POWERSTROKE or CUMMINS

[leifbarnes]

I have an 07 D-Max.  About the only problems I have not had are engine and transmission problems.  About to roll 80K miles.  I had it in for warranty work 21 times before the warranty expired.  First Chevy I have owned that had these kind of issues.  The gas mileage sucks.

If you buy one make sure it does not have all the emissions BS on it.  It will save you probably 5-6 mpg.

[aladatrot]

Have any of you guys noticed how hard it is to find a new truck with a manual transmission? I don't think it is even offered in a duramax. We were at the dodge house a week ago, and it is almost impossible to locate a crew cab 4x4 with the laramie package and a six speed manual.

I hate an automatic transmission. I went through 5 of them in the 3/4 ton chevy gasser I had as a kid (and I always hauled in drive, not od). My 7.3 powerstroke had transmission issues and finally started shimmying and howling like part way between abilene and dallas with a six horse sooner behind me. Limped it into the onle dealership I could find in eastland tx and went home with a new dodge in 02. I vowed I would never have an auto again - they make me nervous and I just like a stick better. I am now spoiled to the mileage as I regularly see low to mid 20's and up to 19 mpg depending on what is on the trailer.

I wonder why the shortage of manuals?

Cheers
M

[DangerZone]

I've been a service tech for 26yrs, and have only worked at dealerships, factory cert. specialist in all areas for Ford and Chrysler since 2000 and cert. diesel/gas drivability for GM since 2005......When any of these truck are left in stock condition and the maintance is done properly and timely they will all last as long as the other....and they all have some weak link issue....but when it comes to mudding diesel truck tend to not have the rpm's needed in the lower gears to make the tires clean them selves out like their designed to do,and tend to have more of the eng. weight in front of the front axle off balancing the truck for mud, but this aid's control on the road when pulling IMO...

[3-Bdogs]

dmax quit sellin manuels few yrs ago they were using fords tranny and the had a fallin out now ford doesn't make em and dodge prob will stop before long the reason is all the city ppl drivin big diesel trucks and don't know how to use a stick which is also why priced so high which in returns hurts the farmers and ranchers as always

[Circle C]

dmax quit sellin manuels few yrs ago they were using fords tranny and the had a fallin out now ford doesn't make em

Petty sure both Ford and Chevy were using ZF-6 manual transmissions
http://www.zf.com.au/

I have had ZF transmissions in my Fords since the early 90's, in the form of a ZF5, in 99 Ford went to the ZF6. I am not aware that Ford ever offered their own tranny in Powerstroke.

[3-Bdogs]

that's what the chevy place told me and ford Idk about all the political junk i just know everything is going down hill

[DangerZone]

well, gas technology is the best it's ever been in the last 10yrs I had to start working on diesel's or i would not make a pay check,..it's nothing to see a 1/2 or 3/4 ton gas rig or car come in with 200k plus on it still running on the factory plugs and wires or coils,burn nooiland have less than 2% compression differance across all the cyl. diesel technology is about 10-15 yr's behind in reserch and development, the new ford eng. for 2011 is by far different than anything before it,. from anymake...it's not some bas**rd mix of two company's it's all ford and all of the eng. and trans. that ford designed that i've worked on in the last 20yr's have been soild this one will either makem again or break'em

[3-Bdogs]

i test drove one a wk ago it is bad but i will not buy one til i see some more out there and see if any prob occur but as far as power that new truck is nasty... plus i know i wouldn't buy from someone who needed gov aid im just sayin

[Bryant]

i test drove one a wk ago it is bad but i will not buy one til i see some more out there and see if any prob occur but as far as power that new truck is nasty... plus i know i wouldn't buy from someone who needed gov aid im just sayin

What??? Ford was the only one of the "Big 3" automakers that DIDN'T receive government bailout money.  Besides, if all my friends would have heeded my advice and bought ford stock late 2008 early 2009 when it was trading near $2.50 a share, they would be very happy at todays +/- $13.50.  Ford is actually posting profits.

[aladatrot]

I had a zf6 transmission in a corvette zr1... that was another time when I thought I needed the truck to pull the trailer and the car to go fast. Now its not necessary to keep a fast car because these days the trucks can be both. Our trucks are somewhat modified to go fast, and I haven't had much issue at all with the 02 dodge.

I have the itch for a new truck so bad, but I think I need to wait and see what improvements are just around the bend.

Cheers
M

[3-Bdogs]

bryant you miss understood i love fords wouldn't own another brand i was sayin i wouldn't own dodge or chevy because they used the gov but wouldn't buy that new motor ford has out until i see how they hold prob shoulda made it more clear

[gardner32]

cant beat the 7.3


1999 7.3

[cajunl]

My grandpa had a 89 cummins with over 600,000 never touched the engine or auto trans. He traded it in on a 94 cummins and put 300,000 and never touched either on that.

