Diesel vs. gas, apples to apples

[moose074]

Originally Posted by Nogrey

I was wondering the same thing, but still, his apples to apples comparison was pretty good. I drive a ‘17 F350 6.7L diesel. Pulling a 9,000 rig, it gets about 9-11 depending on conditions. It only has 5k miles on it so still not really broke in either.

Like some stated I just finished a 6k 13 state run pulled in front of the house at 5:30 pm today left June 22 met friends in island park Idaho then traveled thru Yellowstone to Greybull Wyoming then to Fish fry campground outside Deadwood before he headed south and we went north he own early 2000 dodge Cummings with the 5.9 I own 2016 350 power stroke his trl weighs about 3k less than mine is shorter in height and length his truck made all the same pulls as mine but slower no exhaust brake for him but he worked the gears and brakes like a pro I think my 2014 Tundra could have done it easier and might have kept up with my ford pulling his trailer never with mine just to heavy that said he has less money invested in his truck and trailer than it cost me for my truck alone and he was never more than ten minutes behind averaged around 10 mpg just like me regardless of the age a power difference

[cmysstailights]

Thats a gd summary. I have a 15 2500 6.0 high country crew cab. Tow a vibe 313bh loaded around 10500 plus about another 1000 with pass, gas, and cargo in bed. (never weighed cause there are no stations on long island ny). I tow upstate ny about 3hrs away and run e85 and see 6mpg sometimes 7. Glad to see my mpg isnt as bad as i thought it was vs gas(never towed with gas 87)

[timfromma]

If comparing gas to diesel, you must also consider convenience. When you have a large trailer in tow, it's whole lot easier to find diesel pumps that you can navigate through.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by Hclarkx

Several posts mentioned towing up to 11,000# with something like a GM 6.0L gas motor. At least one was a conventional trailer. I tow a 13' tall 5'er and want to suggest that moving that much air while pulling an 8% grade makes the TV's job much harder than if the same weight was only 10 feet tall.

While I'm happy with the 2015 2500HD 4.10 SRW crew cab pulling my 13' tall 30' "ultralight" (rated 9,000# though I only load it to 8500#), I'd say I'm pushing the limits of this truck comfort-wise. I avoid the wide interstates that go head long up the mountains at 8% when I can.

What I'm saying is that trailer weight is one issue with choosing a TV. Frontal area of the trailer is another. Both are important in choosing a TV. So is your target terrain.

11,000# and tall = diesel
11,000# and short = gas
9,000# and tall = gas (though marginal)
9,000# and short = gas (no problem).

Of course, mountainous travels in the west are more onerous and suggest leaning toward the diesel. Flatter regions lean toward gas.

The diesel advantage is primarily that they do better at altitude than naturally aspirated gas.

BTW, the 6.0L Vortec in the 2500 HD trucks is antiquated. I can't wait for one with direct injection, variable valve timing, and an 8-speed. That seems to 2020 at the earliest. I'll upgrade when that happens.

I just left Colorado a few months ago after 26 years there...

I used to do this pull on Hwy 285 southwest of Denver four to six times a summer before I moved away with my 9900# 5'ver and the same truck (2015 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L w/4.10 rear end), however going down hill I put the shift lever in 'M' and choose my gears accordingly.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by cmysstailights

Thats a gd summary. I have a 15 2500 6.0 high country crew cab. Tow a vibe 313bh loaded around 10500 plus about another 1000 with pass, gas, and cargo in bed. (never weighed cause there are no stations on long island ny). I tow upstate ny about 3hrs away and run e85 and see 6mpg sometimes 7. Glad to see my mpg isnt as bad as i thought it was vs gas(never towed with gas 87)

With my 2015 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L w/4.10 rear end I tried the E85 and got roughly three MPG less than regular gas, not to mention less power, too!

I decided that the cost difference was not worth it...

Of course, I was driving in Colorado...

[cmysstailights]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

With my 2015 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L w/4.10 rear end I tried the E85 and got roughly three MPG less than regular gas, not to mention less power, too!

I decided that the cost difference was not worth it...

Of course, I was driving in Colorado...

