Diesel vs Gasoline - Is it right for you?
04-20-2004, 11:54 AM
#1
Diesel vs Gasoline - Is it right for you?
I put together a simple spreadsheet program to calculate savings (if any) by going with a diesel engine truck vs gasoline engine truck, and some of you might find this info helpful if you are also shopping for a truck.
For comparison sake, I used an HD2500 pickup, 6.0L gas vs a 6.6 diesel Duramax, automatic transmissions. Invoice price difference between the two is about $5600. I took resale value into consideration also, typically the diesel trucks retain at least half of that initial expense when you sell the truck. So, figure it costs you half of that $5600 ($2800) to own a diesel, the other half can be considered an investment for resale later.
Estimated average fuel mpg used was 15 for gas, 17 for diesel
Used my 87 octane fuel prices vs diesel prices in the Houston area
Estimated maintenance at $30 per 3,000 miles on the gas engine, and $50 per 5,000 miles on the diesel engine.
Now, if you tow alot, then its a no-brainer that you would benefit from a diesel. I figure I'll only be towing about 5% of the truck's actual mileage, so not a whole lot. Most of my miles are highway miles. These calculations are for those of you that are looking for a daily-driver truck.
If you only drive 10,000 or less miles per year:
you only save $235/year with a Diesel, so it takes you over 12 years to break even from your initial purchase.
If you only drive 15,000 miles per year:
you only save $235/year with a Diesel, so it takes you over 8 years to break even from your initial purchase.
If you only drive 20,000 miles per year:
you only save $469/year with a Diesel, so it takes you over 6 years to break even from your initial purchase.
If you only drive 30,000 miles per year:
you only save $704/year with a Diesel, so it takes you over 4 years to break even from your initial purchase.
If you only drive 50,000 miles per year:
you only save $1173/year with a Diesel, so it takes you 2.4 years to break even from your initial purchase.
Summary: it appears that if you don't put alot of miles on your vehicles, or do not plan on keeping the truck for more than 5 years, or don't tow all the time, it becomes harder to justify buying a diesel truck.
Of course, pimp factor plays an important role to many of us. We like things "just because" and there is no price on that.
Tony
Silverado/Sierra Crew Cab 2wd HD2500 6.0L?
Ram 3500 2wd quad-cab Dually Diesel?
Silverado/Sierra Ex-Cab HD2500 Duramax 2wd?
Ram 3500 4x4 quad-cab SRW Diesel?
decisions....decisions...
For comparison sake, I used an HD2500 pickup, 6.0L gas vs a 6.6 diesel Duramax, automatic transmissions. Invoice price difference between the two is about $5600. I took resale value into consideration also, typically the diesel trucks retain at least half of that initial expense when you sell the truck. So, figure it costs you half of that $5600 ($2800) to own a diesel, the other half can be considered an investment for resale later.
Estimated average fuel mpg used was 15 for gas, 17 for diesel
Used my 87 octane fuel prices vs diesel prices in the Houston area
Estimated maintenance at $30 per 3,000 miles on the gas engine, and $50 per 5,000 miles on the diesel engine.
Now, if you tow alot, then its a no-brainer that you would benefit from a diesel. I figure I'll only be towing about 5% of the truck's actual mileage, so not a whole lot. Most of my miles are highway miles. These calculations are for those of you that are looking for a daily-driver truck.
If you only drive 10,000 or less miles per year:
you only save $235/year with a Diesel, so it takes you over 12 years to break even from your initial purchase.
If you only drive 15,000 miles per year:
you only save $235/year with a Diesel, so it takes you over 8 years to break even from your initial purchase.
If you only drive 20,000 miles per year:
you only save $469/year with a Diesel, so it takes you over 6 years to break even from your initial purchase.
If you only drive 30,000 miles per year:
you only save $704/year with a Diesel, so it takes you over 4 years to break even from your initial purchase.
If you only drive 50,000 miles per year:
you only save $1173/year with a Diesel, so it takes you 2.4 years to break even from your initial purchase.
Summary: it appears that if you don't put alot of miles on your vehicles, or do not plan on keeping the truck for more than 5 years, or don't tow all the time, it becomes harder to justify buying a diesel truck.
Of course, pimp factor plays an important role to many of us. We like things "just because" and there is no price on that.
Tony
Silverado/Sierra Crew Cab 2wd HD2500 6.0L?
