hey guys, i was wondering if you could give me some general info on the 250s, im looking at trading my my truck for a deseil due to the better gas milage on the highway and in the city, right now i average 12-13, what are yall getting. also, im looking at a 2003 or 04 range, something in the vicinity of 29k dollars 4 doors leather 4x4 etc...do yall think this is possible. also, what are the benefits of a deseil vs a gasser besides being able to put huge hspr down and pulling alot. as much info as possible, this will be my first deisel truck, also, i know im passionate towards fords, but is the duramax/ cummins a better engine tranny etc...
thanks so much guys
Bo

 

I’d be a little careful before jumping into anything. I have been driving diesels for years as commuters and I am now second guessing it… again. Last year, I traded down on a “spur of the moment” deal to a Lariat Supercrew F-150. It had the 5.4L engine, and I loved it. The only problem was the interior room was nothing when compared to the Superduty crew cabs I had been driving. The 5.4L averaged 16.0 mpg over the first 30,000 miles, with 18.2 mpg being the highest and 11.5 mpg being the lowest. I logged every fill in the first 30k. I hated the location of the B-pillar in the Supercrew, and the fact that my head was just off the roof, so I traded back to a diesel this spring of 2006.

My current ride, a 2006 F-250 Crewcab Lariat with a 6.0L Powerstroke The 6.0L is currently averaging 16.3 mpg over the first 13,000 miles, with 18.3 mpg being the highest and 14.0 mpg being the lowest. I logged every fill since I started driving it, too. It has much power over the 5.4L gasser in the F-150, but the turbo lag stinks. I averaged 17.3 with my last 6.0L, and 19-21 with my last 7.3L Powerstrokes (one 7.3L was tweaked and got the 21mpg).

I say “be careful” because with the cost of diesel over gas, don’t really expect a huge savings from fuel cost. In fact, my spreadsheet that I log my fuel fills in also calculates the savings (or loss) if I was driving a gasser absed upon the last 5.4L’s mileage and the current cost of gas at the time of fill-up with diesel. Right now, after almost 14k miles, I am in the hole $62.43. If you tow, however, that is a different story. The 14mpg above (with the 6.0L) and the 11.5 (with the 5.4L) is while towing a 4200# camper. The 6.0L has no idea the weight is behind her, but the 5.4L definitely knows otherwise.

The real benefit of the diesel is the resale. If you trade regularly, the diesel is the way to go. It returns 90-95% of the money you spent on it in the first few years, and the truck is more valuable than it’s counterpart gasser in the same model just because good used diesels are hard to come by. F-150’s are a dime a dozen and used values are low. This is based upon my local, so it may be different in yours. Also, understand that you can buy a lot of gas for the $5,400 upgrade to the diesel engine, but once you buy it, it’s out the tailpipe. The diesel engine money comes back at trade time or when selling it. For me, with high mileage each year, the diesel has been a benefit. I drive a company truck, so the Boss has been real receptive to trading each year for about $4k to $5k at 50,000 miles. Now with fuel prices, I may be seeing a 25-30mpg car sooner, and keeping a personal truck in the barn for hauling my trailers on the weekend. If it’s just going to be a “weekend warrior”, the additional cost for the diesel won’t pay, and the extra cost for the diesel is money I can just use as “down money” to get a vehicle payment lower. Besides, an F-150 will haul, it just won’t do it like an Indy car like the diesel. My $0.02.

 

Be careful about going to a Superduty for no other reason than to save on mileage with a diesel. Alot of people do not realize how much difference there is between a 150 and a 250/350.

Remember, you're talking about a truck that will weigh, on average, about 2000lbs (2500lbs for a diesel SD) more unloaded. It takes a bigger area to turn around and takes up alot more room in a garage or parking lot.

If I didn't need a 3/4t pickup to tow my trailers and sometimes haul up to 3500lbs of gravel or sand I don't know that I'd own it. I do enjoy it owning it but if a 1/2 ton filled my needs I stomach the 15mpg and enjoy the truck.

We own an F250 supercab 4x4 and a 4x4 2005 F150 crew cab/5.4L and after I spend a few days driving the F250 the F150 feels like a sports car!!

 

. I averaged 17.3 with my last 6.0L, and 19-21 with my last 7.3L Powerstrokes (one 7.3L was tweaked and got the 21mpg).

I'm curious as to what tweaks you did to get these mpg on the 7.3? I have a 2000 F250 and was try to find out what so called improvement items actually improve fuel milage.

 

awesome posts guys! thanks so much.
as far as driving something bigger, not a big deal, im used to pulling horse trailers etc... with them.

But. the only reason why i think that the desiel is going to save me in gas is because of the way i drive, i have a heavy foot, i like to do about 80 here in tampa, and my f150 just cant seem to get it done, of course it has 35s on her and 3:73s. but those desiels with the turbos just "go" and they are much faster then the f150s, not even close. As far as mileage goes, i drive about 35k a year, and as i said, i think if i had something like this, i wouldnt have to "get into her as much to get going"
is a 03-04 a good model year
also, i know this is a ford site, but how do others compare to the f250?

 

Just try parking a F-250 in a "straight in" parking lot

Just try making a u turn at an intersection with an F-250

Drive thru's, parking decks, parallel parking, bumpy road

But like Hillhound said, If you need it, then you need it. As far as it being a better "ride around" truck. I don't think so.

 

I don't need it at the moment, but I want it

 

I think the superduty platform is a great truck overall. Only thing I would want different is the six speed and not the automatic.

Adrianspeeder

 

X2
All of this talk is making me want to go truck shopping again

 

Army,
Hypermax 330 Chip, Amsoil Air Filter, DPPI (now MBRP) 4" Turbo-Back Exhaust, Hypermax Pyro/Boost Gauge, and keep your fooy out of it (almost impossible). I sure wished I'da kept her. Of course, with my daily mileage that 2002 would have about 250k on her by now.

 

If you think a heavy foot in a diesel will not use fuel, your sadly mistaken. A diesel being prodded will suck fuel just like a gasser, if not more. Moving air in and air out along with a light foot will be your only saving grace. Also, keeping a diesel beow 2000 rpms under all conditions (including getting her rolling) is a benefit in saving fuel, too.

A stock 5.4L F-150 will beat a stock 6.0L out of the hole, and get to 60mph quicker. I've had enough of both to know, and anybody telling you different is smoking wacky tobaccy. It may not feel like it, but numbers don't lie.

You will still have to kick any diesel in the butt to get the load moving from a dead stop, but not nearly as much as a gasser. The nice thing about a dioesel is taking a grade without any downshifts (depending on the load).

2003-2004 model years are fine. I'd snag a good 7.3L if I was in the market for a used one (early 2003 was the last year for the 7.3L). Modifications are less sensitive, and many have no cat converters. I'd be leary of an early 2004 with a 6.0L, as some were problems, although many were good real early in 2003. You can't beat the whine of an early 2003 with the cat removed and a 4" turbo back. It will sing like a schoolgirl.

 

In my opinion, that's the ONLY advantage to diesel.

 

That makes two of us.

 

Bofer... What'd you do? A smoker, or a gasser? C'mon... let us know.