Here is what I meant. In your originally post you said you only have a short commute and you got several replies to buy a small maybe electric. When you let us know more about your needs it made alot more sense in your decision to get a truck. Drive it and enjoy it and ask questions.

Here is why I got my truck. I didn't not need a truck or another vehicle for that matter. Got two Jeeps sitting in the driveway. My reason I wanted a truck and this one fell in my lap.

 

Maybe get a red Prius with a bratwurst freshener and a roof rack- haul your trailer like a logging truck does?

Sorry, that brought out the troll in me a little

In seriousness, though, reliability will not be an issue short of more maintenance than normal on the starting system. IDI's have a much more complicated starting system than gassers, so you'll probably go through glow plugs and controllers a lot quicker. They are also noisy and a little smoky- especially when cold.

When comparing against a SB gasser, note that a lot of 4 barrel carbs won't open the secondaries until the engine is warm, so the IDI will probably have more oomph on such a short commute.

Piston warm up time won't be there either. With gassers, they warm up relatively quickly, but diesels not so much. I'm not worried about piston slap in an IDI because I believe they use hypereutectic alloy "smog" pistons which have minimal expansion.

What probably may give you a little trouble is that the pistons usually operating "cold" will mean that when you do get it up to temp, carbon will have built up behind the ring lands and you might occasionally get a stuck piston ring. They may work themselves loose just from driving though.

There are a handful of ways to deal with this issue should it arise. I am fond of the occasional motor oil solvent based "motor flush" which thins the oil and breaks down carbons- will kill your bottom end if you drive with it in the oil though *follow instructions on bottle*.

Other options work too- like solvent through the glow plugs when you have them out *beware of hydrolock issues*. And though this is rather redneck, I have had good luck with quart of ATF run in the oil for a while before an oil change is due. <This particular approach was with an engine I shared no love with, but it worked well.

 

16 mpg that is what I get pulling 10k hell normal week in traffic 20mpg and on a long trip I have seen 24mpg

 

I said I usually only drive a mile or two. Never mentioning a commute

I have a work van. So I can tolerate less then reliable vehicles.

 

I only compared it to a small block with a carb as that is what I have usually owned in my life. So it is a easy place where we can make reference from. Plus my current truck is carb'd.

Also I have never owned a diesel, and only driven one a couple of times. It was a new duramax so it is not a comparison to me. Since my experience was so limited, and the truck already at temp.

 

What set up do you have on your truck.

I want a srw with a stick, but nearly all here are duallys. So a conversion is in my future. Plus the majority are autos, and they get lean in the sought after crew cab.

 

For that short a commute, consider a bicycle, motorcycle, or even an electric bike. Use the IDI when you need to haul, and if your neighbors criticize you for having a big ol' unclean diesel, they can go pound sand. Remind them of the "footprint" their Piouses will have when the battery pack goes tango union.

Keep the glow plug circuit maintained, good fuel, good oil, and it'll start on a dime any day of the week. If you really have to use it for such short trips with any regularity, just take the long way home a few times a week, stretch it out and let it run.

 

My daily commute is typically an hour in my bosses van.

The idi is for pleasure or my personal needs that can not be taken care of on the way home.

 

Well if it's not _daily_ short trips, then that's def. better. But the trip length thing still applies. Every now and then, get it up to speed, and up to temperature. Not only better for the engine and driveline (get tranny, diff, etc. warmed up), but it's on trips of several miles that you're more likely to evidence latent problems.

Just as an example, I had a couple issues with my left brake caliper; flex hose was routed the wrong way and therefore pinced, and the pistons weren't retracting (rust). Acted totally normal on short trips; only showed up when I got up to speed and did some significant braking. I'm sure it was still dragging on the short trips, just not noticeably. So it's good to do longer "shakedown" runs.

 

I drive minimally 30 miles round trip on the weekend with some over 120.

It is m-f that I barely go anywhere. The park is the furthest drive at 2 miles.

 

I was in that situation for the last three years basically. I lived 2 blocks from work, and then went to my parents place on the weekend - 50 miles away.

I ended up walking to work most of the time; you might bike it.
I never had any trouble with the truck doing this, except that quick starts and stops(quick run to the store) will hurt your tank-to-tank fuel economy for obvious reasons.

 

I have a 1992 f-350 cclb 4x4 with an e4od, first gen banks nonwaste gated, and srw 3.55. Filled up before I left and filled it up when I got there and used that number of gallons. I keep track of every tank and depending on how much I stomp on it per tank, and winter or summer fuel 20-22mpg. My commute is 20 miles one way 6-7 days a week. I got the 24 on a trip from KC to witchita non stop 70-75 mph. I got there only using a half tank(211 miles).

 

Due to stated application, it seems like efficiency shouldn't matter too much. But it is probably good to be aware of some of the wide variations.

First, diesels have *broad* changes in efficiency with engine operating temperature, so short drives will not yield impressive results. Also, stellar 20+ mpg efficiency is highly unlikely without OD (EOD or ZF5), even with 3.55's. Also not likely with 4.10's even with an OD transmission.

My buddy for a long while had pretty much the same truck as mine except 2wd. He got about 16-18 with 3.55's and a t-19, then put in a ZF5 and it went up to low 20's and hand calculated a few road trips at 24mpg average. Rear end scattered and he came across a 4.10 for replacement and it went almost back to T-19/3.55 numbers. I get about 17 when the hubs are unlocked. That OD is nice to have.

 

Funny. I live in LA, and that's exactly what I already do.

I bike my 3 mile commute. I have my Jetta TDI for whatever city driving or rainy days. And my IDI van for hauling, road trips, and sightseeing. I bet the savings in delivery costs alone have paid for the van. And my custom WVO conversions on the jetta and van allow me to use biofuel, so when I get accosted by some ignorant enviro-yuppie in a Prius, I tell them my van gets 100-150 mpdg and my jetta gets 450 mpdg, so F off.

 

You could also ask them where their recycled beer can will be in 25 years Did I tell you I saw a Jetta Rolling Coal. Could been right there with them Fummins boys