I have a 95 3500 dually cummins. It pulled 10,000 everyday about 400 miles round trip almost everyday for 3 years. It has 300,000 and never touched the motor. However it will have its 3rd tranny put in soon. The last one was totally FUBAR by the shop that worked on it and it never worked right after then. It will be built bullet proof this time.

I had an 05 dodge cummins that has 175,000 never touched motor or tranny or any work done on it but tires and maintenance. Both of the dodges get 20 + mpg. and the 95 gets closer to 25 mpg.

We owned a 97 ford diesel that was a complete gas hog that got 10-12 mpg and did not keep it long enough to tear up.

I just got a heck of a deal on a 90 f350 7.3 IDI and it is a good motor and seems bulletproof but she is a glow plug cold hearted witch.

I have never owned a duramax. They are designed and built by Isuzu and they have a good record for diesels.

The newer diesels have to meet stricter emission (dpf) control and it is wrecking havoc on mileage.

The fords are coming out with a 6.7 (scorpion) diesel motor which should be interesting. It is built and designed in house. It will be a cast block with aluminum heads. Good for race cars....not so much for heavy duty durability?

[RockinW]

cajunl,  tell me how you go about building a "bullet proof" tranny. I have a 98 dodge gas auto that i have had constant tranny trouble with. Spent a couple years and a couple grand at shade tree shops who all "knew exactly what was wrong with it" and said dealerships and big tranny shops would just scam me into a new tranny when i really didnt need one. None of them fixed it. Took it to the most respected transmission shop i could find, they had it off and on for 6 months, supposedly completely rebuilt it twice, got a whole other tranny, rebuilt it and put it in, and after bein in and out of the shop for three years and spending probably $4k total on it,  the piece of crap still shifts in and out of gear  when it shouldnt and wont shift when it should. 

[3-Bdogs]

all i can say about bulletproof is i wouldn't be to sure about there is a guy here who had is truck and motor built "bulletproof" includin tranny it was a bill of over 25000 and his truck never seen mud nor a trailer it lasted 3 months so Idk about anything bein bulletproof, the other thing is everybody is refering to older model trucks and that's fine but they make those trucks anymore with all the emissions bs now days it is just more stuff to go wrong and on the same thing i like fords i have a 02 and 99 model my dad owns a 07 dodge and a 93 dodge the 93 has over 800000 miles on it and gets great fuel mileage but is a dog with pullin that's why there isn't a ball on it the 07 body is all fallin apart gets about 14 tops to a gallon normally less pulls fine but has had problems with it my 02 will not only pull as good but will pass as much as he has to pull over and fill up and both fords get 18 + to a gallon now ford lost allot of customers with 6.0 models but i think its clear now that with ford havin more sales than other to companies that their goin to climb back on top plus Idk if y'all have noticed the dodge dealers are disappearin can anybody explain that to me there 3 dealerships close just right around here ?

[cajunl]

I went through the same route as you. After the first tranny went at almost 200,000. I bought another and had a guy that "could fix it right up". He did it cheap and I got what I paid for .

But one you get it apart most of the rebuild kit parts are junk and no where near close to factory. In the tranny rebuild all your $$ is in labor and the parts are fairly cheap. Cheap kits are $300 so spring for the $1000 kit and never touch it again. It is already out and apart and that is the hard part. Might as well build it better inside.

With some upgraded parts like clutches, servo and beefed up input shafts. Keep it cool with a cooler and it should last forever. Beefed up the 46re, 47re, and 48re should be more than enough. Some of the Dodge guys with built trucks are pushing 600-800 hp and use a built RE driveline for pulling events.

I have been in the same boat and dumped tons of $$ into crap that people did not build right. You are not alone!

[3-Bdogs]

im with you on the aluminum heads Idk seems like they wouldn't hold up we will see i guess

[Circle C]

I am pretty sure the Dmax has Al heads, and in 2001 people kept saying how they would not hold up.  I would say the proof is in Dmax sales the last 10 years.

[3-Bdogs]

i did not know that i thought they were cast iron with al casing around it i really don't dmax and i really don't know if fords are all al im not being smart i would like to for sure though anybody 100 percent sure about that ?

[Circle C]

Q: Is there any truth to the rumors we're hearing about aluminum cylinder head and head gasket failures?

A: The aluminum cylinder heads are the primary contributing factor in why the Duramax 6600 has become so successful and has developed an excellent reliability record. The Duramax has had far fewer head gasket problems than the Ford 6.0L Powerstroke and is on par with the Dodge Cummins. The LB7 (2001-2004 models) have experienced a few problems with head gaskets or injector cup seal leaks in recent years. Symptoms can include either a slow loss of coolant or allow the cooling system to build excessive pressure. Overall, these sorts of problems are few and far between, but do appear more often in engines that are running performance enhancing products. The latest LLY, LBZ and LMM engines are much less affected.