Diesel Okay for short trip of 10 miles?

[adehaan86]

I would love to buy a powerstroke to pull camper. The thing is I can't be gone everyday camping somedays I will have to work . I was wondering if it is hard on a diesel to start and only run to get to work which is about 10 miles away?

[IC2]

There are an awful lot of folks that have a diesel powered pickup as their daily driver (or toy). While it is better to run them a while, ten miles should be about a complete warm up cycle for that engine

[W4RLR]

It would just warm the engine up. Not bad in and of itself, but in that case I would take the truck on the freeway and blow the snot out of it a couple of times a month. Variable vane turbos get stuck and rusty otherwise.

[Dirtbuster]

I had one for an everyday ride. No problems with mine. Diesel prices are higher, but the fuel mileage is usually better. All in all, it's a wash!

[Monacoach]

I would love to drive my diesel 10 miles every day. Your lucky. My diesel is stuck in the back of our motorhome for the winter.

[adehaan86]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monacoach I would love to drive my diesel 10 miles every day. Your lucky. My diesel is stuck in the back of our motorhome for the winter.

Cause of snow?

[Monacoach]

Quote:

Cause of snow?

No not snow, the diesel is in the motorhome but I wish I could separate it from the coach and drive it to work. Huge advantage for you truck/ fifth wheel owners.

[Half Dimes]

If you buy a later model with a DPF (diesel particulate filter), after awhile the truck will nag you to 'drive to clean exhaust filter'. It's no big deal, but it means you have to drive for about 20-30 minutes, preferably at highway speeds, to allow the filter to clean itself. If the cleaning doesn't happen for a protracted period, the truck goes into limp mode until the cleaning takes place.

[adehaan86]

Thanks for reply as much as I want a diesel it has to wait for now.

[Revodoc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirtbuster I had one for an everyday ride. No problems with mine. Diesel prices are higher, but the fuel mileage is usually better. All in all, it's a wash!

Not so much a wash when you consider it is not uncommon for these diesel engines to get 300-400,000 miles on them without much trouble. You don't find that very often on a gas engine

My 7.3 has a 167k and runs like a champ!

[Bbasso]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revodoc Not so much a wash when you consider it is not uncommon for these diesel engines to get 300-400,000 miles on them without much trouble. You don't find that very often on a gas engine My 7.3 has a 167k and runs like a champ!

Agreed!
Mine is at 783,0XX and still going strong and does not mind my 7000lb TT

[redneck1957]

Quote:

Originally Posted by adehaan86 I would love to buy a powerstroke to pull camper. The thing is I can't be gone everyday camping somedays I will have to work . I was wondering if it is hard on a diesel to start and only run to get to work which is about 10 miles away?

I have 97 f350 7.3 power stroke with 90,000 miles.I drive it less than 6 miles to work 5 days a week,we do take it for a long drive on weekend to blow it out.We have a Jayco Jay Flight 29ft fifth wheel and you can't tell its behind you! We love ours! Chris

[Ray,IN]

One solution to a short drive is to use a "winter front" on a diesel, in winter only of course, and certainly not when towing/hauling.. It causes the engine to reach normal operating temperature quicker and maintain it.. Summer driving is not an issue for warm-up normally. I drove a 96 Dodge CTD to work daily for 10 years. The only thing to watch is keeping the fuel clean and filters changed, otherwise there was no concerns.
The new DPF is another issue, since my diesels do not have one I cannot comment.

[lynn boyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redneck1957 I have 97 f350 7.3 power stroke with 90,000 miles.I drive it less than 6 miles to work 5 days a week,we do take it for a long drive on weekend to blow it out.We have a Jayco Jay Flight 29ft fifth wheel and you can't tell its behind you! We love ours! Chris

from what ive read the newer "Variable vane turbos" need to be ran hard once in a while to keep americas crappy diesel fuel from gumming them up.
i use my 7.3 as a daily driver 5 miles to work in the winter only when its snowing or too cold to ride my motorcycle. ive have a 99.5 with 80k and no troubles. I do use the block heater when I know ill be driving it. great engine, but im on my second tranny.