Diesel,,,, the rest of the story??
As some of you may have read, I need to buy a bigger truck and am considering a dually ( among other things ). I've also found a few newer trucks with diesel engines that fall into my budget, but dies...
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I don't see the 10% difference in regular gas versus diesel in the western states where I drive. In CA at this time I can buy regular for $3.65 anywhere but the cheapest diesel within 20 miles of my house is selling at $4.50 a gallon. I hardly pays to drive 40 miles round trip and burn $16 in diesel to find a station where I can save 20 cents a gallon.
My diesel truck cost $9,000 more for the Duramax engine and Allison transmission. To drive 100,000 miles with the truck at current fuel prices I will pay $34,615 for diesel fuel or $36,500 with a gas engine - asssuming that I get 30% better fuel economy with the diesel engine. I save $1885 in fuel costs but will pay $1300 more for the diesel engines oil and filter changes over those 100,000 miles for a net savings of $585.
So I spend an extra $9,000 but over a period of 100,000 miles I save $585 in fuel costs after factoring in maintenance. Even ignoring the greater maintenance costs for the diesel the fuel savings would require driving the truck for 477,000 miles to break even and recover the higher purchase price.
If one assumes a $4,000 higher resale value for the truck and only adds $5,000 to the higher price for a diesel pickup the recovery time is still more than 200,000 miles.
Anyone who thinks that buying a diesel pickup is going to save themselves money is delusional and probably thinks that invading and occupying foreign countries for their oil is going to reduce the number of "terrorists" who have the affront to try and defend their families from our soldiers.
Diesels provide more power and better engine braking and that is worth the additional cost. You get what you pay for in this case but you still have to pay. There is no free lunch.
My diesel truck cost $9,000 more for the Duramax engine and Allison transmission. To drive 100,000 miles with the truck at current fuel prices I will pay $34,615 for diesel fuel or $36,500 with a gas engine - asssuming that I get 30% better fuel economy with the diesel engine. I save $1885 in fuel costs but will pay $1300 more for the diesel engines oil and filter changes over those 100,000 miles for a net savings of $585.
So I spend an extra $9,000 but over a period of 100,000 miles I save $585 in fuel costs after factoring in maintenance. Even ignoring the greater maintenance costs for the diesel the fuel savings would require driving the truck for 477,000 miles to break even and recover the higher purchase price.
If one assumes a $4,000 higher resale value for the truck and only adds $5,000 to the higher price for a diesel pickup the recovery time is still more than 200,000 miles.
Anyone who thinks that buying a diesel pickup is going to save themselves money is delusional and probably thinks that invading and occupying foreign countries for their oil is going to reduce the number of "terrorists" who have the affront to try and defend their families from our soldiers.
Diesels provide more power and better engine braking and that is worth the additional cost. You get what you pay for in this case but you still have to pay. There is no free lunch.
