 2500 Crew Laramie Leather etc. Cummins, which is pretty well decked out
As a reference, used Rams on Auto Trader seem to go for ~$7500 less than the GMs
Even money gets me either a GMC 2500 Crew SLE Cloth Duramax, which is more on the basic side... or a... Ram 2500 Crew Laramie Leather etc. Cummins, which is pretty well decked out
As a reference, used Rams on Auto Trader seem to go for ~$7500 less than the GMs
I stopped being brand loyal when GM forced me to lemon law an 2500 HD claiming the Harley inspired steering wheel vibration was normal due to "frame flex". When it comes time to replace the current F250, I'll look at all three again and buy whichever is the best overall value at that time.
04-10-2012, 04:13 PM
#127
A friend with a Ram 2500 bought it third- or fourth-hand, drove it another 100K till it dropped (literally on the freeway, the trans puked its transfer case) so he called a roadside diesel truck service company (long haul freighters don't take the down time to go to a shop, they get full service roadside while the driver sleeps) and he had the transmission and transaxle swapped out for a refurb and whatever other "while you're in there" right where it dropped dead. If you do have a tow vehicle failure, logistics can be brutal with a trailer and expensive equipment not well secured, so I'd share the roadside service as perhaps being a real lifesaver if you're in range of replacement parts, etc.
Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about the Dodge trans unless it was a tow truck or commercial application where perhaps Allison would be the deciding factor. If I was going to run a stacker 5th wheel behind a dually, I'd be more concerned about the transmission.
Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about the Dodge trans unless it was a tow truck or commercial application where perhaps Allison would be the deciding factor. If I was going to run a stacker 5th wheel behind a dually, I'd be more concerned about the transmission.
04-10-2012, 05:34 PM
#128
A friend with a Ram 2500 bought it third- or fourth-hand, drove it another 100K till it dropped (literally on the freeway, the trans puked its transfer case) so he called a roadside diesel truck service company (long haul freighters don't take the down time to go to a shop, they get full service roadside while the driver sleeps) and he had the transmission and transaxle swapped out for a refurb and whatever other "while you're in there" right where it dropped dead. If you do have a tow vehicle failure, logistics can be brutal with a trailer and expensive equipment not well secured, so I'd share the roadside service as perhaps being a real lifesaver if you're in range of replacement parts, etc.
Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about the Dodge trans unless it was a tow truck or commercial application where perhaps Allison would be the deciding factor. If I was going to run a stacker 5th wheel behind a dually, I'd be more concerned about the transmission.
Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about the Dodge trans unless it was a tow truck or commercial application where perhaps Allison would be the deciding factor. If I was going to run a stacker 5th wheel behind a dually, I'd be more concerned about the transmission.
04-11-2012, 02:07 PM
#129
Racer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
04-12-2012, 04:09 AM
#130
GT3 player par excellence
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Purdy: https://detailersdomain.com/Eric-Won...rep_b_319.html
I used to have a 2005 6.0 Ford F350. If you want a 6.0, youre gambling. All fine and dandy until it breaks down towing home from MidOhio, then you need to wait 4 hours for tow trucks to come that can take both the truck and trailer. Then you have to call up good buddies in the Columbus area to come pick you up from Ford of Mansfield. Then fly home, then back to get truck... all on your own dime and Ford wouldnt take up nothing. Fortunately I was still under extended warranty and the turbo that blew was JUST put in by another Ford dealer. I ditched that truck and got a 2011 Denali 3500 DRW.
Not sure why everyone says the new trucks require so much maintenance. If refilling DEF is a pain in the *** to a car guy, something is wrong. I get 10-13MPG in the city empty, 10-11MPG towing either a 24' or 44' trailer and I can get 18-20MPG on highway.
New truck is way quieter, and rides way nicer. Not sure Id ever go to a gasser unless I was towing an open trailer. That or unless you never plan on towing through mountains. The interior of the new GMs are dated, but they should have a new truck coming in 2013.
Also, all the HPHP issues seem to be from Ford's 6.7L. I havent heard one report yet of it failing on GM's trucks even though they are both made by Bosch.
I used to have a 2005 6.0 Ford F350. If you want a 6.0, youre gambling. All fine and dandy until it breaks down towing home from MidOhio, then you need to wait 4 hours for tow trucks to come that can take both the truck and trailer. Then you have to call up good buddies in the Columbus area to come pick you up from Ford of Mansfield. Then fly home, then back to get truck... all on your own dime and Ford wouldnt take up nothing. Fortunately I was still under extended warranty and the turbo that blew was JUST put in by another Ford dealer. I ditched that truck and got a 2011 Denali 3500 DRW.
Not sure why everyone says the new trucks require so much maintenance. If refilling DEF is a pain in the *** to a car guy, something is wrong. I get 10-13MPG in the city empty, 10-11MPG towing either a 24' or 44' trailer and I can get 18-20MPG on highway.
New truck is way quieter, and rides way nicer. Not sure Id ever go to a gasser unless I was towing an open trailer. That or unless you never plan on towing through mountains. The interior of the new GMs are dated, but they should have a new truck coming in 2013.
Also, all the HPHP issues seem to be from Ford's 6.7L. I havent heard one report yet of it failing on GM's trucks even though they are both made by Bosch.
04-21-2012, 11:52 PM
#131
Nordschleife Master
Well after going off topic earlier, I figured that it was probably ok to do a thread revival to close the loop, and to thank you guys for the help.
In the end, it was $4000 less than a similarly equipped GM, got me a front bench....... and a heated steering wheel
In the end, it was $4000 less than a similarly equipped GM, got me a front bench....... and a heated steering wheel
