Diesel vs gas......................

[blt2ski]

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 diesel, pro and con, I will either leave your thread, or copy and paste pertinant info to the 4 posts of pro and con of diesel or gas. This can include the GM 8.1 vs Dmax or Ford V-8/10 vs PSD etc too.

Be real and honest in you answers, not hear say, flaming etc PLEASE!

If posts are good ones, I will leave, if inflamatory or trolling in nature, they will be deleted! I will get this stick'd to the top for future parusing for those that need this type of info.

Added 6-23-04

We are getting closer to answers I am looking for etc.

Stuff like Ken's - T-Bone posts are good. There are a few others of you that have not posted, some with a 9 point question and answer type to figure out how you went with one or the other. If you are one of those, PLEASE repost in this thread. I may have to look up whom has done this and PM you, but if you think this is you, you now know what to do.

Also, for those of you with $ per gallon for either fuel right now, I would prefer to see a post with ...."in my area, diesel is typically .10 less than unleaded" then explain your numbers. As currently in the Seattle area, diesel and unleaded are any where from 2.05 -2.30 per gallon, with mid test .10 more and premium about .20 more, with equal high low splits. Two weeks ago those prices were upwards of .30 -.40 per gallon more. people were posting $ per gallon that were for me. "I wish" If someone is reading your post a year from now, they may want to know where your paying 1.65, when the price of fuel is over $3 per gallon. Let's keep prices out of it if possible.

Bert and tin tipi, got into a good discusion on the pros and cons of RPM's, drive train etc. I would prefer to NOT see the quote of the other in responding threads, maybe just write a quick wording of re tranny gearing, instead of the whole 40 words or so in that paragragh, so the repsonse is shorter if possible quicker and easier to read etc.

I have deleted some 15+/- posts, that were off topic etc. Please note, I am trying to keep this at the top, as the ONLY gas/diesel thread in this area. So if one is trying to decide, we do not have to go thru this BS any more. As such, I will be deleting ANY future posts close to resembling this type of topic. I may have to change "this" title to a better one, if one has a better sounding title, to be more positive, better claification, let me know here, or in a PM/e-mail, what ever you feel most comfortible with.

Again thank you for all of you that are keeping responses positive, etc.

Also we could use a few more positive reasons to go gas, as many can see I have both gas and diesel, both have a place! Both have positive reasons to buy that fuel, lets keep the threads etc to that purpose only!

Marty

[pronstar]

Redaman wrote:


I am glad you posted that message. The way I see it is we pay approximately $6000 more for a diesel vs gas engine. So to me, that is a lot of gas. I am a big proponent of diesel engine but now that I am looking for a different truck, I am wondering if diesel is the right way to go.

I think the price delta for diesel versus gas is much smaller now, though you will still pay a premium for diesel.

(This would be transaction price, e.g. what you can negotiate down to...not just comparing MSRP)

[Redaman]

Camping with Cash wrote:
My lease is up in August on my 5.7 gasser.
I get mail, email and phone calls from Dodge to come on in a trade now...OK.
Diesel or another 5.7? I am a truck driver by trade and I know the cost of Diesel. I also know how lost lasting and powerful they are...but the cost????
Fuel in my area last Friday was about a .90 cent difference. My wife and I sat down and figured what the cost difference would be between gas and diesel. We figured a 34 gallon tank, (Talking Dodge here) Not Towing!
5.7- 13 mpg.
6.7- 16 mpg.
Well to skip all the math the diesel was $3.00 more per tank. Remember Not towing. So to us the price of diesel is not enough to stop us from buying one.
I feel the price per gallon for Diesel will even off or even go down before gas does.
Why? Because over 90% we buy is hauled by Diesel. Look at the price of milk, bread, produce and meat, compared to a year ago. How much more can the consumer take? Our economy is on the line.
Last week, I spoke to a Lays vendor I see every week. He told me the price of chips is going up .25-.30 cents per bag. Mostly because of the cost of diesel.
Gas in NH has already broke price records and Memorial day isn't even here yet.
This morning the Wife says maybe we should go seasonal...guess that would end the gas/diesel truck problem.

I am glad you posted that message. The way I see it is we pay approximately $6000 more for a diesel vs gas engine. So to me, that is a lot of gas. I am a big proponent of diesel engine but now that I am looking for a different truck, I am wondering if diesel is the right way to go.

One point I need to make is I don't keep my vehicles for a long time so I am taking that into consideration as well.

Of course the other consideration I need to make is that I get about 17mpg (avg) on my Duramax, what will I avg on a 6.0 or 6.2L gas engine?? 10-12mpg??

p.s. don't flame me for being ignorant on this thread... I haven't been to RV.net in forever + I am on way to work 🙂

[cummin_strong]

amen to camping with cash...also to take into consideration you can have a diesel longer then a gas ...so that means I do not have to buy a new vehicle as often....there in itself is a savings..

