PapawFor2
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Re: Diesel vs gas......................
Ok so someones peronal experiance of a $700 gas savings per year. Take into acount 10K miles so two oil changes and that is probably only a $600 difference. I was paying $23 to get my gassers oil changed, I just todat payed $79 to get my PSD's oil changed. Add in and oil and fuel filter every other year (at 15K vice 30K for a gasser), $550 difference. If one wants to get real "anal" here, I supposed one could factor in that diesels don't require fillups as often, thus there's less wear & tear driving to get fill ups annually. I change my own oil. My gas LOF'S were performed at 2500 - 3000 mile intervals with a fuel filter at 25000 miles. My diesel LOF is performed at 4500 - 5000 mile intervals with a fuel filter at 15000 mile intervals. Should I take it to a Dodge dealership, LOF's on the Cummins is about $54. I suspect LOF's on 8.1's & V10's are a bit more than your quote of $23 since they hold more oil than a "typical" gasser. I didn't factor in the cost of an oil change in my spreadsheet as I see the cost as a trade off since the interval is longer for diesel. I do suspect fuel/oil/air filters are more expensive for Duramax & Powerstrokes than what they cost for a Cummins. I happened to purchase mine used with 18,000 miles on it (including 5er hitch) for low blue book. I was leaning more towards diesel closer to retirement but it was exactly the truck I was looking for in terms of color and everything else so I bought it. Had I not stumbled into it, I'd likely have bought a 6.0 HD2500 GM.334Views0likes0CommentsRe: Diesel vs gas......................
Regarding the post reply concerning the maintenance costs of Ford PSD, that's why I bought a Cummins. I pay in the vicinity of $15 for the air filter, and about $10 for a fuel filter - both WIX brand. Both compare favoribly to equivalent costs for a big block gas motor. In terms of paying $5000 more for the diesel option, that's questionable. If you take a 3/4 ton ie GM the standard motor is likely a 5.3. If you add the cost of the upgrade to the 6.0, or the upgrade to an 8.1/Allison I suspect the difference is about $3000. My truck is driven about 10,000 miles per year and about 5,000 miles are towing. I have kept a spread sheet of my miles driven, fuel cost, and mpg. I have columns next to it for same prior gasser. I did this since this is my first diesel, I wanted to know "operating cost" vs same prior gasser. I save $700 per year in fuel costs. If I was driving 20,000 miles per year and 1/2 of that towing I'd save $1400 annually. Is it going to take me 80,000 miles to "break even" for added cost of diesel engine, not hardly. Are diesels the preference for everyone towing....no. For me it works.334Views0likes0CommentsRe: Diesel vs gas......................
Empty in town mileage: 18.5 vs 11 Towing mileage - no hills or headwind: 16 @ 72mph vs 9 @ 62mph Towing eng temp - no hills or headwind: 185 vs 210 degrees(100 deg "dry" heat) Towing mileage - hills and/or headwind: 13-14.5 @ 72mph vs 5.5-7.5 @55-60 mph Towing eng temp - hills and/or headwind: 190(a/c on) vs 225 (a/c often off) Before the diesel when I arrived at a destination, say 3-4 hours away, I was exhausted. I attribute it to mental wear & tear of a truck working a driver. I was always making sure I gained speed to climb an upcoming grade, watch my tach when I downshifted to second gear to continue momentum, and keep one eyeball glued to the eng temp gauge turning the a/c off when/where necessary. Now this driver works the truck. I simply aim, set the cruise & go. I arrive at the destination totally relaxed.270Views0likes0Comments
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