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Open Roads Forum  >  Tow Vehicles

 > Diesel vs. v-10 useage costs.

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Chief Modo 1941

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:17pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Towing deisel vs V-10. Do the math folks. Diesel's pr.p.g. v gas pr.p.g. and figure in your mileage. Add it up and gas useage w/less mpg is cheaper than diesel w/one to two more mpg. !!! Hellowwww!

LostinAZ

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:24pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I think some key elements have been overlooked. Diesel fuel is now less expensive than gasoline here. Length of useable life comparison of the two engines. I suspect the mileage difference is larger than you expect.

powderman426

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:25pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

There's more to it than just cost. If only it was that easy. Just ask someone who has had both.


Ron & Charlotte
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gmcsmoke

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:34pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

V-10's are a dime a dozen so this is a relevant topic.

Cummins12V98

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:36pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Let's see Diesel, no spark plugs, cap, rotor, pvc valve. Don't need earplugs with Diesel pulling big grades (screaming engine).

Better re sale value Diesel. Much better wear on brakes with Diesel with exhaust brake.

What gas engine could pull my RV in sig on a 6 percent grade at 55 mph?


2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn 3500 Dually Long Bed, Cummins 350/800 HO, Towin Machine
B&W Companion Hitch, Maghytec Trans and Rear Dif Covers, AMZ/OIL Top To Bottom
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fla-gypsy

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:40pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

LostinAZ wrote:

I think some key elements have been overlooked. Diesel fuel is now less expensive than gasoline here. Length of useable life comparison of the two engines. I suspect the mileage difference is larger than you expect.


The cost of the fuel may be cheaper where you are but that is not true for most of the country. .40 to .50 a gallon more for diesel in most of the states. Most folks never cycle their diesel or gasoline engine out of it's usable life span either so longevity is not a key indicator. Diesel certainly has the advantage for sheer towing power but then if you have more than you need there was a cost for that too. It doesn't matter what folks choose to me as long as their happy with and can afford what they have.


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NewsW

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:44pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Any EPA 2003 or later light duty diesel that is towing say, 10,000lbs or less:

- will be much more expensive to maintain than gas

- service will be harder to find / get done well

- fuel cost is about par after adjusting for cost vs. mileage

- cost of diesel is higher to begin with

Net: there is no cost advantage IF you do not need the power from the diesel over and above what a gas engine can provide.

BenK

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:48pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

More normalizing is required...

The OP uses 'price per gallon', but not even playing field there. BTU's per
gallon is different, therefore more energy in one vs the other

Locally, diesel cost more per gallon than gasoline.

Locally, there are no good diesel mechanics. Mine won't touch them
because he doesn't know enough about them and he is a Master ASE

Both gasser and diesel are Ottoman (4 cycle), but one has a much higher compression
ratio, therefore much higher PSI's on the piston top. But then a rat hole discussion
on the merits of that without the stroke (offset of the crank) and other factors
that play

Cost of spark plugs, etc (tune up) is valid, but for now, another aspect to consider
is the EPA SMOG controls that are nibbling at the old metrics of diesel

For me, bottom line is buy whatever you wish and be happy about it, but don't
push your metrics or reasons why onto me and my choices. It may make
sense to you, but I've reading up on diesel for a while and decided
not worth it to 'me'...


-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...

Turtle n Peeps

California

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:49pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Chief Modo 1941 wrote:

Towing deisel vs V-10. Do the math folks. Diesel's pr.p.g. v gas pr.p.g. and figure in your mileage. Add it up and gas useage w/less mpg is cheaper than diesel w/one to two more mpg. !!! Hellowwww!


I don't know where you get your 1 to 2 MPG figure from but I have owned both and my diesels got 3 to 4 MPG better pulling the exact same trailer. They got 7 to 8 MPG better solo. All three had 3.73 rear ends in them. Now if you go 6.4 to a V10 then you have a point.

Must be new math?


~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~


"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"


C.B.

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Posted: 06/18/12 01:51pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

When I was researching the cost of a new Ford F-550 tow truck in late 2007 I projected out the cost of fuel,oil changes,filters,(air-oil-fuel)for 100,000 miles diesel versus gas.

For MPG I used 10 mpg diesel and 5 mpg gas.

The 10 mpg was from past experience with diesel tow trucks.
The 5 mpg was a guesstimate. Now actual with the V-10 gasser is 7.

At the time diesel was .30 cents a gal more than gas. Over time diesel has gone as high as 60 cents a gal more than gas.


Projected savings including not paying $7000.00 more for the diesel totaled up to more than $30,000.00.

That being said,for the tow truck I went the gas route.

For towing my 12,000lb fifth wheel I'll always have diesel.


C.B.

PS The sparkplug ,cap rotor,plug wire,bull doesn't fly anymore.
Gas engines are running 1000,000 miles without tuneups.


CBVP2004~FORD~F350~CC~LARIAT~SRW~SB~4X4~6.0D~
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PRODIGY CONTROLLER~C-BETR MIRRORS~
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