fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Jayco-noslide wrote:What gives with the fuel economy (or lack thereof)of diesels? I thought one bought a diesel at least in part for the fuel economy. I just read a consumer report test
Herein lies the problem! They hate all things American made, powerful, and big.
09 SuperDuty Crew Cab 6.8L/4.10(The Black Pearl)
06 Keystone Hornet 29 RLS/(The Cracker Cabana)
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2oldman
Winchester WA
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Joined: 04/15/2001
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Turtle n Peeps wrote:diesel fuel has about 14,000 more BTU's/ gallon..a basis in fact that diesels get better mileage per power output. That would be a good reason. Sure doesn't translate to better MPG on my truck, but it pulls like crazy. Thanks.
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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2oldman wrote:Turtle n Peeps wrote:diesel fuel has about 14,000 more BTU's/ gallon..a basis in fact that diesels get better mileage per power output. That would be a good reason. Sure doesn't translate to better MPG on my truck, but it pulls like crazy. Thanks.
I do not agree with TnP's analogy. I think that the higher BTU rating of diesel fuel only translates to more power output based on more potential energy available. There is not always a direct correlation to fuel economy unless all factors between two vehicles are identical. Then the energy potential in diesel translates to fuel economy. It is also a great marketing strategy to charge more for it!
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kaydeejay
SE Michigan, USA
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downtheroad wrote:The only time I see 12-13 is towing. ALL the rest of the time I get better mileage. x2, between 19 and 20mpg when not towing.
Keith J.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver.
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD CC/SB/DA 2WD, LBZ air cleaner, 52 gal Titan tank, Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax cover, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors, TST TPMS.
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Turtle n Peeps
California
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2oldman wrote:Turtle n Peeps wrote:diesel fuel has about 14,000 more BTU's/ gallon..a basis in fact that diesels get better mileage per power output. That would be a good reason. Sure doesn't translate to better MPG on my truck, but it pulls like crazy. Thanks.
I have a direct comparison.
Used to have a 1500 69 Chevy with a smallblock. It was a 350/400/3.73-12B. It got 9 to 10 MPG towing the trailer I have now. It got right at 12 solo.
I have a 2500 93 Chevy with a 6.5 diesel. It is a 6.5/4L80E/4.11 rear. It gets 12 to 13 towing the same trailer as above and about 18 to 19 solo.
I have a 2500 06 Chevy with a 6.6 diesel. It is a 6.6/Allie/3.73 rear. It gets about 12 to 13 towing the same trailer as above and about 16 to 17 solo.
My diesels ALWAYS pulls down WAY better mileage (not even close if you look at the figures) than my gas trucks.
Just as a side note my 5.7 diesel gets better mileage at 30 than my Mazda Protege does at 28 MPG. It can't tow much at 105 HP though. 
ALL of my diesels were WAY less maintenance than my gas truck. Although the 6.5 did blow a headgasket at 130K. (But then again the
69 needed a new cam and rebuild at 100K so that was about a wash.
So all of that say diesels cost more to drive I say this:
You have to buy the CORRECT diesel because some can cost a LOT more to drive. 
I think Ricochet has a great list of those to buy. He also has some great links on what mechanics say not to by.
~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~
"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"
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Turtle n Peeps
California
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fla-gypsy wrote:2oldman wrote:Turtle n Peeps wrote:diesel fuel has about 14,000 more BTU's/ gallon..a basis in fact that diesels get better mileage per power output. That would be a good reason. Sure doesn't translate to better MPG on my truck, but it pulls like crazy. Thanks.
I do not agree with TnP's analogy. I think that the higher BTU rating of diesel fuel only translates to more power output based on more potential energy available. There is not always a direct correlation to fuel economy unless all factors between two vehicles are identical. Then the energy potential in diesel translates to fuel economy. It is also a great marketing strategy to charge more for it!
Tell you what. You put 1 gallon of E10 in an empty gas tank of the truck of your choice and I will put straight gasoline in the same exact truck and we will go for a little drive.
Same everything, it's just that you get a little alkie in your gasoline and I don't. Want to put a 100 spot on who goes further?
Or, if you like. I will put straight #2 into my diesel tank and you put straight Bio in your tank. Same truck, same engine, same everything except the fuel. Want to put a 100 spot on who goes further?
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aclay
WA
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Joined: 06/30/2011
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I've had my Chevy 3500, SRW, 4x4, Crew Cab duramax for about 3 weeks. No load in non-hwy driving (commuting on back roads) I'm getting ~15mpg (maybe close to 16). Towing (my 26BH, ~7k lbs) I'm getting 12-13mpg. I'm pretty happy overall with this, especially given the power it has.
2012 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax, 2013 Sprinter 311BHS, DW, 3 boys, & a dog...
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elkhorn98
Santa Rosa, California
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Comparing a 1/2 ton gas to a 3/4 ton diesel is not apples to apples. What mileage would a 1/2 ton diesel truck get...much better than a similar gasser. A 1/2 ton can work for some people though so it is a option if your not towing super heavy loads.
Elkhorn98
2010 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4x4 Duramax/Allison w/45 gal Transfer Flow Tank
RBW X16 Slider, Yamaha EF 2400iS
2007 Springdale 245 5th Wheel - E-Z Flex HD Suspension & Mobile Outfitters Shock Kit Upgrades
with Firestone Transforce Ht Lt 2357515 C tires
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John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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2oldman wrote:I don't know if the 'better mileage' with diesel is a myth or if there's any basis in fact to this.
Good morning. Absolutely based in fact. Diesel cars routinely get 30 percent more for the diesel version.
2003 Revolution 40C Class A. 2002 Vanguard 22 foot Class C. Diesel smart car Toad or pulling a 2009 Timeout Tent Trailer.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but rather by the moments that take our breath away.
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mpfireman
Cook County Il
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Joined: 12/26/2003
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Just returned from Ecuador yesterday, Diesel was at 1.05 a GALLON, not a liter. Reg gas at about the same price, premium fuel at around 2$. LOTS of Diesel powered small trucks, like the Ford Ranger, ETC on the road, but not to many diesel cars.
I really dough that the newer diesel trucks will get the same milage as our older one's do.
1998.5 Dodge Ram Quad Cab Cummins
1998 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver
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