$50, and the jeep was not even empty! It would cost me $175 to fill my van if it was. Guess there will not be a summer trip for me again this year.

Is anyone considering going with a small diesel engine, and making their own fuel? Any interest on this board?

Can you get a diesel with the performance of a 300 six, and lite enough not to require a heavy truck?

I know there is some diesel cars around - are their engines tough enough to climb the Grapevine under load?

 

Luckily for me my Honda's tank is only about 11 gallons

Now when the F-150 gets low, it hits hard...I think it's a 30 or 31 gallon tank.

They're cracking down on Bio-Deisel makers around here. Maybe Dale will chime in on some good diesel engines for swaps, I've never looked into it enough to get serious about it.

 

I wish the US auto makers would start making cars with diesels or export a few models in with them. When I lived in Europe, I had a Peugot and a VW diesel that were great. Lots of torque and got well around 45 mp. These two cars were the same size or larger than my Toyota Corolla. I did the math on it. Diesel in my town is about 10-15% higher in cost than gas. My Corolla averages 35 mpg. If I could get a 10 mpg boost with a diesel, that would be a 28% increase in efficiency at a 15% cost increase, so I would still be ahead.

I am glad I don't depend on my truck as a regular commuter vehicle. At 11 mpg (if I stay out of the secondaries) it would cost me $21-24 per day to drive to work. With my Subaru, it is $10. If I drive the Corolla, only $6.50 per day. If I could get a good diesel car, $5.70 per day. I am glad I carpool already.

BTW, I filled up my truck over the weekend. I am still running 91-93 octane in it. $70. I was thinking of putting an aux tank in it since the 20 gallon tank doesn't go far. Now I am going to wait.

I hope someone chimes in about the bio-deisel. Mike, why are they cracking down on it? Safety issues? Pollution concerns? Or is it that the government can't tax it?

 

From the article I read a few months ago (I don't recall all the details), all the above and a few more...guys making it "out back" don't adhere to safety regs that large companies do...the government/state isn't getting thier share of taxes, etc., etc.

 

I haven't considered diesel, but I have considered propane. I wanted to convert my motorhome. It has a 75 gal tank and a get the shakes when I think about filling it. Unfortunately, there were no CARB certified kits for the conversion.

There are kits for the 5.4 v8 and some other recent vehicles and I'd be willing to place a handsome wager that they are available for late model jeeps.

 

The last time I actually filled up my tank was on the way down here a year ago. I can't even imagine it now. 60 gallons - $229.80, mid grade. At 8 mpg I don't get very far on a tank. Thankfully my commute is only 3 miles a day. I can still afford to drive my truck everyday and sometimes on the weekend too, but it's a darn good thing I live so close to work.

 

I am afraid how much it will cost when I start driving my truck. My commute is short too...like 15 miles round trip. But if i get 8 mpg, that goin to be about $8 a day to get to work. My wife drives our mustang to work. Her commute is 40 miles round trip, and at 20 mpg, it cost her $10 a day to drive to work. She works 11 days a month, so that costs us $110 for her plus my commute that's $270 a month just to go to work. I am trying to convince her to get a commuter but she has her heart set on an Explorer.

 

A customer care agent where we bank,who is originally from Germany told me that VW has introduced a diesel car that gets about 70 mpg..Of course,not available here.

 

I fill the tank every Friday and it last me the whole week in my 2007 F-150.
It has the 37 gallon tank and usually cost $115 to fill up. It is a damn good thing the company pays for my gas.

When I tale it easy and keep the tach below 2500 I can get about 18.75 mpg.
When I put the boat behind it I get about 15.5.
I can't believe a 16' boat can drop the mileage that bad on a 5.4 l engine

And the bad news is it isn't getting any better.

 

gee, i only get to drive my truck on the weekends, if im lucky.

who wants to bet on who has the shortest commute????

my commute is only.........50ft.............

my day starts when i get into the company vehicle which i get to take home every day.........

 

I think you win. I used to have a similiar commute. The job I had about 5 years ago, the one and only guy that got to take a company van home, lived about about 5 miles away from me. And he literally passed my house on his way to work, so I would just wait for him, and catch a ride. Saved me a drive too, cause my commute then was 30 miles.

Now my commute is about 7 miles one way.

 

Diesel would be sweet. I've been thinking of eventually changing out the 351C for a "small" Cummins (aka D**ge) with an automatic. After I retire I'm planning on getting in as many car shows as I can before I have to hang up my keys. Having my '56 as a tow rig with one of those sixes in it just makes too much sense. Maybe I'll find another cab for the truck and make it a four door with a really short bed, just so I'm not limited on interior space.

I'm still wondering why Detroit doesn't have a smaller diesel option for the half ton trucks.