Record number of Americans behind on auto loans

**AndyLate** · 06-05-19, 11:17

Ironically, my 1999 K2500 with a 7.4 L V8 gets around 12 MPG pulling a loaded double axle enclosed cargo trailer down the highway (but maybe 13 MPG empty) and doesn't shift down 2 or 3 times to climb a hill.

It has been replaced by a 2018 K1500 with a 5.3 L V8 because it gets 20 MPG city/hwy and up to 26 MPG on the highway plus I just didn't need a 3/4 truck.

I will probably make my payments though...

Andy

**Coal Dragger** · 06-05-19, 11:20

The emission control gear on newer Diesel engines will absolutely shorten the service life. Not necessarily the service life of the engine, but of the truck. Expensive repairs to keep the vehicle as a whole on the road will accelerate the scrapping/retirement of the vehicle.

**pinzgauer** · 06-05-19, 13:03

Originally Posted by Coal Dragger

The emission control gear on newer Diesel engines will absolutely shorten the service life. Not necessarily the service life of the engine, but of the truck. Expensive repairs to keep the vehicle as a whole on the road will accelerate the scrapping/retirement of the vehicle.

I've owned 8 diesels over a couple of decades. Still have/use 3. Of them, one had EGR stuff that was badly done and clearly shortened the service life. (2005 Jeep Liberty. Core engine/drivetrain was good. But EPA implementation was very bad)

I've specifically dodged particulate filters and diesel fluid, but what diesel mechanics tell me that if you don't hold off/bypass the purge cycles, they are not mtc issues. (this most recently on tractors, yes, they have to have them as well if over 25hp).

It's like a catalytic converter... early on was stupid expensive to replace. Over time, has become less of an issue, cheaper. I suspect DPF's will never be as cheap as cat's, but I've not known anyone who had to replace one. Maybe it happens, but I don't hear epidemics.

I still don't want them, but they don't shorten the life of the engine.

Core points on the stupidly high diesel truck prices ($60-70k) I see at dealers now are valid. They may be a fading breed.

Meanwhile, in the rest of the world, small diesels are the norm. I've driven some in Europe that I would not have guessed were diesel unless I knew what to look for. But drove like gassers.

**AKDoug** · 06-05-19, 13:43

Originally Posted by Coal Dragger

The emission control gear on newer Diesel engines will absolutely shorten the service life. Not necessarily the service life of the engine, but of the truck. Expensive repairs to keep the vehicle as a whole on the road will accelerate the scrapping/retirement of the vehicle.

Absolutely. Owners of fleets bigger than mine have far bigger headaches with that type of maintenance than I do. For some reason, fleets up here are still buying diesels. One outfit doing work near me bought 85 new Ford diesels. I have an advantage of being a small operator and nobody checks emissions up here, so DPF deletes are pretty common even among small commercial operators.

**Coal Dragger** · 06-05-19, 14:21

Modern engines of gas or diesel type that are well made seem to last roughly forever if they’re well made. I think there are now 2 Toyota Tundras used for oil field hot shot delivery that have logged 1 million miles on the original engines. More often than not the parts that fail on a vehicle causing retirement/scrapping are not engines. A gasoline or Diesel engine that sees regular oil changes, filter changes, and other periodic maintenance and isn’t abused is going to run way past the vehicle it’s powering. The damn things just don’t wear down internally like they used to, between metallurgy improvements, lubricant improvements, and computer aided design along with more rigorous manufacture testing it’s super rare to hear about a catastrophic failure in any internal combustion engine.

**Slater** · 06-05-19, 17:42

Looks like electric is the way of the future but it'll be some time before that technology replaces all internal combustion engines.

**MegademiC** · 06-05-19, 20:57

Lol. I buy “cheap” vehicles cash (entry-level luxuty cars with relatively high milage). Id rather spend money on stuff I enjoy.
Im a millenial, but its probably millenials.