Half ton pick ups diesel or gas

[farmo83]

What are everyone thoughts on diesels in a half ton? I'll newly be in the truck market shortly and am doing research. The heaviest thing I'll have to pull is my schiada to the lake house about 3 hours away. The rest of the time it'll be around town or to the bus stop commuting to work.

 

[monkeyswrench]

From a working on standpoint, I prefer the gassers. The baby D-max trucks seem to be really capable though, and get great mileage. They have some quirks, but if it was under warranty I think they'd be a pretty good choice. The Dodge EcoDiesels have issues if they don't get highway use fairly often. DEF issues are pretty common from what I have seen, but they have all been "grocery getter" trucks.

 

[satellitemike]

GMC chevy go diesel.
Ford go 3.5 gas.
I've owned 3 f150s w the 3.5, all driven 130k plus. Only issues were 2 bad coil packs, and a coolant line to the turbo.
Have a few friends w the newer GM 1500 diesels, and the love them. Great milage and capable tow vehicles.
New rams w the inline 6 have impressive numbers but have only been around a short time and not really proven yet.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

If you go GM just make sure you get the newer baby Dmax. They did phase the first baby Dmax out in favor of the new one across most of not all vehicles by now.

So if you wind up picking up a CPO instead of new, something to look for.

 

[Dkahnjob]

My nephew has a 1/2 ton Ram with the Eco Diesel and loves it.
I believe he has over 100K miles on it and has had no problems, both towing and back and forth to work.

 

[BingerFang]

I have a 3.0 Durmax and love it in my GMC 1500. Plenty of torque and the MPG is insane.

Also- I commute a lot for work which is why I went diesel. I spoke with the diesel mechanic a large dealership here in SoCal and he said the problem with people getting these small diesel engines is that they don’t drive them enough. “They’ll drop their kids off at school and then go to the grocery store and back home. These need to be on the highway to regen properly.”

I drive a minimum 50 miles a day on the highway so I rolled the dice and love it so far.

 

[CLdrinker]

Get a tundra with a 5.7

 

[rivermobster]

You couldn't pay me to own a gas truck.

A solid 1/2 diesel would be awesome.

 

[NicPaus]

Get a tundra with a 5.7

Job I am working on he has a nice 2007 with leather. I have debated taking it as part of payment. Just don't need 7 vehicles. Have to decide which one it would replace.

 

[BingerFang]

You couldn't pay me to own a gas truck.

A solid 1/2 diesel would be awesome.

They are nice. Once you drive one you will be impressed.

 

[Cooter01]

I tried to tell a dumbass coworker to get the baby Duramax, he said he talked with our fleet department manager who has an older diesel and very biased on diesels and to STAY away! I laughed and say all the diesel work tucks sit and idle all day, of course their are going to be issues. He drives 70 miles a day, I said the diesel will be the ticket. Come Tuesday he will have the 5.3 gas engine is my bet, dude is a tool and knows nothing about vehicles.

 

[viperized_jr]

For what you are gonna use it for I would go gas. The diesel is more of a highway truck in a 1/2 ton. I had an eco diesel and it was boring until I put a banks tuner on it. It made the truck exciting and could chirp 37” tires but then it blew up. Haha

 

[pronstar]

Gas 100%

The more techs I speak to about the BabyMax, and how hard it is to work on, the less I want one.

Leave it to GM to build an in-line-6 thats hard to work on.

I keep my vehicles way beyond the warranty if that matters.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Gas 100%

The more techs I speak to about the BabyMax, and how hard it is to work on, the less I want one.

Leave it to GM to build an in-line-6 thats hard to work on.

I keep my vehicles way beyond the warranty if that matters.

Really, they aren't that bad. If you talk to a dealer tech that has made his living working primarily on GM products, they'll disagree. If you talk to a tech that worked for an GM/Isuzu dealer, it's all the same, just nuts and bolts. As a whole, all the new designs are more difficult. Packaging sucks.

 

[Rennsport]

Our lease was up last week on our 2021 1500 with the first gen three liter. What a great truck! Not one issue only to dealer for oil and fuel filter changes. If it was 4wd I would have bought it out of the lease end (We had equity in it as well that we got to use on the new daily). Of course it loved the open road to and from Havasu or wherever. common to be over thirty mpg.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

 

[rivermobster]

Gas 100%

The more techs I speak to about the BabyMax, and how hard it is to work on, the less I want one.

