I am looking to buy a new F250. Thought I wanted a gasser. Dealers only seem to have deisels. Is that all thats left for 2003 or are deisels all people are buying so thats all they are stocking?What are the pros/cons of the deisel??????? We live in the mountains in CA so power going uphill is important but we don't plan on towing anything heavy. What are folks thoughts/experiences?

 

Get a pencil and paper out. Determine the cost, fuel, servicing, depreciation, and other stuff. The bottom line is the cost differences. When I got figured this out, the V10 was better for me. Your calculations will differ. This is one factor in the purchasing decision that should be addressed.

As far a longevity, I don't think this is much of a factor because many of these trucks are traded in before 150,000 miles.

There are pro's and cons to each. Some will buy a diesel because they say it is better. I am on the other side of the fence. I think the 6.0 liters are unproven and the V10's and 7.3 liter have a history.

Some say the diesel pulls better - it depends on the weight of the trailer. Your usually empty so it probably does not matter. The gas rig will accelerate better. Figure the total costs out and drive both of them. Then decide.

 

What bighogman says is true but i still prefer the diesel 7.3 liter for hills and fuel economy. I am sure the resale value is better also. I am very happy with my 02 PSD engine and have not taken her to the ford dealer for any problems and i now have 37,000 miles on it. Just my 2 cents. I never thought i would own a diesel untill my uncle told me to research them as he has worked for ford for 20+ years and said people are trading the gassers in for the diesels all the time and end up upside down on the deal because they eat the depreciation of a new gasser. I dont know if i would get a 6.0 liter diesel as i believe ford still has some bugs to fix as with many 1st year engine designs.

MotoX

 

If you plan on tading it in every two or three years I'd go with the gas unless your puting on a 100000 miles a year.Also diesels cost more to maintain. Fuel stations are alittle bit out of the way for most people. fuel mileage shouldn't be an issue new diesel don't have the best fuel mileage until about 150000 miles when they start to get broken in. I heard it like 12 to 17 mpg. If it gets cold It maynot start up. you got to let them warm up(more so in the winter) and cool down.oil changes will cost you more I don't know about the 6.0 but the 7.3 powerstroke takes 14 quarts (about $21.00) oil filter (about $3.00) fuel fitler (I believe there around $15.00) . I change my oil about every 5500 miles this makes up for the cost of the oil change but it shocked me when I first got in to the diesel world.

 

The diesel could probably beat the v10 on long term cost since it probably gets 5+ MPG better fuel mileage. Do the math on a 5mpg savings at 150,000 miles and that could add up to a lot of money i would think. Just trying to figure it all in.

MotoX

 

I have a 7.3L diesel, and I would much rather have a diesel, preferably the 7.3L right now, but you gotta realize what you're getting yourself into. Sure the benefits of the diesel are obvious, but there's a price to be paid in higher maintenance costs. You've got to weigh your options. Sure the fuel mileage is better, but you must remember that the $50+ fuel filter must be changed often (well, I did find one for <$30 on the Internet). Also, when buying oil, you buy gallons, not quarts. The Motorcraft filter is $10 at Wal-Mart instead of 2 for $5. An oil change on my old F-150 costs about $13, whereas changing the oil myself in my PSD cost me about $35 (my local oil-change place wanted $54 to change it, and they didn't offer Motorcraft filters). The coolant must be maintained properly with FW-16 additive, or whatever they're calling it now. So there are a few things you have to consider. The maintenance is crucial to the life of a PSD, so it has to be done, or you can kiss that $5,000 option goodbye in only a few years. I can tell you this, however. There is nothing like cruising down the highway, sitting tall and proud in the cab of my big Ford diesel....listening to that turbo whistling....catching the occasional aroma of diesel smoke....just looking for some dork in a Chevy to bust.... To me, it just doesn't get any better.........

 

No comparison between the two. Diesel all the way. Better mileage, more power etc.,etc...

 

GasOrDeisel First Welcome to FTE !

Screw this, everybody has an opinion for the new guy, but few will actually provide the help to make and informed choice.

Pity because here is a fellow who at least knows he needs/wants a good Ford truck.

Hey GasorDeisel, you are in luck because you really can't make a bad choice!

Well except that we are not going to let you change your user name....that was a bad choice

Now when you show up with the shiny new V10 the oil sniffers will give you she it, and if you end up with a 6.0 PSD noisy smoke pot most of us V10 guys are going to say we told you so!

Actually you are screwd already so just go get a Dodge Cummings and be done with us

But if you want Apples to Apples check this out:

Two years ago a co-worker and I were "building" the trucks we wanted at the local Ford dealer. I used info form the Diesel site to do the cost benifit of PSD vs V10, the other guy just wanted to outdo me and always planned on the PSD.

We eventually both bought, on the same day, the two "LOT QUEEN" Platimun Edition F-250s (6 months on the lot for big bucks)

Note.....we both got GREAT deals, though his was naturally $4.5K higher because of the PSD. Other wise exact same trucks.

