Who Daily Drivers their diesel TV?
I am looking for honest real-world feedback from people that use their TV as a daily driver as well. I am thinking of upgrading from my Tundra to get a little more capacity. Tundra has been a great ...
Forum Discussion
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Roy,
I don't think there is much of a problem using a modern diesel as a daily driver. Most get reasonable mileage, comparable to a smaller truck on gas, maybe better than your Tundra. As an example I had a featherweight B4000 Mazda (same as 4x4 Ford Ranger) that got about 17 in town. Our old F-250 230HP diesel "anvil" gets similar economy. But we seldom drive it in winter and it still has thick summer oil in it. In foul weather we drive a thirsty gas Excursion SUV when we have to. Our prefered vehicle otherwise is always a cheap running, nimble little hybrid. I don't have a thing for power since I used to drive locomotives. After years of that, now I appreciate small and nimble.
The one main thing that saves short-trip gas engines today is that engineers removed sulphur from gasoline and lube oil some time ago. Now the same cleanliness is true of diesel fuel. Sulphur used to combine with unevaporated crankcase water vapor to form sulphuric acid which literally ate the bearings and other metal while parked. Engines didn't get hot long enough in short trips to dry out. That type corrosion damage is no longer true, and now all engines finally last longer. Engines are not really built any different than in the past. The acid is merely gone. So a little blowby water vapor, left mixed with oil in the crankcase from short trips, is not the problem it once was.
The 1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton engines have little to do with towing ability although some are better for no-load hill-racing. The main advantage of a 3/4 ton is the HD tranny, differential and HD cooling system. Even if your Tundra has HD cooling, its probably less than most 3/4 tons which accounts for Tundra's lesser rating. The 1/2 ton transmission won't matter on level ground but will more likely overheat in hills. Souping up your Tundra will probably kill the tranny and/or differential if you actually use the power.
I say get the diesel. They have that low rpm torque you value in your Tundra, only way moreso. Pulling a hill without having to shift down is their forte, not necessarily high rpm max horsepower. You only live once, and a thread like this is a poor substitute for the real experience. I'm pretty sure you will like diesel power.
Wes
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Roy,
I don't think there is much of a problem using a modern diesel as a daily driver. Most get reasonable mileage, comparable to a smaller truck on gas, maybe better than your Tundra. As an example I had a featherweight B4000 Mazda (same as 4x4 Ford Ranger) that got about 17 in town. Our old F-250 230HP diesel "anvil" gets similar economy. But we seldom drive it in winter and it still has thick summer oil in it. In foul weather we drive a thirsty gas Excursion SUV when we have to. Our prefered vehicle otherwise is always a cheap running, nimble little hybrid. I don't have a thing for power since I used to drive locomotives. After years of that, now I appreciate small and nimble.
The one main thing that saves short-trip gas engines today is that engineers removed sulphur from gasoline and lube oil some time ago. Now the same cleanliness is true of diesel fuel. Sulphur used to combine with unevaporated crankcase water vapor to form sulphuric acid which literally ate the bearings and other metal while parked. Engines didn't get hot long enough in short trips to dry out. That type corrosion damage is no longer true, and now all engines finally last longer. Engines are not really built any different than in the past. The acid is merely gone. So a little blowby water vapor, left mixed with oil in the crankcase from short trips, is not the problem it once was.
The 1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton engines have little to do with towing ability although some are better for no-load hill-racing. The main advantage of a 3/4 ton is the HD tranny, differential and HD cooling system. Even if your Tundra has HD cooling, its probably less than most 3/4 tons which accounts for Tundra's lesser rating. The 1/2 ton transmission won't matter on level ground but will more likely overheat in hills. Souping up your Tundra will probably kill the tranny and/or differential if you actually use the power.
I say get the diesel. They have that low rpm torque you value in your Tundra, only way moreso. Pulling a hill without having to shift down is their forte, not necessarily high rpm max horsepower. You only live once, and a thread like this is a poor substitute for the real experience. I'm pretty sure you will like diesel power.
Wes
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