Are diesels worth it, for costs per mile?
Was at a car dealer out of town, and the dealer (name with-held to protect the guilty) was trying to warn me away from a diesel on the 3500 models he was selling, unless I had at least $15,000 a year ...
Forum Discussion
wnjj wrote:rhagfo wrote:
Last to the Gas guy's that say HP is everything, please explain to me, how 270 HP tows 11,000# (19,000# GCVW) at 60 mph up 6% and 7% grades, with 3.55 gears?
Simple:
1) It takes less than 270 HP to do that.
or
2) Your engine is producing more than 270 HP.
Look at the chart on page 7 here. It's written by Caterpillar and they likely know a thing or two about HP and torque.
Anyway, they show that climbing a 6% grade at 55mph takes about 10hp per 1000 lbs plus the wind resistance. Their example uses coaches but a truck & trailer isn't far off.
So, 19,000 / 1000 * 10 = 190HP plus another 60 for wind and you're at 250HP. Now 60 mph will take more but it's quite possible your engine is putting out more than 270 HP too.
Rear gears are not relevant unless they put your engine out of its best power generating RPM.
Halle-freaking-lujah!!! Woo hoo, someone else that gets it. Post of the year and should be a sticky! :)
I know my truck with 200HP and 425 of torque and 15K gross is down to about 30MPH on some steep grades. And before anybody say's it; it has 4:10 gears and stock tires. As stated above, it would not make hardly any difference anyway. And before anybody says it again, no, gears don't make power. Although it would be cool if they did. :B
