Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
They all pump out tons and tons of suffocating diesel exhaust. I don't know how you guys can stand them.
You have got to be kidding. That would be true several years ago, but with the emissions stuff modern diesel have on them, the air is almost cleaner coming out of the tailpipe than it was going in the intake. Only the pickups where folks have deleted the emissions stuff, are over fueling them, etc does any of them smoke and put out "suffocating diesel exhaust". You see a modern diesel putting out black smoke, it is either in need of repair or has been modified by the owner.
My semi with a pre-emission equipped Detroit 60 motor hardly puts out any black smoke or even dirty up the exhaust pipes. Reason... I take care of it and drive it right. And that motor is on it's second life as a factory rebuilt motor.
But as for a diesel in a 3/4 ton, I couldn't justify doing it. I bought a 2015 2500HD with a 6.0L gasser. The 6.0L L96 motor has a stellar track record for durability and longevity. I mostly haul stuff in the back than doing any towing. The additional cost of the diesel, especially the maintenance issues related to the newer emissions stuff, made it a no brainer for me. The 6.0L did exceptionally well on the Ike Gauntlet pull test that was referenced earlier. Even smoking the 6.4L gasser Ram 3/4 ton that had 60 more HP and 50 lb more torque and an 8 speed instead of the GM 6 speed. That is more than I ever will put my pickup thru. I needed more than a 1/2 ton but I didn't need a diesel. And I live rural, and watching all the farmer coop elevator companies ditching their diesel equipped 3/4 tons for gas motor equipped ones spoke volumes to me. Those guys haul a lot, pull double and triple trailers of anhydrous ammonia and other stuff to and from farms and thru broken up crop land.
And my 2015 2500HD has gotten an average 14 mpg for all miles thus far. Has averaged 16 mpg on road trips. And so far, that has all been on E15 winter grade fuel. Should improve a little with summer fuel.