pnichols wrote:
The best comments in the gas versus diesel debate that I've ever read!
Thank you, pnichols!
pnichols wrote:
So the bottom line is: With a given horsepower diesels don't tow better than gas, they just tow different than gas".
In objective, clinical HP terms one may not be better than the other; however, the subjective differences are absolutely palpable to some.
pnichols wrote:
Also, what's all this "exhaust braking advantage" about anyway? . . . Modern gasser transmissions can automatically and conveniently be downshifted with each brake tap when going downhill so as to hold back the vehicle as much as needed.
Can I politely assume you haven't driven a Cummins with the cruise on, the exhaust brake (EB) set to auto, while driving up and down 5-7% grades with, say
13,000 lbs. behind you . . . with your feet relaxed on the floorboard? For me, hearing, feeling an EB auto-activate on a 5-7% downgrade puts an immediate smile on my face. Never had a downshift (with a gas truck) do that. Granted, it's possible some testing might show a gas truck downshifting (from say, 6th to 3rd, or even 2nd) may accomplish something similar. But, again these subjective differences between a gas and diesel truck, for some, are palpable. It's ultimately up to each individual to decide whether these subjective differences equate to "better". Different strokes for different folks--lol!