Ram 3500 2wd quad-cab Dually Diesel?
Silverado/Sierra Ex-Cab HD2500 Duramax 2wd?
Ram 3500 4x4 quad-cab SRW Diesel?
decisions....decisions...
04-20-2004, 04:15 PM
#4
Also, keep in mind that the payment difference of $5600 is about $112/month for buying a diesel truck. So yes, saving gas money with a diesel, but at a higher expense on the truck itself.
Financially, it would make sense for me to get another gas engine truck, but I'm also not known for making sensible financial decisions when it comes to vehicles. haha
Financially, it would make sense for me to get another gas engine truck, but I'm also not known for making sensible financial decisions when it comes to vehicles. haha
04-20-2004, 08:44 PM
#5
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ok look at this tony 1200 in mods for the diesel and your running what low 14 to high 13 with a gas motor you have to spend 2 to 3k to see those on the same vehicle lol later, kevin just my .02
04-20-2004, 08:50 PM
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You really think the difference in fuel economy would only be 2 mpg average? I average about 16-17 mpg with the Dmax, and I like to run it hard a lot. With me driving, I can tell you there's no way a HD truck with a 6.0 gas motor is getting 15 mpg average lol. 
04-20-2004, 08:53 PM
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Reasons I'm going diesel are what Kevin said... cheap performance and still retain economy and reliablity. Not to mention the motor will out last the vehicle. Jorday's truck runs low 14s with a 4" exhaust and an Edge box...that's it. To get a 6.0 2500HD to do that it's going to take a hell of a lot more than $1200...
The initial price hit is worth it considering the driveline... FACTORY power adder, 5 speed auto, 11.5" rear axle, etc...you're getting stout parts.
I don't consider the time the vehicle will pay itself off in terms of fuel costs/maintainence when it will do what I want it to do within its means. Vehicles always have been and always will be a bad financial investment so if you realize that on them all, that will make your hard earned money go further.
The initial price hit is worth it considering the driveline... FACTORY power adder, 5 speed auto, 11.5" rear axle, etc...you're getting stout parts.
I don't consider the time the vehicle will pay itself off in terms of fuel costs/maintainence when it will do what I want it to do within its means. Vehicles always have been and always will be a bad financial investment so if you realize that on them all, that will make your hard earned money go further.
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04-20-2004, 09:06 PM
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Good points. Another thing I considered when buying my truck is that if it wasn't a Dmax it was going to be 8.1L, and I definitely didn't want to pay for gas for it.
04-20-2004, 09:19 PM
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If I did not decide on a Dmax, I too highly considered an 8.1 built up. You can get a TON of power from a BBC but for a TON of money. I compared them all with lots of mods and the diesel was just a better more viable option.
Before I bought my Z71 I had a '01 8.1/Alli CCSB 4x4 LT for about two days. It had a lot of power, very nice. It'd just start spinning the rear tires at like 2000rpms on a powerbrake. But the fuel economy was just ****, somewhere around 10-14mpg. Sure it's a BBC and all but man the boys at the fuel stations would be laughing at me and know me by name.
This new LLY dmax I drove < a month ago was just as quick if not quicker than the 8.1...the LB7 I drove last year was totally different. Power's nearly the same stock for stock...and it ends there.
The way I drive I'm sure with a bunch of bolt ons and a good tune that 8.1 would maybe get 15mpg freeway, a bit better on the 6.0. But hell a Dmax can get nearly 20mpg on the freeway. I get irritated filling up often, the cost doesn't bother me, just stopping and wasting 15 min to do so.
Before I bought my Z71 I had a '01 8.1/Alli CCSB 4x4 LT for about two days. It had a lot of power, very nice. It'd just start spinning the rear tires at like 2000rpms on a powerbrake. But the fuel economy was just ****, somewhere around 10-14mpg. Sure it's a BBC and all but man the boys at the fuel stations would be laughing at me and know me by name.
This new LLY dmax I drove < a month ago was just as quick if not quicker than the 8.1...the LB7 I drove last year was totally different. Power's nearly the same stock for stock...and it ends there.
The way I drive I'm sure with a bunch of bolt ons and a good tune that 8.1 would maybe get 15mpg freeway, a bit better on the 6.0. But hell a Dmax can get nearly 20mpg on the freeway. I get irritated filling up often, the cost doesn't bother me, just stopping and wasting 15 min to do so.
