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

[Jarlaxle]

Youd probably be better off with the 6.0, actually. I would be fine running any LS engine at wot for hours, if necessary. They are THAT tough.

[bkirkpatrick]

Jarlaxle wrote:
I will take a 6.0 (or even a 4.8)

4.8? I am learning new stuff every day. Actually, I was going to drop in a 4 cyl Subaru turbo motor that puts out about 325 HP since that is what it is all about. Nobody is telling you that you can't tow with it. Gear the rear-end, cold air, chip, etc. and always listen to the chevy dealer.

Will you make the 7 percent grade? Absolutely. Are engines built better today than in previous years? Absolutely. Is it the best engine for towing a heavy load? No. Please quit comparing the "early 80's" big block to a modern F.I. system. There isn't any comparison. I guess I will be putting a 6.0 in my jet boat on the river since they put out as much HP and torque (as compared to my 468 BBC).

[cefloyd_1961]

You are going to pull a 40' 5th wheel with a 6.0?



yeah I am my truck also has the 410 gears and bigest tranny you can get in this truck and I have been told by 2-3 dealers ,Camping world,and the chevy dealer it would be ok up to about 15000lbs it has 98 thousand miles and runs great !!Thinking about puting a K&N cold air induction kit on it has anyone tried this and does it work?

[blt2ski]

Jarlaxle wrote:

rcpd34 wrote:

Jarlaxle wrote:
WHy not? Ten years ago, nobody would have batted an eye at towing it with a C3500HD with Vortec 454 power. The 6.0 matches the power...just keep an eye on the trans temps.

You can't compare the 6.0 to a big block. There is no replacement for cubic displacement.

Ok...you take an early 80s 454, I will take a 6.0 (or even a 4.8), see who tops Donner Pass faster! If it has to spin to climb hills...then it does. Wont hurt a thing.

I'd take a new 6.0 gas GM over the 454's I had any day of the week. While I have not driven a vortec 454, my vortec 350 will leave the TBI/4bbl 454's in the dust pulling the same trailers! I am sure a 6.0 with more HP, same torque, 6 spd trans vs a 3 or 4 sp will do fine! No different than the ecoboost seems to be doing a good job towing also.

Marty

[Jarlaxle]

rcpd34 wrote:

Jarlaxle wrote:
WHy not? Ten years ago, nobody would have batted an eye at towing it with a C3500HD with Vortec 454 power. The 6.0 matches the power...just keep an eye on the trans temps.

You can't compare the 6.0 to a big block. There is no replacement for cubic displacement.

Ok...you take an early 80s 454, I will take a 6.0 (or even a 4.8), see who tops Donner Pass faster! If it has to spin to climb hills...then it does. Wont hurt a thing.

[RFOneWatt]

bkirkpatrick wrote:
You are going to pull a 40' 5th wheel with a 6.0?

As long as he stays out of the mountains and goes real slow he will be OK for a few years. Maybe.

[rcpd34]

Jarlaxle wrote:
WHy not? Ten years ago, nobody would have batted an eye at towing it with a C3500HD with Vortec 454 power. The 6.0 matches the power...just keep an eye on the trans temps.

You can't compare the 6.0 to a big block. There is no replacement for cubic displacement.

[bkirkpatrick]

Sure HP might be more but 366 CI is going to make that truck work for it.

[Jarlaxle]

WHy not? Ten years ago, nobody would have batted an eye at towing it with a C3500HD with Vortec 454 power. The 6.0 matches the power...just keep an eye on the trans temps.

[bkirkpatrick]

You are going to pull a 40' 5th wheel with a 6.0?

[cefloyd_1961]

I have a 2004 Hd2500 6.0 gas and i get 12-14 mpg when i am not pulling anything I had a 2006 sydney outback 31ft bunkhouse travel trailer and when we pulled it to myrtlebeach we got 9-10mpg going down and 7-8 mpg coming back I just got my 1st 5er it is a 40 ft sandpiper 345 RET the dry weight is 10983lbs and the GVWR is 14175lbs and I have no idea yet what MPG I am going to get on it this one yet.We are taking it out this weekend for our 1st outing so I can let you know when I get back the truck does ok pulling it when we went and Got it in Ohio I couldnt tell a diffrence pulling it and the outback except I did not have all the movement you have with a TT the 5er pulls alot better.

[RUFFSTUFF]

I don't need a diesel truck every day, but for the times when I'm towing, I'm glad I have one.

[frankraney]

I to struggled with this for a while. I ended up getting the Chevy 2500HD. It can not be beaten with the pulling power and payload capacity. Nothing will touch it. If you are going full time, it's the only one to drive. Most full timers stay put for a couple weeks at a time or more to sight see or just relax. The only problem I have witht the diesel is the DEF (california smog crap. It was reporting wrong for a while and I had a hard time finding DEF when I left Ca. Your figures are acurate, and if the gas will pull your rig with ROOM TO SPARE, and you like it, it's your decision. Just remember, gas engines do not have the power and wear out faster.

[Hannibal]

Sounds like you already know your answer. I came to the same conclusion in '04.

[twolson]

I am struggling with making a decision between diesel and gas for or tow vehicle. Will be pulling a 5er.

I have owned 3 big trucks, all diesel of course, and I'm frankly leaning towards gas. I love diesel engines they are incredible machines, but i am frankly burned out on the diesel headaches, especially the NEW diesels, DPF, regens, maintenance? Diesel engines reach a point in their life where they need to be babied in the shop and they become this sucking vortex pulling cash out of your pocket.

$9000 price difference will buy us 2700 gallons of Gasoline and take us 21,800 miles while towing at 8 MPG. Time to replace the DPF filter, $2000...ummm Duh.

On the road and off the beated path of interstates why do I want to hunt down diesel fuel, find some, and the wonder if maybe it, been in the underground tank for a year, and full of algea.

I frankly don't have a problem dropping gears and slowing down on an uphill grade, after all I'm not driving my car and I don't expect it to run up the hill at 70. I am a truck driver, I think like a truck driver, so dropping gears and slowing down is no big deal.

What ever truck I get diesel or gas, it is going to be my retirement truck, to full time.

I want to own the truck, don't want the truck to own me.

MHO

Tom