To go with diesel or stay with gas…

All my friends ran out and bought diesels in 2020/2021 and they’re ALL bitching about fuel cost now. I bought an F150 with the 2.7 because it’s all I need in my business and stuff I do. You won’t ruin a diesel by not towing, but I mean don’t drive around like a grandma babying it, the emissions stuff is finicky on the new diesels. Don’t be afraid to DRIVE it. As for maintenance cost, bring your wallet. Oil changes are easily $100-120 and even though they claim you can go 10,000 miles between changes I would never dream of doing that. 5,000 intervals. Then you have fuel filters that need changing every 10,000. Don’t forget the other costs for 2500 trucks, things like shocks and brakes and stuff that cost way more than any 1/2 ton would. Oh and then there is def coat but a tank will last you every oil change. Still cost though.
Me? I’d buy a half ton and do everything you say you want to do, but don’t be afraid of the diesel, just know they ain’t cheap to maintain.

quote:

---

if you don’t tow heavy you can ruin the engine?

---

I've never heard that.

quote:

---

Also how much in maintenance could I expect to spend a year on a diesel? Right now I basically just change my oil for my gasser and that’s it. Should I wait and get the 1500 or just go with the HD?

---

They do hold a bunch more oil compared to a gas burner.

quote:

---

The 2018 Chevy interiors are lame as hell.

---

Wow, I like them a lot.

Google the price of injectors for that 2500 and get back with me. If its chump change to you, buy the diesel.

I drive an 02 Excursion with a 7.3. It’s my second 7.3 I also own a 02 F250. Once I went to a diesel I could never go back to a gas truck. The power difference are night and day, but as other people have said maintenance costs and now diesel prices are higher. You can tune a diesel to get way better fuel mileage then a gas truck but you have to delete that def junk off your truck. I have a $200 oil and fuel filter change every 7500 miles. Y

I'll never get a diesel again. Everything is more expensive and the ride sucks compared to a 1500. Oil changes, fuel filters, def... just a PITA.

Mine doesn’t ride as good as a half ton for sure but the trucks are not in the same league as far as capability. It’s not an apples to apples comparison. I paid it off about 6 months ago so plan on taking care of it and passing it to my son in a couple years.

I'm having that same question right now. How hard is it to actually delete? Also, as for the Ford death wobble, my boss said he had it with his 2017 KR and put a stabilizer on it and it has fixed it. But it only ever did it once. I had always heard the 2019 f250s were the ones with that problem but I guess its all models.

Realistically, what are maintenance costs differences per oil change cycle? a hundred to two? plus fuel prices?

ETA: Also how many miles on a used diesel truck is too many to be worth buying? In my gas truck brain I see 70k-100k and immediately think "nope" but I hear about people buying those fairly often.

I have an F250 w 6.7L diesel

Oil changes at shop $180
Fuel filter change at shop $100
Coolant flush $330

If you don’t need a diesel don’t get one. I drive and tow long distances. Every trip I make is about 300 - 800 miles one way.
Im loving my truck but not loving 14.5mpg and $128 fill ups.

quote:

---

I tow 5 days out of the week for lawn care but the mower only weighs 1200 lbs plus whatever the trailer weighs (not much).

---

FWIW, I did the same for 2 years with a 2.7L Ford F150. Your towing needs are peanuts.

You need to think about the business aspect of this and leverage the IRS standard mileage rate as much as possible.