Hey Folks,

I thinking of buying a Ford 3/4 or 1 ton pick up for work, but also a crew cab to fit my kids.... I remodel bathrooms.

Is it worh the $$$ to get a diesel? I drive about 300 - 400 miles a week.

Please help... I hate to waste what little money the company has.

Thanks,

haggplumb

 

In 179,000 miles, I have used much less fuel, and paid less money per gallon, than in a gasoline truck. The savings I made have surpassed the difference in price between the two engines. If you tow a lot, the diesel uses less fuel in that circumstance than any gas engine.

diesels sound better too.

Theo

 

Well i am going to guess that because you asked this on the 7.3 forum that you arent looking to buy a new one. So lets have some fun and run some nubmers here.

400 miles a week times 50 weeks = 20000= 400*50

Now a diesel gets 18 mpg, (rough estimate), so you have 20000/18 = 1111 gallons of fuel per year.

Now for a gas engine you get 12 mpg, (rough estimate), so 20000/12 = 1666 gallons of fuel per year.

Now the average price of fuel is 1.50 for gas and 1.45 for diesel. This brings your yearly total fuel bill too, 1.5*1666 = $2500
For diesel 1.45 * 1111 = 1611.11

This is a difference of $888.88 a year, so if you pay $4000 for your diesel compared to a gas engine at rate of savings of $888.88 a year in 4.5 years you will break even. Any time after that and you are putting extra money into your pocket.

 

If you pay $4000 extra for a diesel, you will get $2000 back in 5-7 years at trade-in time.

I paid $3200 extra for my 7.3 in '98. According to KBB, the diesel made the truck worth $2500 more when I traded it in on my X.

NOTHING holds its value like a diesel in a pickup.

 

Exactly what I was figuring. Thanks for taking the time to help me.

Would you estimate that a diesel will get about twice the milage of a gasoline engine?

I don't need to go fast and I dont mind the 'rattle' of a diesel.

Let me know,

haggplumb

 

haggplumb,
I recently switched from gas to diesel and I am sorry I waited so long. Just the math above is convincing enough. I have a home improvement company and drive about the same distance you do, maybe a bit more. The mileage could be double depending on what you carry and what engine you're comparing it to. Any gas engine with the same power as the diesel, with almost surely use twice the fuel pulling or carrying the same load. The rattle is not as bad as you think and you don't even notice it. It's the sound of the turbo that's the best. All in all, as a fellow contractor without a huge company budget, I'd say get the diesel.

Good luck

 

It is not unusual for a Powerstroke engine, Navistar T444E, to last for over 400,ooo miles. I know a couple of school busses with the T44E in that have over 560,ooo miles on each. If treated nicely, and maintained properly, the PSD will outlast all gas engines.

Theo

 

Thanks again,

Hualing busted-up tile, cement, cast iron tubs, ect kills my 2002 E250 van. I figure to keep it for service work and use the diesel for remodeling.

Is it safe to but a 2001 F250 with 85,000 miles?

What am I looking for in terms of 'red flags'?

Thanks,

haggplumb

 

I am going through the same decision process at the moment (gas/deisel) and have a question. While there will be some gas saving over that period of time, don't you have to change the oil at the same intervals as a gas motor (it takes 3x the amount of oil).

Thanks,

Frank T. Lee

 

Yes, the oil change does cost more, but don't forget that a diesel does not have spark plugs, wires, etc. either. I'd bet that, over the long haul, the maintenance costs are pretty close to equal.

Sticking with Chronos' figures, and if you changed your own oil every 5,000 miles, assuming the difference in materials cost is about $20, the annual savings should be reduced by about $80, increasing the calculated payback to around 5 years.

To me, the decision should really rest on how long you want to keep the truck - if you're like me and run them until they die, the diesel is the obvious choice.

 

Depending on where you live and what you buy there are some additional opportunities:

1). No tailpipe emissions test.
2). The difference in warantee on the engine should be worth something.
3). Less fire/explosion hazard
4). Ability to do something good for the enviornment when biodiesel becomes more widely available.
5). I have found that I didn't have to shift as much, and the clutch lasts longer.

My current situation of being dieseless is very depressing :-)

 

Is there anything I should avoid... a certain engine or tranny?

When I test drive is there something that would be a 'red flag' (bad sign)?

I see a 2001 F250 XLT long bed, 4 full doors, 4x4, 85k miles and some minor cosmetic damage (sctratches, shround on driver's mirror cracked). Asking $25,850.

Are these Fords all under warranty for the first 100,000 miles?

Any thoughts?

Let me know what ya'll think,

haggplumb

 

I'm in the same boat...er truck...er whatever. I too am looking for a diesel truck after having a few gas ones. They seem to keep their value and according to a lot of these posts, run forever too. Good luck with your purchase and I'll post if and when I find a superduty to replace my 91 f250 4wd l/b.

 

Did you say YOUR company? Talk to your tax man, we write our diesel (truck & fuel) off every year, so I would pay the extra and go diesel. We have a crewcab dually plus we pull a 6500lb. pump behind it. Our friends have a crewcab gas they always complain about the gas hog. Just my input.

 

85K is little for a diesel.