ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Gas or Diesel

Not to open a can of worms, but what are your opinions as to having a gas or diesel engine for a work truck?

12000 - 14000 GVWR

Steve

am assuming for work? if so, no need for diesel.....unless you haul a lot of materials which r heavy! difference in cost of gas and diesel verses mileage should not play in...cost of upkeep on diesel will cost u a lot when repairs etc do occure......... and last,,,,the front end of a diesel truck is REAL HEAVY, so u may want to think about that, esp on wet/muddy work area....aka, somebody help me get out LOL....my 2 cents

For that wieght... diesel! If the truck is loaded.

Stable fuel prices, longer engine life, more power.

My last diesel van drew snearing looks from the neighbors, and customers knew when I had arrived, from the noise though. Man, it was loud! I'm thinking of going back, just for the fuel prices next time. Gas prices hit $2.65 recently! One draw back is that not all gas stations carry diesel.

Diesel, hands down. And if you ever own a 4wd work truck,you'll never want anything else. Unless you're never off the pavement that is.

Russell

Same size engine in diesel will give you 7-9 miles more per gallon, will last longer, is more stronger. However, diesel is about 4-5 thousand more expensive. If you drive 15k kiles or more per year it is recommended to get a diesel.

Edward

Diesel!

Pros:
1. Less parts for emmisions, spark, computer, and fuel control means less to go wrong, less repairs, and more reliable. Try to compair the manufactures maintence scedules. The sprinter van is 10K miles between oil changes.

2. Engines have much more metal with bigger rods, fordged cranks, heavyer blocks and heads. Less chances of cracking, warping, or other failures.

3. Other parts on a diesel truck are stronger to match the low end torque and because manufactures figure that truck is going to be worked harder & longer. You get a oil cooler, better radiator, trans, differential, charging system, etc.. Look at the detailed truck specs change when you choose a diesel.

3. The engines tend to make the power and drive in much lower RPMs so the engine lasts longer. Say a diesel drives 60 mph at 1400 RPM and a gas engine drives 60 MPH at 2800 RPM. If they both drove this speed for 100K miles the diesel would have turned half as much RPMs as the gas one and would have 1/2 the wear.

4. Not to start a dispute but in my oppion you should expect 200K miles of GOOD engine life from a diesel but 100K from a Gas.

5. Diesel engines tend to come with a much better warrenty. Some come with a 100K mile engine warrenty.

6. Way more stable fuel prices. Most staitions never went up more than $0.10 in the last year. Not long ago 87 oct. unleaded was $ 2.29 and diesel was $ 1.79. Thats $ 15.00 differance in 30 gallons.

7. Fuel econimy. I drive all stop and go as fast as I can. last I checked I was at 13.5 MPG in a 12,000 GVR step van. My 1/2 ton Econoline with a gas 6 cylinder gets only 13 mpg. Both are have near 200k miles on them. The Econoline is on the 2nd engine the 6.2 diesel is orignal. Most manufactures don't publish EPA MPG rattings on heavy trucks. To compare you can try looking up a lighter truck with the same engine a figure it will only be worse. I think the sprinter diesel truck lists it in the high 20's mpg.

8. I think there is a $ 5,000 tax credit for buying a new diesel.

9. Something about a rattling of a diesel means to people that you are a profesional and you mean business.

10. With a manual trans the diesel has more engine breaking (using the engine to slow down) because of the high compression.

11. Diesel fuel stores and the truck stores well. Gasoline turns to a varnish gunk over a time.

Cons:
1. They do cost $4 or 5,000 more. Then add taxes and maybe financing to that.
2. Going out of your way to get diesel fuel.
3. Problems restarting if it was run out of fuel after addind fuel.
4. Need to plug in at night when it is about 32 F or colder. It will start hard if not. The batteries wear down fast starting an ice cold engine.
5. Hard to jump start.
6. Neibors or customers may not like the smoke when cold or the noise.
7. My diesel has torque but it is not as peppy a gas. It is listed at 185 HP and I think over 400 ftlbs torque. I wish I had and would recomend a turbo.

Tom

i have diesel service truck and i have over 570,000 miles [ 12,000 hours running time] and i dont have much troble with this engine expect reguar manatince shedule i do change oil every 6,500 miles due alot of idleing time , fuel mpg average about 18 or so the truck weight in near 10,000 lbs with full fuel.

my truck is allready payoff more than once due the engine life and this engine is med-hevey duty btw it is international truck aka navistar and i do pull very hevey load with the diesel, try that with gas motor the gas engine will run very hot and keep pretty high rpm to keep up and one very big plus with diesel my is turbocharged and in the montains or steep hill i have constant power up to 10,000 feet altuide with natual asprated gas motor you will lose much as 30% or maybe little more . you will get the idea with high altuide areas

btw the dodge sprinter van do get about 22 mpg average but if drive empty it can go much as near 30 mpg with rather large fuel tank in there


merci,marc

MAYBE YOU CAN USE IT AND $AVE!!!! www.realgoods.com/renew/shop/product.cfm?dp=3704&ts=4000001&kw=BIODIESEL

Who says you can't get alot of miles on a gas engine?



It's all in the maintenance My personal preference is gas for 2 reasons... 1) getting onto California freeways at any speed under 80 mph is taking your life into your own hands.... Diesel has the torque to move most anything... but I prefer to have it moving at least 65 mph within 15 secs....
2) Diesel is HARD to find around here for some reason.... Our company uses ARCO gas cards & Ive only come across 3 ARCO's that have diesel.. 2 of them were in San Diego county (60 miles away)...

-Randy

Thanks to everyone for your response. I think I am leaning towards a diesel, as it seems that it will last me a lot longer and will be able to haul the loads I may need to carry.

Steve