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
I had typed this up for the "basic diesel or loaded gas" thread, but when I hit "post" the thread had been locked while I was typing. I didn't want this masterpiece to go unread, so I am posting it here :)
I am about to do this experiment for real. I am selling my turbo diesel (factory rated at 325hp/610tq - equipped with 3.73 gears) and buying a gasser with 410hp/429tq. That's 180 lbs-ft less tq, but an 85 hp advantage.
As an observation, I took a 6.4L Hemi powered RAM 2500 (3.73s) out for a test drive to a local valley where there is a 6-7% grade to climb out the other side, probably about a mile long. I wanted to see how that powertrain would handle the hill. It dropped speed and downshifted one gear to maintain cruise control set speed. On that same hill, the diesel truck would not have had to drop a gear -- actually, it has yet to meet a hill that required a downshift at highway speed with the cruise set (when not towing a load).
I have no doubt that I will be of the opinion that the 5.9L Cummins diesel was far superior to the 6.4L Hemi when judged soley on it's ability to haul my RV. It will do the job at lower RPM, better mpg, and with greater "ease".
HOWEVER...I only RV about 6-7 times per year in a good year. In those trips, I probably only tow for 1-7 days total accumulated time behind the wheel with the RV hitched. Yes, I am going to suffer poorer (is that a word? :) )performance during those times, but the other 355+ days per year, I feel I will have a better experience driving. Running empty as a family car, the Hemi will use more (but less expensive) fuel. I did make one decision strictly based on towing ability though - I ordered the 4.10 rear. The fuel economy difference between it and 3.73s is negligable, but the manufacturer (who ought to know) rates it at a whopping 3000# increase for towing and GCWR over the 3.73. Worth the price for me there.
Problem for me is, you can't buy a new truck with a 5.9L Cummins under the hood, so the discussion I'm having (with myself) is academic anyway. When you factor in the 6.7L Cummins, it has WAY more power, but because of that, some of the fuel economy advantage is gone.
I will never be of the opinion that a gasser will tow as well as a diesel, I just don't think the non-turbo gasser could keep up with the turbo diesel no matter the hp ratings. The thing is there is a lot more to consider in the purchase (for me) besides the towing performance.
Sorry for nattering on....:)
I am about to do this experiment for real. I am selling my turbo diesel (factory rated at 325hp/610tq - equipped with 3.73 gears) and buying a gasser with 410hp/429tq. That's 180 lbs-ft less tq, but an 85 hp advantage.
As an observation, I took a 6.4L Hemi powered RAM 2500 (3.73s) out for a test drive to a local valley where there is a 6-7% grade to climb out the other side, probably about a mile long. I wanted to see how that powertrain would handle the hill. It dropped speed and downshifted one gear to maintain cruise control set speed. On that same hill, the diesel truck would not have had to drop a gear -- actually, it has yet to meet a hill that required a downshift at highway speed with the cruise set (when not towing a load).
I have no doubt that I will be of the opinion that the 5.9L Cummins diesel was far superior to the 6.4L Hemi when judged soley on it's ability to haul my RV. It will do the job at lower RPM, better mpg, and with greater "ease".
HOWEVER...I only RV about 6-7 times per year in a good year. In those trips, I probably only tow for 1-7 days total accumulated time behind the wheel with the RV hitched. Yes, I am going to suffer poorer (is that a word? :) )performance during those times, but the other 355+ days per year, I feel I will have a better experience driving. Running empty as a family car, the Hemi will use more (but less expensive) fuel. I did make one decision strictly based on towing ability though - I ordered the 4.10 rear. The fuel economy difference between it and 3.73s is negligable, but the manufacturer (who ought to know) rates it at a whopping 3000# increase for towing and GCWR over the 3.73. Worth the price for me there.
Problem for me is, you can't buy a new truck with a 5.9L Cummins under the hood, so the discussion I'm having (with myself) is academic anyway. When you factor in the 6.7L Cummins, it has WAY more power, but because of that, some of the fuel economy advantage is gone.
I will never be of the opinion that a gasser will tow as well as a diesel, I just don't think the non-turbo gasser could keep up with the turbo diesel no matter the hp ratings. The thing is there is a lot more to consider in the purchase (for me) besides the towing performance.
Sorry for nattering on....:)