Leave it to GM to build an in-line-6 thats hard to work on.

I keep my vehicles way beyond the warranty if that matters.

GM made this engine???

Nevermind. Go gas.

 

[lbhsbz]

GMC chevy go diesel.
Ford go 3.5 gas.
I've owned 3 f150s w the 3.5, all driven 130k plus. Only issues were 2 bad coil packs, and a coolant line to the turbo.
Have a few friends w the newer GM 1500 diesels, and the love them. Great milage and capable tow vehicles.
New rams w the inline 6 have impressive numbers but have only been around a short time and not really proven yet.

I have a cousin that works for Stellantis and he says the new straight six is a gigantic piece of shit. They're lifting the cylinder heads and losing head gaskets. He said the only engine worth a shit in the whole company is the 6.4L

 

[CLdrinker]

You couldn't pay me to own a gas truck.

A solid 1/2 diesel would be awesome.

New diesels are nothing like your relic.

Dependability is like banging a hooker without protection. Odds are not in your favor.

 

[Aces & Eights]

Just got a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500, I went with the 5.3L V8 gasser. Very pleased with it. Got 5k miles on it already, not towing anything. I didn’t care too much about gas mileage but I’m averaging 20 mpg.

 

[rivermobster]

New diesels are nothing like your relic.

Dependability is like banging a hooker without protection. Odds are not in your favor.

Uh...

I hate to say it, but...

How many miles till your brand new gas truck stranded you??



You'll never convince me to pick gas over diesel. So stop trying!

 

[BingerFang]

Uh...

I hate to say it, but...

How many miles till your brand new gas truck stranded you??



You'll never convince me to pick gas over diesel. So stop trying!

BL Drinkers dream truck left him hanging and now he trusts nothing but old Toyota technology…. Not even the new Toyota engine!

 

[NIKAL]

Just got a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500, I went with the 5.3L V8 gasser. Very pleased with it. Got 5k miles on it already, not towing anything. I didn’t care too much about gas mileage but I’m averaging 20 mpg.

I recently bought a 24 Silverado with the 5.3L and the gas milage for a gas 5.3 has been impressive. Like you I average 20-21 and I’ve got 23 mpg as my best, and I have yet to really take it out of the San Diego area to see what sort of mileage I might get going to AZ or on a road trip.

My biggest concern is the cylinder deactivation. I did get a 100K warranty, just in case. But I got a great price on the truck and I felt a great price on the extended warranty, that I’m happy with the 5.3. I am planning on doing a 2.5 inch leveling kit, but sticking with the stock 33 inch tires. So I’m hoping it does not affect the milage.

 

[CLdrinker]

Uh...

I hate to say it, but...

How many miles till your brand new gas truck stranded you??



You'll never convince me to pick gas over diesel. So stop trying!

I think all new vehicles are junk. Not trying to convince anyone of anything.

The emissions have ruined all vehicles mostly diesel’s. And it by design, if the new diesel’s lasted like the old 7.3 and 5.9 it would kill new vehicle sales.

 

[AzMandella]

Love my 2023 SD with the 7.3 Gasser . Had diesel for 20yrs before that .

 

[boatpi]

I’ve had but with my last one being the ram 1500 diesel I’d look hard at the Chevy or GMC halftime diesel being made now I don’t think it go wrong and it’s upgraded in 2025 if you’re thinking of new.

 

[Warlock1]

I have a 2021 Dodge Ecodiesel 3rd gen and I love it.

 

[pronstar]

I’ve had but with my last one being the ram 1500 diesel I’d look hard at the Chevy or GMC halftime diesel being made now I don’t think it go wrong and it’s upgraded in 2025 if you’re thinking of new.

I have a 2021 Dodge Ecodiesel 3rd gen and I love it.

For some reason, my neighbor’s Ram with 3.0 diesel is pushing 150k miles and it’s never given him any trouble.

He swears it’s the best diesel ever

Honestly though, its bone stock and drives great. Really nice power delivery.

 

[pronstar]

I recently bought a 24 Silverado with the 5.3L and the gas milage for a gas 5.3 has been impressive. Like you I average 20-21 and I’ve got 23 mpg as my best, and I have yet to really take it out of the San Diego area to see what sort of mileage I might get going to AZ or on a road trip.