[Camping_with_Ca]

My lease is up in August on my 5.7 gasser.
I get mail, email and phone calls from Dodge to come on in a trade now...OK.
Diesel or another 5.7? I am a truck driver by trade and I know the cost of Diesel. I also know how lost lasting and powerful they are...but the cost????
Fuel in my area last Friday was about a .90 cent difference. My wife and I sat down and figured what the cost difference would be between gas and diesel. We figured a 34 gallon tank, (Talking Dodge here) Not Towing!
5.7- 13 mpg.
6.7- 16 mpg.
Well to skip all the math the diesel was $3.00 more per tank. Remember Not towing. So to us the price of diesel is not enough to stop us from buying one.
I feel the price per gallon for Diesel will even off or even go down before gas does.
Why? Because over 90% we buy is hauled by Diesel. Look at the price of milk, bread, produce and meat, compared to a year ago. How much more can the consumer take? Our economy is on the line.
Last week, I spoke to a Lays vendor I see every week. He told me the price of chips is going up .25-.30 cents per bag. Mostly because of the cost of diesel.
Gas in NH has already broke price records and Memorial day isn't even here yet.
This morning the Wife says maybe we should go seasonal...guess that would end the gas/diesel truck problem.

[Slowmover]

The numbers on mine are such that, given an annual 20,000 miles of which 5,000 is towing, then so long as the price of diesel is no more than 50-cents premium to gasoline the annual fuel cost is a wash.

But, since I need the truck to do other things besides recreation, the diesel is cheaper to own from my perspective, especially as I made a great deal on a used one.

[IFSteve]

Here is the simple answer. Basically the only reason to have a diesel is for the actual towing ability. The price of gas being enough lower than diesel that the mileage increase of diesel over gas is just about a wash.

So the real issue is the cost of the diesel compared to the gas. You really can not justify the diesel anymore on a cost basis. It will just never pay for itself. So to me if you tow a lot then a diesel makes sense. If its an everyday vehicle (like mine) that you tow with once in awhile the diesel just doesn't make ecconomical sense.

I just got a little bit bigger fiver and will be able to tow it fine with my existing truck (2003 1500HD with the 6L gas) but won't be able to piggy back my boat anymore. So I have been looking for a newer truck like mine but in the 2500 with the 8.1L. Just aren't any around here at all. So if I want to updgrade might have to go to a diesel.

[8_1_Van]

Since last weekend, the “No Diesel Now” signs have once again been hung out in front of gas stations in the Baiyun, Haizhu and Panyu districts of Guangzhou City. Other stations which still have supplies are crowded with all types of vehicles. Some stations say that they can now only sell to companies that have a long-term supply contract with them. The rest of China is wondering whether it’s all going to spread.

Market analysts estimate that without more supportive policies oil shortages will still occur in some areas. If international oil prices hit new highs and speculative demand again explodes, shortages may recur, this time nationwide. To guarantee domestic supply, it is estimated China needs to import at least 4.8 million tons of oil, which is unlikely, and diesel supply will remain tight in the second quarter. The demand-supply gap is about 630,000 to 1,130,000 tons, so China needs to increase its supply through imports or other channels.

In the first quarter, 2008, China’s net oil product imports reached 5.47 million tons, an increase of 31.8% over the same period last year.

Diesel Shortage Slams China’s Deep South Yet Again

[Simons_buddy]

Last night at dinner a friend who has a GM gasser ( I didn't ask the size) asked me what kind of mileage I get with my 2003 D/A. I just completed a trip from Ohio to NC up some steep hills etc. Hand calculated 11.7 for entire trip. He said he averaged 8-9 mostly in Ohio. I pull about 1000# more than him. This got me to thinking ( a dangerous thing ), with the cost of gas less than diesel how much more mpg does a diesel have to have to equal a gassers same cost. Now better math guys can correct me if I'm wrong, but this is what I came up with: Today's prices at a Murphy Oil station this morning:
Gas = 3.40 diesel 4.03: Formula Gas MPG : Gas price = x : diesel price:
Gas Mpg 8 @ 3.4 is the same as diesel mpg 9.48 @ 4.03
12 14.22
16 18.96
My conclusion if a diesel can get 2-3 mpg better than gas @ a .60 difference in price, the fuel cost are the same. So will I give up diesel. Nope If the spread widens? Nope, but the gasser guys have a good argument, and I hope there gassers pull long and hard. That way were all happy with our trucks.

Happy camping
Simons Buddy

[XKarDoc]

We spent a week last month in Death Valley with our daughter, son-in-law and grandkids. They have '00 3500 Chevy 5.7. We have an '05 2500HD with a DMax. We pull similar 5th wheels. We went everywhere together with both trucks hooked and unhooked. We had 65 miles on a full tank before we left and we put another 70 miles afterward before we filled up. They filled just before they left and as soon as they returned. They spent $455 on gas and we spent $430 on diesel.

[thiswebs4u]

Looks like diesels are only good for pulling now, not saving money. Don't look like it is going to get better, the high sulfur diesel goes to China and we pay for the other. Glad I bought a gasser Jetta for work vs a TDI, they were 6k more and would take a while to gain their value back. I guess that might not happen now. Still love my PSD though.

[8_1_Van]

April 15 2008 prices


March 15 2008 prices

[funtogo]

Just bought a 2006 chevy 2500HD diesel to pull a Cardinal 30TS.I have to say it pulls the rv almost like it's not back there.That's why I went with the diesel.I wanted a tow vehicle that was made for pulling,and I think I hit a home run.
On the hwy. empty it's getting 20-21 mpg;loaded,12-13mpg.Diesel in my area is $3.89 a gallon.I'm satisfied.
Johnny

[8_1_Van]

At Flying J in Smithton PA on I-70 Exit 49 diesel is $4.269 and reg unl gas is $3.269 today.

[pronstar]

The price difference between diesel & premium gas has dropped to just 30 cents at a lot of SoCal stations. Waaay better than $1 that it's been closer to recently...

[gwh1bass]

Around here recently unleaded regular increased in price and diesel decreased in price. A rarity of late.