Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / November 2006

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

Work Vehicle: best mpg

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
newworldactor@yahoo.com - 19 Nov 2006 16:27 GMT
I'm looking at vans and trucks, of course it's going to have to be a
Diesel because I want the best mileage I can get. Where I live, diesel
costs the same as premium gas, so I do not see a gas engine comparing.

Seems like Ford (E350) has the most options (boxes, etc) and
availability (lots of used ones out there), but if Dodge and Chevy have
the right combination, that's ok too.

Right now I'm leaning toward a van, I'm new to what is out there (of
course I'm researching and checking ebay) as far as engines and other
options. I do not need the strongest diesel engine in a certain class,
I'm more looking for MPG. A smaller diesel or a van that is geared for
MPG would work great.

What do you recommend?
SnoMan - 19 Nov 2006 17:22 GMT
>I'm looking at vans and trucks, of course it's going to have to be a
>Diesel because I want the best mileage I can get. Where I live, diesel
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>What do you recommend?

I know it is not a Ford but have you looked at the 5cyl diesel powered
1 ton Sprinter van that is maketed through Dodge? I have tlaked to
several owner of tham and they get 20 to 25 MPG with them on the road
and they are pretty relible too. (BTW I am not a Dodge fan). It is
building up a pretty good track record and likely the best van of its
type out there. Lots of deleivery companies use them too.  
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com
Matt Macchiarolo - 19 Nov 2006 18:18 GMT
I can't speak to the reliability of the Sprinter from experience, but my
brother in law had one for his delivery service and it was in the shop for
repairs (not scheduled maintenance) on average about 3-5 days a month in the
6 months he had it. He dumped it as fast as he could.

>>I'm looking at vans and trucks, of course it's going to have to be a
>>Diesel because I want the best mileage I can get. Where I live, diesel
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> -----------------
> TheSnoMan.com
SnoMan - 19 Nov 2006 20:17 GMT
>I can't speak to the reliability of the Sprinter from experience, but my
>brother in law had one for his delivery service and it was in the shop for
>repairs (not scheduled maintenance) on average about 3-5 days a month in the
>6 months he had it. He dumped it as fast as he could.

Must be the exception and not the rule because I have talked to many
that drive them and they are pleased. One guy i talked to was putting
between 70 and 80K miles a year on his and was yet t average under 20
MPG on a tank and had gotten as high as 25 MPG.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com
Eisboch - 19 Nov 2006 22:05 GMT
>>I can't speak to the reliability of the Sprinter from experience, but my
>>brother in law had one for his delivery service and it was in the shop for
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> between 70 and 80K miles a year on his and was yet t average under 20
> MPG on a tank and had gotten as high as 25 MPG.

We don't have anywhere near that kind of mileage yet, but the Mercedes 5
cylinder diesel in our Sprinter based RV has been excellent so far.  Great
mileage ... not a powerhouse, but very adequate for the job.

BTW ...  a bigger V6 diesel and also a V6 gasser is being introduced for the
Sprinter.

Eisboch
SnoMan - 20 Nov 2006 12:35 GMT
>We don't have anywhere near that kind of mileage yet, but the Mercedes 5
>cylinder diesel in our Sprinter based RV has been excellent so far.  Great
>mileage ... not a powerhouse, but very adequate for the job.

That engine has a very long history (I remember when it first came out
in cars) and it a very proven and durabile desgn and no detriot diesel
in in the same league as that one design wise. Some could effectively
argue that the Germans make the best diesels made today because they
have had a lot of experiance with them since it was first invented by
a german named Otto and they used them a lot in ww2 and ever since.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com
Matt Macchiarolo - 20 Nov 2006 13:18 GMT
Germans make the best diesels made today because they
> have had a lot of experiance with them since it was first invented by
> a german named Otto and they used them a lot in ww2 and ever since.

You're half right. The four-stroke gasoline engine was invented by Nikolaus
Otto. The diesel engine was invented by Rudolf Diesel, a German born in
Paris. His prototype ran on peanut oil.
samstone@aol.com - 20 Nov 2006 15:19 GMT
> Germans make the best diesels made today because they
>> have had a lot of experiance with them since it was first invented by
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>Otto. The diesel engine was invented by Rudolf Diesel, a German born in
>Paris. His prototype ran on peanut oil.

