diesel

[templedog]

why does this site say to get a diesel? costs more at the pump now don't it?

 

[Seraphim]

Not necessarily: we found a couple of places on this trip where it was cheaper than regular, amazing enough. About six weeks ago diesel was 4.09 and regular 3.79 (here). Past few days both have been around 3.74. One place had dieses at 3.70 and regular at 3.79.

Diesel engines run at a lower rpm and get better mileage, and they last much longer. I ran some figures several months using a forty cent difference and a 6 mpg advantage to diesel for pulling a rig. I forget the mileage I used but the diesel came out ahead on a yearly basis.

Diesel also requires less maintenance on a yearly schedule, but that same maintenance is more expensive when it is needed. Kind of evens out.

Diesel has more low end torque for hauling, especially on hills.

It really depends on your needs. In a new truck, a diesel and appropriate transmission will run about 8 grand more. If you need the low end power, the diesel will eventually pay for itself: a weaker engine will require more fuel to perform the same job. You have to decide if the cost is worthwhile too you.

We just went with a diesel to haul a 4000lb truck camper (fully loaded). After driving it for a week, I'm glad we did. We get 12 mpg loaded, where agas engine would get about 8.

 

[FocoChris]

I purchased a diesel because of the gas mileage, power, longevity, and Tunability. And, there is the option of turning it into a Straight/waste vegetable burner.<br><br>

 

[judycmomx6]

Seraphim, I'm glad you posted that mileage, our new class c has a ford diesel in it and we haven't been able to take it out yet, (too busy trying to empty this huge house!), I was wondering what kind of mileage we would be getting, our's is a 30 footer though, the men at the dealer said it could get as much as yours is getting but I wasn't sure, (you know how they lie! LOL!). &nbsp;Anyway, I wanted a diesel also for all those reasons that you have stated, but I know how good they are from driving a big truck. I'm hoping it will run for many, many years longer than the gas engines. And your right, the small amount of difference in the price of fuel will not be an issue, cause the good way out weighs that small extra cost.

 

[Wild_E]

Hello Judy and everyone;<div>want to get better fuel efficiency out of your vehicles, drive like a good truck driver then!</div><div>Slow even starts,&nbsp;</div><div>coast up to lights, try not too stop as restarting costs fuel</div><div>power properly through corners using force instead of engine power to do this safely and efficiently</div><div><br></div><div>Why not ask a good Owner Operator of a Big Truck to let you ride along with the for the day or so, see how they operate the machine!</div><div><br></div><div>When I drive my little van like I used to drive my Big Truck, I get about 50-100 miles more out of the Tank ... yes 100km more!</div><div>plus proper tire inflation</div><div>plus proper&nbsp;maintenance&nbsp;as in tune ups etc</div><div><br></div><div>I would rather drive slower, go easier to get better fuel&nbsp;mileage&nbsp;and keep tools in the vehicle with added weight, than take them out for the savings, just drive better and even gas gets better fuel&nbsp;mileage, diesels get better fuel efficiency that way as well.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>ps. adding in some Fuel additives in spring and fall help with diesels and putting Fuel conditioners in the winter will also be a cost saving experience for you in less&nbsp;maintenance&nbsp;and flow of Diesel will be better, less.. chunky.&nbsp;</div>

 

[Guest]

One of the other benefits that people don't often point out, is that diesel fuel is homogeneous across the nation in the summer. That means that no matter where you fill up, it's going to work exactly the same everywhere.

 

[Rollin]

Supposedly Ford is coming&nbsp;&nbsp;out with a new Van next year with a diesel option. Should get better fuel&nbsp;mileage&nbsp;also.&nbsp;http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/28/diesel-returning-to-full-size-ford-vans/

 

[Seraphim]

Diesel was $3.61 today...

 

[judycmomx6]

Thanx Wildernessreturn. I know what your talking about, I was a truck driver for over 18 years till I got sick and had to go on disability. People don't realize how much fuel it saves just doing small thing's. I am very thankful our ford has a diesel, it will save us money in the long run. And I will be able to keep it for many more years compared to a gas motor.

 

[Vivid-Dawn]

I've been considering getting a diesel when I go mobile living, for these very reasons.<br><br>I would love to learn how to drive better (aka - save fuel) on a diesel.<br><br>I have noticed that in my gas sedan, if I drive really carefully, I can get 28 (sometimes even 30)mpg. If I drive like a teenager, it goes way down to about 22 or so!<br>Good: coast as much as possible, don't "jack rabbit" at green lights (people behind me hate me, because I go slow and steady, rather than gunning through the intersection), use cruise control on the freeway, stay between 55-65mph on the freeway.<br>Bad: zooming off at green lights, stopping RIGHT at the stop light/sign (rather than coasting up to it), speeding (65+ freeway), not using cruise control, and of course the tire inflation and having extra weight in the back/trunk.<br><br>So I'm already practicing that (because I want to save money NOW anyway). The only thing I don't quite understand is "<span id="post_message_1273959247">power properly through corners using force instead of engine power to do this safely and efficiently</span>" - this is another time I try to coast. Am I doing it wrong?<br>

 

[VanGirl]

I made the decision to buy diesel back in 2004. I have a Sprinter with a 5 cyl diesel in it. Everyone made fun of it when I bought it (they still do). Yes, I paid 30k for this big metal boxy looking van. I did delivery work in it for about 3 years. After that I converted it for full-time van dwelling. It gets anywhere from 23 to 28 mpg depending on how I drive it. It paid for itself in just one year of cargo delivery work. BTW I lived in it while I was doing the delivery work. It now has 250k on it and I have spent less than 6k on it in tires, repair, maint. and converting it to a full-timer. It still runs and drives like it did when it was new. The ford van I had before that had to have about 2k a year for the repair, tires and maint. on the gas engine and it only got 12 mpg.<br /><br />I love my van. I keep a full-time job that pays very well while I live in the van. No way to be stealth as most of you are but it works very well for me. I have a mail box at the UPS store and a cell phone for communication. I'm in a very large city. I sleep at a Wal-Mart or truckstop, my city has lots of both. I drive my van to work everyday. It is the small Sprinter and will fit in any parking space where a pickup will. When co-workers ask about it. I explain that it is a camper (which it is) and that I love camping so much that I just use it as my full-time car. They get used to it and stop asking after awhile. <br /><br />For me diesel is the way to go. You just have to own one of these vans to understand how pleased I am with mine. It has been paid for 6 years now and it is still going strong. I have lots of room even with all the built-ins. I have everything including a shower in it (solar, tv, generator, stove, stereo, bed, heat, air conditioning). Only thing I have a problem with is laundry but the truckstops have those. Before the Sprinter I was a Ford person only, but not anymore.<br /><br />Diesel is the way to go!!!

 

[yesican]

I have a Dodge diesel 3/4 ton truck&nbsp;with 240,000 miles I picked up for $3,000&nbsp; 3 years ago.&nbsp; Many parts needed replacing and has many little things wrong with it.&nbsp; But, to haul or carry anything, you don't loose mpg's.&nbsp; I get 21 to 26 mpg depending on how I drive.&nbsp; Diesel is about $4.50/gallon here on the Kenai (gas is $4.27/gal). If I was to have a gas pickup, mpg would be closer to 10-13 with hauling/carrying a trailor.&nbsp; If you do the math, its not hard to see a diesel can save you much money.&nbsp; <br /><br />