From what i've found out piston slap on the 5.3 and 6.0 is still a big issue on 01 and 02's,, and some complaints on o3's when they supposedly did their fix.

Sure, that's one way of looking at it. Another way of looking at it is, your engine will last four to five times as long (mileage wise). You'll make up the cost either with resale value or longevity.

Seriously, if I were ever to buy a new pickup truck, I wouldn't consider anything other than a diesel. And that's not taking into consideration the fact that fuel economy is better, I can make my own fuel, etc. When you look at those, it looks like an even better idea.

__________________
Lots of diesel W126s in the past
Current: 1991 Toyota 4Runner with an OM603

Not 500, but I can show you an old half ton Ford 4x 351W that's now on 300K and still on it's original motor AND automatic trans. It doesn't even get started unless it's going to haul a loaded 4 horse trailer, pull a 22 ft. travel trailer or a 20 ft. flat trailer loaded with 2 tons of hay or a stock trailer loaded with lambs. I don't even like Fords, but mine is as dependable as the day is long.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

The extra weight of the diesel engine takes some of your load carrying capacity.

I have a trailer rated for 24,000lbs and I think you need an F450 or more to legally haul it at capacity.

I am hearing more complaints of people in pickups getting tickets for weight violations. Most feel like it is harrassment.

My next pickup may be a toterhome with a diesel and serious towing capacity.

I like the six cylinder Duramax 7.8.

The new 2012 diesels are horrible, the EPA finally got their wish. Emissions ruined them.

Ford for the first time that I can remember is offering a gas option in the F650, which I would take if I were buying a dump truck.

Problem with the new diesels is you have to re-gen them. If your an OTR driver this is not a big deal they just do it when your running, but if you use the truck around town well now its a problem. You can only put it off so long before it has to sit for 45 minutes and run a cycle. My dads company has had nothing but problems with the new trucks. The emissions equipment is not reliable. I think CAT even got out of the OTR business in this country for now.

I expect a lot of light and medium duty trucks will be going back to gas. For utilities and municipalities they just make more sense. Most of these trucks see limited around town use, so fuel consumption isn't a big expense.

Modern gas motors will run just as long as diesels and unless your racking up the mileage in a medium duty truck, 5-6mpg vs 8-9 doesn't make a lot of difference. But having a truck down while its running a re-gen cycle and you need it on a job will cost you money.

__________________
2006 CL500
2009 C300 4matic
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

i love my diesels to no end BUT.my 6.5(1/2 ton)will probably be my last pickup diesel.UNLESS the manu's get their heads out of there arses and build a small 4 cyl diesel pickup.i do not need 500 h.p. to haul a couple 300 lb machines.an old vw caddy with an alh turbo diesel would suit me just fine.i'm after milage not power.and until that changes i really see no advantage to having a diesel pickup.ya want to tow something go buy an older medium duty truck.i was looking to go diesel pickup about 3 yrs ago after i bought my 38 ft 5th wheel camper.but i couldn't find an old 12 valve cummins ext cab dually with a stick for under 10k around here.so i bought a 97 fl60 freightliner with a 5.9 cummins and an allison i do my towing .bought it for 6k has a gvw of 26k so i don't need a cdl.has huge hyd 4 wheel disc brakes and turns tighter circles then my jetta,plus i sit up higher and on air ride seats and have train horns to ward off douchebags that try to pull out in front of me.AND as an added bonus my ins is cheaper then i pay for my 2000 jetta.

Agreed. If I had the means to buy a new truck, I imagine I'd also have the means to delete all the DPF crap they've been putting on them for the past few years. And I definitely would do so.

__________________
Lots of diesel W126s in the past
Current: 1991 Toyota 4Runner with an OM603

I've got to say, though, that the Ford EcoBoost looks mighty tempting to me. That's about the most innovative gasser I've seen in a long time.

__________________
Lots of diesel W126s in the past
Current: 1991 Toyota 4Runner with an OM603

Is this a typo? they were working on v6 duramax's for the half tons but that engine got cancelled -it was no where near as big as 7.8

About 6 years ago, Cummins was also working on a V6 and V8 for Chrysler, but those went away as well, due to various reasons - like Daimler running Chrysler into the ground, and Dodge's heavy truck division fighting against anything that would take away 5.9 sales.

On the subject of Duramax reliability, I've seen accounts of owners getting 200K miles or better out of the original injectors, by doing two simple mods -

Adding a lift pump, and switching to a 2 micron fuel filter.

Recently I sent the injectors out of my 87 300D to Pete Baranko of DBW LLC to have them rebuilt, and had opportunity to talk with him by phone. The main line of discussion ended up being about my 05 Jeep Liberty CRD, which has a Bosch CP3 HPCR system similar to that found on a Cummins and Duramax of the same time frame.

He said that my particular CP3 pump and solenoid injectors were comparatively simple and rugged, compared to the later piezo setups for post-2007 emissions. He added that with the mods I'd done early on - adding a lift pump, 30 micron primary and Cat 2 micron final fuel filters, return line fuel cooler - that I should easily see 300K to 350K miles out of the CP3 and injectors before they needed replacement!

Pete also explained part of the reason why adding a lift pump to a vacuum fuel system, such as was stock on the Liberty CRD and also on Duramax trucks, improved fuel economy - on my 2.8 L four banger, he said that with a vacuum fuel system the CP3 injection pump was probably taking upwards of 5 HP to keep the common rail supplied with high pressure fuel. By adding a 15 psi lift pump, I was significantly reducing the pumping losses on the CP3 and cutting it's HP requirements by probably close to half.

__________________
Just say "NO" to Ethanol - Drive Diesel

Mitchell Oates
Mooresville, NC
'87 300D 212K miles
'87 300D 151K miles - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD 67K miles
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club