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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / November 2005Power? POWER? What about milleage?
I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets some mileage. Was going to get a diesel then "they" raised the price of fuel another $ .50 cents a gallon. Sooo no point in putting up with the associated problems in a deisel in the cold climate we have here in MN for higher priced fuel. Well im thinking about a Nissan Titan to pull my 7,800 lb TT with but have no idea what they get for pulling mileage. They say 14 to 18 mpg I suppose that is NOT pulling. My Present Dodge gets 8-8.5mpg, pulling, not pulling, flat land, mountains all the same- 8 mpg. There is much to do about "chips" for more power BUT are there any "chips" for more mileage? I love that truck-- I hate the mileage it gets. Sacrafice power for mileage? in a heartbeat! Any usefull advice appreicated, Flames ect. will be ignored Thanks, Tom. > I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets > some mileage. Was going to get a diesel then "they" raised the price of fuel [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > power for mileage? in a heartbeat! Any usefull advice appreicated, Flames > ect. will be ignored Thanks, Tom. What is your current truck year and its configuration (tire size, engine, axle ratio and so on)  Signature----------------- www.thesnoman.com > I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets > some mileage. Was going to get a diesel then "they" raised the price of [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Sacrafice power for mileage? in a heartbeat! Any usefull advice > appreicated, Flames ect. will be ignored Thanks, Tom. No matter what the manufacturer claims, the Nissan is a half ton truck. A 7800# trailer is a hell of alot to tow...I'd suggest a 3/4 ton vehicle. > I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets > some mileage. Was going to get a diesel then "they" raised the price of [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Sacrafice power for mileage? in a heartbeat! Any usefull advice > appreicated, Flames ect. will be ignored Thanks, Tom. I'm a little confused here. You have the need for a Cummins, then fuel goes up as it always does in the winter and now a Nissan will get it done for ya??? What associated problems in a cold climate? Below zero plugging it in? Roy >> I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets >> some mileage. Was going to get a diesel then "they" raised the price of [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > for ya??? What associated problems in a cold climate? Below zero plugging > it in? Jusy nosey...fuel goes *up* where you are in the winter? Always goes down around here, just thought that was universal. Huh, learn something new and useful every day. The minute the tourists and the snowbirds shuck out of town, gas prices drop ten cents, like clockwork. If it gets really nasty and lousy to drive, it goes down another five. Michigan...we love our tourists (I guess...;>) Cricket > Roy > Jusy nosey...fuel goes *up* where you are in the winter? Always goes down > around here, just thought that was universal. Huh, learn something new > and useful every day. He's talking about the price of diesel fuel... pretty much all cold climates see a rise in price, as the demand for home heating oil goes up. >> Jusy nosey...fuel goes *up* where you are in the winter? Always goes >> down around here, just thought that was universal. Huh, learn something >> new and useful every day. > > He's talking about the price of diesel fuel... pretty much all cold > climates see a rise in price, as the demand for home heating oil goes up. Used to be everything at the gas station went down pretty much parallel...of course, used to be diesel was cheaper, too...I haven't actually looked lately. Probably showing my age, remembering when diesel was one pump around back, maybe...;>) Cricket >>>Jusy nosey...fuel goes *up* where you are in the winter? Always goes >>>down around here, just thought that was universal. Huh, learn something [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Cricket Last winter in ohio diesl was 40 to 60 cents more a gallon than gas for about 5 or 6 months and now it more than a buck more here (I saw gas today for 2.13 and diesel for 3.29 but I have seen diesel around here for as much as 3.49/gallon. The days of cheap deisel are gone for good I fear and I heat with oil now but I may switch to propane hear because it has not skyrocketed around here and is still cheap by todays standards. Signature----------------- www.thesnoman.com >>>>Jusy nosey...fuel goes *up* where you are in the winter? Always goes >>>>down around here, just thought that was universal. Huh, learn something [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > I heat with oil now but I may switch to propane hear because it has not > skyrocketed around here and is still cheap by todays standards. I've been putting off ordering propane 'cause I just know I'm gonna cringe at the price...but I guess it could be worse, I could still heat with oil... I've got