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Old 01-06-2007, 09:29 AM   #1
illapah
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diesel or gas?

for those of us that tow little a year, is diesel engine worth the extra money up front and at the pump? We only have one vehicle.

Been thinking of looking at new Ford gasser as diesel here runs about forty cents a gallon more than gas.
 
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Old 01-06-2007, 09:44 AM   #2
kdeiss
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I read an article a few years back the break even point was around 90,000 miles when both fuels are priced the same.Keep in mind the gassers will do the job no problem.Our 2002 GMC 2500HD with 8.1 has only 20,000 miles on it would make no sense for us to have a diesel.
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Old 01-06-2007, 10:01 AM   #3
richfaa
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We got the 05 V-10 F-350 simply because we did not care for the 6.0 and we have the Ford family plan so that is what we buy. We only use it to pull the camper and not for a everyday driver so the gas motor does good by us. It has no propblem pulling the 3400 anywhere. If we had only one vehicle it would have been a diesel but not a 6.0. If the 6.4 proves to be a good motor we will have one.
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Old 01-06-2007, 10:03 AM   #4
ols1932
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by illapah

for those of us that tow little a year, is diesel engine worth the extra money up front and at the pump? We only have one vehicle.

Been thinking of looking at new Ford gasser as diesel here runs about forty cents a gallon more than gas.
The answer is no, a diesel engine isn't worth the money up front if you are only going to tow a little. If you are full time, then diesel is the way to go, if you are going to be full time a LONG time. I have a diesel and get about 2 mpg more than the equivalent gas truck. Over the long haul (100 or so miles) my fuel won't cost any more than the same mileage with a gasser. However the repairs are more costly, but they sure do last a long time.

Orv
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Old 01-06-2007, 11:03 AM   #5
Montana Sky
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All depends on how much driving you do in a year and how long you are planning on keeping your new truck. I have already paid the additional cost of the diesel as my truck is going to roll 70,000 miles this month.

I have a friend with the same truck as mine except his is gas. I can give you the numbers he and I ran when comparing his truck to mine.

His 8.1L V8 gets 13mpg highway
My Duramax gets 22mpg highway

550 mile trip is the number we used
His 13mpg/550miles = 42 gallons cost @ 2.59 a gallon = $108.78
My 22mpg/550miles = 25 gallons cost @ 2.99 a gallon = $74.75 savings of $34.03 a trip

Using 15,000 miles a year
His 15,000miles/13mpg = 1154 gallons x $2.59/gal = $2988.86
My 15,000miles/22mpg = 682 gallons x $2.99/gal = $2039.18 savings of $950 a year in fuel cost

Cost of the diesel is approx. $5,500. Would take roughly 5.5 years to pay for the diesel if you drove 15k a year.

He tows a 3295RK and averages 9mpg
I tow a 3400RL and average 12.5mpg
My coach weighs approx. 500lbs more than his. Only you can decide if a diesel would be cost effective for you.
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Old 01-06-2007, 11:22 AM   #6
Native Tex
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The oddity to consider is that diesel is costing more than gas. Diesel has always costs less than gas by huge amounts until just recently. The oil companies are just jacking the price up due to the diesel truck craze. That's my story and I'm sticking to it......I love my diesel as well as the others I've driven.
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Old 01-06-2007, 11:29 AM   #7
CmdrDewey
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When I sold my 2002 F250 powerstroke with 120,000 miles I got about $4,500 more for it than I would have for an equivalent mileage gas job.
KBB and NADA.