My biggest concern is the cylinder deactivation. I did get a 100K warranty, just in case. But I got a great price on the truck and I felt a great price on the extended warranty, that I’m happy with the 5.3. I am planning on doing a 2.5 inch leveling kit, but sticking with the stock 33 inch tires. So I’m hoping it does not affect the milage.

I think the 5.3/10-speed is a great combo, especially with lower final drive so the top OD gears are more useable.

I do find it odd that Ford forums are full of people with 10-speed issues, but I don’t see much about the same tranny in the GM trucks.

 

[beerrun]

I recently bought a 24 Silverado with the 5.3L and the gas milage for a gas 5.3 has been impressive. Like you I average 20-21 and I’ve got 23 mpg as my best, and I have yet to really take it out of the San Diego area to see what sort of mileage I might get going to AZ or on a road trip.

My biggest concern is the cylinder deactivation. I did get a 100K warranty, just in case. But I got a great price on the truck and I felt a great price on the extended warranty, that I’m happy with the 5.3. I am planning on doing a 2.5 inch leveling kit, but sticking with the stock 33 inch tires. So I’m hoping it does not affect the milage.

There is a delete for this i think its a couple hundred dollars money well spent

 

[BingerFang]

There is a delete for this i think its a couple hundred dollars money well spent

Correct. Range makes an AFM disabler. Had one in my old 1500, engine lasted 160k.

 

[77charger]

Correct. Range makes an AFM disabler. Had one in my old 1500, engine lasted 160k.

thats the thing with new gas engines the afm ruins them like emissions ruins diesels,turbos to replace cubic inches,etc

No matter the choice they will give you issues later its a pick the problem you want LOL.

 

[BingerFang]

thats the thing with new gas engines the afm ruins them like emissions ruins diesels,turbos to replace cubic inches,etc

No matter the choice they will give you issues later its a pick the problem you want LOL.

Keeps the stealerships and their service departments happy!

 

[NIKAL]

There is a delete for this i think its a couple hundred dollars money well spent

Correct. Range makes an AFM disabler. Had one in my old 1500, engine lasted 160k.

You can’t buy or do anything to turn it off on 2022.5 and newer GM trucks. Trust me I wanted to and tried to find something. Starting on the 2022.5 Silverado/Sierra refresh, Government Motors started to use Global B, which is their Vehicle Intelligence Platform (VIP), is the new electronic vehicle communications platform used on all new GM vehicles. It was first used on the Cadillac, and rolled into all GM vehicles. Its so secure that it has yet to be cracked by the aftermarket. I think it’s been said the computer will actually know and report when it’s being tampered with.

This also keeps dealers from turning on or activating trim or mode accessories that were not factory installed on the vehicle. This is why the dealers can’t calibrate the speedometer if a tire size change is made. IMO this is total BS, but when your CEO is a Lib committed to going all electric for the planet and your in debt to the Government, hence the name Government Motors, this is what happens.

 

[Dog]

You can’t buy or do anything to turn it off on 2022.5 and newer GM trucks. Trust me I wanted to and tried to find something. Starting on the 2022.5 Silverado/Sierra refresh, Government Motors started to use Global B, which is their Vehicle Intelligence Platform (VIP), is the new electronic vehicle communications platform used on all new GM vehicles. It was first used on the Cadillac, and rolled into all GM vehicles. Its so secure that it has yet to be cracked by the aftermarket. I think it’s been said the computer will actually know and report when it’s being tampered with.

This also keeps dealers from turning on or activating trim or mode accessories that were not factory installed on the vehicle. This is why the dealers can’t calibrate the speedometer if a tire size change is made. IMO this is total BS, but when your CEO is a Lib committed to going all electric for the planet and your in debt to the Government, hence the name Government Motors, this is what happens.

HP Tuners has support for "Global B" GM Global B Tuning Support is Here.

 

[81Sprint]

My MPG on the last trip to Duck Creek, '23 Silverado baby Dmax, at one point I was averaging almost 41 but didn't snap a pic. This was all stock, truck loaded down with 3 girls and all their shit, so basically most of the house.

 

[Big B Hova]

Cybertruck is the way to go.

 

[WYRD]

We just bought my dad a new GMC at4 with a 3.0 Duramax 1500. Delivered it to him this weekend and I drove it out from California to Bullhead. Pretty impressed with the responsiveness of it and MPG showed 25 miles per gallon doing 75 80 the whole way. Not too bad.

