2012 F-350 - First Impressions

[timswi]

Jeff beat me to it. You can still buy a plane work truck for a lot less:thumbsup:

Not with a diesel...Pretty sure DPF is manditory on all of the new pickups..This could happen regardless of price..My guess anyway. Thank our wonderful government for another thing to worry about.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Not with a diesel...Pretty sure DPF is manditory on all of the new pickups..This could happen regardless of price..My guess anyway. Thank our wonderful government for another thing to worry about.

My friend got a 4 door Crew Cab 4x4 Dmax for $36,000

It can be done. You just dont get much but it will get the job done just the same. It was a year old model, 2009 and he bought it as the 2010's were coming in.

Chris

 

[Martian]

Not with a diesel...Pretty sure DPF is manditory on all of the new pickups..This could happen regardless of price..My guess anyway. Thank our wonderful government for another thing to worry about.

Using Chevy's online builder a truck with no options besides a diesel runs you about $35k. So quite a bit less than $50k but by no means cheap. That is a bare bones truck though, regular cab, 2x4, etc.

 

[jeffsw6]

Not with a diesel...Pretty sure DPF is manditory on all of the new pickups..This could happen regardless of price..My guess anyway. Thank our wonderful government for another thing to worry about.

He means the price isn't $50k. Yes, the Diesel Exhaust Fluid system is required no matter which trim you buy. DEF is even on big road trucks now. It has been a thing in Europe for years so it's not like mfrs didn't have opportunity to R&D it correctly.

Keep in mind when you punch options into the Ford / Chevy web sites, that is before you haggle with the salesman too.

 

[PoorMansCat]

He means the price isn't $50k. Yes, the Diesel Exhaust Fluid system is required no matter which trim you buy. DEF is even on big road trucks now. It has been a thing in Europe for years so it's not like mfrs didn't have opportunity to R&D it correctly.

DEF is NOT required on pickups... it is used by GM and FORD as a means to control emissions output. Ram(Cummins) does it without the use of DEF.
DEF is Diesel Exhaust Fluid, DPF is the Diesel Particulate Filter, DOC is the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst. NAC is Nox Absorber Catalyst.... There are MANY acronyms out there right now for diesel emissions.

 

[JESSE1]

The new trucks are expensive, no doubt about it. That's the reason I trade every four years, it's the only way I can afford a new one. It's hard to describe how good these new diesels run. My first diesel was a '82 GMC with a 6.2. Next came Fords with a 6.9, 7.3, 7.3 turbo, 7.3 Powerstrokes, 6.0 and a 6.4. So far I wouldn't trade my 6.7 for any of the others. It's quiet, with an extreme amount of power right from the factory. The addition of DEF is not a big deal. Regeneration of the DPF is a non-event with the 6.7 and so far it's getting about 4 mpg better than my 6.4. If I want to drive a loud, smoky diesel I can fire up my '59 White with a 220 Cummins and run through ten speeds.

 

[sparc]

You had better talk to the dealer about that. That limp mode is not really a limp mode, it is a government mandate to force you to keep your DEF system working and fluid filled. It will eventually limit you to like 5 MPH or something if you try to ignore it. It sounds like yours is malfunctioning :/

Yes, I will be talking to them tomorrow about the error that came up. Regardless of what options you get if you have a diesel then you will have to deal with DEF on a Ford.

I could have got a bare bones F-350 4x4 diesel for about $40k, but I chose to have more creature comforts than come in the basic model. That has nothing to do with the DEF system error. The DEF tank is full and there are only 575 milesmon the truck, so what could be wrong I don't know but I hope it's not going to be happening any more. My last truck has given me zero problems in over 100K miles, I expect this one to do the same but we're off to a bad start it would seem.

 

[timswi]

Yes, I will be talking to them tomorrow about the error that came up. Regardless of what options you get if you have a diesel then you will have to deal with DEF on a Ford.

I could have got a bare bones F-350 4x4 diesel for about $40k, but I chose to have more creature comforts than come in the basic model. That has nothing to do with the DEF system error. The DEF tank is full and there are only 575 milesmon the truck, so what could be wrong I don't know but I hope it's not going to be happening any more. My last truck has given me zero problems in over 100K miles, I expect this one to do the same but we're off to a bad start it would seem.

These things can happen..Don't sweat it...

 

[Diamondpilot]

One thing I have not like my 3 SuperDutys is the placement of the heated seat button. I did not have them on my 99 but my 04 and 06 and the button is on the side of the seat, down where the power seat movement buttons. There is a indicator light on it to tell you if its on but you can not see it. Stupid. Why not just put it on the dash near the heater controls or the indicator light there atleast.

That has been my only complaint with the trucks so I guess its small.

Chris

 

[dgl24087]

2012 Rams use DEF.

 

[Dmace]

2012 Rams use DEF.

Correction, 2012 RAM CHASSIS-CAB'S use DEF not the pickup trucks.
http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/2012/ram_2500_3500/index.html
http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/2012/ram_chassis_cab/cost_ownership/diesel_exhaust/
Also, the RAM Cummins does NOT limit power (limp mode) when the tank is low and is the only diesel certified for extended idling by CARB where the Ford and GM trucks are federally mandated to shut off after 5 minutes off idling.

