Diesel versus Gasoline Engine

[JohnE]

MY guys love the Sprinters, the fellows in the E350's can't wait to trade up.

My next van will be a Sprinter. The 19 - 21 mpg is with a somewhat loaded van?

 

[Energy-Miser]

we used chevy one ton vans since 1989 -- replacing them every five years. now we carry a full load all the time! we always had the 350 gasoline engine and the average true milage was right at 8 mpg! we would service the vans every 3000 miles and seldom had problems and got about 150,000 miles in their five year stint with us.. then, one year i was shopping for a new van and the salesman made me an offer on a 2000 diesel with extended body--one ton-- for 22k! this was cheaper than the other dealers with the 350 gasoline engine. i bought the diesel. it also had the all the bins in it set up for our trade! my milage doubled!! 16 mpg loaded or unloaded!! and more power. i found out later the salesman made a 3k mistake -- it was supposed to go for 25k.. i am sold on diesels and have since went diesel in my pickup trucks --- dodge 3500 ---2003 ---168,000 miles--no problems--22 mpg -- basic cost difference is about 5k and you have your money back inside three years--better resale also. i look at the cost of diesel fuel(which i believe to be pure BS) that i get twice the distance per gallon of that of gasoline. and with the increased cost of fuel that payback is alot less today... warmup should not be much difference than gasoline engines -- did they leave the thermostat out??? i've got warm air coming out of my vents within two blocks of my driveway!!!

That all speaks well of diesel. They are pretty pricy though for my budget, maybe a used one for me!

 

[Energy-Miser]

I found a thread titled "Trucks or Vans" posted near the end of October has a lively discussion on diesel vs gasoline if you want to check it out. e/m.

 

[Rampage_Rick]

... my milage doubled!! 16 mpg loaded or unloaded!! and more power. i found out later the salesman made a 3k mistake -- it was supposed to go for 25k.. i am sold on diesels and have since went diesel in my pickup trucks

I was just talking to my grandfather last night (he's a land surveyor working into his 70's) He's upgraded to the greatest Jeep Grand Cherokee every couple of years for as long as I can remember. He just traded in his 2005 gas for a 2007 diesel. (Had it shipped across the country from Ontario)

Where he is the price of diesel is on par with gas. The first thing he noticed was double the milage. Where he lives it's all hillside terrain, so I'm thinking that all that extra torque comes into play.

Right now I've got an LR4 4.8L Vortec in my truck. Should that go south I'd pick up a diesel at the wrecker and stick it in.

 

[brian john]

More than somewhat loaded..When I drove to Florida it was packed to the roof. The techs driving them have them loaded like a standard work van.

 

[cschmid]

man I love it Brian is stuck in dodge van mode permanently (he he)..I just had my diesel p/u replaced with a 350 gas p/u..My diesel was 4x4 and ran it fully geared up and stocked up I averaged 18 miles to the gallon and on cold days I could leave it run and it would always be warm..I had to plug it in so it would start easier when it got in the single digits and colder..If you plug it in it does not eat starters or batteries..the starters and alternators are the same price as gas..I tow regularly and I loved the truck..my boss hated it it was a deisel..I now have a 2 wheel drive 350 v-8 gas 1-ton..fully geared up and fully stocked..It gets 12 miles to the gallon on a good day and if you hook up a trailer then it is 8 mpg add some real weight to it and it is 6 mpg..I have gone from 100 dollars of fuel every 10 days to 100 dollars every five days..I miss my 4x4 in the snow but other wise it is as nice of a truck as the one I got ride of..the worst advantage is that it is always cold you can not afford to leave it run..So the only expense I can see difference is gas mileage and 2 quarts of oil extra in the oil change..the 350 takes 5 quarts and the diesel takes 7 quarts..the cost is an easy 5k when new but less than 2k used..I had 375,000 on the one I just got ride of and yes the engine outlasts the body by a long shot..

