| [GMCnet] Diesel Power and It's So-called "Economy" [message #139433] |
Tue, 16 August 2011 09:24  |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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Whatever improvement in mpg comes with Diesel power is
mostly offset in the USA by the considerably higher cost
of Diesel fuel. Then you have to consider the generally
much higher cost of maintenance and repairs that come
along with a Diesel engine.
We have three vehicles; V-6 Ford Explorer, 6.0L gas GMC
2500 Sierra p/u, and 6.0L Diesel Ford F-250 p/u.
The Explorer gets the best miles/dollar. Choice between
using the GMC or Ford pickup is a day-to-day thing that
depends upon current price differential between 87 octane
and Diesel fuel. Cost of maintenance/repairs on the Diesel
almost always swing the choice to the GMC gasoline powered
pickup unless we will be pulling our 8,000 pound travel
trailer. That has not been done in the past three years!
When I bought the F-250 in early 2004, gasoline was $1.40
per gallon and Diesel was about $1.25. I believed that the
purchase of the F-250 made sense then. It has NOT turned
out that way with Diesel generally costing at least $.30
more per gallon . I think I really ought to sell the 2004
F-250 Diesel Lariat 4x4 that only has ~75,000 miles on it.
A local friend in the petroleum industry tells me that a
big reason for the higher cost of the Diesel is that much
or US Diesel production gets sent to Europe because the
low-sulphur fuel we have here is demanded by environmental
regulations in Europe and fuel suppliers in those nations
will pay higher prices for OUR Diesel fuel even with the
added transportation costs because they have no choice!
I believe that Diesel power is a case of "Be careful what
you ask or pray for; you might get it!" The "payoff" for
the change to the oilburner will likely take so many years
that the vehicle will be VERY old before it happens!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~~ ~ ~ (TZE166V101966) ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ex-Palm Beach, 76 ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb
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| Re: [GMCnet] Diesel Power and It's So-called "Economy" [message #139454 is a reply to message #139433] |
Tue, 16 August 2011 12:01  |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Interesting observations about the price of diesel fuel. I also remember it being cheaper for most of my life, then all of a sudden becoming priced at a premium.
I assumed that it was due to the fact that they had a captive audience with the over the road trucks, as they could not cut down on their consumption and still make a living!
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Diesel Power and It's So-called "Economy" [message #139456 is a reply to message #139433] |
Tue, 16 August 2011 12:06 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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My experience has been with small high speed diesels (VW) and don't bear out that circumstance. They were cheaper to run and maintain than the equivalent gas engined car. No problem getting past 300K miles in a turbodiesel Type I Jetta, the gas version with luck will go 200. Fuel cost per mile was a wash, given a 20 percoent premium for diesel. Oil costs the same either way. These were '81Jettas, both purchased from a repair shop after the original owners failed to replace the timing belt and the little engines ate the cylinder heads. I got both of them for the repair cost, which ran around $1200. Both still running reliably and not using oil when I got out of them. North of 300K miles, though, the rest of the little car begins to come apart from the vibration. Steering pump brackes were bad to crystallize and fracture. Door handles broke in half. Etc. And, they were the last of the Type I Jettas, nothing newer on the junkyards
for parts.
Normally, the second owner makes out on the diesel ride. I've some reservations about the current TDI product... the plastic oil pan is scary, and I'd like to see a somewhat more robust timing belt on the thing. Even so, if I get the chance to steal one I will.
--johnny
--- On Tue, 8/16/11, D C *Mac* Macdonald <k2gkk@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: D C *Mac* Macdonald <k2gkk@hotmail.com>
Subject: [GMCnet] Diesel Power and It's So-called "Economy"
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 2:24 PM
Whatever improvement in mpg comes with Diesel power is
mostly offset in the USA by the considerably higher cost
of Diesel fuel. Then you have to consider the generally
much higher cost of maintenance and repairs that come
along with a Diesel engine.
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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