a wood stove sitting outside the basement steps just waiting for me to get industrious enough to haul it down cellar and get it set up, but I'm in winter denial...it's been so freakin' gorgeous that I can't get my brain around the fact it's going to get cold. I've got to get it in gear...the woodstove, and that nasty clunk when I engage four wheel drive...probably better do something about that, too...sigh. Cricket untill last week here in the south diesel was over $3 a gal now in the past couple of days its dropped below 2.50 almost caught up with pump gas. chris > >>>Jusy nosey...fuel goes *up* where you are in the winter? Always goes > >>>down around here, just thought that was universal. Huh, learn something [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > fear and I heat with oil now but I may switch to propane hear because it > has not skyrocketed around here and is still cheap by todays standards. >>> I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets >>> some mileage. Was going to get a diesel then "they" raised the price of [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > around here, just thought that was universal. Huh, learn something new > and useful every day. Fuel sold north is treated a bit to cut down on gelling. Your mileage will suffer as well. I'm in MA. > I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets > some mileage. get a diesel, youll have both power and mileage. > Was going to get a diesel then "they" raised the price of fuel another $ > .50 cents a gallon. so what? its STILL cheaper than buying TWICE as much gasoline (when loaded). > Well im thinking about a Nissan Titan to pull my 7,800 lb TT i dont blame you for "thinking about it" but actually buying one to tow 7,800 pounds would be a dumb move. > have no idea what they get for pulling mileage. > They say 14 to 18 mpg I suppose that is NOT pulling. cut that in half when towing 7800 pounds. > Any usefull advice appreicated rethink the diesel option. pulling nearly 10,000 pounds on flat land now im getting almost 16mpg when i drive with sense. when driving in the mountains i tend to get around 15 pulling the same trailer. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://InlineDiesel.com http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com http://BighornRefrigeration.com >>I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets >>some mileage. [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > getting almost 16mpg when i drive with sense. when driving in the mountains > i tend to get around 15 pulling the same trailer. And if you live around hear you are paying a buck more a gallon for the fuel to so you are saving nothing. You can tow well with gas motors and get resonable MPG to if you rig is geared correctly for the road. I have been towing with gas for 30 years and I have no plans of switching now and I have a friend that bought a Dmax to save money on fuel but he wishes now that he had bought a gas truck because he is losing money twice on the deal, price of truck and cost to operate it. Signature----------------- www.thesnoman.com > And if you live around hear you are paying a buck more a gallon for the > fuel to so you are saving nothing. youre still saving money if you have to buy twice as much gas. > You can tow well with gas motors certainly......just not as good as you can with a diesel....._especially_ when you bring mountains into the equation, but my statement stands even on flat land. > I have a friend that bought a Dmax to save money on fuel but he wishes now > that he had bought a gas truck because he is losing money twice on the > deal, price of truck and cost to operate it. your friend made a critical mistake in buying a v8 diesel. yes, a v8 diesel can make just as much power/torque as an inline diesel but its going to do it at a higher rpm and its going to burn a lot more fuel doing it. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://InlineDiesel.com http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com http://BighornRefrigeration.com >>And if you live around hear you are paying a buck more a gallon for the >>fuel to so you are saving nothing. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > can make just as much power/torque as an inline diesel but its going to do > it at a higher rpm and its going to burn a lot more fuel doing it. But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my truck on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase and listen to the engine rattle all the time not to mention the extra 6 or 7 grand it cost too. If you like a oil burner fine if you like them but you are not saving any money with one in todays market. When you factor all the costs, you are loosing money with one so it is not cheaper to drive one today. Signature----------------- www.thesnoman.com > But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my truck > on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase and listen > to the engine rattle all the time not to mention the extra 6 or 7 grand it > cost too. If you like a oil burner fine if you like them but you are not > saving any money with one