Gas vs Diesel - again

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lavacarancher

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There has been a lot posted here on this subject but no numbers so I decided to try a little scientific (very little) application and would like to hear some of your thoughts on how far off I am.

First, the numbers are off the web site(s). I made several assumptions and set limits. I used GM first because all the numbers were easy to find unlike Ford or Dodge.

1) Assume 100000 miles as wear out
2) Assume the diesel gets 18 mpg average
3) Assume the gasser gets 15 mpg average
4) Assume a $10000 differential between diesel and gas in original cost
5) Assume diesel cost is $4.00/gal; Gas is $3.50/gal

Both vehicles have a 100000 mile warranty so no maintenance costs were used. Towing capacity for the diesel with 3.73 gears is around 12000 lbs/ gas is 9600 lbs.Allison transmission is available for the diesel, 6L90 for the gasser and this may be an issue for maintenance.

Based on the cost of fuel the diesel will cost around $800 LESS to operate over the course of 100000 miles than the gasser. Not enough, in my opinion, to offset the cost differential in original purchase price.

Wife and I are ready to retire from our day jobs and we plan to purchase a fifth wheel travel trailer and the one we are looking at weighs in at around 11000 lbs - too much for the gasser. Hauling cattle is done so infrequently and over such a short distance I don't think it's an issue for either diesel or gas.

We can scale back on the travel trailer and go with the gasser and I think we will be OK. Now if I could find the data for Ford and Dodge. Ford doesn't offer 3.73 gears for the diesel but rather 3.08. This significanly reduces towing capacity so maybe that's the reason they don't make that data readily available. Dodge I just don't know about. Don't like the option line up, they still offer the Cummins even though last year was supposed to be the last year for Cummins and I have no clue about their automatic transmission.

Some of you have stated the maintenance costs for diesel is a lot higher than gas but I have not found that to be true. The ONLY problem I've had with my diesel was I popped the engine at 30K miles and it was fixed under warranty. It has lasted for another 170K miles with absolutely no maintenance (except oil, transmission maintenance and cooling system maintenance). I understand IF you do have something go really wrong it could get ugly. I know an injector job on the Duramax will run you around $7K to 10K to get them replaced - and that's stronger than dirt.
 
Your mpg are for driving unloaded without a trailer? The diesel will get way better mpg towing a load than a gas vehicle. We have pulled the same stock trailer with a GM 2500 gas and 2500 diesel in the same week on 800 mi. round trip. The diesel got 5-6 mpg better with the cruise set on 70mph. A diesel cost a lot more in maintance than a gas. Just in oil changes alone 3 times as much, fuel filters are 8 times more, air cleaners are 4 times more for a diesel than a gas engine. I bought a new Dodge dually last year on price alone and I will buy another seems to be a good truck so far.
 
I am a big believer in gas trucks for the mahority of people but if I was hooked up to a camper and traveling any kind of distance it would be a diesel... no question.


On a related note a compressor mechanic I know had like an 05 Chevy 4 dr diesel with a big utility bed, crane, air compressor... the works. Got 15mpg with it all the time. The company he works for went to gas motors. He has a brand new F350 all decked out with his tools and stuff. Gets 7mpg.... 5mpg towing thier wash trailer. :shock: I know oil changes and maintenance are expensive but 5mpg...
 
I have been a long time diesel fan, run them into 300-500 k range alot.Even a few into 6-700 k range. These were all hot shot trucks pulling 40' G/N trailers. Now with the way the diesel trucks are, I am not sure the same reliability will be there as with the older trucks. Repairs will be expensive. I really do not see how anyone can come out $$ wise running a diesel 100k miles and trading it off.
The new gas motors like Fords 6.4 is impressive. I used one to haul back an old crew cab ford I had at the ranch. Truck avarged 17mpg pulling an empty 3500lb trailer on trip up and with truck loaded with posts in the bed of crewcab on way back it got around 13-14mpg, had to be an easy 12k being pulled, plenty of power on tap. I also did a team drive from Corpus Christi, Tx to Williston ND in this truck.We left friday @ 5pm and got back to Corpus Monday @ 2am. average mpg was 14.5....not bad if you consider the speeds we were doing.
If its a tall 5ver, wind drag will be a major problem and more a problem for the gasser vs diesel. Pulling 5ver, especially if pulling alot, I would have to go with diesel untill I saw more info on the 6.4 gasser i.e. towing mpg,durability etc.
 
Thanks for the responses. I really like the diesel, or at least I like my Duramax. Just rolled over to 200K and still going strong.

Do any of you know if the light duty pickups (2500/3500, F250/F350 or Dodge 2500/3500) have tier 4 engines? I keep hearing the new diesels have to change out a urethane cannister ever few hundred miles in order to meet the EPA standards. This may be a requirement for over-the-road trucks - don't know about pickups.

Again, thanks. I'll let you know what I get but right now I'm still leaning towards the diesel.
 
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