Justifying a cost of a diesel

[WilliamBos]

On average, how long do people keep HD trucks? I am one who will keep it 10+ years/400,000 kms/250,000 miles.

I see 1500/150 getting traded as early as 3 years.

A Duramax/Alli option up here is $11,000, which means I will need to save $1,100 a year on fuel to break even.

 

[fordmantpw]

On average, how long do people keep HD trucks? I am one who will keep it 10+ years/400,000 kms/250,000 miles.

I see 1500/150 getting traded as early as 3 years.

A Duramax/Alli option up here is $11,000, which means I will need to save $1,100 a year on fuel to break even.

Well, I bought my '08 used at 3 years old and 26k miles. The previous owner said he usually trades every year, but had just been too busy to trade! (must be nice!)

I have had it for a little over 2 years and put 20k miles on it, and I plan to keep it another 5-7 years. I usually keep my vehicles a while though...

Is the D/A really that much? The PowerStroke for Ford is only an $8k ish option. That's crazy for the GM if that is true!

 

[WilliamBos]

Well, I bought my '08 used at 3 years old and 26k miles. The previous owner said he usually trades every year, but had just been too busy to trade! (must be nice!)

I have had it for a little over 2 years and put 20k miles on it, and I plan to keep it another 5-7 years. I usually keep my vehicles a while though...

Is the D/A really that much? The PowerStroke for Ford is only an $8k ish option. That's crazy for the GM if that is true!

Up here the diesel options are more than in USA, GM, Ford, or Dodge..

 

[fordmantpw]

Up here the diesel options are more than in USA, GM, Ford, or Dodge..

Ahhh, didn't notice you are in the great white north.

 

[caps]

I have a friend down the street burns biodiesel in his two vehicles. Gets old frying oil from a couple local restaurants for $.25 gallon. He runs it thru a centrifuge for about an hour for 50 gallons and then a filter and dumps it right in his tank. He has been doing it for over 10 years and has had no problems with either of his Mercedes. He only puts the bought stuff in if he is going to travel further than a tank will take him. Only difference I notice is that his exhaust smells weird - like burnt peanut butter.

 

[WilliamBos]

I have a friend down the street burns biodiesel in his two vehicles. Gets old frying oil from a couple local restaurants for $.25 gallon. He runs it thru a centrifuge for about an hour for 50 gallons and then a filter and dumps it right in his tank. He has been doing it for over 10 years and has had no problems with either of his Mercedes. He only puts the bought stuff in if he is going to travel further than a tank will take him. Only difference I notice is that his exhaust smells weird - like burnt peanut butter.

Don't think the new HPCR diesels would like that, sadly!!

 

[3930dave]

I have a friend down the street burns biodiesel in his two vehicles. Gets old frying oil from a couple local restaurants for $.25 gallon. He runs it thru a centrifuge for about an hour for 50 gallons and then a filter and dumps it right in his tank. He has been doing it for over 10 years and has had no problems with either of his Mercedes. He only puts the bought stuff in if he is going to travel further than a tank will take him. Only difference I notice is that his exhaust smells weird - like burnt peanut butter.

An old mechanically injected diesel can successfully burn a wide range of properly prepared oils. Done right, the only issue that usually comes up is during the changeover - naturally occurring deposits from long term straight diesel use are often aggressively flushed out of the fuel system. Stocking up on fuel filters before doing a conversion and doing some short changes on the filters is about all that takes to solve this problem. Used oil is a good option if 1) you have a good long term source available, and 2) are a mechanical enthusiast.

I know of one guy who has been very successful burning used hydraulic fluid, but I would definitely put him in the Super User category - that centrifuge alone is way beyond what most people want to get into.

There are lots of options, if you have the time/inclination/facilities to deal with older diesels.

Rgds, D.

 

[PsRumors]

You are right...it was a magnum. Been several years since I owned that truck.

 

[mikehaugen]

You are right...it was a magnum. Been several years since I owned that truck.

It's alright, I still have one. Good engine but is a dog by today's standards. If I could reliably get about 75 more hp I probably wouldn't be considering a new truck.

 

[Tomtint]

I had a 09 F350 4x4 drw dump with a V10. I bought it as a leftover and it had all kinds of rebates etc, At the time I could not justify spending more on the diesel and did not have a warm fuzzy feeling about the 6.4 anyway. That truck was a good tow vehicle but only got 7-9 mpg. I just sold it and replaced it with a left over 12 F350 drw dump with a diesel. The rebates and the dealer wanting to get rid of it made it justifiable for me to go diesel again. And as well as the V10 towed, the diesel blows it away. All while getting 14-15mpg