6.6L gas or Duramax for upcoming purchase?

[kobra357]

If I you could delete the diesel I would go with it. Since it’s almost impossible I would go with the gaser. This is only based on what OP is saying and it seems more like a mall crawler truck. Just my opinion for less maintenance etc.

 

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[phobby]

The average person has little cost difference from gas to diesel. If you drive around the average 10-12k miles a year.
-A diesel should run you $120-$150 more to service properly than a gasoline ANNUALLY.
-MPG vs diesel cost will be the same end of the year. Gas will be cheaper but you’ll burn more especially towing than a diesel.
- Yes a Diesel is $10k more but you never lose the $10k selling it. So it’s a stupid comparison.
-If you want a Bulk fuel tank at your house like I have. Diesel keeps for years and have the 500gal filled when diesel is cheap. You can’t do that with Gasoline.

 

[kobra357]

The average person has little cost difference from gas to diesel. If you drive around the average 10-12k miles a year.
-A diesel should run you $120-$150 more to service properly than a gasoline.
-MPG vs diesel cost will be the same end of the year. Gas will be cheaper but you’ll burn more especially towing than a diesel.
- Yes a Diesel is $10k more but you never lose the $10k selling it. So it’s a stupid comparison.
-If you want a Bulk fuel tank at your house like I have. Diesel keeps for years and have the 500gal filled when diesel is cheap. You can’t do that with Gasoline.

I agree with you. If Im reading all this correctly OP doesn’t have the facilities or possibly the need to have the maintenance for all the diesel luxuries. But wants a 2500/3500 for its looks power etc. I live in rural MT and have no need for those things either but love the 2500 trucks plus power etc. A 6.6 gas is just a better fit IMO for lower maintenance and he still gets his awesome truck. What is called a “mall crawler” by some. A truck purchased by people who only use it to go to the mall/transport/show off/little dick syndrome etc. I had one and loved it. My petite wife hated it. Said I was having a midlife crises etc. I personally loved it for the power, the beast was amazing. Anyway, it’s my interpretation of what I have read.

Final thoughts. A Diesel will almost last forever and as mentioned resale is always higher.

 

[yzf1999]

I’ve had my 24 6.6 gasser for a year now…I would absolutely buy it all over again.

 

[Hopalong]

In 2018 I had the same thoughts as you. I bought a new 3500 Duramax.
Last year I traded it in for a 1500 At4 6.2.

 

[Chrisbert]

As for the smell, unless you spill fuel while filling there is basically no smell out the back.

 

[phobby]

I agree with you. If Im reading all this correctly OP doesn’t have the facilities or possibly the need to have the maintenance for all the diesel luxuries. But wants a 2500/3500 for its looks power etc. I live in rural MT and have no need for those things either but love the 2500 trucks plus power etc. A 6.6 gas is just a better fit IMO for lower maintenance and he still gets his awesome truck. What is called a “mall crawler” by some. A truck purchased by people who only use it to go to the mall/transport/show off/little dick syndrome etc. I had one and loved it. My petite wife hated it. Said I was having a midlife crises etc. I personally loved it for the power, the beast was amazing. Anyway, it’s my interpretation of what I have read.

Final thoughts. A Diesel will almost last forever and as mentioned resale is always higher.

The only tangible extra maintenance of a diesel today is a $45 fuel filter every 12-14k miles vs a gas $22 fuel filter at 24k mile.

Oil, oil filter, and air filter will be changed on the same interval for gas and diesel.

Also the 2020+ GM block heater only works when the truck is below 0F. If you’re worried about hard starts in the winter.

 

[fcodxdart]

The only tangible extra maintenance of a diesel today is a $45 fuel filter every 12-14k miles vs a gas $22 fuel filter at 24k mile.

Oil, oil filter, and air filter will be changed on the same interval for gas and diesel.

Also the 2020+ GM block heater only works when the truck is below 0F. If you’re worried about hard starts in the winter.

Also def which I would include in maintenance, and an extra 2 qts of oil among other things that will just cost more to replace if failed/broken. Also don't forget I've read many issues with emissions problems in diesels that conviced me to go with a gas, plus the 10k up front cost.

Beyond all that, if you don't tow any or tow <8k occasionally a half ton will do you way better. Now if you tow >8k or tow 8k regularly then I'd get the 3/4 ton gas. If you tow >13K regularly then I'd get the diesel. The most I'll ever tow is probably 12k but I tow 8k regularly.

 

[john151ama]

I went for the gas and love it. Got 14,000 on it already. Right now on a 2 week road trip from Oregon, across SW. 2,700 mile trip in total towing a 27’ trailer and the fam, bikes, electric scooters and all the other stuff. I average 17 in my normal weekly driving and am averaging 10mpg towing on this trip. Going 80 is no problem with this engine and I can hit the gas and pass going up passes with no problem. Love it so far and I have put the 10k towards other upgrades. If I was hauling heavier loads and doing it frequently I would go diesel. In Moab currently and loving the truck all the way.

