Author Topic: Cummins vs Powerstroke (Read 4501 times)

john keyes · « **on:** April 10, 2010, 06:56:51 PM »

which do you think is the better diesel motor...

mauser98us · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2010, 07:25:05 PM »

Don't think the 6.0 and 6.4 Powerstrokes have much of a fan club. Lotsa problems. I have the older 7.3 and it's been a dandy. This motor has over 300k miles and keeps on running.That being said, the Cummins is probably the better motor.

rdmallory · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2010, 02:21:29 PM »

Older 7.3 best Diesel out there.

Back when I was racing even the Chevy and Dodge guys had Ford diesels pulling their trailers. You see a lot more Dodge diesels now that Ford went down hill with the newer engines.
I have owned 3 and my current truck is a keeper (1999 Ford F250 SD).

Doug

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2010, 03:00:23 AM »

Cummins all the way.

BoshTank · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2010, 03:38:18 AM »

7.3 powerstroke 2003 and older ONLY

i work for ford and i see the new diesel trucks that have never been worked with tons of issues

i have also seen and will find the picture of a 2001 F-250 with 675,000 miles

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2010, 03:48:57 AM »

The fact that so many Cummins motors is in industrial and construction equipment speaks volumes.
At one time I drove a Dodge pickup and operated Case skid steer and backhoes during the week and all were powered by the Cummins 5.9

rdmallory · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2010, 04:28:15 PM »

The original "Ford" 7.3 in actually an 7.3L International/Navistar diesel engine. A truck engine from the start.

Cummins are also a good engine now but unlike the Fords they are getting better. The original Cummins truck engines in the Dodges were a little week on power.

I had a 89 Ford F250 with a banks on it. The only thing limiting the HP was the melting point of internal components.

Doug

mrbigtexan · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2010, 03:20:16 PM »

cummins is better on fuel mileage, both have plenty of power for pulling.

Rayzor · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2010, 08:00:12 PM »

Besides oil and filters one starter and a fuel lift pump and belt my 01 cummins has 344,000 miles on it. I pull horse trailers and a travel trailer at least twice a week. Been thinking about putting a new clutch in it as its still the factory unit. Have never had a ford diesel so I cant comment there

dieselman · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2010, 04:39:56 PM »

If the Powerjoke (any flavor) was all that and a bag of tricks then why does Ford offer (and sell) so dang many Cummin's engines in the bigger size trucks? Cause there Powerjoke cann't do it as good as the Cummins engine can. Wait one more why do so many over the road trucks have inline 6 cyl engines in them? Cause the v-8 cann't come close to the pullin power... by the way my vote is for the Cummins.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2010, 04:53:04 PM »

Being a Cummins fan I will say this
At the local pulls for stock diesels the dura max's always way out pull the Cummins with the Ford's just a bit behind the Cummins

mechanic · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2010, 06:15:03 PM »

I'll vote Cummins.

dieselman · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2010, 04:07:32 PM »

Hairtrigger,
If you think the trucks in the "stock" class are stock, your dead wrong... Workin on diesel p/u trucks for over 15 years and truck pullin (a few years back) for 2 years there ain't nothing stock about the stock pullin class.

saddlebum · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2010, 11:35:47 PM »

