Gas or diesel

[Carrier]

I posted this on another site as well.
I have decided that the F150 I have is just not going to cut it with the trailer I have. Have an opportunity to get a pretty good deal on some 2015 350 Super Duty trucks coming available in a couple of weeks with very low mileage on them. Some are 6.7 diesel and some are 6.2 gas. Are there any here who have the 6.2 gas in a 350 Super Duty and how are the real numbers for mileage and power. I realize the diesel is going to have a lot more power however the price different is about $10,000 and the cost to service, repair will be less as well.

[rhagfo]

Taco wrote:
What assumptions are you using to get a payback at 100k miles.

Cause I sure can't see it with what I believe to be realistic numbers.

Well there is fuel savings even at gas at $3.50 and Diesel at $4.00, but to get the cost of the $8,000 engine back in 100,000 miles you need to save $.08 a mile.
With the assumption of $3.50 gas and $4.00 mileage open road 15 and 19, and 10 and 12 towing the savings is only about $.02 per mile.


The main reason for diesel now is POWER! I tow 11,000# (GCVW 19,000)running between 60 and 65 of the freeway climb grades in OD. On state highways Two lanes) may need to drop to 4th (direct) to run between 55 and 60, this is with 3.55's and about 270 HP.

[Taco]

I don't even notice when it downshifts anymore. Lock out the 2nd overdrive, turn on tow haul, set the cruise and steer. No fatigue here. Holds speed up any interstate hill in the east.

I have been in diesel trucks towing that were louder up a hill than my truck. It was a different kind of noise but louder all the same.

[RAS43]

bighatnohorse wrote:

"Driver fatigue" is also heightened by a loud engine noise and wind noise.
.

I don't know where that comes from, have a study?? How would wind noise be different in a gas truck from a diesel truck? And engine noise, I hear many loud diesel trucks, probably modified exhaust. Just asking.

[Taco]

What assumptions are you using to get a payback at 100k miles.

Cause I sure can't see it with what I believe to be realistic numbers.

[bighatnohorse]

At 100,000 miles of driving, the diesel mpg saving will have paid for the added cost of the diesel/over/gas decision.

During that 100,000 miles of diesel, the driver has the luxury of power.
For an unfortunate few, diesel downstream maintenance and repairs can quickly eat and possibly exceed that savings.

The upside of the gas engine is their remarkable low repair and maintenance bills.
The downside of gas engine, is of course, lack of power compared to diesel.
"Driver fatigue" is also heightened by a loud engine noise and wind noise.

Caveat: the 100K miles is dependent on driver technique which can vary by as much as 30-percent between divers.

So there you have it...
Best of luck in your decision.

[Taco]

I have a chevy 2500hd 6.0 gas which ias a little down on power to the ford. I am actually out camping right now. I towed here at about 16-16.5k combined which is about a 9-10k trailer weight.

It would hold 70 mph on the interstate the whole way here through the hills and mountains of western virginia and west virginia.

It went up the afton mountain grade at 70 mph and 4500 rpm. Afton mountain isn't that bad of a grade but is a pretty good example of a typical interstate grade. 5% or so and about 6 miles long. Good enough grade that the big rigs are in the right land going 35 with the flashers on.

It will go the speed limit or better on pretty much any road I have taken it on in the eastern US. I am not sure what more one could ask of it power wise.

[kw_00]

Pulled with both and stayed with gas for personal reasons.. The gas job does fine up to 10k for my use, have no complaints, will drop a gear or two on the steep hills and run around 4k rpm. No worries, keep up with traffic fine. Diesel will be easy to pull with when ur trying to pass other cars or trucks. But when it comes down to repairs.... Well diesel will eat ur lunch no matter what anybody states. They are very expensive to work on especially the newer generations. Now going back to the older ones is a different story. Regardless, it's your money spend as u need to. Diesel and Gas engines have their own advantages and disadvantages. Good luck on ur search, this topic has been brought up millions of times. It comes down to personal preference/money.

[Dennispel]

I tow with an '06 V10. I have towed almost 16k miles in the last three summers. From Texas out to california up to yellowstone to south dakota and back and forth across Colorado. Million Dollar HWY(550), Monarch pass, I70. My tariler is about 9500lbs. I haven't been anywhere yet I can't go the speed limit, sometimes passing other RV/trailers. Think about all the gas engines mentioned in this thread all have twice the HP and the same TQ as the old Ford 7.3 that everyone loved to tow with. Just my .02 cents

[goducks10]

jus2shy wrote:
Bah, OR 6 or OR 22 (Santiam Pass) is more scary down in Orygun! Then there's Cabbage hill, seems to take a few lives every couple years.

I tow up and down 22 a lot in the summer. I don't mind it at all. IMO the Siskiyou pass is worse. My CTD does help a lot though. Nothing like a good EB for descending.

Check this out.
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/towing/0911dp_10_toughest_tows_in_america/viewall.html

[Sport45]

rwjejits wrote:
Whenever I see this question come up, the answer to me is obvious (if towing heavy diesel is the way to go)...although both engine types will do a respectable job.

The real question that buyers need to consider...is the $8-$10k additional cost worth it to them personally.

Define heavy. 😉

Seems to me if you like your power in the sub-3k rpm range and are willing to pay for it a turbo-diesel is the only choice in 3/4 and up trucks. If you're not on the road all the time (like the OTR truckers) and want to save some money get a gas engine.

I believe the big equalizer will be when 5+ liter direct injection turbocharged gas engines become available (and proven) in the "Heavy Duty" pick'em ups. Then you can have the best of both worlds.

[rwjejits]

Whenever I see this question come up, the answer to me is obvious (if towing heavy diesel is the way to go)...although both engine types will do a respectable job.

The real question that buyers need to consider...is the $8-$10k additional cost worth it to them personally.

[ls1mike]

campigloo wrote:
Mike, I'm feeling a real need to "test drive" the Grand Prix up that mountain.

You make it out here, You can drive the Trans Am much much faster...even at elevation

[rjstractor]

campigloo wrote:
Mike, I'm feeling a real need to "test drive" the Grand Prix up that mountain.

It's more of a hill. 😉 There are lots of other places in Washington that would be more fun to drive a fast car than Vantage hill. Funny short story about that hill, many years ago I towed a little 18' Prowler travel trailer with a new F250 with the EFI460, pretty much the hardest pulling motor on the market at the time along with the TBI 454 in the GM trucks. 95 degrees, 30 mph headwind and I decided to see how fast I could pull the 3500 pound Prowler up the hill. I pulled it at 65 the whole way, actually passing a few older pickups that weren't towing anything. At the top of the hill I found I had used 1/3 of my front tank in 10 miles, which works out to about 1.8 mpg!

[jus2shy]

Bah, OR 6 or OR 22 (Santiam Pass) is more scary down in Orygun! Then there's Cabbage hill, seems to take a few lives every couple years.

[campigloo]

Mike, I'm feeling a real need to "test drive" the Grand Prix up that mountain.