We both work similar disatance from home, we both have property on Lake Brownwood (107 miles away), and our families have taken two trips cross country to Bisbee Arizona. Oh yes we both have 28' TTs that are close to same weight.

I load heavier than he does because of two Harleys in the bed.

We both love to get on the road and GO (slightly above any speed limit)

Other facts.... Diesel fuel in central Texas has ALWAYS been slightly higher than 87 no lead. We have hot summers and a couple of fairly cold months late in the winter.

The winter 16 mile trip to work is barely long enough to get all of my truck up to full operating temp before I park it. (not good on a oil burner)

Now for the fun stuff.

My truck is bone stock and will pull my heavier load up and down all the steep mountains just as fast as my buddy (65-75mph). I rarely down shift to 2 gear

His truck pulls just fine, and loaded gets 7 MPG better than me on fast long trips. My 6.5-7.8 mpg to his 13-15.7mpg.

Around town here and daily to from work, I consistantly get 14.2 MPG and he gets 16-19 depending a lot on right foot.

He has spent much bucks on go fast stuff, and yes he can smoke me for the first two gears, but I eat his lunch over 50mph and TQ locked.

My buddy is very happy with his ride and only gets pissed when I remind him that with the air/chips/exhaust/ mods and the 4.5K premium PSD price, I think I got a better deal.

He usually comes back with the "I can haul a bigger load faster longer remark" or the I get better MPG... then I really **** him off with the fact that around town here, the MPG is a wash due to his higher fuel costs + higher service costs.

And I also ask him to be honest and agree that seeing me on I10 climbing the Chiracawa Mountains, side by side at 71mph with a 800lb heavier load would suggest that the V10 is up to the task of pulling a decent load.

That's the one that shuts him up

 

Running around the mountains of Ca. I would go with the diesel. Yes, an oil change on the psd compared to the V10 is more but you can run synthetic and change it evey 4,500 instead of every 3 months like the gasser. That is a whole other debate though. Dealerships around here will let you take a truck for a day to see how you like it. I would suggest a side by side comparison and see which one works best for your needs. Just my two cents....

 

i saw a good sticker the other day that PROVES you should buy the V10...... it went something like:

It's better to be Cumming then Stroking.

(obviously on a dodge)

unless your pulling a big load ALL of the time... save your money!

 

HAHA GAS!

 

Look Its your money make sure you get what you want.
your more likly to be satisfied that way. People gave me crap about buying my diesel 1 ton(I don't realy need it) but it is what I wanted. thus I am happy (yes I was surprised about cost of maintence). I still like my ford and don't plan on getting rid of it anytime soon. A lot of people think they can switch to a diesel and its going to be the best thing in the world .Then I really dosen' work out for there situation.If you deside diesel make sure you check repair prices of both like glow plugs, spark plugs battery /batteries(diesels got two)fuel injectors,fuel pumps, regual service cost etc. check with local mechanic or parts clerk(preferably someone who drives diesel and know what he is talking about) ask his opinion. Ask what freqently goes wrong with them and how much does cost for each this will give you a beter idea what you are getting in too. good luck ford is the only manufactor I'd buy a diesel or a gas motor truck from

 

First off, welcome to the site. You have now entered the Twighlight Zone of questions. (gas vs. oil)
Just an old story: Last July 4th I had dinner with a Master Diesel Mechanic for Cat. I asked him which diesel pickup he drove. His answer: "None, I drive a 5.4 gasser". He continued: " The diesels cost too much, cost more to maintain, and cost waaay too much to repair". Those are his words, not mine.

I like the PSD (7.3) and the Cummins if I were to buy a diesel. The new 6.0 is a bag of problems right now, and the Chebbie is a jap (Izuzu) engine.

If you're gonna tow something all over the placethe diesel is THE way to go. If you're going to drive casual, it's not

 

Like I said, do the math. Drive both of them and then decide. Some people gotta have a diesel no matter what, which is fine by me. A co worker has a diesel and I have a gas. I will never buy one like his and he will never buy one like mine. However, we are both happy and so is the blue oval.

 

there is no right or wrong answer. i drive a diesel. ive had a gas super duty too. granted it was a 5.4 and didnt have the ***** that i wanted but i put some heavy loads in it and it never really dissapointed me. then it got stolen and i bought a diesel. heck, ive never even pulled a trailer with my truck. ive had it two years too. probably will never get around to doing any seriouse towing but i dont mind. i wanted the psd so i bought it. i love it and am very happy. its expensive but we can afford it so no sweat. my wife and i make several 500+ mile trips a year though with the bed full. there is nothing i love more than pulling up on a fancy buisiness yuppie in his convertable and filling it full of diesel fumes and messing up his cell phone call with all that beautiful diesel music. trust me though, you will love your super duty whatever you get. dont stress and enjoy buying your blue oval.