Wife followed me in our 3500 Ram srw with the Cummins and she got 18.5 MPG same speeds both relatively empty and both 4x4

 

[Bigbore500r]

GM made this engine???

Nevermind. Go gas.

What did you do BEFORE the 7.3 descended straight from heaven, just not drive a truck?

 

[satellitemike]

We just bought my dad a new GMC at4 with a 3.0 Duramax 1500. Delivered it to him this weekend and I drove it out from California to Bullhead. Pretty impressed with the responsiveness of it and MPG showed 25 miles per gallon doing 75 80 the whole way. Not too bad.

Wife followed me in our 3500 Ram srw with the Cummins and she got 18.5 MPG same speeds both relatively empty and both 4x4

If you dont mind me asking, what was MSRP and what did it sell for?

 

[WYRD]

If you dont mind me asking, what was MSRP and what did it sell for?

Pm sent @DuttonDave and his team really took care of us.

 

[Loo Dog]

I just got myself a 2024 AT-4X with the 3.0 Duramax. Love it so far. Smooth, quiet, front and rear lockers, and more bells and whistles than a space ship. Not even broke in yet I’m averaging 23-24mpg. I’ll also add we have a 2021 Yukon with the previous version 3.0 everyone is so frightened about. 44k and zero problems. DEF sucks in general but no getting around around that anymore except for going gasser.

 

[rivermobster]

What did you do BEFORE the 7.3 descended straight from heaven, just not drive a truck?

Well..

Not Only did I work in a machine shop as a kid (rebuilding engines), but I actually owned a few GM products as well.

When you see the difference between Ford, Dodge and GM, from the inside out, building engines...

It's easy to see who builds a better mousetrap.

And owning a couple, actually sealed the deal.

 

[Englewood]

Ive owned 3 3.0 Diesels and still have 2 of them. They are great engines.

Ive driven this motor in every environment imaginable and not a single issue. It seems the people that hate them have never owned one. Ive yet to meet someone who is unhappy with it. It's always "my friends uncles mailman's realtor had a bad one and they all suck". I get 21mpg with 35" tires.

I just rented a 24 Tahoe with the 5.3 this weekend. Very glad I stuck with the diesel motor.

 

[Riverhound 2.0]

I just went through this exercise when deciding on a new truck. I was downsizing from an F350, and after shopping all the 1/2-ton offerings, I ended up with an F150 with the 3.5 EcoBoost. I wanted the GM babyMax, but the more people I talked with, the more it seemed what I would be doing (mostly local Havasu), it wouldn't be happy. They need to be highway-driven frequently, or they get cranky.

After driving an F350 Powerstroke for 10 years, I'm impressed with the little F150. It has plenty of power, and although it's a little soft in the a$$, it moves my 28-deck boat around without a problem.

 

[hallett21]

Pretty happy with this 5.0 F150.

 

[riverroyal]

3.5 ecoboost for the win. Mpg is not amazing. But I've had 3 of them and zero issues.

Now if diesel was still 1/2 the price of gas like it used to be then that changes things

 

[Bigbore500r]

Well..

Not Only did I work in a machine shop as a kid (rebuilding engines), but I actually owned a few GM products as well.

When you see the difference between Ford, Dodge and GM, from the inside out, building engines...

It's easy to see who builds a better mousetrap.

And owning a couple, actually sealed the deal.

Curious - what specifically is better about the internals, and on which Ford motor does it occur?

 

[CLdrinker]

Curious - what specifically is better about the internals, and on which Ford motor does it occur?

Notice he didn’t say what he had before

Getting a perspective and an opinion from someone whom has only owned 1 truck for 24yrs does not give a true outlook on what’s available today.

What’s the point of advising someone on what to buy when the recommendation you have is of a vehicle that isn’t available and finding. A used one in serviceable condition is very rare and when you do it has no features that people will want currently.

Everything has pluses and minus pick your poison. Shit I’m a glaring example. Bought my gasser to avoid the diesel fuel pump issue. Then I loose a fuel pump on the gasser which no one suspects. lol shit happens.

 

[CLdrinker]

3.5 ecoboost for the win. Mpg is not amazing. But I've had 3 of them and zero issues.

Now if diesel was still 1/2 the price of gas like it used to be then that changes things

Thought you said you replaced the cam phasers on 2 of them.