Utilimaster Van engine size

[TucsonAZ]

The 350 will do the job, I just did 4,500 miles in mine (1997 Utilimaster with 180k), it was over 10,000 pounds (certified scale confirmed) and it got the job done, I could do 80mph (3,650 rpms) on flat ground, it wasn't a huge fan of hills but as mentioned, just join the trucks in the right lane. I got 9mpg on the trip, trans and rear end will greatly impact speeds and mpg though.

17 mpg would have been damn nice but I noticed currently diesel is over $1 a gallon more than gas, what's up with that? Gas is currently $2.09 here and I think diesel was actually $3.40 or something, uncool!

 

[Bdog1]

Yes. And wholesale Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel is now at $2 flat. Gas is $1.59. It takes a long time to drop at the pump. Going up: not so much! (Retail is usually about 60c over wholesale.)

 

[LeeRevell]

I remember those heady days when Diesel was priced right along with Regular Gas. It's lower on the processing totem pole, so should be cheaper to produce. Maybe the petro companies got greedy when they noticed all those diesel cars and PU trucks running around...?
America has never really embraced the diesel for cars the way Europe has. The modern turbo diesel is as clean burning as gas, no more smoke and stink, and more fuel efficient. Should be a no-brainer. But we yanks love our gasoline burners!

 

[highdesertranger]

the guberment got involved that is why diesel is more than gas. highdesertranger

 

[Fabber McGee]

It costs more to remove the sulfur and since most diesel is used in heavy trucks, Washington is laying extra highway taxes on it to try and break the truckers backs. Oil companies are also probably making a bigger percentage too, because the trucks have to buy fuel no matter what it costs. They can't just stay home if they don't like the price or it doesn't fit their budget.

Heating oil still costs less than gas around here and it's the same product as diesel but has not had the sulfur removed.

 

[TucsonAZ]

When I bought my Diesel Excursion the fuel was priced about 10-20% lower than gas, it started going up a lot with the housing boom. I don't like diesel as much as a fuel but I like it more for cars, if that makes sense. Meaning I would rather have a diesel car and I like the motors more but don't want to deal with the other aspects of a diesel vehicle.

I have mixed feelings about it, it's worse for the environment but nobody really seems to care about that anyway so it is whatever, people don't change when it's a wise idea to do so, they change when they're forced via discomfort, be that financial or otherwise.