in todays market. When you factor all the costs, > you are loosing money with one so it is not cheaper to drive one today. Oh bullshit! List for the Cummins is 5K and ya get other stuff with it. Cummins will out work and out last a gas engine. Cummins is 300K plus before tear down. I'm sure you have a chevy gasser that has 300K and is just wonderful. Fuel here is 30 cents more than gas. I plug mine in at home cause the heat is nice, at work when it sits for 24 hours it starts right up. The common rail is much quieter. Your gasser depreciates like a rock/ IIrc the return on a Cummins starts at 100K. Roy > ----------------- > www.thesnoman.com >>But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my truck >>on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase and listen [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >>----------------- >>www.thesnoman.com Not likely, If you service a gas engine correctly and add a engine oil cooler like the oil burner has to have (it will die without one), it will last about as long and when it time comes it will be a lot cheaper to fix. Everyone that says how great and cheap oil burners are NEVER factor in the cost of buy and maintaining one and now the higher cost of fuel and not to mention the the front of the truck weighs about 700 or 800 pounds more up front with a cummins in it and removes payload capacity because the GVW of a like gas truck is the same. They did not redesigned the frame and front end for that weight either and give it it own front end, it is the same frame and front end that is used in a gas truck. Dodge quietly replace the front axle design in 03 because of the problems they were have with front drive axle on CTD models from added weight. I run a few plow trucks and have for years and I know that I can start my gas trucks a minus 20 quickly with no heat and be on my way quickly if need be and I can shut it off anytime anywhere in any weathr and know i can restart it and I do not have to leave it banging away wasting fuel to keep it warm. I can go to a drive thru and not have to shout or turn my engine off to be heard either and nobody knows I am coming until a get there either because it is quiet and nobody knows I am in a truck when on cell phone either. Again if you like them fine but cheap and lasts longer, that is BS because you can rebuild a gas engine for a lot less than a Cummins and just a rebuilt injector pump and injector can cost a lot more that a completely rebuilt gas motor. First time that oil burner breaks out of warranty, you will pay through the nose to fix it. Diesels have a place but not in my P/U and at todays fuel price they make even less sense. Gas here is 2.13 and diesel is 3.34 Signature----------------- www.thesnoman.com >>>But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my >>>truck on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase and [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > todays fuel price they make even less sense. Gas here is 2.13 and diesel > is 3.34 Pal, from what ya posted above, I have a couple of thoughts for ya. Read up and get some current information. Read up and get some accurate information. I'm sure others will correct you. Roy > ----------------- > www.thesnoman.com >>>>But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my >>>>truck on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase and [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] >>----------------- >>www.thesnoman.com No you are just blinded thats all. I drove a C70 triaxle dump in the later 70's while going to college and it had over 150K on it when drove it and it was still going strong and it had a 60K GVW too. I also knew a old man that did some part time hauling back then, he was retired and had a 58 C60 single axle dump chevy with a 6 banger and a 8 speed (4x2) and he regularly hauled 8 ton of asphalt or gravel with it and did fine and it was nearly 20 years old and still stock and ran like a fine watch. I guess these trucks got along fine without a Cummins back then. You have the problem because you seem to think to tow and to last long, you have to have a oil burner but that is simply not true and they are not any cheaper to drive these days either. Your properly cool and maintain a gas motor, it will run a very long time. Signature----------------- www.thesnoman.com > No you are just blinded thats all. I drove a C70 triaxle dump in the later > 70's while going to college and it had over 150K on it when drove it and > it was still going strong and it had a 60K GVW too. > I also knew a old man that did some part time hauling back then, he was > retired and had a 58 C60 single axle dump chevy with a 6 banger and a 8 > speed (4x2) and he regularly hauled 8 ton of asphalt or gravel with it and > did fine and it was nearly 20 years old and still stock and ran like a > fine watch. LOL!! Sure it did it, but at twenty miles per hour top speed with a load!! I grew up on a farm, we grew wheat and oats, I also helped neighbors bring in the grain. Most everyone had a truck of some sort. Loaded few trucks would make the speed limit within a few miles on the