Hey there, first time poster. I do not have a Cummins yet, but I'm working on it. Found a real good deal on a 06 5.9 4x4 Quad long bed with 5,000 miles.
But here is my situation. Currently I own a 05 F150 FX4 (OK when you stop laughing read on!) with 52K. I really like the truck and it serves its purpose, but I'm scared to tow what the "manufacturer" recommends, which is around 9000#. and add the slightest grade and you are getting passed by 18ers. Besides I'm looking at getting a fifth wheel toy hauler and there is no way I'm using that with a 1/2 ton in a 5.5 box. Also I would like a truck that will out last the loan and then some. If you haven't heard there is a severe design flaw with the 3 valve 5.4L in the spark plugs. They say you can go 100K on the same plugs, but you are probably 99.9% going to break them off (even at 40K!!) during removal and it will end up being a $4,000 job. These are not your standard plugs. I average about 40,000 miles a year and use 4x4 on a weekly basis (nothing extreme just work) Also drive long distances towing 4 atv's FL to West Virgina & FL to Utah etc. 4-5 times a year. I have no experience in owning a diesel truck, but familiar with diesel heavy equipment.
OK now to the question(s) - How much more is it to operate a diesel over a gasser? I'm a shade tree mechanic a like to do my own maintenance (the basic stuff, oil, filters, fluids etc.) Is it going to be considerably more? What are the oil change intervals? Do I sound like a candidate for this truck?

Sorry so long winded .

Thanks in advance.

 

well im sure the other guys will be able to touch more of a base with you because i am new to a diesel as of january but you are just as much of a canidate then anyone else. if you have the money and want a top of the line truck, whats holding you back? you say your interested in a toy trailer, what better to pull than with a diesel. the maintence is the same for all that ive seen, oil changes from what i hear from these guys can be around 7,500 miles. you will also get better mpg out of a bigger rig! basicly from what i hear and see in this forum (which you can learn ALOT from) is you can make your truck to be what ever you want it to be. you can fine tune it, of you can keep it stock and have just as much maintaince as a gasser. if your anything like me, when i thought about buying the diesel i couldent sell my self short of anything else. when you get it, post pictures! welcome to the family

 

Welcome, Maintenance is easy. fuel filters. oil changes ( 3 gallons of oil) no need for spark plugs. fluids as you would any vehicle and more power, longer lasting, great mileage, stable fuel prices. bio diesel option. way more upgrades. you will love it. Do it and Welcome to the Forum

 

I would say go for it. You won't find a more reliable or longer lasting engine than the cummins. and it is amazing how mine pulls my travel trailer compared to my ford power stroke. Hope you get the truck and welcome to DF

 

Ive got comeing up on 10,000 miles on my oil right now. . .I'm gunna change it tomorrow. even though the oil is still fine, I think my soot content is getting a bit much.

anyway, for an engine that is more than 2x the displaceement than my toyota, there is less maintenance to be done on it. no glow plugs(unlike ford and chevy) that can swell, brake off and nuke a hole. Ive had to pull many a heads off of 6.2L hummers just cause of the glow plugs. plus the diesel can pull a load far easier than any gasser, and the true reason for stopping at the gas station is cause you gotta pee. Last, the cummins was designed to live with a load on it. when I toss a bed full of sand in the bed of my truck the engine actualy runs better than unloaded. it amazes me.

 

Sounds like diesel would be good for you. Now diesel is cheaper than gas (see how long that last). You can run a diesel on average twice as long as a gasser. Better resale also down the line.

The only routine maintenace to a CTD is oil/filter- 3,000 to 15,000 miles(depends what you use), fuel filter- 10-15,000 miles, tranny fluid/filter, 20-25,000 miles, differential F/R - 15,000 miles, intercooler flush - 100,000 miles and air filter depends what you have in.

Oil changes are about the same as gassers (if you do it yourself). All depends what you use.

 

I just bought an 06 with exactly 5k miles on it, quad cab, 4x4 but short bed. Watch where you buy, I shopped everyday for 3 weeks before I found a good enough deal while at the same time getting a good enough deal on my trade in (they really try to rape you there). If you are in the southeast and arent sure about your deal let me konw, I know where most of the good deals are here and about what you can expect to pay.

 

how do you like your truck (the color is hard to keep clean aint it)

 

I cant help but sneek a peek out th ewindow sometimes just to look. The color is awesome, what you need is to own a black truck for a while. Its been raining here and while I havent driven it when the roads were totally wet I have hit a few puddles and she still looks good. Its certainly not as easy as my old white truck but its certainly 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times better than black. Due to the crappy weather I havent been able to enjoy it much but when the sun does peek out damn does that color pop!

 

welcome to DF... as others have already touched on the maint. part of it... couple of things not mentioned (that I saw anyways) was the diffs & tranny (& trans case if 4x4)... they need regular maint. as well... the diffs every 15k if your hauling & the tranny is just like any other tranny.