As of now I am seriously considering going the diesel route for a new/used truck.  I'm seriously interested in a new diesel F-250, but since it's considered a "heavy duty" truck the manufacturer doesn't have to give the mileage, and the dealerships don't seem like they like to tell you.

What kind of mileage could I expect from a diesel F-250?  How about from an older F-250?  Better or worse than gasoline?  Any difference between Ford/Chevy as far as mileage?  

Any input is greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

97 3/4ton  Chevy...diesel.  
Mileage was about 15 city and 21hwy.  

ETA: M38A1 poster this in "diesel 4x4"
"My 2000 F250 Powerstroke 4x4 has not yet let me down. Just clicked 102k miles and still have the same clutch and brakes. The only work I've had to do was replace the cup holder and shift knob 'cause it was spinning on the shaft.

Standard transmission gets me a consistent 17.5mpg in the city and up around 21.5 on the hwy running 65mpg. Drops from there but set it on cruise and I can run 600 miles on the interstate without stopping.

Has carried and pulled everything under the sun and just keeps on going... Would recommend white in color for staying cool inside."

Gasoline would produce lower numbers.  Hope this answers your question.

My 2001 F350 4X4 Extended Cab  long bed 7.3 Powerstroke usually averaged 16 mpg in mixed highway and around town driving.  Best mileage I ever got was on a trip down I95 to Florida - with the cruise control set for between 70 and 75 most of the way I got an honest 20 mpg.  This was with the auto tranny.

Current truck is a 2004 F250  4X4 King Ranch crew cab shortbed 6.0 Powerstroke.  This truck averages between 16 and 17 in mixed highway and around town driving.  This truck has the Torqueshift 5 speed auto tranny.  Haven't taken it on a trip to Florida yet - so no report on mileage on a long trip.

Both of these trucks had 3.73 limited slip differentials.

If you go for the 6 speed and no 4WD I understand that the trucks are routinely getting better than 20 mpg.  

My 95 6.5 auto Chevy gets 16+ on mixed driving, and will easily get 18+ on the hiway, hell I can even average 12 mpg plowing snow all winter. It is not stock, has some pump work, 97+ hi flow cooling mods, 3" exhaust and a homemade cold air intake.

My 02 Cummins powered dodge with a 6 speed will get 14-15 in mixed city driving, and 17-20 on the hiway. Best mpg was 22, running from Laramie to Denver and back. Truck is not stock, has several HP adders, exhaust, intake, more then likely in the 400-450 rwhp range.

Both trucks are 4x4.

I have customers reporting 18+ average with a hi flow intake, exhaust, and  advanced injection timing. This is true for all three brands of trucks.

I have an 05 F250 with the Torqueshift tranny with the 3.73 rear.

I'm getting around 16mpg city and about 19-20 hwy mpg.

The stick shift will yield probably 10% better mileage

I absolutly LOVE this truck.  I traded in my 04 Dodge with the Come-apart ( Cummins ) on it

FORD DIESELS GET THE WORST MILEAGE. I had a 2001 dodge 4x4 auto diesel reg cab and it got 19.8-22.4mpg. My friend has a brand new ford reg cab 4x4 auto and it gets only 14-17 mpg. every truck magazines also claim the fords get crap for mileage. The Chevys diesels get around 18-21. if my dodge would of had the 5 speed automatic like the chevy it would have gotten even better. all of my mpg figures are for reg cab 4x4's. I would go with the chevy or dodge. my dodge went 121,000 miles without a problem. then a sensor went bad. Not a big deal. The fords are good trucks then just get crap for mileage. Try looking through the new diesel truck magazines. I can't remember the name. Diesel truck trends?

Even better ask a diesel shop which engine is best. The cummins is so easy to work on. the valve cover lifts right off for the valve adjustment. the ford valve job is a pain in the ass.
the dodge has most torque even with it being a 6 cyl.

Quoted: the dodge has most torque even with it being a 6 cyl.

Just to butt in a little, but in-line sixes are very torqey motors. Any in-line motor is torquey. V8 designs are known for better horsepower, while yielding less torque.

This is just kind of a general statement as different motors can produce different types of power. Just a thought though, most tractors use in-line diesels.

WIZZO

Quoted: the dodge has most torque even with it being a 6 cyl.

Although that may be true ( you have to measure it at the WHEELS, not the crank), EVERY test I have read has the FORD and Dodge about even in a drag race with 10,000 lb load.  

DODGE is the best if you want to run WVO or Biodiesel.  The older ones with the mechanical fuel pumps, pre 98 are great.

Like I said in a previos post, I traded in my 04 Cummins for the F250, and haven't had and buyers remorse in the slightest.

But the dodge gets better mileage and thats what the guy asked. Do a search and read some truck magazines and you will hear all about the crappy mpg the fords get. Don't forget the coolant problem that was leaking into the engines and stopping them. The cummins is the most trusted engine. Its been around way longer. The problem is most people don't even know how to check the mpg the right way. People just guess and say oh yeah my ford gets 30 mpg.

You can't really go wrong with the chevy,ford or dodge. test drive them all and ask owners what kind of mileage they get. Before I bought a dodge I asked everyone I saw and they said you will get an average of 20. I went 90mph for 50 miles and drove through a couple of towns and still got 18.

I can't speak for Ford, but my 2001 Ram 3500 with Cummins HO and 6-speed gets 17.2 - 18.2 mpg reliably, and that's with 8,000 lbs empty and 6 tires on the ground.  I get about 13 mpg when loaded to the 20,000 lb. max GCWR and 10 tires on the ground.

