## Diesels Compared: Duramax vs. Cummins vs. Power Stroke

Loyalty reigns among full-size pickup truck buyers. For years, customers return to the brands they've stood by and defend why theirs is better than others. It's part of the culture, and people have their definition of what makes a great truck.

Engine names are also loyal among diesel-powered pickup trucks. The three dominant names in the American diesel truck market are General Motors' Duramax, Ford's Power Stroke, and Cummins, which goes in Stellantis' Ram trucks.

Each has benefits over the other, but what sways buyers towards diesel engines in heavy-duty pickups is better low-end torque, pulling power for towing trailers, and (slightly) better fuel economy. Longevity, however, is king, and buyers have their preferences.

Diesel engines in light trucks have taken a massive hit in the last decade following Volkswagen's emissions cheating scandal, Dieselgate, which was first uncovered in 2015. Tightening emissions regulations, increasing fuel costs, and a focus on battery electric vehicles spelled the end of diesel offerings like the [F-150 Diesel](https://www.autolist.com/ford-f+150#fuel_type[]=diesel), [Ram 1500 EcoDiesel](https://www.autolist.com/ram-ram+pickup+1500#fuel_type[]=diesel), and [Chevrolet Colorado](https://www.autolist.com/chevrolet-colorado#fuel_type[]=diesel) and [GMC](https://www.autolist.com/gmc#fuel_type[]=diesel) four-cylinder Duramax.

![2024 Ford F-150 Exterior](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/LvOl4QJcME0FBqyXYF69E/0604fb88563bb11eb5e637c83dbdebb7/2024_Ford_F-150_Exterior.jpg)

However, heavy-duty pickup truck customers are a distinctive group compared to light-duty buyers and, in some cases, overwhelmingly prefer diesel despite the additional cost of the engine and the fuel. The best choice depends on what the consumer wants it to do. Here's a breakdown of all the differences between these three pickup truck diesel brands.

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## What's the Heritage Behind the Name?

Cummins started in 1919 and started supplying diesel engines to then-Chrysler Corporation's Dodge Ram pickup trucks in 1988. Truck drivers know it from the company's engines' widespread use in medium and heavy-duty trucks, buses, and other large vehicles. A V8 Cummins diesel engine was also available on the [2016-2019 Nissan Titan XD](https://www.autolist.com/nissan-titan+xd#year_min=2016&year_max=2019&fuel_type[]=diesel) pickup truck.

![2023 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Exterior](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/400QbMNdxJYOlrjNTc0L3F/689558b6d9597d5d147573bdf94ef8b1/2023_Ram_2500_Heavy_Duty_Exterior.jpg)

The Cummins engine available in the 2025 Ram HD pickup trucks is a 6.7-liter inline six-cylinder turbodiesel with 430 horsepower and 1075 lb-ft of torque on the [2500](https://www.autolist.com/ram-ram+pickup+2500#fuel_type[]=diesel) and [3500](https://www.autolist.com/ram-ram+pickup+3500#fuel_type[]=diesel) models. Stellantis, Ram’s current parent company, has been using a similarly sized engine in the trucks for years, but launched a vastly redesigned iteration for the 2025 model year with an 8-speed automatic transmission in place of the old six-speed and various mechanical upgrades to improve refinement and performance, including a new variable geometry turbocharger to keep it up-to-date with the latest diesel technology offered on rivals.

The 2025 Ram HD trucks also get various cosmetic changes, including a new front end to closely align it with the updated 1500 models.

![2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Exterior](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/2xhYHHqf2lrPxOACIHEhpi/bb6a31eecf0ad842da623ebbbba637e7/2024_Chevrolet_Silverado_2500_HD_Exterior.jpg)

In contrast, the GM Duramax line has only been around since 2001, when it was established as a partnership between GM and Isuzu to replace a long-running Detroit Diesel engine. While the Duramax label has been used on various engines since its inception, it's most closely associated with a 6.6-liter V8 engine used in the [Chevrolet Silverado HD](https://www.autolist.com/chevrolet-silverado+2500hd#fuel_type[]=diesel) and [GMC Sierra HD 2500](https://www.autolist.com/gmc-sierra+2500hd#fuel_type[]=diesel) and [3500](https://www.autolist.com/gmc-sierra+3500hd#fuel_type[]=diesel) pickup trucks and, previously, the [Chevrolet Express](https://www.autolist.com/chevrolet-express#fuel_type[]=diesel) and [GMC Savanna](https://www.autolist.com/gmc-savana#fuel_type[]=diesel) full-size vans. Now, the Duramax diesel is available on the base work truck models to the top-tier Sierra HD Denali.

For 2025, that Duramax V8 will produce 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque and will be mated to a 10-speed Allison automatic transmission. It’s also available in rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive formats. The cost is as much as a steep $9,000 over the gasoline-powered 6.6-liter V8 engine, though, depending on the trim level and vehicle.

