Newbie-Gas verses Diesel
- Thread starter CB_Van
- Start date
Thanks
CB:
Try this exercise to get your answer. Find the difference in Diesel engine cost vs gas for the type of van in which you are interested. Assume you are going to drive 100,00 miles per year for five years. figure 15 miles per gallon for a 5.7 litre gas engine and 20 Mpg for a diesel. (Or use the manufacturers posted mileage for each engine type) Todays national fuel price average cost is $2.44 diesel and $2.19 for gas.
Using my example figures, you'd use 33,333 gallons of gas X $2.19 and spend about $73,000 in 5 years. You'd use 25,000 gal diesel X $2.44 and spend about $61,000 in five years. A difference of $12,000.
A diesel engine will cost about $5-6000 over gas so you'd save about $2000 each year. Repairs may eat some of the savings so you'll have to look at that issue as well. Don't rely on my examples; you should use your own figures. I submit them to give you some food for thought.
Terry
Try this exercise to get your answer. Find the difference in Diesel engine cost vs gas for the type of van in which you are interested. Assume you are going to drive 100,00 miles per year for five years. figure 15 miles per gallon for a 5.7 litre gas engine and 20 Mpg for a diesel. (Or use the manufacturers posted mileage for each engine type) Todays national fuel price average cost is $2.44 diesel and $2.19 for gas.
Using my example figures, you'd use 33,333 gallons of gas X $2.19 and spend about $73,000 in 5 years. You'd use 25,000 gal diesel X $2.44 and spend about $61,000 in five years. A difference of $12,000.
A diesel engine will cost about $5-6000 over gas so you'd save about $2000 each year. Repairs may eat some of the savings so you'll have to look at that issue as well. Don't rely on my examples; you should use your own figures. I submit them to give you some food for thought.
Terry
DannyD
Veteran Expediter
Terry & Rene bring up valid points. Having had both diesel & gas vans recently, you'll spend less in gas w/ a diesel. I don't have hard numbers just yet (haven't gotten out the receipts & put everything togehter) but I can just "feel" if ya will, that I'm putting less money into the tank w/ a diesel.
With my gas engine, I was often putting over $1000/month. I'd have consecutive days where I might put in $85, $68, $82, $76 & so on. Sometimes I might even fill up twice in a day. This was to fill a 35 gallon tank.
Now, the price of fuel has come down somewhat, I'll grant ya that. Still, I've noticed (in a 26 gallon tank) that my fill-ups are in the $50 range & I'm filling up less often. I am staying local, but my miles aren't that much less in most cases & sometimes I'm even driving more.
My diesel isn't old enough to know how much the repairs will set me back yet (knock on wood) but I'd still think enough would be saved w/ a diesel to justify going that route. I do know that my former van had a $325 payment (payment & insurance) & the current one is about $1000 for those two things. While I'm less than thrilled w/ my van for other reasons, finances isn't one of em. The amount I'm putting into this van vs. my former one when ya factor in the fuel is about the same.
Providing the company I was signing on w/ would take any van, I'd get a 2002-2004 Ford Diesel if I had to do it over again. In my opinion that's the best balance between good fuel economy, new/used vehicle (ya won't have to replace it for a few years), payment, insurance, & reliability.
Good luck to you,
Danny
With my gas engine, I was often putting over $1000/month. I'd have consecutive days where I might put in $85, $68, $82, $76 & so on. Sometimes I might even fill up twice in a day. This was to fill a 35 gallon tank.
Now, the price of fuel has come down somewhat, I'll grant ya that. Still, I've noticed (in a 26 gallon tank) that my fill-ups are in the $50 range & I'm filling up less often. I am staying local, but my miles aren't that much less in most cases & sometimes I'm even driving more.
My diesel isn't old enough to know how much the repairs will set me back yet (knock on wood) but I'd still think enough would be saved w/ a diesel to justify going that route. I do know that my former van had a $325 payment (payment & insurance) & the current one is about $1000 for those two things. While I'm less than thrilled w/ my van for other reasons, finances isn't one of em. The amount I'm putting into this van vs. my former one when ya factor in the fuel is about the same.
Providing the company I was signing on w/ would take any van, I'd get a 2002-2004 Ford Diesel if I had to do it over again. In my opinion that's the best balance between good fuel economy, new/used vehicle (ya won't have to replace it for a few years), payment, insurance, & reliability.
Good luck to you,
Danny
Another factor to look at is maintenance intervals. I don't drive a van so I'm not sure of the numbers but I think the gas vans are going in every 3-4k miles for oil/filter and I think the diesel go in every 10k for oil/filter. I also think the diesel holds enough more oil that the actual cost is pretty similar. The difference would be the time out of service where you might miss out on a load. Even if you aren't missing a load that's half as often you are either crawling under to service it yourself or sitting around waiting for it to be done instead of doing something you'd enjoy more. You'll also save some time from not stopping at the pumps as often. I'm sure Terry and others can give us accurate numbers on intervals but that's my impression. Good luck with your decision.
Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
Expediters Online.com - The Best is Getting Better!
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
Expediters Online.com - The Best is Getting Better!
-----
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
I am partial to diesel vans, as I am partial to anything diesel. About to get rid of the caravan of my wife’s and give her my dodge 2500 (i.e. Cummins).
But Leo made a good point, maintenance. I use a 6000 mile oil change cycle, I could stretch it to 10K but it is not my dodge (which oil is changed at 12K).
I can tell you that other things are problems unless you get the right van.
One thing is fuel filters; I had to change my fuel filter because of a water issue and had one fun time finding an after market filter. Gave up and went to the dealer, which turned out to be cheaper than all others. Normally I have the fuel filter changed every third oil change unless I have fuel problems. The other problems that I could have is fuel pump (which is not in the tank, thank God) or the PCM on the injection pump. All of which I have extras.
The biggest issue between the two is fuel quality, in a diesel engine it is critical to have little or no water, not mixed with gasoline and not to have little creatures in the fuel (this happens if you buy fuel from the local mom and pop who don’t sell much fuel through the year).
Gas engines are much more forgiving, even with today’s precision fuel delivery systems. Water in the fuel, not a big deal. Accidentally mix a little diesel in the fuel no problem.
But Leo made a good point, maintenance. I use a 6000 mile oil change cycle, I could stretch it to 10K but it is not my dodge (which oil is changed at 12K).
I can tell you that other things are problems unless you get the right van.
One thing is fuel filters; I had to change my fuel filter because of a water issue and had one fun time finding an after market filter. Gave up and went to the dealer, which turned out to be cheaper than all others. Normally I have the fuel filter changed every third oil change unless I have fuel problems. The other problems that I could have is fuel pump (which is not in the tank, thank God) or the PCM on the injection pump. All of which I have extras.
The biggest issue between the two is fuel quality, in a diesel engine it is critical to have little or no water, not mixed with gasoline and not to have little creatures in the fuel (this happens if you buy fuel from the local mom and pop who don’t sell much fuel through the year).
Gas engines are much more forgiving, even with today’s precision fuel delivery systems. Water in the fuel, not a big deal. Accidentally mix a little diesel in the fuel no problem.