Diesel pickup trucks offer power and efficiency but come with unique maintenance needs. This guide outlines the top 10 most common and costly diesel maintenance tasks—like oil changes, fuel filter replacements, and turbo maintenance—so owners can proactively plan and prevent expensive repairs, ensuring longevity and optimal performance. 

Owning a diesel pickup truck has its clear advantages—impressive power, excellent towing capacity, and strong fuel efficiency. But with that performance comes a set of unique maintenance responsibilities that every diesel truck owner should budget for.  

Whether you're a seasoned diesel driver or new to the world of heavy-duty pickups, we’ve got your back. Here's a breakdown of the top 10 most common and costly maintenance expenses you'll likely encounter. Knowing what to expect with your diesel vehicle can save you both money and downtime in the long run.

Preventive maintenance is always preferable to diagnostic treatment. Why? Because while a small task is light on both diesel truck maintenance cost and time, a bigger fix, thanks to neglect, is anything but. 

Maybe it’s in the way a diesel engine burns. Or maybe it’s just the raw power. But as motorheads know, diesel engines use more oil than traditional gas engines. 

They also require a higher quality of oil than their unleaded counterparts. In each of these cases, it pays not to skimp on the oil changes to keep your engine running like a dream. 

You can usually expect a diesel engine oil change to run between $100 and $250 per change. We recommend doing a full oil change every 5,000–10,000 miles to keep things working properly.

The less refined nature of diesel fuel means there are more potential contaminants in the inner workings of your engine. And when those contaminants build up in the fuel injector, watch out. Performance dips, poor fuel economy, and even stalling or failure to start are soon to follow. 

Thankfully, this is a fairly simple and affordable diesel engine maintenance task. We recommend you replace your fuel filters every 10,000–25,000 miles to keep things clean and efficient. 

Expect fuel filter replacements to run you about $50–$150 per filter. Remember, some truck models have two fuel filters. Be sure to familiarize yourself with your truck’s system before replacement.

The fire in your engine requires clean air to burn as expected. It’s a crucial component for any combustion system. When contaminants on your air filter collect over time, the air that passes through it becomes increasingly dirty. And dirty air can mean poor performance and a noticeable dip in your fuel economy while running. 

Replace your air filters every 15,000–30,000 miles for high performance in your engine. This is one of the less expensive diesel truck maintenance costs, running about $30–$100 per filter.

Emissions standards require that modern diesel trucks with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems employ Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). This helps them to curb unwanted emissions and stay road-compliant. But it also helps avoid running in limp mode, which can activate when the DEF runs low. 

Top off your DEF every 3,000 to 10,000 miles, depending on your driving style. More aggressive driving may mean you should top off at the lower end of that range. 

Replenishment is thankfully affordable, at about $20–$60 per 2.5 gallons of DEF.

As you likely know, cold weather can be your diesel engine’s mortal enemy. Glow plugs and grid heaters are, alongside top tier anti-gelling products, a great line of defense against cold start failure. 

These should be inspected and replaced often. Failure usually crops up around 100,000 miles. Expect to pay between $100 and $500 for parts and labor when a glow plug or grid heater needs to be replaced.

Your diesel truck’s transmission takes on the brunt of the truck’s work. Everything from heavy towing to everyday hauling can create a strain. And so it stands to reason that, over time, shifting can become an issue. 

Plan to service your transmission every 30,000 to 60,000 miles for a longer transmission life and smoother shifting. This critical diesel truck maintenance costs, on average, between $250 and $500.

The heavy loads your truck carries aren’t anything to be sneezed at. They require a more steadfast safety net when things go sideways on the road. To be blunt: your truck shouldn’t be fighting its brakes simply because of a heavy load. 

But heavy loads also wear brakes down more quickly. Expect a set of pads and rotors to run you anywhere from $300 to $800 every 30,000–70,000 miles for optimal brake performance.

There’s something special about the extra power delivered by a turbocharger. But all that power comes at the expense of high heat and pressure in the engine system. 

Diesel engine maintenance is critical every 150,000 miles, with this diesel truck maintenance cost estimated between $1,000 and $3,000. But remember, outright replacement will always be more expensive.

Keep your truck running as clean as possible, with emissions systems that actively trap the carbon created during combustion. A failure to do so can lead to poor performance or even engine shutdowns.

Check parts every 50,000 to 100,000 miles to ensure cleanliness. Replacement costs for these parts are as follows: 

• EGR cleaning/replacement: $300 - $1,000
• DPF cleaning: $300 - $600
• DPF replacement: $2,000+ 

Every 100,000 to 150,000 miles, your fuel injector system should be given a full inspection. Why? Because diesel injectors operate under extreme pressure, and that pressure can lead to degradation over time. 

Also worth noting is that fuel quality can affect your injectors as well. If you are prone to using poor-grade diesel fuel, plan to inspect and replace injectors more frequently. One solution is using a quality diesel injector cleaning additive. This will help prevent contaminant build up and keep your injectors performing optimally for longer periods of time. It can also help boost fuel economy and overall engine performance. 

Maintenance can cost around $2,000 to $6,000, with system replacement potentially costing more.