I will never buy another Ford after my experience with a new 2002 7.3 Powerstroke. I GOT POWERSTROKED !! At about 15,000 miles the check engine light came on and I took it in to get it fixed. They kept it for 2wks to," fix a broken plug on a censor", they said. I ran out of gas out side of town in the late model Taurus loaner they gave me cause the fuel gauge was broke. After I got it back, the truck ran like crap and blew black smoke and I had to rev it up and slip the clutch to get it to move in the 1st of the 6 manual gears. They insulted me and told me I didn't know how to drive a diesel eventhough the General Manager of the dealership killed the motor twice just trying to get it going from a dead stop in 1st gear. They wouldn't do anything about it at the dealer so I took it somewhere else. Come to find out from the computer history on the truck that Ford had rebuilt the left side of the motor complete with new head, and everything on the left side. I don't know if I have ever been so angry in my life. I called Ford customer service and they and the dealer just blew me off. Inside of 30,000mi the clutch pedal linkage came apart while I was driving and the pedal fell on the floor. Had to pull over and yank it out of gear and call a tow truck. After they "fixed it", it was so hard to push down on the clutch it was blowing my knee out, painful. The alternator went out, call a tow truck. The shifter knob came off in my hand. The way the shifter is set up just stinks, hard to shift. I just hated that truck and dreaded driving it. I put up with it for about 2yrs and traded it in on a new Dodge 2500 Quad Cab in 2004. I LOVE THE CUMMINS. I only have 89,000 on the Dodge so far and it has never given me a problem. That little inline 6cyl doesn't warm up as fast as a V8 in the winter, but I can live with that. It averages 21 mpg, empty at 70mph. Much better than the Ford at 17 mpg. More torque and more horse power than the 7.3. '04 was the first year for the common rail fuel injection which makes it much more quiet and smoother running.
After I got the Dodge a couple of friends at work razzed me hard for getting a Dodge. They both had 7.3s. I sold the spare cam position censor I had to one of them for 110.00 so the next time his went out he would have one. Unlike the 1st time his went out. The other guy called me after I got home from work one day and asked me if I still had the censor cause he was stranded in traffic cause his went out. I had to go rescue him buy pulling it out of the motor and going to International so he could buy a new one for 120.00. Then go back and install it for him. They haven't razzed me since about driving a Dodge. And both of them have had to replace the censors at least once since then.

People used to compliment me on how pretty the truck was. It was,"Island Blue", in color, "OOOOOO", PRETTY! I used to tell them, it looks REALLY pretty going down the road..........ON A TOW TRUCK!!!

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #14 on:** July 03, 2010, 05:18:42 AM »

Quote from: dieselman on July 02, 2010, 04:07:32 PM

Hairtrigger,
If you think the trucks in the "stock" class are stock, your dead wrong... Workin on diesel p/u trucks for over 15 years and truck pullin (a few years back) for 2 years there ain't nothing stock about the stock pullin class.

I am not saying they were bone stock, we have a local guy that does a ton of Cummins work plus now he makes his own torque convertors. He is into pulling as well as racing... his pickup regularly eats corvettes.
What I am saying across the board the chev's put the power to the ground better than the dodge or ford trucks and this has been like this for several years at our local fairgrounds

Drilling Man · « **Reply #15 on:** July 03, 2010, 04:44:54 PM »

Fords best "chance" to have a better diesel than the Cummins is, in their new "Ford built" diesel that just came out, BUT, we won't know if "it's" better or not for at least a few years on down the road... So far what i've heard from techs is, is that it's a plumbing nightmare!

DM

KP · « **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:04:11 PM »

Well, my '10 Cummins 6.7 diesel is nothing but problems. The check engine light has been on for 4 months now and in the shop 5 times. I'm going to give the dealer a chance to buy back this week or I will take them to court.

I've been doing some research for a reliable engine in a new 3/4 or 1 ton truck, looks like the Hemi 5.7 (all years) or the Ford 6.7 ('10 & '11) have the least amount of problems. Any experiences out there?

saddlebum · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2011, 10:24:27 PM »

I'm sorry to hear of your problems.
My '04 Cummins has not given me any problems at all in 6yrs. After it's first winter when I had a small problem with a battery temperature censor, I have had no problems. It only has 90,000 on it though.
Your troubles sound familiar to what I experienced with an '02 Powerstroke.
I guess it just goes to prove that getting a good vehicle is truely a crap shoot.
GOOD LUCK!!

