I am looking into possibly replacing my sedan with a several year old Turbodiesel Econoline, but since I am on a severe budget, I need to make sure it will be inexpensive to operate. What kind of city, highway, mixed, high-altitude, low-altitude mileage do you get with yours? I have heard everything from averaging 13 mpg up to 22 mpg, but almost no one states what type of driving they do or what altitude or anything else that can help to actually compare mileage. I get great mileage even with my big gasser at low altitude, but as altitude creeps up, the mileage moves down. Highway driving averaging 60 mph is much better than averaging 75 mph, also. There are too many factors that people seem to ignore when they make a blanket statement about their mileage and I'm sure I've done it, too.
Also, how is the insurance and upkeep cost? My current vehicle costs very little to keep running every year. How much was your van, not including fuel, in upkeep averaged over the last 3 years or so?
Thanks in advance for your detailed replies.

 

Doesn't anyone out there have a turbodiesel Econoline that monitors their mileage?
Maybe I scared the quick poster off. How about a not-so-detailed reply, anyone? Something is better than nothing.
Thanks.

 

Well, it might be no one is clear on the model you are asking about. Turbo Diesels didn't turn up in vans until the PowerStroke turbodiesel in about '95 or '96. Before that it was the plain 7.3 diesel, non-turbo.

So what do you mean by a "several year old" turbo diesel? A PowerStroke?

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

I had an 97 ~ 98 7.3 E350 work truck with 3.55 rear. The gross weight with my equipment averaged approx. 8,800pds.

I was getting about 14.5 thru town and at one point on highway it eclipsed 19mpg, the best I had towing a trailer ( 4,500pds. ) was 17.5 cruising along at a nice 75mph. for the most part. That was about the best tow rig I ever had, except for those stupid valve cover gaskets / glow plug wire harness.

 

Yep, 1995-2000 Econoline, can't afford anything newer for sure. I saw a nice '99 Chateau SWB model with 124k - looked really nice. Not sure with all the talk about diesel prices going way up because of the low-sulfur fuel if it will be inexpensive enough to operate though.

Custom Plumber,
Thanks for the reply. Sounds like that's pretty decent mileage. What kind of altitude were you driving at? Thanks.

 

I think were around 200' of altitude. If you can drive it like your trying to get dcent milage, you should be able to hit it with a similarly equiped van. Good luck!

 

I have an 05 e-350 turbo deisel and I get about 14-15 mpg's on the highway fully loaded, with my old gas engine I would get 9-10. Hope that helps you.