Of course you have to sell to realize the gain but I think the higher cost of the engine is a wash.
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Old 01-06-2007, 02:41 PM   #8
Wrenchtraveller
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I drove diesels for 11 years and made the statement, " I will never own another gas engine in a pick up truck again."
I was wrong. My 95 and my 2000 7.3 PSDs were great and I got my money back at trade in time for sure.
Then in 04, I bought a lemon 6.0 and I will not own another 6.0...........ever. I wanted the larger payload and the built in brake control so I stuck with Ford and orderd a V10 gas. Just love the thing and I am thinking I will keep this one a long time. I really hope the new 6.4 is a winner for Ford. The 6.0 or sick-oh as it is known on truck forums has driven many Ford buyers to the reliable Duramax and Cummins engines and Ford desperately needs a better engine in the diesel segment. Even if the 6.4 turns gold, I am sticking with my V10 gas. It works for me.
It is so nice to start it up at 6:00 in the morning and not wake everyone on the street up.
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Old 01-06-2007, 03:29 PM   #9
sreigle
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In my opinion, if you don't tow much then it's probably not worth your while to go diesel. As for the upfront cost, if the truck is in good condition you'll get most or all of that back at tradein.

If you plan to keep the truck more than, say, 200k miles, then diesel might be worthwhile no matter how little you tow.

Keep in mind that the diesel will get roughly 40% better mileage than the V10, towing or solo (I've had both). Despite the 40 cent difference, the diesel still wins in this category. But as I said above, if I didn't tow much and didn't keep the truck more than 200k miles I'd probably not go diesel. The V10 we had (1999 F350) was a sweet engine. It just loved gas stations was its only problem.
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Old 01-06-2007, 06:00 PM   #10
c5racer
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The main reason I bought a diesel is that I didn't want to be the last one up the hill.
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Old 01-07-2007, 10:16 AM   #11
virgil47
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In your situation of not pulling much, I think Steve R hit the nail on the head. If you are going to keep the truck a long time, then a diesel is probably the correct choice. Can share only my personal experience. We started to Alaska this year pulling our Montana with our PSD when it had 201,000 miles on the odometer. Today it has 229,000. During the trip we replaced a vacuum pump and an alternator and we changed the oil 5 times. Otherwise, we spent no money on the tow vehicle. IF the PSD would pull uphill at 65mph and stop quickly going downhill, I would still be towing with it
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Old 01-07-2007, 12:18 PM   #12
dieselguy
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Bear in mind, I'm from the ole gasser crowd of 460's, 454's, and 440's and I only pull maybe 5000 miles a year. After crossing over to a diesel, I can't imagine why I procrastinated sooooo long. No more 7 mpg, watching the engine temp on hot summer days, getting a run at each hill ... Up front and operating cost a little more? ... sure, but my goodness the power and torque just make that a very distant concern. Like my dad always said ... you just can't have too much truck!
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Old 01-07-2007, 01:07 PM   #13
RKassl
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LOVE my diesel, the power is amazing, no matter what I would do it again.
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Old 01-08-2007, 07:12 AM   #14
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Ditto on the vote for Diesel! Nothin' like hitting the hill and expecting it to bog only to see it hold running at low rpm's...sweet. I keep all my vehicles for min of 10 years, all were gas till this truck, and in all towing cases the worry about hot summer day engine temp and end of life oil pressure loss...Love the diesel, made for the long haul.
Chuck
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Old 01-08-2007, 01:07 PM   #15
dsprik
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Ditto on the power under the pedal. Not driving ours much at the moment as I flew back to MI and drove our Park Ave (read 32 mpg) back down to FL.

However, I drove it yesterday. It is slightly exhilarating... Being able to go where you want to go WHEN you want to go can be priceless. Had a young hotshot next to me at a light in Orlando. He had one of those low rider cars with the "lawn mower" sounding exhausts.

Priceless: The sight of his car in my rear view mirror. (Don't tell my wife...)
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Old 01-08-2007, 07:44 PM   #16
Fordzilla
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I can not think of anything that hasn't already been said, but wanted to add my $.02 worth and say GO DIESEL!!! I am on my 3rd one and will probably never go back to the big block monsters of yester year.
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Old 01-09-2007, 04:37 AM   #17
richfaa
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I usualy buy based on need not on how fast I can go or who gets up the hill first ot what it sounds like. When we got the 05 gasser it was what served our needs. We now have out new Ford family plan pin number clutched in our hand and are hoping the Ford 6.4 meets all expectations. Our needs have changed..nothing else..so a diesel in in our future.
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