Diesel vs gas......................
OK folks, there have been a few to many diesel vs gas threads that have shall we say gone to "Hell and a hand basket"! So if all of you would put in you BEST, no flaming reasons for going gas vs diese...
Forum Discussion
Prior to the long trip I mentioned, I averaged 13.999 mpg with my V10 since last November. The mpg was calculated using the actual gas put in the tank, actual mileage driven. The actual mileage driven included no load (to and from work), weekend loads (yards and yards of base rock, etc. plus other heavy materials) and towing a race car trailer every now and then. Even though the mpg is close to 14 mpg, mathematically I haven't been able to average over 13.9.
When I include this trip, my average over one year of use dropped to 12.2. If diesel is 70% more, I'd have to average 17.5 mpg with a diesel truck if the cost of fuel was the only factor to consider. Breaking that down for my specific use: for typical use, I'd have to average 19.9 mpg and then 12.9 mpg on 5000 mile road trips, for the fuel costs to be the same. Again, only the cost of fuel IF the cost of diesel magically was fixed at 70% greater than gas.
I've already found out that the truck we practically own (5 payments left) works fine. And, if we bought a "new" truck (we'd buy a used truck), we'd most likely buy one with a diesel. And, no matter how I calculate it, it would never be a better financial choice, for us, even if I adjusted the cost of diesel (lowered it). Why? I'd still have to include the difference in the cost of the "new/used" truck and the one we'd sell, assuming all other costs were equal (oil changes, etc.)
The only reason why we would consider it is to save a little time on long trips.
One item I have considered is strengthening the engine's rotating assembly and putting on a supercharger. Then, it's back to comparing the cost of that modification, maintenance and other repairs over time, to the cost of a newer truck with a diesel.
When I include this trip, my average over one year of use dropped to 12.2. If diesel is 70% more, I'd have to average 17.5 mpg with a diesel truck if the cost of fuel was the only factor to consider. Breaking that down for my specific use: for typical use, I'd have to average 19.9 mpg and then 12.9 mpg on 5000 mile road trips, for the fuel costs to be the same. Again, only the cost of fuel IF the cost of diesel magically was fixed at 70% greater than gas.
I've already found out that the truck we practically own (5 payments left) works fine. And, if we bought a "new" truck (we'd buy a used truck), we'd most likely buy one with a diesel. And, no matter how I calculate it, it would never be a better financial choice, for us, even if I adjusted the cost of diesel (lowered it). Why? I'd still have to include the difference in the cost of the "new/used" truck and the one we'd sell, assuming all other costs were equal (oil changes, etc.)
The only reason why we would consider it is to save a little time on long trips.
One item I have considered is strengthening the engine's rotating assembly and putting on a supercharger. Then, it's back to comparing the cost of that modification, maintenance and other repairs over time, to the cost of a newer truck with a diesel.
