Diesel Gas Mileage and Reliability???
I am researching a new truck and am considering a diesel (not sure which one yet) or a Toyota Tundra with the 5.7 liter engine. Whatever I get, it will be a used one. I have read about all of the ma...
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With reliability and total ownership cost as the prime considerations I would recommend a gasser. I don't know much about the foreign ones but a good half ton truck or suv from the Big 3 all seem to be good. I have had a few older gassers before and besides maintenance the engines themselves were rock stable it was just the accessories and body power options that occassionally needed service. No need for plugging in, special fuels/additives, expensive quirks which some diesel have.
I had a V10 Excursion that got 16 mpg empty and 7-9 mpg towing 8500# TT.
My current TV which has some mods can get 23 mpg empty (15 avg) and towing same TT get 12+ mpg. I just towed a more aerodynamic car hauler trailer with an empty F250 about 10K and got 15 mpg which is only slightly less than the gasser Ex (6.8L) and Navigator (5.4 4V) which were both around 16 mpg would get empty. While I can speak on its towing power (great), cost of ownership/modding (high), I can't speak on reliability because I haven't put a lot of miles on it yet but this drivetrain has a bad reputation.
I had a V10 Excursion that got 16 mpg empty and 7-9 mpg towing 8500# TT.
My current TV which has some mods can get 23 mpg empty (15 avg) and towing same TT get 12+ mpg. I just towed a more aerodynamic car hauler trailer with an empty F250 about 10K and got 15 mpg which is only slightly less than the gasser Ex (6.8L) and Navigator (5.4 4V) which were both around 16 mpg would get empty. While I can speak on its towing power (great), cost of ownership/modding (high), I can't speak on reliability because I haven't put a lot of miles on it yet but this drivetrain has a bad reputation.
bowler1 wrote:
My ultimate goal is reliability, lowest total ownership cost, and towing performance—in that order. Total ownership cost will depend largely on gas mileage both towing and not towing.
For those of you who own diesels, what gas mileage do you get when towing at roughly 65mph and with what weight trailer? How about when not towing?
My other question is about reliability. I have heard people say that a diesel will last forever, but have also heard that some of the Ford engines can be very maintenance intensive and I understand that fixing a diesel can be pricey.
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Edit: I don't need a diesel necessarily. My trailer is only 5k pounds. I may upgrade to something bigger in the future. I just don't like the really, really crappy gas mileage I currently get towing---7-8 mpg with my 06 Tundra (a little underpowered and only gets 14 on the highway unloaded).
Matt
