Comparing the same model with both engine types removes almost every other variable. The results split cleanly by truck size.
| Model | Diesel | Petrol | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-350 | $47,974 | $20,498 | +134% |
| RAM 2500 | $31,962 | $15,033 | +113% |
| Ford F-250 | $32,875 | $20,458 | +61% |
| Chevrolet Silverado | $34,904 | $21,271 | +64% |
| RAM 1500 | $18,600 | $21,524 | −14% |
The F-250 diesel costs more and has done more work
$12,417 more than the petrol version — and it carries 144,029 miles against 131,718. Usually higher mileage means a lower price. Here the market pays a premium for a harder-worked truck, because what it's buying is capability rather than condition.
On the F-350 the gap reaches 134%. On the RAM 2500 it's 113% at effectively identical mileage.
Then the half-ton reverses it
The RAM 1500 diesel sells for $18,600 against $21,524 for petrol — 14% less. Same brand, same nameplate, one class down, and the premium becomes a penalty.
The reason is who buys each truck. A three-quarter-ton or one-ton buyer is towing something heavy and regularly, and for that job the diesel's torque and longevity are worth real money. A half-ton buyer is mostly not towing at scale — and inherits the diesel's downsides without needing its strengths.
Those downsides are specific: DPF, EGR and DEF systems that fail expensively, higher service costs, and a fuel that's often pricier per gallon. The half-ton market has priced all of that in and decided it isn't worth it.
What this means if you're shopping
Match the engine to the actual job, not the badge. If you tow a heavy trailer regularly, the heavy-duty diesel premium reflects genuine capability. If you tow twice a year, the half-ton diesel discount is telling you something.
High mileage means less on a diesel. A maintained diesel reaching 300,000 miles is unremarkable, so applying petrol mileage thresholds will make you reject sound trucks.
The emissions hardware is the risk, not the engine. A diesel used for short urban runs — where the particulate filter never fully regenerates — is a worse buy than the same truck from a rural state. We mapped where they live in Montana's lots are 19% diesel.
Check for emissions deletes. Removed hardware is illegal, can make the truck unregisterable, and costs thousands to reverse.
Confirm the engine from the VIN. A VIN check decodes what the truck was built with and lists open campaigns — emissions recalls on diesels are common and frequently left uncompleted.
Frequently asked questions
How much more does a used diesel truck cost?
On heavy-duty models, a lot: the F-350 diesel runs 134% above petrol, RAM 2500 113%, Silverado 64% and F-250 61%. On the half-ton RAM 1500 the diesel is actually 14% cheaper.
Why is the diesel RAM 1500 cheaper than petrol?
Half-ton buyers mostly aren't towing at scale, so they don't need the diesel's torque and longevity but do inherit its costs — DPF, EGR and DEF systems that fail expensively, plus higher servicing. The market has priced that in.
Is high mileage acceptable on a diesel truck?
More than on petrol. A maintained diesel reaching 300,000 miles is unremarkable — the F-250 diesel averages 144,029 miles against 131,718 for the petrol version and still costs $12,417 more.
What should I check on a used diesel truck?
The emissions hardware above all — DPF, EGR and DEF failures are the expensive risk. Check for illegal deletes, which can make the truck unregisterable, and confirm any emissions recalls were completed.
Denis Kataev is a serial solopreneur and the founder of ForCar. With 15+ years in software engineering and 10 years in SEO, he builds data-driven products end to end — backed by a sharp eye for design. At ForCar he mines proprietary vehicle datasets, turning raw numbers into buying advice you can actually trust.
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