Diesel info

[Rocketman]

I may be buying a truck this summer, and was thinking about looking at a diesel. Give me the info..fuel mileage, power etc. It would be a 99 at the newest I think, but hopefully a little older (I don't want to pay for it till I'm 40).

And don't start fighting! Or else! Snow Monkey adn mxz7 will bring down the thunder!

[paul yarek]

ford and dodge are the only decent diesels till lately, the new gm is still to be proven. fuel mileage will be about 20 with 3.73 gears, power unrestricted and same mileage it seems no matter what you pull.

[Machzzzz1]

The cummins desiel in the dodge is the best desiel put in a pickup truck to date. *In 2003 the dodge ram HD versions will have a H.O. cummins making 305 hp and a lot of torque. *

I have drivin a cummins 6 speed on a few ocaisions and it is a awsome truck with a awsome feeling...

I would not touch a gm because of isuzu desiels. *If you wanted a import you would buy a import.

[winterpark]

Rocketman, IMO, get a Dodge/Cummins. *Especially if you plan on buying 99 or older. *Chevy diesels really dont get the job done (I'm not bashing, just speaking from experience) Ford Powerstrokes are nice, but expensive, and have a strange "problem"(dont get me started on cakle). *So... the Dodge/Cummins seems to be the best for the $$$$. *If you buy an early 98 or older Dodge(12 valve engine), you can VERY easily (and cheaply) get more power.

Go for a Dodge

[LadyK]

The cummins rocks. We love ours. Permafrost knows the particulars Im sure he will post them. All I can say is I LOVE driving it. If you get that diesel Rocket then you and Snowmonkey could totally drive out here to hook up no Prob.

[Mighty RX-1]

Get the Power stroke! *A business aqaintance of mine owns a gravel quary and provides Diesel pick ups for his foreman. *He lets them decide on the make but it must be diesel because he has a huge underground tank of diesel fuel. *We had this exact discussion a year or so back about what I should buy and here is his comments: *The Ford and Chevy trucks are bullet proof, *the Ford and Dodge (cummins) have the most powerful engines. *The chevys couldn't drive thru a wet paper bag and The dodges never leave the dealers service department. *He claimes that they have horrible drive trains but the engines are rock solid, but the truck falls apart around it. *For his money, he is now ordering only fords. *I am only repeating what I was told. *Keep in mind, you may not use your truck like they do, but it tells me alot. I know what one will stand the test of time.

[winterpark]

Mighty, I have heard some of the same things. *Rocketman, if I were you and I were getting a Dodge, get a manual trans. *The manuals they put in those older (and newer) Cummins powered trucks are indestructible (sp?). *I know that for a fact. *I have heard lots of horror stories about the Dodge auto tranny, i.e. *I know a guy that has a Dodge/Cummins, doen't have any power enhancements, never hauls anything too huge, and has gone through 4 transmissions in three years. *Maybe he just has bad luck, who knows. *But for what it's worth.....

[Wolfman]

Here's another recommendation for the Dodge/Cummins combo. *I get 23.5 mpg with my truck, which has the 3.54 axle. *Mine is only a 4x2 though, so I don't use it when the roads get slick. I must agree with Winterpark. *Get the stick. *Dodge automatics leave alot to be desired. *Those that do hold up, do excellent. *Those that don't, will leave you wanting to drive it off a cliff. *I have a 99 Dodge with the Cummins engine. *It now has 88K on the odometer, and has been pretty much bulletproof. *My truck is also as simply spec'd out as possible. *No power junk, no automatic, no carpet (rubber mat instead). *My only unscheduled repair to date has been an A/C compressor. *I still have the original tires, brakes, and clutch. *Some NV4500 manuals have had issues with the 5th gear nut backing out. *This is more of an irritation than a problem. *If this happens, it can be repaired without removing the tranny, and does not damage the tranny if the nut holding 5th gear in place does back out. *The way to avoid the problem entirely is to not use 5th gear below 50mph while towing.

[Machzzzz1]

If you get the Dodge cummins get the 6 speed manual. *Its feels like a ferrari. *Its Quick. *But the auto is totally gutless. *

Out of all the desiel engine the cummins is the longest lasting and most reliable. *It will outlast a ford powerstroke and a chevy duramax. *

THe dodge automatics are not that bad as far as durability goes. *If you look at the numbers chevy and ford are just as bad in the truck department. *Dodge cars have crap trannys same with there mini vans but there trucks are awsome. *I had a durango go 125000km with no trouble, My ram is at 20000 with no trouble and my friends old slant 6 is at 700000 thousand with no trouble just 2 altenators. *

THe ultimate pickup will be the 2003 Ram with the cummins or 5.7 hemi. *

That truck has a %500 stiffer frame and rides much more solid then the old ram. *THe 5.7 hemi puts out 345hp and i think about 360Lb torque. The cummins H.O is 305hp. *

I got the 1500 ram and it out handles every truck i owned. *Belive it or not this truck is fun to drive. *It is the flattest cornering full sized pick up on the market. *THe 4 wheel disk brakes also are great.

As for the manual trannys. *Dodge ownes the company that makes them for Chevy and possibly ford. *THis company also makes the transfer cases for chevy and ford. *I beilive this chrysler owned company is called NEW VENTURE. *I may be wrong.

[winterpark]

Machzzzz1, you are correct. *Dodge uses the New Venture (NV) transmissions in their diesel trucks. *5 speed is the NV4500, and 6 speed is the NV5600, both excellent transmissions. *Chevy used the NV4500 for a while in their diesels, I dont know if they still do. *Ford uses ZF trannys. *(ZF also makes oem for BMW I believe)