Best older Dodge pickup for daily use?

tml1138 said

Northeast Ohio cold. "Normal" winters it doesn't go below zero, but it does happen. Last year was particularly colder and from the summer we had I expect about the same.

I have a friend who drives a Ford E450 Ambulance (for football tailgating) and he has to keep an engine block heater on it the night before come December cold nights. Now is that apples to apples with Cummins diesel? I don't know I'm even drawing a blank on what motor his Ford even has, just know it's a diesel. And I've heard this from others I know with diesels, but again typically Fords.

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I had 2 fords so depending on the year that may be normal or not normal for his ford. pre-2003 that is abnormal. 2003-2012 normal. The 6.0 was the biggest POS ever made. The 7.3 is an International T444 engine. They are cold weather friendly. Cummins to Ford, NO not apples to apples at all. Here's why....

Ford, V8, smaller pistons, oil fired injectors, less fuel capability. So what this means is that when it gets cold, the oil gets cold and doesn't move as well to fire the injectors. Also, you need fuel to get them lit, especially in the cold.

Cummins, Straight 6, same cubes, Bigger pistons, common rail, high pressure fuel, way more fuel delivery capability. Oil functions the same as a gas engine, just for lubrication.

Plugging in is nice for gas or diesel as it's better for the engine and you get heat in the vehicle quicker.