Justifying a cost of a diesel

[whistlepig]

I had a diesel truck when I did a lot of heavy pulling years ago. They are truly sweet for pulling. And when I wasn't pulling the mileage of the diesel and low cost of diesel fuel made it the perfect choice. That was years ago. The high mileage and low cost of diesel fuel made a diesel powered truck the best choice then. The high mileage and pulling power for diesels is still there. But the have jacked up the price of diesel higher than gas. The payback just isn't there for a high dollar diesel motor and the fuel now. Only if you really need the pulling power is a diesel justifiable.

 

[hosspuller]

I spend roughly $150-$200 a week in gas just on the truck.

You still have to buy diesel. A diesel truck won't save you $150-$200 per week. More like $25 per week. $7000 / $25 = 280 weeks or 5 years + 4 months. Only after almost 5 1/2 years do you start to save money. (if you're lucky. Diesel maintenance is more expensive)

 

[RalphVa]

An old friend of mine had a diesel pickup that he hauled his dogs in the back in big cages, to shows. He said he went with diesels because they'd go up the hills without slowing down.

Our present Jetta TDI is the only vehicle we've had that'll stay right on cruise control in 6th gear up every one of those WVa mountains. A couple of those required the Tacoma to go down to 3rd gear (from top 5th) to go up those at a reduced speed. The TDI just doesn't know the mountains exist except when going down a couple. On those, I downshift to keep it slowed down rather than brake.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have had 4 diesel trucks, still have one. Saying that I will more than likely never own another.

The new Ford 6.2 gas motor is a power house and gets diesel like mpg. To me its the best choice.

Chris

 

[newbury]

You still have to buy diesel. A diesel truck won't save you $150-$200 per week. More like $25 per week. $7000 / $25 = 280 weeks or 5 years + 4 months. Only after almost 5 1/2 years do you start to save money. (if you're lucky. Diesel maintenance is more expensive)

What is this "diesel maintenance" you speak of?
Oil/filter? The last time I brought my F350 in for that it was the same price as a gasser ($65). Even though it does take more oil.
Glow plugs? I've changed them twice on my E350, which has only about 195K miles. The last time I did it myself (at about the 195K mile mark) to the tune of about $8/plug.

My diesels (88' E350, '98 Kubota M4700, '02 F350, '07 Kubota B7610, '09 Jetta TDI) have never been in for an engine "tuneup". Just oil and filter changes, all the rest have been for brakes, mufflers etc.

 

[OrangeToys]

You still have to buy diesel. A diesel truck won't save you $150-$200 per week. More like $25 per week. $7000 / $25 = 280 weeks or 5 years + 4 months. Only after almost 5 1/2 years do you start to save money. (if you're lucky. Diesel maintenance is more expensive)

Not trying to save $200 a week, but if I can get double the milage or more per tank is like too. Plus I'm towing 6000-10,500 every week

 

[Fordman1981]

I have had 4 diesel trucks, still have one. Saying that I will more than likely never own another.

The new Ford 6.2 gas motor is a power house and gets diesel like mpg. To me its the best choice.

Chris

One of my work trucks is a 6.2 f250. I'm not impressed. Power doesn't come on till over 4,000 rpm. I pulled a skid steer with it. It screamed the whole time. To me the 6.2 isn't a truck motor it's like every modular ford motor I've ever drove too high revving. JMHO. I would like a good gas option just haven't found one yet. I might check out the new 6.4 ram is going to offer in 2014.

 

[3930dave]

What is this "diesel maintenance" you speak of?
Oil/filter? The last time I brought my F350 in for that it was the same price as a gasser ($65). Even though it does take more oil.
Glow plugs? I've changed them twice on my E350, which has only about 195K miles. The last time I did it myself (at about the 195K mile mark) to the tune of about $8/plug.

My diesels (88' E350, '98 Kubota M4700, '02 F350, '07 Kubota B7610, '09 Jetta TDI) have never been in for an engine "tuneup". Just oil and filter changes, all the rest have been for brakes, mufflers etc.

I think the "diesel maintenance" comes from When Things Go Wrong..... you know.... "neighbour's Uncle Fred had to change his injection pump, was X thousand $ !" Stuff wears out, but who knows (Uncle Fred ran stove oil for 5 years, and never changed a fuel filter.......) what all the factors are in a given horror story.

Comparing apples to apples, a modern GDI gas motor isn't that much different than a direct injection diesel. I haven't priced one, but suspect that a GDI injection pump ain't cheap. Personally, I'd sooner place my bet on a diesel inj. pump running biodiesel, than a GDI pump running an ever-escalating % of Ethanol.

Torque - there is no present-day alternative to diesel (most of us, Leno excepted, don't want to run steam) if you need/want high amounts of it, efficiently.

Thanks to the Extra Profit Always folks, if you want a simple affordable diesel, you either have to buy an older one, or move outside of Canada/USA.

Rgds, D.

 

[tcartwri]

Look for a 2006-2007 duramax. You will easily half your fuel bill. Our 07 Cube van will routinely knock down 17-18 mpg at 12,000 lbs.

 

[PsRumors]

How much weight is the OP pulling and how many miles are you driving a week?

My '97 F250 7.3 gets 14 mpg pulling 6000lbs my 2000 Dodge Ram with the 5.9 Hemi would get 8.

Diesel is currently $3.74 here and gas is $3.48.

To go 400 on gas would cost me $174

On diesel that same trip would cost me $106