Yea i can see you losing that much up at that altittude. Down here its .90 to 1.00 cheaper so i just bring 25 gallons with me and transfer over when i get to camp ground.

[Hclarkx]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

I just left Colorado a few months ago after 26 years there...

I used to do this pull on Hwy 285 southwest of Denver four to six times a summer before I moved away with my 9900# 5'ver and the same truck (2015 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L w/4.10 rear end), however going down hill I put the shift lever in 'M' and choose my gears accordingly.

Agree fully. I often see mention of compression braking with diesels but I think the compression braking on gas motors like the 6.0L is often overlooked. It even invokes compression braking automatically though I've found it's usually too much or too little too late so I always use M mode and manually choose the amount of braking with the gear override button (which is very conveniently located). The amount of braking probably doesn't match a diesel, but I've always found it sufficient -- even on Hwy 14 through the Bighorn National Forest where there are many miles of winding 10% grades.

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by Hclarkx

Agree fully. I often see mention of compression braking with diesels but I think the compression braking on gas motors like the 6.0L is often overlooked. It even invokes compression braking automatically though I've found it's usually too much or too little too late so I always use M mode and manually choose the amount of braking with the gear override button (which is very conveniently located). The amount of braking probably doesn't match a diesel, but I've always found it sufficient -- even on Hwy 14 through the Bighorn National Forest where there are many miles of winding 10% grades.

I agree, when they tested the TITANS on the Ike Gauntlet, diesel VS gas, they had 14 brake applications gas vs 10 brake applications in the diesel.. Im thinking those extra 4 applications probably melted the rotors and the poor drivers foot got all kinds of cramps in it or something.

[jtaylor1920]

Originally Posted by 007matman

Nope. Def wasn't required until '08 to my knowledge.

Mine is an '07 and doesn't require.

Ford didn’t add DEF until 2010.

[TBDub]

JohnD10 Thanks for the input on Killer Hill I-70 west of Denver. I lived out that way in 1971 and I remember that stretch. Although, I never pulled anything it was still a struggle.
TBDub

[007matman]

Originally Posted by jtaylor1920

Ford didn’t add DEF until 2010.

Interesting.. I looked at an '08 that the guy said had a DEF delete prior to pulling the trigger on my '07. Guy must've been full of it. Honestly, I didn't even look it up.. I knew enough to stay away from the 6.4.

I'm not trying to start a 6.0 vs 6.4 debate.. I know the 6.0 had weaknesses too.. that's why mine was fully bullet-proofed by a reputable shop right after I bought it.

Happy trucking folks..

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by 007matman

Interesting.. I looked at an '08 that the guy said had a DEF delete prior to pulling the trigger on my '07. Guy must've been full of it. Honestly, I didn't even look it up.. I knew enough to stay away from the 6.4.

I'm not trying to start a 6.0 vs 6.4 debate.. I know the 6.0 had weaknesses too.. that's why mine was fully bullet-proofed by a reputable shop right after I bought it.

Happy trucking folks..

A lot of first time diesel users get confused between DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid). All modern day diesel trucks engines built after Jan 2008 will use a DPF along with a two other filters inline in the exhaust system to meet the EPA mandated diesel exhaust requirements. About 2010 some of the manufactures started to use DEF along with the DPF to improve fuel mileage and to meet the emission standards. But this has had a whole new level of complexity to the trucks. Just thought I would point that out and not start any type of debate.

[jtaylor1920]

Originally Posted by jtaylor1920

Ford didn’t add DEF until 2010.

My bad, Ford added DEF in 2011. The first year of the 6.7.

[SaskCampers]

Just got back from a 1900km trip and averaged 22.4 liters per hundred (10.5 US MPG or 12.6 IMP MPG) for the entire trip and that included 2 days of driving around the city of Winnipeg bargain shopping. On the highway I drove at 102 KM per hour in drive no tow haul on, truck spent most of the trip in 6th. Truck and trailer weighed in around 16,000. I do have a 5 Star 87 Octane tune in the truck.

[walaby]

How is comparing two vehicles, 12 years apart, apples to apples?


Mike