 

[scubad3932]

Love Diesel

Love Diesel

I got a Diesel Pick-up truck and I live in MA. I have an outside recp on a time clock for the block heater during the winter. And a remote start for it. It never blows cold air for me in the morning

Much better mpg with the amount of weight I tow around.

 

[Energy-Miser]

I got a Diesel Pick-up truck and I live in MA. I have an outside recp on a time clock for the block heater during the winter. And a remote start for it. It never blows cold air for me in the morning

Much better mpg with the amount of weight I tow around.

Is the noise as much a problem as someone mentioned earlier, or is it comparable to gasoline engine in that regard? e/m

 

[Energy-Miser]

yes the engine outlasts the body by a long shot..

Why didn't you get another diesel?

 

[Energy-Miser]

I was just talking to my grandfather last night (he's a land surveyor working into his 70's) He's upgraded to the greatest Jeep Grand Cherokee every couple of years for as long as I can remember. He just traded in his 2005 gas for a 2007 diesel. (Had it shipped across the country from Ontario)

Where he is the price of diesel is on par with gas. The first thing he noticed was double the milage. Where he lives it's all hillside terrain, so I'm thinking that all that extra torque comes into play.

Right now I've got an LR4 4.8L Vortec in my truck. Should that go south I'd pick up a diesel at the wrecker and stick it in.

What is the price of diesel per gallon out your way at this time (late nov. early dec.)?

 

[brian john]

Our early F250 were loud and HOT in the cab, the newer trucks and vans are quite.

 

[Energy-Miser]

Our early F250 were loud and HOT in the cab, the newer trucks and vans are quite.

Nice, I guess there is a new breed of diesels out there. Some even can be run on vegatable oil, in a pinch?

 

[scubad3932]

Not that load

Not that load

When its cold and starts to warm up and can be a bit noise. But you would have to have the windows open in the house to really hear it. My bedroom is right next to my driveway and it doesn;t wake the wife up or the kid in the morning.

 

[Energy-Miser]

When its cold and starts to warm up and can be a bit noise. But you would have to have the windows open in the house to really hear it. My bedroom is right next to my driveway and it doesn;t wake the wife up or the kid in the morning.

Repairs are not any costlier than the gas engines?

 

[scubad3932]

Diesel

Diesel

I have an 06 ford f-350 Haven't had to to fix anything in it yet.... plus the warrenty is 5years 100,000 so got 4 years to go... also at 0% finance it was my best buy i think so far.

 

[jamesguy10]

i got a v6 gas pickup truck with toolboxes and a ladder rack. 21mpg. When i need to bring lots of stuff i have a trailer

 

[cschmid]

Why didn't you get another diesel?

Boss does not like diesel..it has a odor that he does not like..wonder if he likes carbon dioxide when it drifts around through a window..I bet when I ask for new truck and it is diesel he will be more on band wagon after couple years of fuel bills..bummer my 350 spit the water pump today that will cost some cash monday morning..

 

[Energy-Miser]

Boss does not like diesel..it has a odor that he does not like..wonder if he likes carbon dioxide when it drifts around through a window..I bet when I ask for new truck and it is diesel he will be more on band wagon after couple years of fuel bills..bummer my 350 spit the water pump today that will cost some cash monday morning..

Are you guys the ones with all the ice and snow right now? Did the water pump freeze up?

 

[hillbilly]

Didn't know that about diesels (that they take so much longer to warm up). It will be more of a problem in Mass. were it is fairly cold most of the year. I am wondering if anyone makes an auxiliary electric heater designed for the vehicles to be used while the engine is still warming up. e/m.

How about this?

www.harborfreight.com

They have a small 12V heater that plugs into the cigarette lighter.

steve

 

[Energy-Miser]

How about this?

www.harborfreight.com

They have a small 12V heater that plugs into the cigarette lighter.

steve

Thanks. I was thinking of buying some tools from them, does anyone recommend them, based on the brands they carry? e/m.