What is the Most Reliable Diesel Truck?

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If you’re looking for a reliable truck, a diesel may be your best option. Diesel trucks have something for every driver: excellent fuel economy for daily driving, they last forever, plus they can tow or haul almost anything.

When well-maintained, diesel trucks can last years. Aftermarket diesel truck parts can also enhance your rig’s capabilities and lifespan.

Brand-new diesel trucks come with a hefty price tag. Newer model trucks haven’t yet developed a reputation either.

Reliable trucks are so named because they have a solid reliability history. If you want a quality diesel truck, you’re best off looking at previous truck generations. You can look for reviews and see what their owners have to say.

Doing your research can be time-consuming, so ProSource Diesel has its own list of pros and cons between pickup models.

All of these models fall into one of the three major diesel truck manufacturers: Ford (Powerstroke), General Motors (Duramax), and Dodge (Cummins). All three makers have truck models that have stood the test of time.

Ford 1999 – 2003 Super Duty With 7.3-Liter Powerstroke

Even decades after its release, the Ford 7.3L Powerstroke is considered one of the best-ever diesel engines. Thanks to its 500 pound-feet torque and 235 horsepower, the 7.3L engine has plenty of power.

This engine is built to last, with an air-to-air intercooler, oil-based fueling, and durable internal hard parts. With proper maintenance, a 1999-2003 Super Duty can last well beyond 500,000 miles. A used 7.3L Powerstroke between 150,000 and 250,000 miles would be an excellent value.

Pros:

Extremely durable internal parts
Tons of aftermarket Powerstroke parts are widely available
No complicated emissions control systems

Cons:

Camshaft position sensor commonly fails
Oil pans prone to rusting
Under valve cover harnesses sometimes fail

Ford 2008 – 2010 F-250 And F-350 With 6.4-Liter Powerstroke

The 6.4L Powerstroke is probably best known for how easy it is to modify it. You can expand this truck’s capabilities with a few aftermarket diesel truck parts. Add a new intake and exhaust, or a tuner, and you can improve its 350 stock horsepower to 600 RWHP (rear wheel horsepower).

This truck’s standard engine also generated 650 pound-feet of torque, which makes it great for towing or hauling. The engine has had its fair share of issues, most evidently in the 2008 model year, but these issues were ironed out in the 2009 and 2010 model engines.

Pros:

Very easy to modify
Comes in a wide selection of trims
Quiet cabin thanks to the Quiet Steel firewall

Cons:

Emissions control problems
Head gasket failure
Oil dilution

Chevy 2001 – 2004 Silverado 2500 HD With LB7 Duramax

Diesel trucks made before stricter emissions standards have a reputation for being more reliable. The LB7 Duramax is one of those pre-emissions trucks, and it doesn’t have any EGR, DPF, or SCR emissions control systems.

For a heavy-duty pickup, this truck was also fairly lightweight, which gave it 22 MPG when it was not towing or hauling. It also included the option for a heavy-duty Allison transmission, which improves its towing capabilities.

Pros:

Gets high mileage at 200,000+
No complex emissions systems
Durable internal parts

Cons:

Low curb weight makes it less stable in towing
Premature injector failure
Prone to head gasket failure if tuned for most of its life

Chevy/GMC 2006 – 2007 2500 HD and 3500 HD With 6.6-liter LBZ Duramax

Both the 2500 and 3500 HD in this model year range featured a 6.6L Duramax V8 with Bosch common-rail injection.

Like other pre-emissions trucks, these engines aren’t compromised by the emissions systems added to later models. The trucks are solid, durable workhorse trucks that get up to 450 horsepower.

Pros:

Choice of Allison six-speed auto or ZF-6 six-speed manual for plenty of towing power
Quiet ride, thanks to its IFS suspension
As a pre-emissions diesel, it’s easy to modify with aftermarket Duramax parts

Cons:

No factory lift pump
High price tag for a used truck
Glow plug failure issues

Dodge 2003 – 2007 2500 With 5.9-Liter Cummins

This model-year range of Dodge Ram trucks and their engines are well-known for their reliability. This truck was born for towing and hauling.

It uses a 5.9L Cummins. Other than its troublesome automatic transmission, this strong, durable Ram will serve you well.

Pros:

Gets high miles at 200,000+
Gets 20-22 mpg empty with stock ride height and wheels/tires
No complex emissions systems

Cons:

Flimsy automatic transmission, doesn’t hold up to power tweaks
Death wobble issues
Bosch common-rail system parts aren’t cheap

Dodge 1991 ½ – 1993 With 5.9-Liter 12-Valve Cummins

This older model of the 5.9L Cummins was virtually indestructible. Their durability has allowed them to stick around the past few decades, and they’re still a popular truck among diesel enthusiasts. These trucks take well to aftermarket mods, making it easy to increase their power and performance.

Pros:

Cool vintage look
Has a “bulletproof” engine that stands the test of time
Aftermarket Cummins parts upgrades can push it over 300 horsepower

Cons:

Surprisingly high price tag for 4×4 models
Can be hard to find clean ones
Won’t have modern creature comforts

Verdict

Some of the most reliable diesel trucks were designed and built before emissions control systems became mandatory. In our opinion, if you want a reliable, high-mileage diesel, the diesel parts in pre-emissions engines are the best.

Whatever truck you choose, ProSource Diesel offers a huge selection of aftermarket diesel parts for old or new Ford, Chevy, or Ram trucks. ProSource is where repair shops shop for reliable and hard-to-find diesel truck parts and kits.

Shop Now:

Powerstroke parts
Duramax parts
Cummins parts

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