back to gas v diesel

rhagfo wrote:

msmith1.wa wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

frankwp wrote:
I'll have to try driving a new diesel. When I got my 8.1 in 2003, I drove a duramax to compare and was most underwhelmed. So not worth the $$$. But that was then & this is now & things have changed big time.

You should because things have changed a lot just like you said. Back when you bought your big block it had 340 HP and the diesel had only 300 HP. 40 HP is a big difference and couple that with the instant HP feel that the gas engine gives is going to be a lot.

Nothing wrong with kicking tires.

I'm curious how heavy of a trailer you towed with your 8.1 and what kind of mileage you got while towing?

I also have an 03 8.1. It is in a Silverado. My toy hauler is a little under 10,000 lbs empty and has a gross rating of 12,900 lbs. and I am close to the max if I fill the water tanks and have all of the atv's.

I get about 6mpg towing this trailer. It is very tall for a bumper hitch rig at about 13' high per the brochure.

Well 6 mpg, compared to 10 to 12 mpg pulling the same load, that is as much as 100% better fuel mileage.
So 1,000 miles of towing, at 6 mpg would be 166.7 gallons, at 12 mpg would be 83.3 gallons. then at $3.50 per gallon 166.7 gallons would be $583.45, at 12 mpg $291.55 difference of $291.90 now the $10,000 of difference in cost for a diesel. $10,000 divided by 291.90 equals 34.25, or break even in 34,250 miles of towing.

On a side note Msmith1.wa, states Tacoma, Wa. as home so those fuel prices are true, gas and diesel in the PNW have been neck and neck for the last several years.

You did not include the cost of oil changes. The most I paid on my FRED was $185. It was never less than $90. I pay far less for oil changes on my V-10.

DEF is an extra--and on my FRED (1987) I had to add a fuel supplement.

I average about 10 mpg on my v-10--by driving slowly.

I finally abandoned the FRED in 2009--Parts were scares and it really needed a new motor. Mechanical things were failing--and I was going to have to repair the power steering for a 2nd time. I allowed $0.40 cents per mile for maintenance.

The House was still serviceable but needed to be spruced up. Total costs were going to exceed $30,000.00. I bought a five year old class c with about 400 miles on the clock--no water ever in the tanks. No slides. Cost was $35,000.00.

I've had tires, brakes, and one mass flow air sensor go on the v-10.

I would NEVER consider a diesel. I would consider a BEV.