highway, unless you could find a long down hill grade. I drove beet truck for my sister a couple of years back, 427, with a 5 x 4 transmission. Ran that thing to the floor for 4 miles with a load, it topped out at 45 miles an hour. The neighbor hauling beets off his land across the road would blow right by me with his diesel powered truck. Gas is fine if you seldom pull a load. If you pull a load often, once you go diesel you will never go back! Greg > No you are just blinded thats all. Yeah, Roy, the rest of us, and the trucking industry in general. We all think diesels are better for hauling... except you. > I drove a C70 triaxle dump in the later 70's while going to college and it > had over 150K on it when drove it and it was still going strong and it had > a 60K GVW too. The 70's? Wow, Roy was right, you need to get some better more current info. I also knew a > old man that did some part time hauling back then, he was retired and had > a 58 C60 single axle dump chevy with a 6 banger and a 8 speed (4x2) and he > regularly hauled 8 ton of asphalt or gravel with it and did fine and it > was nearly 20 years old and still stock and ran like a fine watch. Yup, you keep going farther back, we keep mentioning the past decade... time for new info Snodude. > I guess these trucks got along fine without a Cummins back then. You have > the problem because you seem to think to tow and to last long, you have to > have a oil burner but that is simply not true and they are not any cheaper > to drive these days either. Your properly cool and maintain a gas motor, > it will run a very long time. Yeah, it'll ast a long time, but not as long as a diesel, nor will it haul the load as well as a diesel. Get a clue. SignatureMax Give a man a match, and he is warm for a short while. Light him on fire, and he is warm for the rest of his life. >>>>>But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my >>>>>truck on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > 70's while going to college and it had over 150K on it when drove it and > it was still going strong and it had a 60K GVW too. Okay, I guess we have to go down memory lanne here. My first plow truck was a 57 chevy 2wd 3speed, it had a plow that to raise you pumped up sorta like a porta power, then flipped a lever and it would drop. Power angle? Right, ya pulled a pin and muscled the blade. What's my point? There isn't one. The info above is meaningless to this thread, as is the crap you've laid out. It is old and outdated as is your info about today's diesel. > I also knew a old man that did some part time hauling back then, he was > retired and had a 58 C60 single axle dump chevy with a 6 banger and a 8 > speed (4x2) and he regularly hauled 8 ton of asphalt or gravel with it and > did fine and it was nearly 20 years old and still stock and ran like a > fine watch. The guy I knew had a chain drive. Today's drivetrains are better. >I guess these trucks got along fine without a Cummins back then. You have >the problem because you seem to think to tow and to last long, you have to >have a oil burner but that is simply not true and they are not any cheaper >to drive these days either. You really need to get out more. >Your properly cool and maintain a gas motor, it will run a very long time. Agreed but it will probably not last as long as a diesel nor will it be as cost effective. One thing you might want to get a clue about. Quite a few of us here are probably older or as old as you. And have seen some of the same stuff as you. Also most have played with cars, trucks, boats, farm equipment, locomotives, race cars, pwc,atv's and much more. Most have learned to try to keep up with improvements and technology. You would be well served imo to do the same. Roy >>>>>>But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my >>>>>>truck on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase [quoted text clipped - 99 lines] > >Yup! Why today's vehicles even have heated leather seats! ;^) Mike >>>>>>>But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my >>>>>>>truck on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase [quoted text clipped - 104 lines] > > Mike A must have for the older folks.<G> Roy >>>But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my truck >>>on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase and listen [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] >nose to fix it. Diesels have a place but not in my P/U and at todays >fuel price they make even less sense. Gas here is 2.13 and diesel is 3.34 good golly miss molly! people around here love a good argument and i am sure this thread still has some legs on it but....................i'm just hoping that you wrote the stuff above in that vein. that is, that you just wrote it to keep the argument going for the fun of it........because if you are serious, you are really stupid. > because if you are serious, you are > really stupid. lol.....reading your entire post i _never_ saw that one coming. :-) SignatureNathan W. Collier http://InlineDiesel.com http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com http://BighornRefrigeration.com > Not