Maintenance costs: While Volkswagen, the largest seller of diesel-powered vehicles, has kept its oil change costs close to those for gasoline engines, other makers present a different picture. Fiat Chrysler’s 3.0L eco-diesel engines, for example, require a very specific grade of synthetic oil and a high-priced filter, bringing those oil changes close to the $200 mark at dealerships. Almost all modern diesel engines require synthetic oil and larger displacement V6 and V8 diesels require more than twice the amount of oil as compared to their gasoline cousins. Diesels are now just as complicated and electronically controlled as the most advanced gasoline engines. When they represent a small fraction of vehicles on our roads, how much experience do you think technicians actually get on diagnosing and repairing this technology? Many carmakers now require a very detailed step-by-step process be followed when repairing diesel engine faults under their warranties. They, like their customers, find it expensive when parts are replaced on a trial and error basis.

I guess at least the dealership service employees will be a lot more thorough with a diesel when checking over one if they have a detailed step by step guide. Would changing out the oil yourself void the warranty? From what that paragraph says, changing out the oil is one of the big ticket things you need to do with diesels.

I was just reading an article about the total cost of diesel car ownership and it may come out cheaper than petrol in the final tally. they may cost more than petrol and maintenance may cost a bit more but you save more on lifetime fuel costs and the depreciation is lower. But this may only apply to second hand F150 owners or those who plan to drive it into the ground.