Chevy pickup

Anonymous-0 · Apr 25, 2014

Looking at an 04 Chevy 3500 dually pickup.Has a big gas motor. I'de drive it maybe 5,000 miles a year. Maybe pull a trailer 2,000 miles.It's half the price compared to a simular pickup with a diesel. Opinions wanted if I should get it or keep looking for a diesel pickup.Thanks Charles

d9gdon · Apr 25, 2014

(quoted from post at 13:13:51 04/25/14) Looking at an 04 Chevy 3500 dually pickup.Has a big gas motor. I'de drive it maybe 5,000 miles a year. Maybe pull a trailer 2,000 miles.It's half the price compared to a simular pickup with a diesel. Opinions wanted if I should get it or keep looking for a diesel pickup.Thanks Charles

ith that little bit of mileage per year, there's no way a diesel pickup would pencil out for you. You'll probably pay $5000 more for the diesel engine, pay 60 cents a gallon more for fuel, and your maintenance costs are at least double what a gas engine will be.

That 8.1 liter engine pulls good, too.

redforlife · Apr 25, 2014

I agree with d9gdon. I think they have came along way with the performance of modern day diesels. Especially torque to the ground on acceleration. These pick-ups are now more than easily able to spin their wheels. LOL. Bottom line is, you still have to drive the miles for them to pencil out. IMO, for low mileage per year, and short drives, I would still stay with a gas.

mkirsch · Apr 25, 2014

The 8.1L has about the same power as a first-generation Duramax diesel, at a whole lot less up-front cost.

Frankly 5000 miles a year isn't enough to justify a diesel. Diesels don't like to sit around, and they don't like short trips.

I have an '02 3500 with the 8.1L and 5-speed Allison. I may be missing something by not having one of those 500HP diesels, but this one puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

One thing to look out for is they do burn a quart of oil in about 3000 miles. It's the nature of the GM big blocks and nothing to worry about. Running a 165 degree thermostat and Mobil 1 full synthetic takes care of most of it.

Nick m · Apr 25, 2014

My dad bought an 04 brand new and just sold it. He had a sensor issue in transmission when new, a radiator/tranny cooler that was mixing fluids (that was expensive) and not much else for problems. He never liked the mileage, but he drove it to work every day. His used oil since new like others have said. 1qt per oil change. Never got any worse or better. I'm a diesel nut, but if it doesn't matter if it's a gas or diesel to you, especially if you're only driving it 5k a year, I wouldn't be scared of it. The Allison transmission was very nice when towing.

Rick Kr · Apr 25, 2014

Everything Mkirsch, redforlife and d9gdon say are spot on.

I am looking for the same setup as you, crew cab, 8.1L and Allison. It is hard to pencil out a diesel unless you have a big trailer on it all the time. I think you will be very happy with the gas setup for as little as you use it.

I got a new crew cab duramax every year from the time they were offered, the last one I had was a 2010. Very nice and very powerful, but I wasnt the person that had to pay for maintenance or to fuel it.

Rick

Determined · Apr 25, 2014

Ditto with what everybody else said. Good engine, good power.
Regarding the oil consumption, every big block GM I have owned would start using oil once you were past due for an oil change.
You go for months without using a drop then you are adding steady, change the oil and go back to zero consumption.
Not certain if the hotter running engine breaks down the oil quicker or that these engines are usually worked hard most of the time. Whatever the reason it has been consistent for all the ones I have owned.

ss55 · Apr 25, 2014

Determined,

I've had the same experience with small block v-8 and v-6 gas engines. Oil consumption is almost nothing until they get close to time for an oil change. A quart of oil seems to last much longer for me when it's used in a fresh oil change than it does topping off old dirty oil.

Mike M · Apr 25, 2014

Go for it if your a Chevy guy.
Diesels are not worth all the extra expense and now with all the EPA stuff the gassers are becoming more popular.

That oil consumption the others mention is not just a Chevy thing as I have noticed it on a lot of my cars. Use no oil and then all at once they do just like the oil starts to break down. I don't think the oil is made as good as they claim and I sure am not going to go to the 10,000 mile appox.? the oil change index would indicate !!!!

farmer boy · Apr 25, 2014

If it's the 8.1, then it has the Allison 1000. Except for the mileage, a better truck can't really be had. It has a nearly indestructible engine, tranny, and rear end. Empty at 60mph, you'll likely get around 12-13mpg. Around town is likely around 10 mpg, and towing about the same. It would take around 100,000 miles to pay a $6000 difference. Gas:10 mpg towing 13 empty @4.00/gal. Diesel: 12 mpg towing and 20 empty @4.35/gal. The other problem with the diesel is maintenance. They take more expensive filters and more oil. The LB7 engines (01-04.5) also had major injector issues. They WILL cause problems, and are extremely expensive to fix. The cheapest injectors on the market are close to 2500 for 8, with labour being above and beyond that. Every other imaginable part related to the engine being diesel will also be many times more expensive.

jon f mn · Apr 25, 2014

Can't help with the chevy, but just this wednesday I bought myself a 2005 f350 with the v-10 and 6 spd man. tranny for the same reasons. I don't drive it enough to justify the diesel and didn't want the extra cost and maintenance. Now I just hope I can afford the gas to use it. Pulled out of the dealer and into the gas station to get some gas, put in $60.00 worth and got 1/2 tank. lol

Jason1Pa · Apr 25, 2014

If your not racking up miles I wouldn't worry about a diesel.. There is nothing cheap about them... Less of a headache with a gasser at times. And I am a diesel owner just being honist..

ditchwitch · Apr 25, 2014

There great Trucks. Mine had the 8.1 with the allison transmission. It would pull the hinges off of hell. But sence that truck i had gone to a Diesel GMC with the allison transmission. ill never buy another Gas motor in a truck again. This is a 2012 i have 75k on it now it ill say its the best GM truck ive ever owned. If you no anything about Chevrolet and GMC trucks, you should no the only difference is when they come down the line if it dont pass quailty conrol they put a Chevrolet Badge on it .LOL . Get it youll love it.

mj · Apr 25, 2014

(quoted from post at 11:42:05 04/25/14).......but this one puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. ........

That's what counts for me - smiles, ........mpg and saving a few thousand on a 30-40k purchase and not getting it the way I want, not so much

GregCO · Apr 25, 2014

You will like it. Lots of grunt. They don't get the fuel mileage that the diesel's will, but $6.000 buys allot of gas and the maintenance is much less. With the low miles you will be driving the gas will be more forgiving to sitting and short trips.

Greg

T in NE · Apr 25, 2014

My dad had a 2.4L Chrysler like that. About 3500 miles he'd add a quart, and around 4500 miles it would be down a quart again and he'd change the oil in it.

DoubleR · Apr 25, 2014

I debated in 07 weather to buy a Diesel for ten grand more then what a gasser cost. That was a new Chev. 2500 HD. I figured I would have to drive it over 95,000 miles to get my money back on the diesel.
I went with the gaser and have no complants. It pulls good enough for me and thats all I use it for is pulling. I just turned 40,000 miles on it. I average about 6500 miles a year on it.
I got a little saturn that gets 30 miles to the gallon that I run around chasing parts and such with. I just turned 30,000 on that and its an 2004.

OliverGuy · Apr 25, 2014

I have 3 8.1's in one ton dumps and would buy another if I could find one. I scaled at 15,000 with a load on the other day, no big deal for that motor. Ours have been used hard and have been about maintenance free. A 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Chevy pickup

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