Rudolf Diesel developed the idea of an engine that relied on a high
compression of the fuel to ignite it, eliminating the spark plug used
in the Nikolaus Otto internal combustion engine. He received a patent
for the device on February 23, 1892. Diesel began building a prototype
engine, which was ready for testing by July 1893. The engine was

fueled by powdered coal injected with compressed air. This machine

stood 10 feet (3 m) tall, and achieved a compression of 80
atmospheres (8100 kPa). It exploded and nearly killed Diesel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Diesel
SnoMan - 20 Nov 2006 19:09 GMT
>Rudolf Diesel developed the idea of an engine that relied on a high
>compression of the fuel to ignite it, eliminating the spark plug used
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> stood 10 feet (3 m) tall, and achieved a compression of 80
>atmospheres (8100 kPa). It exploded and nearly killed Diesel

THis sounds correct, I remember it was coal dust but I did not know CR
was so high (no wonder it exploded). I do remember that he switched to
oil after he could not get the coal dust to regulate well (be easily
controlable)  Kinda a stange how what we can call oil burners were
actually coal burners at their birth. Wonder where we would have been
with them if they had made coal dust work? A railround locomotive with
a "diesel" that could run on coal would have a lot a value today being
that BTU for BTU coal cost about 1/5 the price of oil for same amout
of energy.  
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com
Matt Macchiarolo - 20 Nov 2006 23:18 GMT
I stand corrected, he used peanut oil in the 1900 Paris World Expo.

Rudolf Diesel's prime model, a single 10 ft (3 m) iron cylinder with a
flywheel at its base, ran on its own power for the first time in Augsburg,
Germany on August 10, 1893. In remembrance of this event, August 10 has been
declared International Biodiesel Day. Diesel later demonstrated his engine
and received the "Grand Prix" (highest prize) at the World Fair in Paris,
France in 1900. This engine stood as an example of Diesel's vision because
it was powered by peanut oil-a biofuel, though not strictly biodiesel, since
it was not transesterified.

>> Germans make the best diesels made today because they
>>> have had a lot of experiance with them since it was first invented by
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> atmospheres (8100 kPa). It exploded and nearly killed Diesel
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Diesel
SnoMan - 20 Nov 2006 19:02 GMT
>You're half right. The four-stroke gasoline engine was invented by Nikolaus
>Otto. The diesel engine was invented by Rudolf Diesel, a German born in
>Paris. His prototype ran on peanut oil.

I stand corrected, I was thining of the "Otto Cycle" and got it
crossed up with Rudolph.  
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com
aarcuda69062 - 20 Nov 2006 22:13 GMT
> >You're half right. The four-stroke gasoline engine was invented by Nikolaus
> >Otto. The diesel engine was invented by Rudolf Diesel, a German born in
> >Paris. His prototype ran on peanut oil.
>
> I stand corrected,

This just in...

Reports from hell indicate a severe cold front has moved in.
Stand by for further updates as to whether freezing actually
takes place.
SnoMan - 21 Nov 2006 00:21 GMT
> Reports from hell indicate a severe cold front has moved in.
>Stand by for further updates as to whether freezing actually
>takes place.

Yes we can all wish that you will freeze up and stop your
childishness. It may not be too likely but we can still hope for it
anyway.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com
aarcuda69062 - 21 Nov 2006 01:12 GMT
> > Reports from hell indicate a severe cold front has moved in.
> >Stand by for further updates as to whether freezing actually
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> childishness. It may not be too likely but we can still hope for it
> anyway.

Do you really think brown nosing will help?
Joe - 25 Nov 2006 02:48 GMT
> I'm looking at vans and trucks, of course it's going to have to be a
> Diesel because I want the best mileage I can get. Where I live, diesel
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> What do you recommend?

You need to figure out if there's a minimum on size for your work. You
didn't mention what your work is.  Smaller trucks could get better gas
mileage than a full size diesel, and of course you'd save $15,000 up front,
too.

There is a Chevy HHR panel wagon coming out soon - it's not on the market
yet, but imagine paying $16,000 for work van that gets 25 mpg.
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.