I don't know if I could go back to a gas burner again. Especially with the price of fuel! I average 21mpg at 70mph, empty.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #18 on:** March 29, 2011, 01:50:24 AM »

I have owned the 7.3 , 5.9, duramax and 6.8 . The 7.3 was a 1997 engine. In a crew cab F250 it got 22 MPG on the road and pulled well. The 5.9 pulled well but only got 19 MPH in a 3/4 ton extended cab . The Duramax got 17-18 and pulled so so. in a crew cab 3/4 ton. The 6.8 pulled best in a crew cab 3/4 ton but never got better than 16 MPG on the road empty.
Inline 6 cyl will alway pull better ( most all big trucks are 6 cyl. ) . That said the Dodge V-10 would do better than all for a better acting road experince , no turbo lag , quiet , more than enough power etc. But it got 7 mpg :-

. As of late I have driven a himi in a 3/4 ton truck very quick and pulls trl's well and a 5.4 Ford engine which is not as fast but a good puller and we have sone well past 225000 miles . Both get around 15-16 mpg . When you consider the cost of both the diesel up grade and fuel cost buying a diesel in this day and time is a waste of cash. I drive on average over a 1000 miles per week . Last week was over 2000 . If I were to buy a new truck today and not need to tow trls over 10000 lbs I would get a F250 or 350 super duty with 5.4 engine . And yes we do pull thru. the mts.

KP · « **Reply #19 on:** March 29, 2011, 07:53:44 PM »

SHOOTALL

Great reply. That's about what I've been thinking. The older diesels really made a name for themselves, but today most are crap. My last diesel was an '06 F250 with a 6.0L that ran great, but I don't put many miles on a truck. It just didn't feel durable to me and many folks I knew were having big problems at the 150K to 200K mile mark. I traded for the "super reliable" Cummins. What a mistake.

I should have waited a few years and bought another Ford with the 6.7. I hear that is a pretty good engine. Tonight I'm sending a response by email to Dodge with my out of court settlement terms. If I'm forced to stay with a Dodge product, I will go with a Hemi. For now I think gas is the way to go for all the reasons you posted.

Thanks, KP

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #20 on:** March 30, 2011, 02:20:13 AM »

For what its worth we could be said to be on the edge of abuse or at least to the highest level of hard use. The Hemi does not seem to last as long as the Ford gas engine . tranneys in the Ford fair better . As for chevy the last two p/u trucks had to have trannys replaced at 100000 or less. I have a Dodge with under 40000 that is getting tranny rebuilt / replaced under warranty now. ( it has a lifeime warrt). I really don't have anything aginst any brand , we have two yotas in service ( they run good just don't carry the load and sheet metal is weaker where pipe racks are attached). Just pointing out what I see with our fleet. We do use syn oil and other fluids it is worth the cost. Point in case - the two chevy trucks are leased ( an experiment we won't repete) so they got reg oil not syn and it shows .

Drilling Man · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2011, 05:29:02 AM »

I'm always amazed how different the experiences of folks are concerning car's and pu's.

My mechanic is a Ford lover from way back, he can afford to drive any pu he wants. He started buying Fords with diesels as he pulls heavy loads. He had lots problems, even with the 7.3's everyone says was Fords best diesel option.

Finally he decided to try a Duromax, and now you couldn't give him a ford. He says it out pulls any Ford he has ever owned, gets better milage, rides better and has been trouble free.

I have a Dodge with a cummins, i love the cummins, the Dodge not so much. My neighbors on both sides of me drive Chevys, and won't buy anything else. 4 pu's between them, and they have very good luck with them.

A friend of mine a couple miles from here, has 6 to 8 pu's around all the time. He buys all diesels, and he bought Fords/Dodge/ and Chevy. He has millions of dollars in tub grinders, chippers, dozers and loaders and uses the pu's to pull and carry heavy loads. He can drive what ever he wants, and the Fords and Dodges have went away to be replaced with Chevys.