likely, If you service a gas engine correctly and add a engine oil > cooler like the oil burner has to have (it will die without one), Rubbish, there are many diesels that do not have oil lube oil coolers. > will last about as long and when it time comes it will be a lot cheaper to > fix. Wrong again. Diesels have a proven record of going farther than a gasoline engine, mainly due to a heavier design. > Everyone that says how great and cheap oil burners are NEVER factor in the > cost of buy and maintaining one and now the higher cost of fuel and not to > mention the the front of the truck weighs about 700 or 800 pounds more up > front with a cummins in it and removes payload capacity because the GVW of > a like gas truck is the same. 1) Cost of buying one is higher, but then so is resale value. 2) Maintenance is cheaper, as diesels do not require plugs, wires, coils, cap and rotor (if still used) 3) Cost of fuel vs gasoline is not high enough to make diesels less economical to operate. 4) Having that 1100# engine sitting on my axle means I don't have a problem steering or going in snow. 5) Removal of payload? My truck is rated at 8800 gross. The axles and tires are rated at a combined 12,000#, and I've put 14,000# on the road and driven several miles. Thats 5200# more than the claimed GVWR. > They did not redesigned the frame and front end for that weight either and > give it it own front end, it is the same frame and front end that is used > in a gas truck. And I'm sure you have proof that the frame under the gasoline powered truck is only good enough for the light gasoline engine? I've jumped my truck over a snow mound and put 4' of air under the front wheels. The truck frame is fine trackbar sucked and was replaced. > Dodge quietly replace the front axle design in 03 because of the problems > they were have with front drive axle on CTD models from added weight. Quietly? Bullshit, it was ANNOUNCED that they switched to American Axle, and that happened in 2002, IIRC. > I run a few plow trucks and have for years and I know that I can start my > gas trucks a minus 20 quickly with no heat and be on my way quickly if > need be and I can shut it off anytime anywhere in any weathr and know i > can restart it and I do not have to leave it banging away wasting fuel to > keep it warm. None of what you describe above is true of a Cummins powered truck. > I can go to a drive thru and not have to shout or turn my engine off to be > heard either and nobody knows I am coming until a get there either because > it is quiet and nobody knows I am in a truck when on cell phone either. Who gives a f.ck? I mean, if you want to sound like you are in an office, go stand in an office. The problem isn't as bad as you make it out to be. > Gas here is 2.13 and diesel is 3.34 If you aren't lying, it sucks to be you. SignatureMax Give a man a match, and he is warm for a short while. Light him on fire, and he is warm for the rest of his life. > >>But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my truck > >>on cold winter nights and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase and listen [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > own front end, it is the same frame and front end that is used in a gas > truck. wait correct me if im wrong.....why would they need to redesighn the frame when the cummins was being used well before the BR/BE or heck what about the DR i think the cummins was in use before it was made too...but heck ive been wrong before. Dodge quietly replace the front axle design in 03 because of the > problems they were have with front drive axle on CTD models from added > weight. I run a few plow trucks and have for years and I know that I can [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > coming until a get there either because it is quiet and nobody knows I > am in a truck when on cell phone either. funny my wife comments when i pull up in her durango how it sounds to her like its LOUDER than the diesel. Again if you like them fine but > cheap and lasts longer, that is BS because you can rebuild a gas engine > for a lot less than a Cummins and just a rebuilt injector pump and > injector can cost a lot more that a completely rebuilt gas motor. First > time that oil burner breaks out of warranty, you will pay through the > nose to fix it. Diesels have a place but not in my P/U and at todays > fuel price they make even less sense. Gas here is 2.13 and diesel is 3.34 Why would anyone bother to rebild a Cummins in a truck that has 300,000 miles on it? Therefore the cost to rebuild a Cummins is zero, because there's no reason to do it in a truck that has 300,000 miles. But, in a gas powered truck, by the time you reach 300,000 you would be approaching your second rebuild. Where in the country is gas $2.13? It's more like $2.79 in Arizona. John > Where in the country is gas $2.13? It's more like $2.79 in Arizona. It's $2.06 here in Oklahoma. Diesel is still at $2.67 but seems to still be dropping. Just filled up today in OK for $2.03 gallon (unleaded), was only $2.00 after my Wal-Mart shopping card discount. John H > Where in the country is gas $2.13? It's