Based on family members' experiences with Ford diesels, I will never trust anything in a pickup except a Cummins.

Best tank average I ever got was 22.5mpg. Generally I get 19-20mpg hwy and 15-16mpg around town.

2003 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4R100 automatic

Ford F250 4WD auto 7.3 diesel gets 19 mpg combined, over 20 on highway.  I don't drive 55.

Pulling 3000 lb trailer with 1500 lbs in bed at 70 mph I got 18 highway.

I'm happy.

2002 Dodge CTD. 19-21 Hwy. 15-17 city. I am happy

My 1991 Chevy with NA 6.2 gets an average of about 16mpg
My 1985 chevy with a transplanted ATS turbocharged 6.5 gets about 17.5mpg if you can keep your foot out of it and drive it gently.  Start mashing on the throttle and it will fall down to 16mpg.  
Both pickups have 4:10 gearing and 4WD.  The 6.2 is mated to a SM465 transmission.  The 6.5 turbo is mated to a turbo400.  
With no overdrive in either and 4:10's in the back, this is about as good as I can do.

Our 2003 Dodge 2500 Cummins with 6speed manual will do about 18mpg it too has 4:10's in back.

For comparsion, my 1999 vortec 5.7 gasser pickup will do between 10mpg and 13mpg depending on driving habits.

My 2000 F250 4x4 Powerstroke has never even sniffed 20mpg, even when it was bone stock.  The best I ever got was ~15mpg on the highway after an oil change.  I have a lift and large tires on it now and it gets 12mpg.

I have read and heard all these stories about the great mileage but I've never seen it.  (I was pissed about it when I first bought my truck.  And I tried everything to help it.)

I have an '03 Ford Excursion with the 7.3  Could've had the 6.0 that year but liked the 7.3 because it was already proven and ironed out.  It is heavier than the pickup and gets 14.7 mixed use.  
I even used it to pull my Chevy 3/4 ton work truck out when it high centered on a bunny rabbit (ok it was a dirt hump).
We love this vehicle

Quoted: My NA 6.2 gets about 15 MPG on the highway if I keep it down around 53 MPH.  It's a 1985 M1010 CUCV military 4X4 ambulance with 4.56:1 gears, TH400 and about as aerodynamic as a barn.  I'm pleased with my MPG but have a Gear Vendors Overdrive Unit that I hope to have installed by the first of the year which can only help.

That's Kick Ass!   I always wanted one of those, maybe you could post a pic of yours to feed my desire!

Well, everyone can say what they want about the Fords, but there seems to be an awfull lot of them running around here

I've got an 02 F250, bone stock engine and running gear, automatic, lifted with 35's on it.
Town an honest 14 or so depending on driving habits,  Freeway, well that runs anywhere from 16.5 to my absolute best of 18.62.  Not the numbers everyone is posting, but I've got quite a few hills to pull and such.

My "other" job....well, lets see here.  The boss and crew (me and friend) on the 4th pair of powerstrokes now since high school.  The current rides are 96 and 97 powerstrokes, crew cab long boxes.  One with 125000 and the other with 187000.  Both on original clutches and nothing done except exhaust brakes and routine maint.  Goin strong.

My father has an 05 with the 6.0  at 1200 miles the oil pump went out and thats where the fun began.....needless to say, the dealership brought in another truck for him (just to shut him up)

My mother has a Dodge rattle trap cummins with 140,000 miles on it.  Never touched the engine except for routine maintenance, 2 trannies now and its on its second rear end.  I dont think I've ever ridden in a stiffer riding rig than that beast.  If you weren't strapped in and hit a cigarette butt you'd bounce your head off the top of the cab.  I would have purchased a Dodge because of the engine but didnt have faith in the rest of the truck.

Quoted: My mother has a Dodge rattle trap cummins with 140,000 miles on it.  Never touched the engine except for routine maintenance, 2 trannies now and its on its second rear end.

Off topic, but what tranny and rear end did it have in it?

I'm getting a 360 powered 3500 with a 5spd and a Dana 80 rear end.

Thanks,

WIZZO

2 transmissions in 140k, must be a Dodge  auto transmission, which were car transmissions with beefed up parts.  

What does "come apart Cummins" refer to ?  

Auto transmission behind a truck with a towing package never made sense to me.

No matter what you go with, you may or may not encounter problems.  Buy what you want and are happy with.  Its a light duty work truck, its not going to be perfect every day, and won't run like a Singer sewing machine.

VW Diesel 2000 beetle 48 hwy
VW jetta 2005 wagon 41 hwy

Quoted: 2 transmissions in 140k, must be a Dodge  auto transmission, which were car transmissions with beefed up parts.

That's what I'm thinking.

WIZZO

Quoted: Quoted: My mother has a Dodge rattle trap cummins with 140,000 miles on it.  Never touched the engine except for routine maintenance, 2 trannies now and its on its second rear end. Off topic, but what tranny and rear end did it have in it? I'm getting a 360 powered 3500 with a 5spd and a Dana 80 rear end. Thanks, WIZZO

It is a Dana 80 but has that POS automatic tranny.  Too much pulling I guess.......though none of our FORDS seem to have had that problem.

Quoted: Quoted: 2 transmissions in 140k, must be a Dodge  auto transmission, which were car transmissions with beefed up parts.   That's what I'm thinking. WIZZO

Nail

Head

Dodge automatics suck donkey dongs, based on my very expensive experiences.  Now the 6-speed NV5400, on the other hand, is awesome!  

ETA:  I'm the king of page 2.  

2005 Dodge CTD / 6 Speed       17-18 in town   19-20 hwy  

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