Hey everybody I have just been reading up a bit about the Cummins Turbo diesel 5.9L inline 6 cylinder and the Gasoline V8's that are available but am now more confused than ever at which would be a better option [:@] So I ask you all to tell me about the good and bad points of your engine be it a Turbo diesel Cummins 6 or gasoline hemi V8 and could you please say what model Ram you are talking about so I know what each year is like Cheers [8D]

 

That is a wide open question. What are you planning on using your truck for...heavy towing, hauling, work, cruising, grocery getter etc?

 

04.5, 2500, Cummins "600", 6spd, 4x4, QC

probably the best thing about a diesel is the lack of tune-up's. no spark plugs to replace, no glow plugs to have wear out, engine will last well over 500,000 if cared for.

Ive got the power to pull anything I hook up to, longer oil change intervals; more than 2x that of gassers.

I just look at it like this, I bought the engine, this nice truck just came with it

 

Depends on your needs... I have an '03 Hemi Ram, QC 4x4, bought it with all the options I wanted in the color I wanted, the dealer had to go to southern NJ (I'm in NH) to get one they located equipped the way I wanted. I needed a 3/4 ton 4x4, wanted something I could both plow and tow with, and with all the options I wanted, it stickered at a hair over 39K$. I thought about going diesel, but that was another 5K on the sticker, couldn't get it equipped the way I wanted without ordering it, and wouldn't have gotten anywhere near as good a deal as I was able to work out on the Hemi. The diesel would get better mileage.... that's really the only complaint I have with mine; average is mid-13's. If you tow a lot, or drive a lot of miles, the extra $$$ for the diesel may be worth it.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself. Diesel is roughly $2.40 a gallon and gas is about $2.15 a gallon around here. Lets say you get 10 mpg in town and 13 on the highway with the gasser and you get 18 in town and 20 on the highway with the diesel with about 50% mixed driving. Take into account the 5k markup on the diesel and the average person driving 15k miles a year. The fuel costs for the gasser is about $2805 a year, and for the diesel it is $1895 so you have only about a $900 savings in a year in fuel costs. So lets take other maintenance into account and say $1100 savings total. At that rate you have to own the truck for 5 years to make your money back. The more pulling you do the more it will pay for itself with the better pulling mileage and such. You have to ask yourself is it worth it. Don't cut the Cummins option out but keep in mind how much you have to use the truck to make your money back.

 

Perhaps Drew can give us some more info on oil changes. I've heard that Oil changes are more expensive in the diesels as well, more oil, more expensive filter, etc.

 

I was thinking that the Turbo diesel would be a good engine to extract power from and still have it remain useable for 4X4 driving and towing. I like the Hemi V8's too but with what I have read the diesel sounds bloody awesome too, I think when it comes time to buy a Ram I will have to see what the inssurance will be on either truck before I make my mind up.

 

he he he

you got that right, if I was to go to the dealer I would be dumping about $75 the engine holds 3 gallons of oil. I just do it myself though. I get fleetguard filters (a division of Cummins ) and use Delo 300 oil which is Cummins approved. 3 gallons of oil, and a filter will usualy run me $26. but I can also go 15,000 between oil changes. some guys that use these trucks as hot shots have been running the same dino oil for over 30,000+ miles, they just change the filter out on occasion. oh, and dont forget the $1-$5 disposal fee. I just dump mine into one of the oil recycling containers at work

the main reason for the extended oil change intervals is that these engines dont rev so high. my shift point unloaded is 2000 rpm, at that point I'm begining to hit the 18-20 pound boost range. if I go to full throttle at that point my truck WILL lean to one side as your being thrown back into the seat. but not only are the RPMs much lower but the engine is built to tighter specs which means longer oil life. yes my oil get black as night in about 800-1000 miles. but thats the nature of a diesel.

 

forgot to add in that if you have the Cummins, the resale value is way higher than a gasser, also when I was talking to my insurance about my truck they told me if I had gone with the hemi my insurance would have been higher since they view it more of a sports car than a truck. . .whoodathunkit

 

well that sounds pretty good eh! I am liking the diesel so far ! but I will have to have a drive to be sure!, so you say the cummins has a fair amount of punch even compared to a hemi V8? I still want a bit of acceleration for pulling out onto busy highways and the like. so what would you say the cummins takes to reach 60MPH from a dead start? I have seen some Video clips of worked Diesels doing crazy 12 second 1/4 mile times but thats way too much power than I need! as long as the diesel can get up and go then thats the main thing! the reason I ask is because here in Australia the diesel 4X4 cars take bloody ages to reach 100kmph and develop bugger all power!, if you like to do a bit of beach driving the aussie diesels are good for they don't work too hard in that environment and have enough torque to tackle slow accents up dunes and hills but when it comes to muddy areas the diesels don't have the punch to blast through like the petrol (sorry gasoline ) 4L 4X4 cars so I am sitting here watching these Cummins videos in complete amazement! thinking that can't be normal [sm=gears.gif]