Hemi versus 7.3

[flan]

I can guarantee you that I can keep up with any diesel as far as getting there at the same time. It’s biology. Your 50 gallons of diesel cannot outrun your bladder. So that point is good on paper but not in real life unless diesel drivers wear adult diapers. Both diesel and gas will far outrun your bladder.

Superior until you run out DEF in the middle of nowhere and the engine derates.

I was addressing the “out of DEF” derate that is now 150 miles. That was a fear brought up in a previous post. There is epa guidance pushing that to a much further distance to give a buffer if a system were to fail or error on the drivers part.

PS we don’t wear adult diapers but have you ever seen the milk jugs on the side of the road full of brownish liquid? It ain’t apple juice

 

[Trash Panda]

I was addressing the “out of DEF” derate that is now 150 miles. That was a fear brought up in a previous post. There is epa guidance pushing that to a much further distance to give a buffer if a system were to fail or error on the drivers part.

PS we don’t wear adult diapers but have you ever seen the milk jugs on the side of the road full of brownish liquid? It ain’t apple juice

Trucker lemonade! Can’t believe it’s free, but that stuff is kinda spicy though.

 

[Trash Panda]

Out of the three vehicles I owned, a 3.0 diesel, 5.7 hemi and 6.4 hemi, the biggest drop in MPG was the diesel while towing the same camper with similar weight including gear in very similar situations and mostly at 65mph. It went from 24 to 14. That’s 10 mpg less. The 5.7 dropped 3.5 mpg and the 2500, 3 mpg.

Granted the gas engines average much less MPGs unloaded than the diesel. When loaded the diesel dropped the most. It isn’t hard to understand.

Your logic of “punishing” the rating of a diesels efficiency for getting wildly better MPG unloaded is… confusing. Stoichiometric ratios allow diesels to run quite lean when power isn’t needed, lending to a higher level of efficiency by simple chemistry.

For what it’s worth, I’ve never owned a single gas pickup that did better than 10mpg when loaded. You must have the magic touch.

 

[LeRamona]

Your logic of “punishing” the rating of a diesels efficiency for getting wildly better MPG unloaded is… confusing. Stoichiometric ratios allow diesels to run quite lean when power isn’t needed, lending to a higher level of efficiency by simple chemistry.

For what it’s worth, I’ve never owned a single gas pickup that did better than 10mpg when loaded. You must have the magic touch.

I’m thinking that living at high altitude has something to do with it. I’m generating less HP, therefore uses less gas. Also, I’m not trying to win a race when towing. I take off slowly so things don’t shift or fall inside the camper. Plus my wife hates it when I take off fast.

 

[Trash Panda]

I’m thinking that living at high altitude has something to do with it. I’m generating less HP, therefore uses less gas. Also, I’m not trying to win a race when towing. I take off slowly so things don’t shift or fall inside the camper. Plus my wife hates it when I take off fast.

I live at 6,000 feet. Fuel economy isn’t any better or worse here than when I go visit family at sea level.

They simply suck the fuel when loaded down, and certainly don’t have the power to move “fast” under load. On top of that, I’ve seen tons of 6.4’s grenade when towing their whole lives.

I’m all for guys buying gassers because of the maintenance or up front cost, but they definitely aren’t the right tool for the job of towing anything remotely heavy. There is a reason you don’t see semi’s with big gas engines in them.

 

[LeRamona]

I live at 6,000 feet. Fuel economy isn’t any better or worse here than when I go visit family at sea level.

They simply suck the fuel when loaded down, and certainly don’t have the power to move “fast” under load. On top of that, I’ve seen tons of 6.4’s grenade when towing their whole lives.

I’m all for guys buying gassers because of the maintenance or up front cost, but they definitely aren’t the right tool for the job of towing anything remotely heavy. There is a reason you don’t see semi’s with big gas engines in them.

I hear you and I don’t tow anything that goes over 8k lbs. That is why I decided on gas. I find it interesting that Cummins is releasing a gas engine which performs similar to their diesel. I’m sure emission regulations and complexity of modern diesel engine emission equipment has a lot to do with that. A 2500 with their 300hp/660 torque Octane engine would find many homes.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

Superior until you run out DEF in the middle of nowhere and the engine derates. But the sea of torque a diesel provides is glorious. My last diesel was a GMC Sierra AT4 1500 Dmax. Hwy MPG unloaded was 24, towing was 14, a 42% drop in efficiency. With my 2500 Hemi, towing the same trailer I get 10-10.5 MPG. Unloaded I get 13MPG. A drop of 20% efficiency. Food for thought. While your MPGs may be higher with a diesel, it is not necessarily more efficient than gas.

If you run out of DEF you’re not paying attention and planning ahead.

 

[LeRamona]

If you run out of DEF you’re not paying attention to the gauges.

