diesel or gas???

05christj · Aug 14, 2015

So I'm sure plenty of y'all have heard (read) me hitch about what a pig my 2010 4.7 3:55 gears is.

Myquestion to y'all is, is buying a diesel worth it???

My commute to work is 27 miles one way with only 4 traffic lights and the best I can manage is 16mpg. I have known guys with the 5.9 Cummins that get 20+ when on the highway. And have read about guys with deleted 6.7's get 20 ish mpg.

I will never need to tow that much weight but I do need a truck.

Would the eco diesel be a good compromise?

WadXpress · Aug 14, 2015

You can get 20-23 MPH with a hemi and the 8 speed tranny.

Firebird · Aug 14, 2015

My Eco would get 31 mpg on a drive like that

spoon059 · Aug 14, 2015

Just something to consider... how long will it take to re-coup the investment in a new truck if it is just for MPG gains? The Ecodiesel is about as expensive as the 2500 with the CTD... both of which are in the high 30's or low 40's. How much would it cost you to go from your current ride to a newer Ecodiesel or CTD? How many gallons of gas will that buy you?

To me, that is a waste of the Cummins. It won't like not being worked and you are paying to have a lot of capabilities that you don't plan to use.

The Ecodiesel is your better option... but it is still a LOT of money upfront, and it will take a LOOOOOONG time to recoup your loses.

SlowRoller · Aug 14, 2015

If you don't do a lot of towing/hauling, wait till the DI Pentastar comes out in 2017.

Beauregard7765 · Aug 14, 2015

but on the flip side, you'll have a nice shiny new truck

05christj · Aug 14, 2015

It's not strictly just for mpg gains, I find that I don't like my truck. I want more power, more options, ext.

Beauregard7765 · Aug 14, 2015

Well the eco diesel is still a v6 so then you're probably going to be looking at the 2500

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SlowRoller · Aug 14, 2015

Eco D is only ~240~ HP,,, Lotsa TQ, but not a racer by any means,,,

Get the 5.7/3.92/8 speed

roadshow · Aug 14, 2015

05christj said:
So I'm sure plenty of y'all have heard (read) me hitch about what a pig my 2010 4.7 3:55 gears is.

Myquestion to y'all is, is buying a diesel worth it???

My commute to work is 27 miles one way with only 4 traffic lights and the best I can manage is 16mpg. I have known guys with the 5.9 Cummins that get 20+ when on the highway. And have read about guys with deleted 6.7's get 20 ish mpg.

I will never need to tow that much weight but I do need a truck.

Would the eco diesel be a good compromise?

The common wisdom I hear repeated often is this: Tow/haul frequently? get a diesel. Otherwise, gas.

MADDOG · Aug 14, 2015

6.4L... just sayin...

R/T_Fire · Aug 15, 2015

Eco diesel is kinda the best of both worlds from what I read, I don't have any experience with one yet, but I would get 18-20 mpg with my 07 5.9L and used it to commute about the same as yours, but I also worked the wheels off it on the farm at the same time so it made sense for me to have.

I'd go compare a Eco diesel to a 5.7 with 8speed and 3.92 gears as suggested. test drive both and go from their. since you don't need the HD truck its only more expensive and depending on your state may have extra cost for weight fees every year with registration.

05christj · Aug 15, 2015

Thanks y'all, I'm thinking if aftermarket support does not pick up with the eco diesel then I'll look at the cummis.

Jaxyaks · Aug 15, 2015

If your not towing heavy and long on a regular basis the cummins doesent make sense fuel or maintenance wise. If you don't tow heavy and you need fuel mileage get a hemi with an 8 speed or a pentastar with a 8 speed, you will get 19-21 in the city with e six and 23-25 highway, I had one and it was consistent all day everyday with those numbers

Ratket · Aug 15, 2015

Go drive a 1/2 ton with 392"s and a 8 speed.. I am sure you will be more than happy. This is what I love about ram .. the 3/4 tons cost as much as the 1-2 tons.. so boom upgrade for the same price.. how ever this will not help u in the mpg department. So far the best mileage truck is the 1/2 ton Eco diesel... but if u think ur truck feels slow.. you won't be happy with the Eco diesel either. But a hemi with 392"s mated to a 8speed... Now that's fun

Arctic-Rodz · Aug 15, 2015

Sounds like a 5.7 hemi with the 8 speed and 3.21 gears would be what you need.

A Cummins is overkill for that little drive and no towing. I usually encourage a Cummins, being an owner myself, but in your case I doubt you will benefit from it.

The emissions system wants the truck to be worked and heated up to get the exhaust nice and hot to burn off the soot.

Also, sounds like you want speed, not necessarily power.

The Cummins isnt fast by any means. But it is strong, very different.

05christj · Aug 15, 2015

Arctic-Rodz said:
Sounds like a 5.7 hemi with the 8 speed and 3.21 gears would be what you need.

A Cummins is overkill for that little drive and no towing. I usually encourage a Cummins, being an owner myself, but in your case I doubt you will benefit from it.

The emissions system wants the truck to be worked and heated up to get the exhaust nice and hot to burn off the soot.

Also, sounds like you want speed, not necessarily power.

The Cummins isnt fast by any means. But it is strong, very different.

I don't want to downshift at the slightest incline at 70mph. I don't need the truck to be "fast" , I have not drove a 6.7 Cummins get but I have drove a stock LBZ (something like that) duramax and I just like how that thing felt like it kept pulling like a freight train through the gears all though it wasn't fast.

When my truck shifts into 2nd it feels like it falls on its face compaired to 1st

Also I am not completely opposed to a Hemi.

RussellRam · Aug 17, 2015

EcoDiesel. The 3L 4x4 crew cab @ 3.55 gets myself and co-workers from A to B efficiently while hauling landscaping equipment and towing a trailer. I chose the diesel because of the higher mpg, torque, and towing capacity vs the v6 gas. I don't need the extra hp and towing from the hemi at the moment...

Ratket · Aug 17, 2015

^ But then comes the .. if ur gonna step into a diesel and spend the money might as well as get a 3/4 ton with the ctd because they cost the same. That's how I look at it. My 6.4 2500 cost as much as a 5.7 1500.. My mileage isn't as good as the 1/2 tons but that is the only complaint.. but for what the truck is I am extatic with the mileage.

darthdzl · Aug 17, 2015

Ratket said:
^ But then comes the .. if ur gonna step into a diesel and spend the money might as well as get a 3/4 ton with the ctd because they cost the same. That's how I look at it. My 6.4 2500 cost as much as a 5.7 1500.. My mileage isn't as good as the 1/2 tons but that is the only complaint.. but for what the truck is I am extatic with the mileage.

Stripped down 1500 Tradesman with an Ecodiesel: $31,125 MSRP
Stripped down 2500 Tradesman with a Cummins: $41,085 MSRP

They do NOT cost the same. I understand why people say it if they don't look around much: because dealers are treating the Ecodiesel like a high-end model, and almost all the reasonably-priced 2015s are off the lots already.

But the price is way different, and if you order an Ecodiesel, it'll be $10k less than a comparably equipped 2500 with a Cummins.

If he doesn't need the extra capacity of a 2500, there's no reason to pay the $10k and get one.

diesel or gas???

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