Diesel ok for daily driving

[Flymutt]

There is another post in this section that asks about gas vs diesel trucks as it relates to power, gas mileage, etc. My question is about using a diesel truck for daily use (not while hauling the RV). I've been told that starting a diesel truck just to drive it a few miles "down the road" to the grocery store, etc. is not a good thing. True or false?
I have a 2005 GMC D/A and love it but am hesitant to drive it on a daily basis around home. We travel (RV) 5 months out of the year.

[bncinwv]

I could understand the statement with regards to some of the newer trucks with the fancy-dancy pollution control that requires trips at highway speeds to function. If DW happens to have the Suburban, I have no choice but to use our diesel for my daily trips and have never hesitated to do so and have never had any problems. It is one of the pre-pollution control junk models, which your's should be as well. What if the diesel was all you had???
Bingo

[K0LCB]

I drive my Dodge pretty regular. I try to take it out and clear the catalytic converters at least once a month

[Tom S.]

That holds true for any kind of engine, diesel or gas. Any time you don't get the engine up to proper operating temps, you create problems, like moisture in the exhaust and inside the engine from condensation. Bringing the engine up to temp burns off this condensation. Ask a muffler shop - they can tell you which vehicles only get driven for short trips because the exhaust pipes rust from the inside out. Another issue is the charging system. Batteries, especially in diesels and especially in the winter won't get fully recharged from starting the vehicle with short trips.

If you don't want to drive it at home (though I don't know why you wouldn't), at least drive it periodically to keep things lubricated and moving.

[Bill-N-Donna]

I would not hesitate to use it.
The only reason I don’t use it more often
is due to the diesel price and the convenience
of having a small car available for quick jaunts.

[TLightning]

As long as you get it up to operating temperature it's fine for anything.

[BB_TX]

As long as you take it on the highway occasionally I would not worry about it. Especially since it is before DEF and SCR that the newer trucks have.

[dieselguy]

Everything I own (except my boat) is diesel. My daily driver is a diesel VW Jetta that gets such good fuel milage, I need to stop every so often to drain some diesel out to be sure the gauge is working. Every so often you just need to "drive it like you stole it" to keep the soot down.

[Art-n-Marge]

So how does one learn how to "drive it like you stole it"? dieselguy, is there something we should know about?

[DonandBonnie]

Our Ford F350 diesel is the only vehicle we own. It gets used for everything that we need a vehicle for. We've noticed nothing detrimental from the way we use it.

[Rondo]

I drive my 3500 HD Chevy daily and once in a while I'll take it out on the road and open it up just to make sure I'm not storing any soot or carbon in the pipes. I did the same with my 2500 before trading it in for the 3500. The 2500 had 100,000 on it and was like new when traded in so there is not problem using it as a daily vehicle. Heck, what do you think these full timers do? Nearly all of them only have the TV for the Monte to drive daily so it can't hurt anything!

[WeBeFulltime]

My Ram has been a daily driver for almost 7 years now and have had no problems at all. I also drive mine like I stole it. I recently added a "towing tune" to it using a Superchips programmer. Just like getting a new truck!

[MIMF]

I have been doing it for 9 years and never had any issues. I just traded my 2005 Silverado 3500 with 131500 miles on her. Somebody is gonna' get a nice truck!

[HOOK]

I drive mine daily. Owned tow trucks that rarely left city limits or exceeded 45 mph. Could usually get 500,000 miles life easy. They were serviced well and regularly. Mostly GMs some Fords.

[Denfinger]

Daily driver of 2012 Ford F250 6.7 diesel with not issues for any trip large or small. DEF is no big deal and truck runs great.

[CORattler]

No need to "drive it like you stole it" or take it on the highway and go fast. Heating up the engine by using a lower gear to bring the engine to a temp hot enough for the engine to be at normal operating temperatures is all that is needed to remove condensation. For the newer trucks with DPF, sufficient heat can be generated in the same way to initiate a regeneration cycle.
If it makes you feel better to take the truck out on the highway and "blow 'er out"... go ahead, it's just not necessary.

[mlh]

Your truck will be fine with around town driving. The after 2007 trucks with the DPF needs to be driven at highway speeds for about 20 minutes when they go into regen so the DPF can clean itself.
Lynwood

[Mynabird]

Full-time for 5 years now. Only have the Dodge dually to drive for groceries, dr appointments, shopping, etc.

Just last week the computer told hubby you have 80% ....... On engine to renew. He called 2 trusted Dodge dealers and asked them about this notice. They said... "Take it out and drive it like you stole it"!

So, since we are in Arizona, near I-10, we went out and drove the speed limit..75, for 15 miles. The computer spoke and said regen complete. Bob drove it another several miles, just to be sure and then turned around to go back home! MISSION COMPLETED!!!

PS...we are fortunate (?) to have a disability placard, "parking a dually" has it's perks (?) because those spots are usually wider. It is also a long bed!

[1retired06]

Our truck is a daily vehicle for our five months in Florida and never had an issue with it.

[steelpony5555]

Mine too is my daily driver. This is my 3 diesel and it is the first time I have had a problem. But I bought it from a guy in Austin Tx. Anybody that knows Austin knows it is just one giant parking lot. That is probably why this truck had a clogged NOS cat. Where I live is a smaller town where anywhere I go is a drive on the interstates at 75 mph usually 2-3 times a week. Do not be afraid to "cowboy" these trucks, you won't hurt them. Other things to do is always keep your exhaust brake on, even to the grocery store. Also keep your RPM's up by shifting the tranny to keep in in 3 or 4th gear in towns and keep it in 5th unless you are doing 65 + mph. Dodges like it at 1800-2000 rpm's. Also keeping it in Tow Haul will help. But never let is sit and just idle, for warm up's get Dodge to activate the idle bump up using the cruise control. Your only other remedy is to delete the truck. Even my Dodge dealer mechanic told me it is the best thing to make these trucks run longer and better. But Dodge has to please the EPA and government. He will tell you none of that stuff is good for the truck and will work with you. But in most cases other dealers will cancel any warranties.