So, like i said, it always amazes me how different, things are across the country... Personally, i'm on my last Dodge even though i love the cummins, and won't have another problem Ford like the last two, so i'm going to add more Chevys to what i already have.

DM

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #22 on:** March 30, 2011, 09:56:38 AM »

Experince is the deal. I put 2 axles in the front end of my Chevy so I have a hard time prasing them. The ride is goods except when the bent axle is making truck vibrate .

scootrd · « **Reply #23 on:** March 30, 2011, 11:32:42 AM »

Quote from: rdmallory on April 12, 2010, 04:28:15 PM

I had a 89 Ford F250 with a banks on it. The only thing limiting the HP was the melting point of internal components.

Doug

Thanks Doug , Gave me my smile for the day ..Great post.

scootrd · « **Reply #24 on:** March 30, 2011, 12:24:18 PM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on March 29, 2011, 01:50:24 AM

If I were to buy a new truck today and not need to tow trls over 10000 lbs I would get a F250 or 350 super duty with 5.4 engine . And yes we do pull thru. the mts.

Good post. I tried to Justify a diesel in '04. Just couldn't do it, I tow semi frequently , but not regularly , mostly light to medium farm work (hay , gravel , and such) and the RV a few times a year for fishing and camping trips. I settled on the F250 Triton 6.8 L V10 Gasser. I love this motor. Towing, Torque, and payload capacity fit my needs perfectly, and never have had any issues. I will drive this truck till the body rusts out and my butt is bumping asphalt.

Best choice I ever made. Tonka Tuff !!!!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #25 on:** March 31, 2011, 02:50:16 AM »

I had the bug for a new duramax last year. Ive got a 06 chev 5.3 now and wanted a desiel, well, just because

My truck is paid for and when i saw the price of the new one was around 45 grand and the low ball offer on mine that only has 40000 miles on it and factoring in that mine gets as good of milage on cheaper fuel the whole shuffle just didnt make sense. My wife laughed and said it was the first time i left a dealership not driving a new vehicle. First time in my life i dont have a vehicle payment. The truck, car and jeep are all payed for and it just feels to good.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #26 on:** March 31, 2011, 04:06:25 AM »

Quote from: scootrd on March 30, 2011, 11:32:42 AM

Quote from: rdmallory on April 12, 2010, 04:28:15 PM
I had a 89 Ford F250 with a banks on it. The only thing limiting the HP was the melting point of internal components.

Doug

Thanks Doug , Gave me my smile for the day ..Great post.

and transmission

KP · « **Reply #27 on:** March 31, 2011, 07:47:25 AM »

All,

I'm not brand bashing, but my '10 Dodge Ram is back in the shop today. This is the 5th time for the same problem. Truck should be ready for pickup just about the same time they receive my certified complaint letter requesting out of court settlement.

If they take me up for a refund or an "off the lot exchange", I'll be driving the same truck but with a Hemi.

KP

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #28 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:59:03 AM »

My sons 2010 Ram with Hemi is in shop for second time trans trouble , hope they replace it this time.
To be honest all brands have problems , being around to fix them is the important thing ! Ford didn't take bail out money so they seem stronger .

scootrd · « **Reply #29 on:** March 31, 2011, 11:03:56 AM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on March 31, 2011, 02:50:16 AM

I had the bug for a new duramax last year. Ive got a 06 chev 5.3 now and wanted a desiel, well, just because My truck is paid for and when i saw the price of the new one was around 45 grand and the low ball offer on mine that only has 40000 miles on it and factoring in that mine gets as good of milage on cheaper fuel the whole shuffle just didnt make sense. My wife laughed and said it was the first time i left a dealership not driving a new vehicle. First time in my life i dont have a vehicle payment. The truck, car and jeep are all payed for and it just feels to good.

I agree , Sticker shock brings you back to reality real quick. Paid mine off as well, and as much as i would like a new truck "someday" - no vehicle payment feels better than drivinag any new truck ever could at the moment.