more like $2.79 in Arizona. > > John > But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my truck > on cold winter nights Nor do I. But then, I own a Cummins. The Duramax needs grid heater, glow plugs AND to be plugged in?? > and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase and 12 thanks. And I'll take that over the smaller amount anytime, given the design superiority > listen to the engine rattle all the time Hell, I don't even hear mine without the windows down, and I LIKE the windows down. > not to mention the extra 6 or 7 grand it cost too. $3800 at purchase in 1999, and only $5000 this year. WTF are YOU pricing?? Oh yeah, the Duratrash. > If you like a oil burner fine if you like them but you are not saving any > money with one in todays market. Rubbish. To do what I did with mine two weeks ago, a gasoline truck would have burned twice the fuel. 19.6 MPG AVERAGE over 300 miles, and with 250 more covered at speeds in excess of 75MPH, I pulled 18.8MPG average. I doubt a gasoline truck could do that if it covered the same miles at the speed limit. > When you factor all the costs, you are loosing money with one so it is not > cheaper to drive one today. Bullshit. Do some math instead of running off at the mouth. SignatureMax Give a man a match, and he is warm for a short while. Light him on fire, and he is warm for the rest of his life. I lived in New York, and never plugged it in. it started fine even in freezing weather. John > But I am not using twice as much gas,and I do not have to plug in my truck > on cold winter nights I've never plugged my truck in once. Granted, I don't see sub-zero temps too often, but I've never had a problem with it starting in the morning. > and put 12 or 14 quarts in the crankcase Oil's cheap, and you can run twice as many miles on it, so it evens out (7,500/15,000 mile changes on the Cummins, vs. 3,000/6,000 on the DC gas engines [their recommendation]) > and listen to the engine rattle all the time Never driven a common-rail Cummins, have you? No rattling to be heard (well, unless you like to modify things a bit... but stock, it's as quiet as any gasoline V8) > not to mention the extra 6 or 7 grand it cost too. $5K list - about $4,500 when the price is finalized. > If you like a oil burner fine if you like them but you are not saving any > money with one in todays market. I absolutely am. I used to drive a dually with a V10... 10-12MPG at best, at a current cost (to me) of $2.799 per gallon, or between $0.23 and $0.28 per mile. I now drive a dually with a Cummins, paying (currently) $2.899 for fuel, and get 18-22MPG at best, giving me a cost of between $0.13 and $0.16. Those are empty numbers. While towing an 8,000lb. enclosed trailer, I was getting about 7MPG with my gas engine, and about 15MPG with my diesel. That's almost $0.40/mile with the gasser, and just over $0.19/mile with my Cummins. Now, I know.... you'll argue that a V10 is way too much motor, and I should compare it to a 360 gasser. Well, the 360 isn't enough engine for a 1-ton pickup, but for the hell of it, let's say that it is. I'd expect MAYBE 13-14MPG out of it empty, and maybe 8-9MPG towing... making the operating costs $0.20/mile empty, and $0.31/mile towing... with a powerplant that's barely adequate. So - tell me again how my diesel is costing me more to operate? > And if you live around hear you are paying a buck more a gallon for the > fuel to so you are saving nothing. You can tow well with gas motors and [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > that he had bought a gas truck because he is losing money twice on the > deal, price of truck and cost to operate it. Diesel will always be superior to gasoline in fueling trucks that haul loads. 100 years of history have proven this, as almost NO OTR rigs use gasoline engines anymore. As to the MPG, perhaps if he had bought a real diesel and not the Duramax, he would be saving money. Inline six design is inherently superior to the V8 for pulling loads. SignatureMax Give a man a match, and he is warm for a short while. Light him on fire, and he is warm for the rest of his life. > loads. 100 years of history have proven this, as almost NO OTR rigs use > gasoline engines anymore. But Max... all they have to do is slap some lower gears in there, and that little gas motor will pull that load just fine! :) What would lower gears due to gas mileage, which is what this thread is all about? John > What would lower gears due to gas mileage, which is what this thread is > all about? > > John Higher numerically (lower) would increase it. Roy As Tom said, higher numerically ( changing from 3.73 to 4.10 for instance) would make it easier to pull a load. But, at the same vehicle speed the engine would run at a higher RPM. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that would mean lower mileage. John >> What would lower gears due to gas mileage, which is what this thread is >> all about? