How bad are short commutes really?

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Scottly

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Might depend on how long you intend to own the truck too. Looks like Scottly doesn't keep trucks more than a year or two. Probably not enough time for issues to show up.
And that's a fair statement. Interesting note: Big rigs (OTR trucks) have a replaceable/repairable catalyst in them...Our trucks don't. The big rigs have a process by which they remove it, give it a chemical bath, and reinstall....We have to replace the system at much greater expense. My understanding is that by driving the way I do, that might happen at the 100K mark due to a full clogging of the particulate filter. Truth be known, I'll probably not have that truck long enough to see it.
 

Gr8bawana

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I'm still debating on whether to keep my power wagon or trade for a cummins. Your reply makes me lean more towards the latter...
This alleged "problem" of our diesels not liking short trips is probably way overexaggerated like most of the problems people complain about here.
Why? Because people mostly come here to complain about ANY problems they may have but very few come here to tell how good their truck is and are having no problems at all.
 

RamItFaster

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This alleged "problem" of our diesels not liking short trips is probably way overexaggerated like most of the problems people complain about here.
Why? Because people mostly come here to complain about ANY problems they may have but very few come here to tell how good their truck is and are having no problems at all.

Agree. The Exception and not the Rule, I never write good reviews for restauraunts, just trash the ****** ones
 

68PowerWagon

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I used my 2018 Cummins as a commuter...8 miles each way, 5 days a week. Grocery store on the weekends. Never got the REGEN message, but I know it was doing it's thing because I could smell it when I pulled into my office sometimes. My 2020 Chevy Duramax did the same thing...less driving due to COVID. just got a 2021 Cummins and don't really worry about it much. It's be fine.

What kind of mpg are you getting with your HO?
 

BWL

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It's fine. As long as you drive it enough to have to fill the def a couple times a year or syphon it out and put in fresh stuff annually and you let it idle and finish if it's doing a dpf burn instead of shutting it off part way through as that will eventually throw you into limp mode.The motor itself is fine with short trips. Just the emissions equipment that's the issue.
 
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68PowerWagon

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HO gets 15 on a good day and maybe 18 on the highway. The standard version 2500 I had was about 17 around town and 23-24 on the highway.

That seems to be enough of a jump for me to stick with the SO. My 5th wheel is only 13k & even if we upgrade, it likely wouldn't be much heavier. I would take the extra 2k hit cause I probably would get most of that back at trade in, but if it's going to cost me that much difference in fuel, I don't think it's worth it to have a HOo_O
 

Scottly

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That seems to be enough of a jump for me to stick with the SO. My 5th wheel is only 13k & even if we upgrade, it likely wouldn't be much heavier. I would take the extra 2k hit cause I probably would get most of that back at trade in, but if it's going to cost me that much difference in fuel, I don't think it's worth it to have a HOo_O
Not a bad decision on your part. I was quite surprised at the difference once I got it. Where it shines is when you load it down...You can' t beat the available torque, but that availability comes at the cost of some engine efficiencies.
 

Elvira

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You are not driving the diesel hard enough on those school trips. Maybe take the long way home and run it more.
 

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