Should I switch to diesel?
I'm not trying to start another gas vs. diesel thread, but need some real world anecdotal input. We just completed a 1000 mile round trip from West Virginia, through the mountains, to Murrells Inlet,...
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ah64id wrote:Gonna disagree with you on two points:-
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#2 Diesel has 14% more BTU's than unleaded, so you will not see a 50% increase in fuel economy.
At 18-19K lbs GCW with my sig truck and trailer I get 9.5-11 at 65 depending on the winds and elevation change. The gas rigs I go camping with get about 7-8 at 5-7K lbs less weight, so there is a difference there. Cost per mile, not as much as mpg.
While diesel has 14% more BTUs, diesel engines are much more efficient than gas ones due to the higher compression ratios. A comparable diesel will get a lot more than 14% better mileage.
Case in point - my rig is running in the 15K-16K GCWR range, so is slightly heavier than those gas trucks you quoted getting 7-8mpgs.
I consistently get between 12 and 13 mpg at 62-65mph. Looks like better than 50% to me!