 

[nabatron]

Hello all, I am looking hard at a new 2500 as they are by far the baddest trucks on the planet. Do I need a 3/4 ton? No. Do I want one, hell yes. So, in saying that, I don't tow anything, and my hauling is a typical trip to Lowe's or Home Depot, and maybe helping out my Italian wife's crazy family with stuff haha. Therefore, since my daily drive to work is 20 minutes highway each way, is that enough to work the Duramax and keep things like the DPF happy? Or is the obvious choice the gasser? I am an old military guy and have always had a love for diesels since I drove many variants in the Army. Therefore, the smell, sound, and now HP and Torque is intoxicating. Btw, neither variant will fit into my garage and will be parked in my driveway. So, the upstate winters come into place as well? I haven't owned a diesel in a long time, so please educate me on what I would be looking at under my operating conditions. Thanks all!

I was exactly in the same boat as you. Dont need the truck I’m cooking from a 19’ rebel and wanted something else. Loves the look and overall hugeness of the truck. Comparing a new 1500 Sierra or 2500 the pricing was pretty comparable. It’s my first diesel it’s a learning process. One thing I’ve noticed is driving this rig on the highway for long trip it literally sips fuel. Got it to 26mpg which is pretty nuts for a big diesel. In town it’s really bad lol. Also the overall resale value is also another reason why I got the duramax.

 

[sf81]

Paul-
I was in the same boat when I moved to my first HD truck. I ended up with a RAM gasser, and it was great at the time. A couple years later I happened to be at the dealer for service and saw a newer model with the diesel with all the options I wanted and went home with it that day, because why not. It's hard to move out of a diesel once you have one.

Like you I don't do anything with my Ram 2500 that taps into its potential, it takes me to the office and to customer sales meetings, with the occasional home project thrown in.

I'm now trading in the Ram for a AT4 HD Dmax. The final push came as i pulled into the parking garage at work and saw a guy with a new at4 HD and i thought "damn that truck is sexy". I was jealous.

My Rams have treated me well, especially my '19 2500 cummins. But the at4 HD is now the better looking truck, and arguably the better performer.

If cost is a concern, go gas. It's not just the engine cost, but as many others pointed out the maintenance costs are higher on the dmax. If cost doesn't matter go diesel. You won't regret it. It's that simple.

 

[Viking Truck]

Personally I could make an argument for making the 2500 only with gas and 3500 only with diesel. If you put a diesel in the 2500 it has a significantly lower cargo capacity due to higher weight of engine. If you really need to tow/haul the max of a 3500 the diesel is for you.

 

[gemarsh]

Personally I could make an argument for making the 2500 only with gas and 3500 only with diesel. If you put a diesel in the 2500 it has a significantly lower cargo capacity due to higher weight of engine. If you really need to tow/haul the max of a 3500 the diesel is for you.

Where's the fun in that though?

 

[Viking Truck]

Can you read the tow rating charts? The Gas 2500 is rated lower in everything but payload by a few 100 lbs vs the Duramax.

I’ll attach the 2024 2500 HD tow Specifications.

Nope, cant read. But I did say payload, not towing.

 

[Whaler27]

I do tow from time to time but will rarely tow over 8-10K. I didnt want to deal with DEF and higher maintenance costs 6.6 diesel. In regular driving I dont think the 6.6 diesel will do any better than the 6.6 gas on fuel efficiency. And then there is of course the 10 grand bump in cost. I much more considered the AT4X but I calculated how many miles I could cover with an extra $10K and went with AT4. I am absolutely thrilled with this truck.

^^ This is the smarter, more rational answer. I believe that’s true even if you occasionally tow 12,000 - 14,000 pounds.

I came to that conclusion about a year before I bought my Duramax, but I bought the Duramax anyway.

The diesel has a slight edge on fuel economy, but unless the truck is deleted and allowed to function as diesels should, (which involves significant risks these days), the difference is negligible and load-dependent. Also, that small advantage is lost, or nearly lost, when you consider the added maintenance cost and the cost of DEF. Then there is the cost of the fuel to consider. In some parts of the country diesel can be as much as $1 per gallon more than regular gas. If that’s the situation where you live, you’d have to get at least 25% better fuel mileage with the diesel just to break even at the bank — and that’s without considering the extra $10K or more in purchase cost for the diesel.

The two areas where the diesel remains king are heavy towing and resale. The differential in both areas isn’t as large as it once was, but the diesel is still the king for climbing a long grade with a heavy load. Compression braking is nice too. As for resale, the gasser trucks depreciate much faster. That’s probably based on old engines, old thinking, and herd mentality, but it’s still drives the resale market. Does this matter? Not if you’re going to keep the truck forever — and spending an extra $10,000 today just to lose less in five or seven years doesn’t make sense.

I bought the Duramax because it’s an amazing motor and I love everything about it, including the feel of driving it. I also have faith in it, even as other GM engines are failing. I tow and carry heavy loads too, but I know the gas engine will do that too. Finally, I love the weight. The diesel is a beast. I like having that extra weight over the front tires on snow and ice and, if somebody runs into me and my wife, I want every extra pound I can get — because the one with the most lug nuts almost always wins the crash.

My choice was an irrational one, and I’m happy I made it.