 

[bullbreaker]

One thing I have not like my 3 SuperDutys is the placement of the heated seat button. I did not have them on my 99 but my 04 and 06 and the button is on the side of the seat, down where the power seat movement buttons. There is a indicator light on it to tell you if its on but you can not see it. Stupid. Why not just put it on the dash near the heater controls or the indicator light there atleast.
That has been my only complaint with the trucks so I guess its small.
Chris

There was one year I forgot where they mounted that heater seat button but it was not on the side of the pass/drivers seat but controled by the driver.I know cause we use to have fun with it down here in Fla when we'd get someone that didn't know about it and see how long it took them to complain their arse was on fire.The truck was not mine thats why I don't know the year I just use to drive them for a wealthy outfitter hunting buddy of mine.

Boone

 

[slowzuki]

Do they get better mileage than the cummins super egr motors?

Correction, 2012 RAM CHASSIS-CAB'S use DEF not the pickup trucks.
2012 Ram 2500 & 3500 |Cummins Diesel powered with Mega Cab| Ram Trucks
2012 Ram Chassis Cab Diesel Exhaust Fluid | Clean Deisel | Ram Trucks
Also, the RAM Cummins does NOT limit power (limp mode) when the tank is low and is the only diesel certified for extended idling by CARB where the Ford and GM trucks are federally mandated to shut off after 5 minutes off idling.

 

[Dmace]

Do they get better mileage than the cummins super egr motors?

No, DEF is simply a cheaper way for manufacturers to meet emissions regulations. The special catalyst in the RAM pickups is a more expensive option vs a DEF setup but requires no maintenance.
http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/2012/ram_2500_3500/cost_operation/long_lasting_durable/

 

[PoorMansCat]

The addition of DEF is not a big deal. Regeneration of the DPF is a non-event with the 6.7 and so far it's getting about 4 mpg better than my 6.4. QUOTE]

Exactly.... the regen cycle and how it accomplishes it (DEF or no DEF) really doesnt matter, as long as it works and doesnt bother the driver when it happens.
We use about 10 gallons of DEF between 5K oil changes, but we have some idle time.
There have been some cases of the DEF system having issues determining whether the system is operating correctly. There is a service letter for a DEF pump seal leak that shorts it out. The C&C trucks were plagued with a false reading that would give a message of 800 miles to empty and start counting down, whether the tank was full or not!!.. Needless to say, you had 799 miles to get to the dealer!!.. That was a simple software fix.

 

[wolfpack2]

One thing I have not like my 3 SuperDutys is the placement of the heated seat button. I did not have them on my 99 but my 04 and 06 and the button is on the side of the seat, down where the power seat movement buttons. There is a indicator light on it to tell you if its on but you can not see it. Stupid. Why not just put it on the dash near the heater controls or the indicator light there atleast.

That has been my only complaint with the trucks so I guess its small.

Chris

My 2011 has the heated and cooled seat controls in the dash in the climate control section.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My 2011 has the heated and cooled seat controls in the dash in the climate control section.

Glad they finally got it right. I once got a thing from Ford about my buying experience and the products. It was my only complaint but I heard from someone years later that it was one of the big ones on the SuperDuty line. Only took them 5 years to fix something so simple.:confused2:

Chris

 

[wolfpack2]

Well it worked. I tapped the + button and the gears are now displayed, thanks.

I used my dump trailer to move the Bobcat today. A short tow only 10 miles. Truckdrove like the teailer wasen't even there. Of course at only 7600 pounds it wasn't much of a load either.

I did have one problem, I got a 'diesel exhausr fluid system error' onthe screen. It said the truck would go to limp mode (max 50 mph) starting in 50 miles. I got the message again a couple miles later. Both messages came up while towing. After I had shut the motor down and restarted it the error message and the system error icon on the screen were gone and did not come back.

DEF Can freeze if the truck sits in temps below 12 deg F. It is possible that it just needed to heat up (there is an internal heater for the DEF).

There is a video that provides good information on the DEF system on You Tube. It covers many of error messages and what needs to be done to correct.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF5Oggb7gUk"]2011 Ford Super Duty Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Tutorial - YouTube[/ame]

 

[sparc]

Thanks, I'll look it over but I may have seen it already. It was not cold enough here for the DEF to freeze, it was 46 that day and the truck had been running for over an hour.

 

[sparc]

Took the truck in to the dealer Friday and they looked it over. Found nothing, no error codes stored in the computer and nothing wrong that they could find. So not to worry they say.

Anyway made a 203 miles trip today. Mostly highway (150 miles) and the rest backroads with about 10 miles of stop an go city driving so a nice mix. I fueled up and zeroed out one of the trip registers atthe start. When i got home I was showing 21.3 mpg. I drove 65-70mph on the highway (speed limit 65 mph). There was little traffic so I was able to cruise right along and maintain speed. With the high speed ezpass lanes didn't have to even slow down for tolls.

Truck ran great but I find the ride hard. I hit a short stretch of washboard road at 45 and I thought I was riding a bucking bronco. The rear axle was jumping off the road surface and that's not good for the tires among other things. I guess I need to drag about 500 pounds around in the bed to get a better ride.