Diesel versus Gas comparison

[William Lee Gingerich]

I did a little work with a calculator comparing our 3500 CC duramax with a comparable CC with the 8.1 According to my figures if the price of gas stays close to diesel, the higher the price goes the quicker a diesel pays for itself.

If you figure driving a total of 45k a year with 25% empty and 75% pulling 8k to 14k trailer the diesel saves you $3805 a year.


8.1 empty 10mpg. = 1125 gal fuel
8.1 loaded 7.5 mpg. = 4500 gal fuel
Total gal 5625

Duramax empty 16.5 mpg. = 681 gal fuel
Duramax loaded 10.5 mpg = 3214 gal fuel
Total gal 3895

I was figuring the fuel at $2.20 a gal. The mileage of the gas might not be totaly accurate but has to be fairly close. I keep a log on our duramax mpg. so it is pretty accurate.Years back when fuel was $1.00 a gal people always said it takes at least 100k to pay for a diesel but the higher fuel costs bring that number down.A little optimism on the diesel advantage!! Just my 2 cents.

[More Power]

Aside from the fuel cost savings, a lot of people forget that they'll get a good chunk of the diesel option cost back when they eventually sell or trade their truck. So, the cost of owning a diesel is rarely higher than a comparable gas truck - when calculating fuel economy and trade value combined.

Gas and diesel fuel cost here in MT is now within a cent a gallon of each other.... smile.gif

MP

[tanker]

Here in Pennsylvania we have a +.20 cents more for Diesel fuel over regular gasoline. However with the torque being better, and on the highway at 70 mph I'm getting 19.5 mpg and 16 or so around town etc. I don't think that a gas engine, 8.1 or 6.0 can hold a candle to the LLY's fuel economy, solo or towing. Yes it will take some time to pay for the Diesel over the gas engine, but I'm looking at brute power and torque for towing. If I want a gas engine it sure won't be in a truck. As More Power said above, its also more value when its time to sell or trade. smile.gif

[madmatt]

sorry guys, I like the 6L :D

[Dannyboy]

old truck-2002 Avalanche 2500 8.1L, 8-9 mpg Average.

New Truck-2005 chevy 2500HD Crew Cab Duramax, 15-16 mpg average. It only has 4,500 Miles on it so far.

[Marty Lau]

Originally posted by madmatt:
sorry guys, I like the 6L :D Too each there own. tongue.gif

[summit889]

sorry guys, I like the 6L


if your after less power i guess thats your right.

[madmatt]

I am talking about GMs gas engine. After a little massaging she made in the 405 -410 rwhp range. even before that w/ some little odds and ends it's fuel milage was comparable, costs less(which at the time was a BIG issue for me) and had plenty of power for what ever I wanted to pull. Also, if I blew a engine @ 120K I could replace mine w/ a new one for what it would cost to repair a duramax. I got 18 mpg hwy 13 city and about 13 on highway towing as fast as she'd run or 55. I was pulling about 5K usually but have pulled more w/ it.

[bajaman21]

last truck 02 6L 12mpg empty 9 loaded with a 5k boat, the truck would downshift to second gear to hold 65 up the big hills, I just made the same trip with my 02 duramax, it got about 16loaded and gets about 18 empty, it pulled the same hills with the same boat in overdrive and did not down shift once, plus i could run as fast as i wanted. The 6L was worth about $10,000 less 2 years and 40,000 miles later, still got the duramax but im pretty sure it wont loose its value that much. Im converted to diesel