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Roy Apologies, my bad, the above is WRONG!! Trying to do too many things at once. Roy > I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets > some mileage. Was going to get a diesel then "they" raised the price of [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Sacrafice power for mileage? in a heartbeat! Any usefull advice > appreicated, Flames ect. will be ignored Thanks, Tom. Buy the Titan at your own peril... stay with the Dodge. Mike Well thanks for the reply's all, sorry I didn't put the details of the truck but here they are, 1999 3/4 4x4 w tow/plow pakage, quad cab, V10. 37000mi I use it primarliy for towing my TT. Dodge replaced the engine at 17000 mi [at Dodge's expence] Iv'e had no trouble with it other than that. I run high test when pulling, regular gas when not pulling, like the manual says. I pull OUT of overdrive, use OD when not pulling. If I exceed 60 mph the mileage drops to 6.5 - 7mpg sometimes I don't HAVE to get another truck just would like to get a little better mileage. I'll take it that there are no ""chips" for more mileage. I entertained the idea of exchange this engine for a deisel, Probably expensive but to trade in for a new truck would be $20 to $25 thousand more. Don't know if either is a good idea. MY goal is to get better mileage if possible. Anyway this truck sits idle for weeks at a time, I was told that is not good for a deisel by an OTR driver, Don't know about that but if I wanted to use it it the winter U couldn't just run out and start it up after sitting unpluged for a couple of weeks, so I would have to leave it pluged in for weeks not being used, use #1/2 mix like they have here in the winter pay $1.00 a gal more for fuel that gets lower milage ECT. These were the things I had been talking about as problems to deal with a deisel. BUT back to the point-- form what I can gather there's no way to get pronounced better mileage than what I get now, it seems. I knew when I bought the V10 it was not a gas miser but gas was a lot cheaper then [sniff] Yes I want cheese with that wine. thank's for the replys anyway people, Tom > I got a Dodge with POWER now im thinking or trading it for one that gets > some mileage. Was going to get a diesel then "they" raised the price of [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Sacrafice power for mileage? in a heartbeat! Any usefull advice > appreicated, Flames ect. will be ignored Thanks, Tom. > I entertained the idea of exchange this engine for a deisel, Probably > expensive but to trade in for a new truck would be $20 to $25 thousand > more. Don't know if either is a good idea I'd check that pricing, I'm sure your truck is worth more than $10,000, and trading for used diesel might be an even better deal. > Anyway this truck sits idle for weeks at a time, I was told that is not > good for a deisel by an OTR driver, Its fine sitting for weeks. Driving short trips is the bad thing, since it should warm up to be properly used. Fortunately, it takes about 1/2 mile, and mine is putting out heat in the cab. > Don't know about that but if I wanted to use it it the winter U couldn't > just run out and start it up after sitting unpluged for a couple of weeks, > so I would have to leave it pluged in for weeks not being used, Nope. You could plug it in the hour before you wanted to use it, and be just fine. Personally, I've rarely plugged mine in, and it starts fine, even after siting a few days in cold weather. > use #1/2 mix like they have here in the winter pay $1.00 a gal more for > fuel that gets lower milage ECT. Fuel isn't a concern like it once was. Lower mileage in the winter isn't a problem if you let it sit as much as you say, since its only a MPG or two difference. SignatureMax Give a man a match, and he is warm for a short while. Light him on fire, and he is warm for the rest of his life. > Well thanks for the reply's all, sorry I didn't put the details of the > truck but here they are, 1999 3/4 4x4 w tow/plow pakage, quad cab, V10. > 37000mi I use it primarliy for towing my TT. Tom, for the miles you put on your truck I don't know if it is worth it to trade. Save it for pulling the trailer, drive something else when not. If you averaged allot more than the 5000 miles a year that you are doing now I would be tempted to go with a diesel. I sure as hell would not go with something smaller!! As I see it your options are to stay with the truck you have or go diesel. Trading to another gas of any size seems foolish to me when the primary use is to tow a travel trailer. As for having a diesel sitting for long periods between use, our farm trucks often sat for 11 month a year between use. Did not seem to bother them! Greg There is something severely wrong if all you're getting is 8mpg with a diesel. I get around 20 on the highway with a 2003. I get 9-10 when towing an 8000# trailer. John > There is something severely wrong if all you're getting is 8mpg with a > diesel. I get around 20 on the highway with a 2003. I get 9-10 when > towing an 8000# trailer. > > John I have a 360, 5 speed, 4X4 and a CTD, 6 speed, 4X4. The Diesel gets better mileage empty or pulling, and has lots more power. In fact, the Diesel gets better mileage pulling my race car and trailer than the gas truck gets empty. Al |
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