![2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Exterior](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/5FdPElSKcdX7YvqX6hBLAh/8dd542dbe70b0cda903613bd6cf3d3f7/2025_GMC_Sierra_1500_Exterior.jpg)

Duramax has been GM’s name on all of its truck and full-size SUV diesel engines and also applies it to the turbodiesel, 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder Duramax engine available on the [Chevy Silverado 1500](https://www.autolist.com/chevrolet-silverado+1500#fuel_type[]=diesel), [Chevy Tahoe](https://www.autolist.com/chevrolet-tahoe#fuel_type[]=diesel), [Chevy Suburban](https://www.autolist.com/chevrolet-suburban#fuel_type[]=diesel), [GMC Sierra 1500](https://www.autolist.com/gmc-sierra+1500#fuel_type[]=diesel), [GMC Yukon](https://www.autolist.com/gmc-yukon#fuel_type[]=diesel), and [Cadillac Escalade](https://www.autolist.com/cadillac-escalade#fuel_type[]=diesel) for 2025. However, it does not have any commonality with the unit in the HD pickup trucks. 

The PowerStroke name has been in use since 1994 in partnership with Ford trucks and the former Navistar company. It’s also been used as the name for various engines on different Ford vehicles but has most closely been associated with the Super Duty line of heavy-duty trucks, including the [Ford F-250](https://www.autolist.com/ford-f+250#fuel_type[]=diesel) and [F-350](https://www.autolist.com/ford-f+350#fuel_type[]=diesel). The 2025 Ford Super Duty lineup can be equipped with a 6.75-liter turbodiesel V8 engine that comes in two power ratings: 475 horsepower with 1050 lb-ft of torque or the high-output 500 horsepower with 1,200 lb-ft of torque, both mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

![2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty Exterior](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/2Nqc9mwwRQCJvhQW7n7E0Y/fd0d1c0ce8dbf359b3e2345a39a99438/2024_Ford_F-250_Super_Duty_Exterior.jpg)

A PowerStroke diesel engine was also offered as a five-cylinder unit on the [Ford Transit](https://www.autolist.com/ford-transit+passenger#fuel_type[]=diesel) van and the name was used on the turbodiesel F-150.

## Towing Power

Torque and horsepower are significant factors in how much a truck can tow. But two other factors play a part. The first is the structural design of the truck itself, and the other is the engine's strength. However, towing over 26,000 pounds requires a commercial driver's license in all US states.

A Silverado or Sierra 3500HD with the Duramax diesel engine has a maximum towing capacity of 36,000 pounds compared to a Ram 3500’s 36,610. The Power Stroke wins here again with a total towing amount of 40,000 pounds. However, if you're looking at these numbers and do not hold a commercial license, any of these trucks will likely fit the average truck owner's requirements.

## Does Fuel Economy Matter?

Ultimately, heavy-duty diesel trucks are meant to tow, haul, and not be baton carriers for fuel efficiency — 10 mpg overall is a distinct possibility. Because of their weight, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is not required to test these vehicles because they exceed the weight maximum to be considered against automakers' fuel economy averages. But given that diesels are generally more efficient than gasoline engines, these engines should allow a greater driving range.

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## Warranty and Reliability

Probably even more important than engine specs is a guarantee of reliability. Long warranties don't necessarily mean that the engine is guaranteed to work that long, but rather that any issues will be addressed if they happen during that period. Not only that, but the manufacturer likely has a reasonable assumption that the engine will last that long. If they didn't, they wouldn't make a warranty where they'd lose money as issues continued to crop up.

Still, all three engines are covered under typical automaker powertrain warranties, so there's little to differentiate among the models. Compared to gasoline engines, factor in additional costs of time with the turbo and head gaskets, especially if the truck is used hard. 

## Popularity

Cummins has enjoyed superior popularity for a long time, but the increasingly better design on the Power Stroke has pushed it well into the running in terms of performance. The main reason is that the two main specs of torque and horsepower are very close. The Power Stroke has more horsepower but slightly less torque, while the Cummins has the opposite. However, as noted by AutoWise, the Power Stroke ultimately produces more horsepower, which is a better indicator of engine strength in real driving situations.

And while automakers don't break out model mixes based on gasoline and diesel engines, Ford has long retained its leadership among full-size pickup popularity, and it's likely the Power Stroke engines are more plentiful than the other names. The Silverado and Ram have become increasingly close in sales, with the Ram occasionally surpassing it. But combine the GM trucks — the Silverado and Sierra — and you're more likely to see a Duramax name than Cummins.

## Final Thoughts

The heritage and the specs of an engine shouldn't be the only things that determine which truck to buy, but they could be what closes the deal. None of these optional diesel engines comes cheap, though, and fuel costs have fluctuated wildly in the last few years, making it unlikely you’ll ever see a cost savings from selecting the diesel option. And note that refinement and acceleration times under normal circumstances will likely trail that of an equivalent V8 gasoline engine.

But if you’re looking at any of these heavy-duty pickup trucks, you probably need the extra payload and towing capacity that they offer compared to a comparable half-ton pickup truck. The half-ton versions of the Ford F-Series, Ram, Silverado, and Sierra are more truck than most people need. That makes the ability to still get a diesel engine on the heavy-duty equivalents appealing to buyers who need the hauling capabilities and can stomach a steep surcharge.

And among the three diesel engine names, it comes down to a preference between the trucks, the dealership, and subjective factors that don’t necessarily have much to do with the automotive part of the vehicle. Chevrolet, Ram, Ford, and GMC each have their own unique selling points, and truck buyer loyalty runs strong. That leaves it to what each driver values most in a pickup truck.

And that’s important, considering these are far from inexpensive work vehicles anymore.

Duramax, Power Stroke and Cummins diesel engines all have their specific place in American auto industry. Discover the differences in these three diesel engines.

Diesels Compared: Duramax vs. Cummins vs. Power Stroke

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