Never ran out DEF but saw it going from 2,000 miles left to add DEF in about 300 miles. That is an insane swing. Obviously it wasn’t accurate at all. That was on a GM. Never owned a Ram diesel.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

Never ran out DEF but saw it going from 2,000 miles left to add DEF in about 300 miles. That is an insane swing. Obviously it wasn’t accurate at all. That was on a GM. Never owned a Ram diesel.

Well there ya go, GM. Not Ram. So it’s irrelevant here.

 

[LeRamona]

Well there ya go, GM. Not Ram. So it’s irrelevant here.

Still was a diesel. Is more relevant than your opinion.

 

[whitexc]

Back on topic…..


I posted in another topic a few weeks ago but here goes…I run a 2024 F250 with the 6.8L(it’s an XL) with the 10speed on a work body chassis daily. It’s not a bad setup, for a work truck, but it sure is clunky drivetrain wise. It has good power and I feel it would tow pretty well but the clunky has me concerned with only 4k miles. For reference my 2017 250 workbody had 311,000 when the intake gaskets finally failed and they said no more on the repairs. That truck owed nothing.

The 7.3L would be a beast I’m sure but that clunk would only be exaggerated. I say it’s clunky just because the entire truck isn’t as plush as the Ram and the ZF.

Diesels are over-rated


Sent from me

 

[DarkHorse8]

Diesels are over-rated

Exhaust brake?

 

[whitexc]

Exhaust brake?

It was a fun jab bud. Go to one of the umpteen diesel threads. That’s all. I doubt you will find many gasser guys in there saying diesels suck and go gasser. Just saying. You all are very passionate about your exhaust brake and too many cumbersome emissions. It’s ok. They do hold a place in my heart. Been there. Don’t need it for my “truck purposes” these days.

Back on topic.


Sent from me

 

[DarkHorse8]

It was a fun jab bud. Go to one of the umpteen diesel threads. That’s all. I doubt you will find many gasser guys in there saying diesels suck and go gasser. Just saying. You all are very passionate about your exhaust brake and too many cumbersome emissions. It’s ok. They do hold a place in my heart. Been there. Don’t need it for my “truck purposes” these days.

Back on topic.


Sent from me

Check the first post.

“Exclusively 14k 5th wheel”

“11k feet in elevation”

“Not much flat towing”

 

[Deleted member 47449]

We prefer our Ram 2500 4x4 Power Wagon 6.4L gas for it's capabilities, especially in harsh winter conditions in Northwestern Colorado. We live in very mountainous terrain. Our PW is an off-road suspension vehicle, so the payload and towing capabilities are quite diminished versus a normal 2500.

Even so our 6.4L isn't a rocket in the Rockies due to the truck weighs around 7K pounds and it gets driven often up to 11K feet elevation which cuts the horsepower. Our Ram 3500 4x4 SRW LB HO 6.7L diesel is far superior in maintaining the power at higher elevations for both towing and hauling. That truck weighs around 9K pounds. Both trucks are Crew Cab Tradesmans.

Colorado state map below. 90% of the population lives to the right of the mountains.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Check the first post.

“Exclusively 14k 5th wheel”

“11k feet in elevation”

“Not much flat towing”

This part is important.

I love my gas truck but this is out of gas truck territory

 

[Poolmonkey]

I would not want to pull any more weight than I do with the 6.4 in this, the most mountainous state in the lower 48. If I did, the diesel complication and PITA might be a fair trade..on the verge of bearable.
When the next gas is 90 miles away as is typical, high RPM for many miles are particularly troublesome to experience.
Thankfully, downhill and uphill alternate nearly equally.
I see diesel trucks towing travel trailers that look akin to ants pulling shoeboxes, shake my head in wonder. They really are incredible. Wheeling them truly sucks IME though, horrific in comparison to a gasser..
I have pulled this lil’ conglomeration with my buddy’s 7.3 Godzilla Ford, it’s fine.

 

[whitexc]

I will check back in on this one later….

While I like a lot about my truck, I dislike the MDS and I wouldn’t want too much more trailer behind me, especially in real mountains.

Sorry for your Cummins troubles. There are good ones and bad ones of every brand and model.


Sent from me

First statement in post #4. I knew this thread would end up with debate and debate is good.

Also note I wouldn’t do what OP needs to do with the truck in those circumstances. OP lives and or tows there. OP feels a big gasser is an option. OP isn’t the only one I’m sure.

Happy Sunday all. Go Bills!


Sent from me

 

[oledirteh]

I just towed 14000lbs through maryland, WV and PA with 3 4 wheelers, 2 dogs, a load of fire wood and somehow didnt run out of def. just say'n

however i did average 8.5 miles a gallon

 

[LeRamona]

I just towed 14000lbs through maryland, WV and PA with 3 4 wheelers, 2 dogs, a load of fire wood and somehow didnt run out of def. just say'n

however i did average 8.5 miles a gallon

What is your average MPG unloaded?