I currently have a 03 F150 4.6L. I am doing research on new f250. I don't drive my truck as my daily driver. It is my go out in the forest and play/tow sxs truck. So, my truck sits weeks before I drive it. My question do the diesel engine have problems sitting undriven for long periods? Water condensation in fuel tank or other problems?

truck & sxs

 

Im not a sure a diesel is any worse than a gasser. Modern day gasoline has a short shelf life due to ethanol ....about the same shelf life as DEF.

Do you feel like you want a diesel? With limited driving, I think it makes a lot of financial sense to go with the 6.2 and 4.30 gears.

 

 

Not a big deal....diesel trucks sit on lots, weeks or longer at a time.. Mine sits in the garage from late fall to early spring, gets started every few of weeks and driven if the weather permits. I do keep a trickle charger on the battery. I only drive (pull the RV) about 7500 mi per yr.

 

Pulling a 11K 5er with a 6.2 with 4.30s. Pulls great. Suffers a little over 10K altitude but still pulled 50 mph through Eisenhower . . .

 

Diesel is far more stable than any ethanol blended gasoline. But you can add fuel stabilizer for either.

Condensation is not much of a concern, my tractor sits for weeks at a time and I never have any water at all in the fuel separator.
All modern diesel vehicles will have a water separator in the fuel line. You can also keep the fuel tank full to minimize the possibility of condensation if you wish.

DEF might me a concern if you were putting less than 2-3k miles a year on the vehicle, but if you drive > 5-7k miles a year you would use enough to keep it fresh.

 

This is my exact situation. No problems. I do try to not fill the tank right before a period that I know it won't be driven. That way when I take it out again I have mostly fresh fuel.

 

I've had my f150 for 14 years not one mechanical problem with it only has 80K on it. Just underpowered towing up the mountains. Someday I would love to have a toy hauler.

I am leaning toward the 6.2 gasser. Just trying to get some info on diesels. I tow in the mountains 4000-10000 feet all the time. That's where the best trails are. So the extra pulling power would be nice, but the extra $$ isn't. I would love a 6.2 with 4.30, but those are like finding a four leaf clover. Has to be special ordered. I was hoping to find a gently used 1-2 year old truck.

 

pruav, look at Enterprise. They may have used (leased or rental) F-250's available for sale.

I tow at similar elevations. My RV trailer is 11K GVWR and the 6.7L diesel does a great job. If it wasn't for the RV trailer I would probably be in a F-250 with the 6.2L engine.

 

My 15 was 4 years old in May and has 38,000 miles. I plow with it and tow my camper and that's pretty much it. It stays in the garage and I'll take it for a drive every couple of weeks. At 9,000 miles a year, I have had zero issues. It is no different then a gassed. Only thing you may see is flat spots on the tires.

 

I have an Enterprise rental... I think the basic XLT are all, 6.2L with 3.73 rear... But really clean with low miles. 10k to 15k... 603a pkg with carpet delete and a drop-in bedliner.... SonetimSo they dump a bunch to auction and end up on dealer lots... They also sell them on their website... There are a few diesel and dually there too