Diesel Trucks

[Egon]

Trev:

They are driven just like any other truck. You don't have to wait 15 min. to warm up.
My personal preference would be a diesel which I do have but it is used for towing and hauling. Just rember to get the 4x4 version as 3/4 tons are not noted for traction in slipery conditions unless there is a ton or so of weight in the back.

Egon

 

[Anonymous Poster]

In the movie situation, you do NOT want a diesel, you want a remote car starter.
Unless you drive 50k a year, a diesel won't pay for itself!
Warming up isn't critical to a diesel, unless you're working it, and daily driving rarely works any engine.
Cooling Down, IS important to diesels, especially ones equipped with a blower. If you don't let it cool off gradually, the oil in the blower bearings frys, and you replace blowers more often. Blowers ain't cheap!!
Of course, you could easily equip a standard gas pickup with a hotbox/generator, like the big rigs have, and keep the cab & engine warm, a lot cheaper than you could buy a diesel engine in a pickup, and have a generator to boot.

 

[cowboydoc]

Unless you drive 50k a year, a diesel won't pay for itself!

How did you come up with this # Franz?

 

[MossRoad]

Franz,
What's a hot box / generator? Sounds interesting.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I drive 30 k per year, 1994 Dodge Diesel 3/4 Standard Cab, 5 speed. Its got 105k on it now. Owned it two years, 50k later and this has worked for me. Look on www.turbodieselregister.com for more help. This is where i turned to for help.

If its above 30
Start key, wait to start light, wait for oil press, drive it!

Between 20-30, cover 50% radiator, plug in over night (Dodge has heater grid to plug in, i use a timer for 6 hours) wait wait to start light, oil press, I wait 2 minutes, drive it under 2000 rpm.

0-20 degrees, cover 80% radiator, plug in all night, wait to start, oil press, clear snow / frost (about 5 mins), shiver, drive away, shiver some more, keep under 2000 rpm.

Diesels don't warm up quickly! Mine will never warm up, just idleing (i've tried that) You'll have to work them to get the fire in the cylinders to warm them up faster..... Only thing that gets me warmer, is plugging in the grid heater for the temperature, start and drive away. That simple!

ps. very very long periods of idling not good on diesels.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Math- cost adder for diesel engine, miles per gallon, cost per gal diesel-v- gasoline, cost of electricity to keep engine warm in winter. I'm on the south shore of Lake Ontario, and most people around here figure 50k miles per year is where Diesels become economical as opposed to gas engines.
The figure drops somewhat if you're constantly pulling a trailer.
Diesels in pickups are tough on front suspension components too, so that's a cost of operation adder.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Simple little 1 or 2 cyl water cooled generator, usually diesel engine. You see a lot of them on road tractors with doghouses, they provide heat and power while the tractor is parked, and keep the engine warm without running the truck engine.

 

[jyoutz]

You are missing another angle to the cost equation. Diesels also pay off if you are like me and keep your truck for 10+ years. Prior to buying my diesel, I would wear out my gasser truck in about 5 years (25 K miles/year). So as soon as I paid the loan off, I was always buying a new truck. The average engine lifespan on my Cummins diesel is 400K miles until rebuild. In this case, I can drive my truck without payments for an additional 5-10+ years after the loan is paid off (I'm sure I'll get tired of the truck before the engine is worn out). I know that this wouldn't be a big cost benefit for most people who trade their vehicles often. But I always buy new or near new and then run them into the ground.

 

[snowman]

One other thing that I would consider is the availability of diesel fuel. While gas stations are all over the place, it is very difficult, in my area at least, to find a diesel pump. There are only three that I know of in a 15 mile or so radius that I go to to fill the diesel cans for my tractor. The station I used to go to initially was shut down for a month to change their tanks.

While I know that diesel pumps exist in greater numbers around heavy traffic areas (thruway exchange, for example), if I was driving around on country roads and was running low on fuel, I'd be worried about finding a diesel station somewhere.

 

[Egon]

Trev:
Yov'e started it again.
Overnight I was thinking of your questions and suddenly the statment of wanting to tow a future boat came to mind. I imediately realized you have idle time on your hands and have been watching too much TV. It's obvious you have been unduly influenced by certain commercials. You realize everytime you hook up to that ship to tow it on the road you will need oversize permits and guide vehicles. Shucks, you'll probably never even get through the overpasses without removing them.

Still like diesels.

Egon