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Diesel/Gas justification banter?

sstoner911 said:
Define short trips

Define extended Idle
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I was told/taught that short trips were classified as when the oil does not get up to full operating temp for 8 miles, as for extended idle time it all changed when emissions junk came into play before that we just keep the engine running at 1000 rpms except in the winter then we increased the rpms up to 1300-1500 rpms an we had to be sure how many opening on our winter front were open...
 
mbarber84 said:
It’s not really a study, it’s a “summary” of manufacturer recommendations regarding idling and how that behavior has an impact on the engines health and fuel economy. I would encourage you to read the summary (again?) in its entirety. I’ve highlighted some important points. View attachment 93494
These recommendations would be just as important for a gas engine as it would for a diesel engine. The only difference being the diesel has the added complexity of the full aftertreatment system which also has to be considered.

“Can” and “should” are two different things.

Can you short trip and idle long periods? Sure.
But you then assume the burden of increased potential for damage to both the engine and emissions system.

Should you short trip and idle long periods? No.
Reducing both as much as possible greatly reduces the risk for engine and emissions system damage.

If someone is on the fence between gas and diesel, a gas truck will tolerate short trips and idling more so than the diesel due to the lack of an after treatment / emissions system. It’s also a far less costly truck to maintain. Cheaper oil changes means you can change the engine oil more to offset the negative impacts of poor drive cycles. This is why a significant number of ambulance services nationwide have switched their fleets over to gasoline power, as did UPS / FEDEX with their delivery vehicles. Lower initial cost of purchase, lower cost of fuel, lower maintenance headaches, and lower impact on the their bottom line.
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When looking at Fleet vs Consumer its comparing apples and oranges on use. I will say the Diesel Crew trucks here at the utility company I work for, Idle hours a day. One F150 one guy uses idles 8 hours a day! No issues after 3 years.

So who knows..
 
sstoner911 said:
When looking at Fleet vs Consumer its comparing apples and oranges on use. I will say the Diesel Crew trucks here at the utility company I work for, Idle hours a day. One F150 one guy uses idles 8 hours a day! No issues after 3 years.

So who knows..
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The idle hours on bucket trucks and boom trucks get absolutely insane.

They pretty much constantly stink from regen.
 
I’ve pretty much been silent here but…utility guy here that idles a gas truck(non Ram) for hours and hours….beyond 8 for many days and runs/operates just fine. All circumstantial.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
new here, spent most of my time on the cummins forum. However I just traded my 2018 3500 CC lb 4x4 with the G56 for a 2500 Hemi.. So far I do not regret it. I bought the Diesel Literally off the show room floor and loved that it had the 6 speed manual. Since I bought it in 2018 I had only put 53K miles on it, and a fair portion of that was pulling a fifth wheel. It was paid for and so it was almost an even swap for the new truck. We had downsized from a 40' fifth wheel to a 25 foot 6K pound camper. I enjoy that the Hemi Gets me through the intersections quicker, and isnt hampered by an overly tall reverse that I constantly needed to use low range for. I really enjoy the quiet drive down the interstate. Not so keen on that big Ipad in the middle of the dash though. I enjoy the fuel being about 1.10 a gallon less now here also.
 
mdsonofthesouth said:
I get this sentiment 100% as until now my truck was an Express so tow package, pwoer windows and locks and thats it. I did long for 1 option and that is a sunroof, and with that came ALL the options save for the 12in radio and wood trim. Do I love the options? ABSOLUTELY. Did I want them? Nope! Either way as many use their trucks as daily drivers from groceries, taking kids sports, to hauling 2k LBS of wood or towning a flatbed or travel trailer my truck, like so many, fills many roles. But yeah its not a need for sure, but is nice...and I dont mind getting in my bells and whistles truck dirty because it is a work truck lol.

To your second point I couldn't agree more. Prices will never go back down as people continue to pay INSANE prices for these trucks and if they cant pay then the bank gets to sell it again.



I would say anything over 5 or so minutes idling but thats just me. if it is WELL below freezing then I warm the truck up for 5ish minutes, but its rare that I need more than 1-3 to get things where they need to be. Single digit temps, which are VERY rare here would bump that time up. But running a frigid truck does more damage or possible damage than idling for a few more minutes IMHO. Short trips I would say anything where the truck doesnt get up to full operating temperature. Obviously this is weather dependent.

Well that is my anecdotal opinion lol.
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Don’t get me wrong…I like a few bells and whistles myself. Just don’t need a $125k worth of them.

Sun roofs are nice. Most of my vehicles have had them but I went without one this time. They eat up payload!
 
stillhere said:
Don’t get me wrong…I like a few bells and whistles myself. Just don’t need a $125k worth of them.

Sun roofs are nice. Most of my vehicles have had them but I went without one this time. They eat up payload!
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I get that, my truck was used when I got it for far less than 125k and my payload is enough for my needs :D. But yes every option eats into that payload number.
 
stillhere said:
Don’t get me wrong…I like a few bells and whistles myself. Just don’t need a $125k worth of them.

Sun roofs are nice. Most of my vehicles have had them but I went without one this time. They eat up payload!
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My buddies 2025 Laramie DRW has a lower payload that my 2024 DRW Laramie and they only difference we could come up was the sun roof.
 
I have owned Diesels Rams since 94 . 2006 ,2014 , 2020 . One DEF related incident in all those years that I cleared myself . My son still has the 14 which he had to replace some emission related sensor . Granted the first two had about zero emissions but the tranny’s were weak . I paid 25 k for the first one and 74k for the present one . In 1994 I bought a brand new KW for 75 k . In 2010 I bought one for 120 k when you think about an 18 wheeler with a 15 liter engine 13 spd tranny and all the stuff that makes one it is crazy to have to spend that much money or close to it for a dually pick up truck !
 
I'll stick with the Cummins for now, my 4th one. Trips to Nascar, NHRA, and to the coast for fish/crab. My dump trailer, and 5th wheel demand the Cummins. Once I get too old and decrepit to tow my 5th wheel, I'll unload it and get a 1500. Unless I croak first, in that case it wont matter.
 
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