Diesel vs. gas

[agm]

I was considering switching from gas to a diesel truck. The only draw back I have is that diesel is so much more expensive! How many of you have done this and was it worth it? I also have noticed that the price of a new diesel truck has dropped significantly in the past few months, so if I was going to do it, now would be the time.

[nosparkplugs]

I switched to diesel, and still with diesel at $4.60 gal today cost me over $153.00 to fill my truck. I am able to haul the equipment I need to daily without a struggle with decent 13-16 MPG, lower ownership costs than gasoline trucks. Make a decision on what you need, not what others want for you. Gasoline prices are at or above $4.00 per gallon, so the gap between diesel & gasoline fuel prices is closing quick; however it's still not enough to justify the diesel purchase depending on who you talk with. 3/4 or 1 ton Diesel trucks are the bread & butter sales for the auto manufactures, and right now is a great time to purchase a diesel truck. Dodge is offering a $2.99 a gallon fuel or $800.00 fuel card estimated 12,000 miles driven per year for three years, on any new diesel or gasoline truck purchase, plus additional rebates on top of that. Ford & chevy have similar rebates & incentives

[agm]

Thanks. Anyone else have an opinion?

[TwistedSister]

Diesel is good if it is a work only truck. If its also a personal vehicle, its kind of a waste. Diesels are a lot cheaper now that diesel is up. Not only are dealerships selling them cheap, but a lot of other people are selling theirs cheap to just get rid of them quick since they cant afford the gas. Does anyone know why diesel was cheaper than gas but is now more expensive?

[KingMoneyNYC]

I was thinking of switching my 2004 tundra, which I like a lot, for a sprinter box truck which would get me way better MPGs. It would also cost me $8000-$10000 more, so as someone said on this site a lot of times you save more if you avoid all the upgrading and downgrading.

How much extra would it cost get the new truck right now? how much in gas would it save you per year?

[mngrassguy]

I've found the improved fuel mileage outways the differece in fuel costs. I've been told low sulfer fuel is more expensive to produce but I think thats a crock....

[nosparkplugs]

I've found the improved fuel mileage outways the differece in fuel costs. I've been told low sulfer fuel is more expensive to produce but I think thats a crock....

thank you, I have been preaching that for years

[trinity1]

I have a diesel and a regular gas truck and I get much better milage in the diesel truck. I wish iIcould get the f150 into my trailer I would drop the truck and my guys off at there lawns in the morning to save gas.

[nosparkplugs]

I have a diesel and a regular gas truck and I get much better milage in the diesel truck. I wish iIcould get the f150 into my trailer I would drop the truck and my guys off at there lawns in the morning to save gas.

The big three will be offering 1/2 ton diesels in late 2009.

[XterraJohn]

Does anyone know why diesel was cheaper than gas but is now more expensive?

From what I understand, it is because the refineries have no more capacity for taking the sulfur out of diesel fuel to make it have an "ultra" low sulfur content.

[CAT MAN]

ultra low sulfer diesel is fine to make it burn better what I dont like is the DPF filters on the new diesels made fuel millage and to quite for me.

[hosejockey2002]

To me it boils down to two things- Your needs as far as towing power, and how many miles do you run.

Me, I run less than 10,000 miles a year, tow just 2000 lbs. regularly and 5,000 pounds every once in a while. My 6.0 gas Chevy was $10,000 cheaper than the same Duramax truck, and with gas around here 90 cents cheaper than diesel per gallon the truck will be a pile of rust long before the fuel mileage difference pays off. The gas engine has way more than adequate power for my needs.

On the other hand, if you tow around 7500 pounds or more daily or run 25-30K miles per year or more, the diesel will probably suit your needs better. The gasser will tow these loads, but durability and mileage really begin to suffer towing 10,000 pounds or more.

[Cornraker]

i actually heard that ford and chevy will stop production of their trucks in 2009

[doubleedge]

i actually heard that ford and chevy will stop production of their trucks in 2009

From who? YOur drug dealer? Just kidding, but they would never do that.

[quadmxpunk13]

ford has stopped thier production of f250's and f350's for june and july this summer due to lackluster sales. ford has never understood what mpg means and now they are suffering. i personally drive a 2006 tacoma trd double cab and love it. it has a rear locker, 4.11 gears, electrical outlet in the bed, and can tow my 5-6000lb trailer. it comes stock prewired for trailer brakes, and has a tranny cooler. its all about what you NEED, not want. i want a 2500 cummins, but only need a tacoma.

Like the previous guy said, the big 3 will have diesel 1/2 tons out in 2009 that get 20-30mpg. chevy will have the hybrid trucks out. Mahindra will have thier 40mpg diesel out. Toyota and nissan will both have diesels. IMHO wait a year, cuz 2009 will have new trucks and engines from every manufacturer. Heck, even Kia is making a truck.

