How much more does it cost to maintain a diesel than a gas truck. I own a 94 7.3L DIT 5spd Crew Cab Dually. Don't really use it for towing but bought it just in case and 4 kids to tote around. My dad had an 88 250 7.3 5spd and it lasted him 350k b4 getting rid of it. Just not sure how long parts on a diesel last and so on.
Any help or suggestions would be Awesome! FYI My truck has 146k
Thank you,
Bruce

 

Oil Changes Are About 3 Times More Since You Have 3 Times More Oil And A Much Larger Filter. Fuel Filters Are Change More Often (15,000 Miles) Other Than That I Think That The Rest Of The Aprts Are Even. Yes Cam Sensors Go Outbut So Do Spark Plugs And Wires. And If You Have A 5.4 The Coil Packs Go Out One By After 100,000. So Yes Maintence Is More But Repairs Are Pretty Close To The Same. Maybe A Bit More On The Diesel (ie If Turbo Or Injectors Go Outthey Are Pricey)

 

Major factor is longevity. Your Dad's experience was not unusual 300 to 400 K miles is easily attainable with regular maintenance. Fuel econamy is better with Diesel I get twice the mpg with my 7.3 than I ever did with my 460. I have 135 K on my truck and it runs like a top all I ever did was replace a waterpump at 105 K a leaking Fuel Pressure Sensor at 90 K, and a blown powersteering host at 76K (but that had nothing to do with being a diesel).

If you really want to save some $$ you can get into producing your own Biodiesel, then fuel costs can easily drop below $1/gal.

 

if you had that many on a 460 of the same year as yours it would be on its last leg probably..

146 is very young for your psd... shoot most guys over at tds just start modding em like crazy at 220+....

just saw a post the other day a guy had to take a head off for a stuck gp or something and had 200+ on it and still had crosshatching visible on the cylinder walls.

 

The truck you have is the first PSD made actually it wasn't called the PSD it was in its day the 7.3 DI (direct injection). The truck your dad had was a IDI power simple to repair and fairly cheap to run not big on power.

As for a IDI getting past the 300,000km mark (186,000 miles) highly unlikey many IDIs have died from cavitation or the truck is plain worn out.

As for PSDs you have one with the same kilometerage (300,000) watch out its going to cost you money. The 95 F-450 I bought lost a engine at 200,000kms (125,000 miles) as for gas pots usually they will last the life of the truck. The life of a average B.C. Canada truck is the magic number (300,000 kms).

When a truck is pulling 6-10% grades everyday your working the engine I wouldn't touch a diesel truck or a gas pot with 300,000kms on it not many people will.

Usually a B.C. truck with 300,000kms will have or need Engine replacement,Transmission replacement and Rear diff replacement then you got the minor things like brakes,wheelbearings,U joints,Kingpins/balljoints etc.

When you have to spend 7 grand for a replacement PSD junk the truck because if the rest of the truck hasn't had a transmission replacement or the rear diff needs replacing thats another thats another 5 grand.

The reason why I have a diesel is the slightly better fuel economy I don't buy a diesel truck for longevity I know if I keep the current truck I have for another 100,000km (62,000 miles) the truck will need engine work.

A 460 powered 1-1.5 ton truck only gets 6-8 mpg loaded or empty nothing you can do about it. The IDI I had used to get 10-12 my PSD gets the same so I'am getting better mileage.

When the roads you travel on are as flat as a table top and you can see for miles your not stressing your truck.

 

Thanks for yals input but Kenworth has me going huh? That is quite a bit ($) to replace the engine on a PSD I know the engines aren't cheap by any means but why wouldn't my truck last at least another 200k or so. I had the trans serviced last week and installed a new water pump and glo plugs.

 

many people at tds well over 200&300 and going strong....

i dont know yet mine is still young at 130,000 miles. about 10 more years and i'll make it.

 

Kenworth is one of the most pessimistic PSD owners I have run in to and he bases it on a single experience. It is always possible to run into the exception but that does not mean most trucks will encounter the same early failure he had. 300K Kilometers is only about 180K miles that is not a lot for a PSD.
Another factor is the harsh environment he runs his truck in, that will affect the life of any vehicle.

It is very common for PSDs to go 300k to 400K miles.
I get much better milage than he does but then I live in the flat lands. I get 16 to 17 mpg empty and 10 to 11 pulling my 34 ft fiver (10500 lbs).

 

Back when I purchased a 7.5 F250 4X4 the cost of a diesel was $4k more than the gas truck. I sharpened my pencil and decided I could drive 90 thousand miles with $4000 using 10mpg for gas and 20 for diesel eng. I also figured gas and diesel at the same cost. The only thing I have changed under the hood of the 7.5 is one battery and set of plugs other than oil and filters. This truck has been easy on the pocket(except at the pump)

 

when it comes down to it they both cost ya $$$ imo. I dont think one is much higher than the other. I have 243209 miles on mine and the only big money I spend is on mods. Dont get me wrong I have a 95 big bronco with 144k on its 351 and I still love it, but it has cost me more in the last year than my psd has.