This question may have been previously answered but I'll ask again anyway. What would the semi annual or annual cost to service a cat or cummins diesel engine? A service where all fluids and filters were changed.
I do most vehicle maintenance myself but once on the road I'm just curious if I decide to have the maintenance performed what kind of cost I could expect.
I'm doing my homework and researching between a 5er and diesel motorhome before I buy.
Thanks in advance for the feedback!
Ken
Bill and Linda said
11:53 AM Sep 13, 2010
Ken: My comments are based on your question and research comparing maintenance costs of a 5’er with a diesel pickup tow vehicle as compared to a diesel motorhome.So please take them with that single perspective only.
My research, and experience, tells me that the cost of maintenance on a diesel pickup (Chevy, Ford, whatever) will be far less than a big Cat 350 / 400 in a MH.I think we’re talking about both routine maintenance and “failure” repairs.
I am not saying big MH diesels are bad.I love ‘em, so no need for someone to defend big diesel pushers.But if you’re JUST talking a comparison of square feet of living space (5’er vs MH) compared to the cost of maintenance, etc., between a diesel pickup and a big “Cat,” IMO the numbers are not as favorable toward the “big Cat” as they are toward the diesel pickup.
My 2 cents
Safe travels
Bill
Roz said
12:00 PM Sep 13, 2010
Ken,
It is not necessary to change all fluids on a yearly basis. It mainly depends on the mileage you drive and possibly how much dust may have entered your crankcase/air filter.
Transmission changes are many miles apapt. Oil changes depend upon the type of lubricant, i.e. synthetic or natural.
I am confident some who travel more miles than we do may have precise comparisons to share. There are so many advantages with a DP, just the maintenance has not been a factor for us.
Luvglass said
08:49 PM Sep 13, 2010
I find it somewhat amusing that there are many fulltimers with diesel trucks that post actual maintenance costs yearly, but I don't recall ever seeing that type of info from anyone with a big diesel pusher.
Just sayin
-- Edited by Luvglass on Monday 13th of September 2010 08:50:50 PM
Old Snipe said
10:56 AM Sep 14, 2010
While I'm not a fulltimer yet, I have a diesel pusher motorhome. I have owned it for 3 years and driven it over 30,000 miles.
Previously, I had a gas powered MH and drove it about 44,000 miles.
In my blog, I compare the costs I had with each unit.
I hope this gives you some idea. I have a 350 C-7 Cat engine in the DP, had an 8.1 litre V-8 in the gas MH.
Best Regards!
heyduke said
06:12 AM Sep 15, 2010
good link to your site and a good read thanks for the useful info...
jb said
11:48 AM Sep 15, 2010
Good information thanks
Luvglass said
03:48 PM Sep 15, 2010
Paul,
It's evident that you have kept detailed records of both vehicles.
It would be interesting to see the total cost of maintenance on each vehicle, which then could be divided by the miles driven to determine the maintenance cost per mile driven.
Trabuco said
11:13 PM Sep 16, 2010
Paul - thanks for the info
Old Snipe said
08:30 AM Sep 17, 2010
Oh man, Fred. You're expecting me to do Math??? Now where's my calculator? ;c)
I'll have to do that when I get a little down time. I will have to estimate a bit on the gas MH because I gave all my records to the guy that I sold it to.
One thing that puzzles me is on my DP I have to change the fluid (Synthetic) in my differential every year, where on the Gas MH, the differential had a 100,000 mile fluid change interval and it too was synthetic. The manufacturer of the DP differential (Meritor) explains that MHs don't get driven much and get moisture in them from condenstation, where the Gas chassis differential goes so long, you'd think it would suffer from the same issue.
As you can see from my mileage, my MH doesn't sit too much. And I'm not even fulltiming yet.
Best Regards!
Luvglass said
05:36 PM Sep 17, 2010
Oh Paul,
We don't want you to do any math, just tell us the total maintenance cost for the DP. We'll do the division with the miles driven.
The original question I believe was maintenance cost between a DP and a fiver.
I do most vehicle maintenance myself but once on the road I'm just curious if I decide to have the maintenance performed what kind of cost I could expect.
I'm doing my homework and researching between a 5er and diesel motorhome before I buy.
Thanks in advance for the feedback!
Ken
Ken: My comments are based on your question and research comparing maintenance costs of a 5’er with a diesel pickup tow vehicle as compared to a diesel motorhome. So please take them with that single perspective only.
My research, and experience, tells me that the cost of maintenance on a diesel pickup (Chevy, Ford, whatever) will be far less than a big Cat 350 / 400 in a MH. I think we’re talking about both routine maintenance and “failure” repairs.
I am not saying big MH diesels are bad. I love ‘em, so no need for someone to defend big diesel pushers. But if you’re JUST talking a comparison of square feet of living space (5’er vs MH) compared to the cost of maintenance, etc., between a diesel pickup and a big “Cat,” IMO the numbers are not as favorable toward the “big Cat” as they are toward the diesel pickup.
My 2 cents
Safe travels
Bill
It is not necessary to change all fluids on a yearly basis. It mainly depends on the mileage you drive and possibly how much dust may have entered your crankcase/air filter.
Transmission changes are many miles apapt. Oil changes depend upon the type of lubricant, i.e. synthetic or natural.
I am confident some who travel more miles than we do may have precise comparisons to share. There are so many advantages with a DP, just the maintenance has not been a factor for us.
Just sayin
-- Edited by Luvglass on Monday 13th of September 2010 08:50:50 PM
Previously, I had a gas powered MH and drove it about 44,000 miles.
In my blog, I compare the costs I had with each unit.
You can find that post here:
http://rsanityrvtravels.blogspot.com/2010/07/post-script-to-my-gas-vs-diesel-costs.html
I hope this gives you some idea. I have a 350 C-7 Cat engine in the DP, had an 8.1 litre V-8 in the gas MH.
Best Regards!