Mileage on a Diesel

[muddinxj04]

So my dad's work has a lot of dodge 3500 cummins turbo diesel's with utility cap. He said that they are getting a new batch of trucks for guys and was wondering if it would be worth it to get one somewhat cheap. It'd probably need a new bed, but that wont be too bad. BTW, this truck would be used mostly to roll about 350 miles from home to school...mostly highway. Just wondering what you guys thought.

 

[dallas xjs]

dodge injector pumps were expensive and blow...the problem was i believe 98s and older...

 

[muddinxj04]

I forgot to post that most of these dodges are driven a lot, highway. i believe...my dad ended up puting 300k on his...if i remember corectly. But basically wondering if it would be worth it

 

[dallas xjs]

yes

 

[JohnX]

How much are we talking? and what year?

 

[muddinxj04]

well my dad put 300k on his, but he worked a lot more than most of the guys there do. Put in 70 some OVERTIME hrs in two weeks. But i think it would be around a 97...cause didn't they change from the really boxy looking ones to the more rounded around 95 or 97?

 

[ChiXJeff]

Dallas XJS has it wrong about the injection pumps.

1st gen, and 2nd gen through 98.5 (all 12v engines) are pretty solid in the pump department.

2nd Gen 24v engines have issues with lift pumps. In short, they fail, period. I'm replacing mine for the 3rd time in 70,000 miles. As long as you catch it quick, the VP44 injection pump should be fine. A fuel pressure gauge is an absolute must on these engines.

3rd Gen engines (high pressure common rail) seem to be pretty good in the pump department.

300k miles on a CTD really isn't that much IF it's had regular fluid changes and maintenance. 12v engines need pretty frequent valve adjustments.

 

[muddinxj04]

well i figure that these trucks are what make these guys their money, so i would hope they would take care of them...prob. not though. I just really hope a guy that is friends with my dad is getting rid of his, then i'd know it was taken care of. Guess we'll have to see. I'd love to get one of these trucks, but i think im kinda thinkin outloud with this.

 

[dallas xjs]

have 4 friends with those 95 to 99...all 4 dumped pump...just my life experience...i prefer ford for a pull rig..but its opinion right... beside do net search and your opinion would leak

 

[muddinxj04]

well...this would just be a rig to get me from home...through the 5 hr drive to school. And, im dont wanna turn this into a what engine do you like, but i hate the PSD, atleast the new one...it has killed my dad, got a brand new e-450 with utility cap, has been in the shop almost every other week...totally screwed him over! And this seems to be the cheapest way to get a diesel/ decent ride to last through college

 

[JohnX]

Sounds like I would buy one. BTW the first year for the newer "rounded" body style was 94. Mileage isn't what I was talking about, it doesn't matter much. I meant how much money? I think it would have to be under 3-4k to be much of a deal, especially if you're gonna have to change the bed.

 

[Lawn Cher']

A dually will get worse MPG than a SRW... unless you are towing a 5th wheel or carrying a tremendous payload and need the extra stability and capacity, I wouldn't bother with such a truck.

 

[dallas xjs]

i get right at 17.5 on my 02 f350...empty or with trailered xj..but i also have a few thousand in performance upgrades...its fun to drive with almost 450 hp..

 

[muddinxj04]

i have no idea what my dad could get for the truck, i shoulda gotten his when he got a new truck, but wasn't thinking, and when i realized i coulda gotten it, he said that guy were just using them for around the yard and they were getting beat up. Like i said earlier, im probably just talkin out my @ss, but i've always wanted a diesel, so I guess we'll have to see.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

A dually will get worse MPG than a SRW... unless you are towing a 5th wheel or carrying a tremendous payload and need the extra stability and capacity, I wouldn't bother with such a truck.

x2. Doesn't sound like an ideal commuter, at least not with the price of diesel currently. If economy is all you're concerned about, but a $1000 Honda or something similar.

-----Matt-----

 

[WayneXJ]

I'd do it if the price was right.

 

[DrMoab]

have 4 friends with those 95 to 99...all 4 dumped pump...just my life experience...i prefer ford for a pull rig..but its opinion right... beside do net search and your opinion would leak

Huh...how typical.

Ford pic...hood up means one of two things. Its either broke or its getting expensive parts to make it try to keep up to a Dodge.

Oh...I see the pipes now...Yup trying to keep up to a Dodge.


Buy the truck dude. So many companies out this way are switching out their Fords for Dodges because they can't keep up to maintained costs.

 

[muddinxj04]

yea, i dunno why his company switched to ford, i know of two fords that went down withiin a month of having them. They're goin back to dodges....i would really like to get one of these trucks for 2500ish....got my fingers crossed

 

[CRASH]

The problem, and I really don't want to turn this into a brand debate, is that in off-highway applications out this way, you just can not keep a Dodge or a Chevy chassis/body together.

Look at what Western farmers, ranchers, foresters, miners and utility folks drive: Fords. They don't often require maximum towing capacity, they require a vehicle that doesn't shake itself to pieces under extreme conditions.

Give me a common rail 5.9 in a Ford pickup, and we'd have a winner.

 

[muddinxj04]

well this pretty thing probably wouldn't see offroad much, too wide to take anywhere, but i agree that the older psd were pretty decent...the quality has just gone way down hill. But since my dad has had so much trouble with his, i just dont like psd...but like you said...i really dont want this to turn into a brand debate