[nosparkplugs]

diesel's are now averaging 40% better fuel efficiency over gasoline engines, Ethanol usage in gasoline is increasing in cars & trucks,and while it's clean burning it has a lower BTU rating, burns cooler less energy. Remember thermal efficiency is how the SAE rates engine efficiency: diesel is 145,00BTU's minimal VS 135,000BTU's gasoline. The Toyota Prius hybrid at 48.1MPG VS the BMW 520(d) diesel 53MPG driving the same 545 miles. This should not be? according to the Hybrid "cult"; however it's simple physics diesels are thermally more efficient, and when applied to the light & medium truck segment the Hybrid truck will never be accepted as a economical towing vehicle. Those who have not considered diesel trucks will be realizing that although diesel fuel costs more, the overall savings still outweigh the initial higher cost of the diesel engine.

[XterraJohn]

diesel's are now averaging 40% better fuel efficiency over gasoline engines,

I've been reading the threads in the truck forums. This may have been true for the pre-DPF diesels, but, the numbers I've been hearing from owners of NEW diesels make it sound like they're not much, if any, better than a gasser when it comes to mileage, IMO.

[nosparkplugs]

Their, are now DPF tuners that better control the fuel hogging, soot burn off cycles. The Cummins displacement was increased from 5.9L to 6.7L & variable geometry turbo to compensate for the Tier III diesel emission laws so in theory should be more powerful & fuel efficient (no replacement for displacement), Dieselpower magazine has already taken a new 6.7, and upgraded/modified all the engine systems: DPF tuner, aftermarket DPF 5" exhaust, cold air intake, FASS fuel system, and spanked the HP & Torque, MPG off the legendary 5.9L Cummins all while not voiding the factory warranty. Fact is ten years from now we will look back at this time,and wish we had these complicated DPF diesels. Same as when the 7.3L powerstroke was introduced back then complicated, now Ford lovers look back? Wishing Ford still built the simple venerable 7.3L. The after market diesel industry is a multi-million dollar machine, and the new diesel programers are filling up the stores.

[XterraJohn]

Were they able to increase the gas mileage when they did all of that? I imagine so, if the driver can keep from using all of that extra power all of the time. :laugh:

[nosparkplugs]

yes, got 18MPG; however this budget/pats was funded buy the aftermarket industry. We will benefit from all the money spend buy the programer companies to improve the new diesel engine performance, and from the looks the price for a DPF programer about $350-$500 will pay for itself in the money saved on diesel fuel. Thats all that is really required to increase the MPG on the DPF diesels.

[Martin Mowing]

Wow! Everyone has posted very logical and factual responses, I'm impressed! I just bought a 2006 Dodge diesel, quad cab 4x4 big horn yada yada yada, and people ask me, "why did you buy a diesel." Well first of all I like them, but when I compare what my Chevy 1500 was getting on mpg (13-15) vs what my new truck gets (18-20) it is cheaper to run the diesel even with the increased price of diesel. In my area, however gas is going up right now and diesel is coming down, only about a 50cent gap right now.

The purchase price was higher than a gasser but now is a really good time to buy a diesel if you want one. I found what was already mentioned on here, people are having problems selling their used diesels for book value.

It is also very nice to be able to hook on to almost any trailer and tow it without any problems. The trailer I tow most of the time is only a 16 footer with usually less than 5000lbs on it. The half ton could handle it as long as I wasn't pushing a head wind and didn't have to much tongue weight.

Hopefully this discussion helps you decide, I just had all the same questions and ended up going with a diesel.

[agm]

I really appreciate all of the responses! I currently have a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500, Gas. Roughly, I only get about 7-10 mpg, in the city. I don't care how much I keep this thing tuned up, that's about all I get. I pull about 3500 lbs everyday. But what about maintenance wise, How much more expensive is all that? I like to do all maintenance on my own with my current truck. I am very familiar with gas powered engines, since I used to be a mechanic. But diesels, well, I am not very comfortable doing maintenance other than maybe oil changes and air filters. Are they much harder?

[POPO4995]

I'm torn on what to do with my Duramax. My MPG arent really great; towing/city 12-13, highway 15-16ish. My 5.9 V8 Dodge gets 13 on the highway and right now gas is $4.09 here, while diesel is $4.76. I love the power and just about everything that diesel provides, but just not sure if it's really worth it to me. I'm not thrilled about the idea of adding a programmer/tuner. My 6.0 Ford was F'ed up after the tuner so it has me leary of messing with my Duramax. Anyone have any ideas for better fuel economy?

[nosparkplugs]

Synthetic lubricants, Without going into great detail to much typing you can save thousands of dollars in oil changes/ PM. i know the Duramax is one of the most efficient diesels on the market, if your towing over 10,000 GTWR, and getting over 10MPG your doing good, city or highway. I really stopped keeping track of MPG, and know watch how much work I can get done on a tank of diesel; which lasts me three to four days. While i have talked to several other LCO, spray companies towing or hauling the same weight with gasoline trucks, and are filling up every other day. i get alot of questions about diesel trucks, from business owners who are hating their gasoline trucks. Regardless of the cost of diesel fuel or the engine option, business owners who have invested in new gasoline trucks, and are driving the crap out of them are regretting it now. I hear it weekly at the pumps. I guess folks would rather buy cheap gasoline trucks & whine about how it sucks towing, only to stop a diesel truck owner at the pump telling me how they wish they bought a diesel now?