Hi Guys, I'm trying to create a gas vs diesel cost spread sheet.

The sheet will calculate about what each motor costs in fuel and oil changes

Here are the inputs I have

MPG city and highway - I'll leave this up to the user since a reg cab will get better than a crew cab etc

number of expected driven miles city and highway
Oil change cost and frequency
current fuel prices

Is there anything else I should add?

Please dont turn this thread into a debate

Here's what I came up with,
http://www.fortjake.com/fte/spreadsheet/
Its an excel file
I think it works, but its late Try her out, Gimmie some feedback

 

I have a real good one that takes everything into acount but I cant figure out how to post it, let me know how and I'll through it up for you to look at.

 

Nice job, how about people list what they are getting for mileage

 

I don' t know if this will help, and I am NOT trying to set up a debate, just offering something that I posted on an RV website...There is really NO FINANCIAL benefit to owning a diesel over a gas engine that I can see....I owned a Hemi and now have a Cummins.

I ran some numbers using 200,000 miles as a guide, comparing a Gas Hemi to a Cummins diesel....I think it is safe to assume that either a gas or diesel engine will certainy go 200,000 with proper maintenance...let me know what you think:

.........................Diesel..............Gas
Engine Cost.........$5300...............$0
MPG......................17..................13 (unloaded - I've had both)
Oil.....................12 quarts............5 quarts
Fuel Cost............$2.30/gal...........$2.00/gal (as of 2/24/06)

For 200,000 miles:

Fuel Useage.....11,764 gals@17 mpg....15,385 gals@13 mpg
Fuel Cost............$25,057.................$30,770
Oil Useage...........12 qts/change........5 qts/change
Oil Cost/change...$24 + $10 Filter.....$10 + $5 filter (or less)
Oil Changes..........29 @ 7,000 miles....40 @ 5,000 miles
Cost of Oil Changes..$986 ($24x29).......$600 ($15x40)
Fuel Filter.............$15/15k miles.......$12/50k miles
Fuel Filter cost.........$200................$36

Total for engine,.....$31,543.............$31,413
Fuel, Oil, fuel
filters, etc.

SOOOOOO, the diesel, in this example, costs $130 MORE to run over the span of 200,000 miles...so much for the big long term savings.

Certainly, the numbers vary depending upon the part of the country you are in, but it looks like a wash to me....

Also, the numbers will change from time to time....it used to be that diesel get a little cheaper that gasoliine in the summer months, but that MAY not happen once they go to the ULTRA LOW SULFER fuel in June...I have read that there will be an increase cost to produce it, which will, of course, be passed on to the poor schmuck at the pump (anywhere for $.05 to $.50 per gallon).

So, the determining factor is what you want to drive...I have the diesel and, if it was not for the fact that I would take a financal bath, I would go back to the gas engine.

Some folks are going to say that it is not right to comapre a Hemi to a Cummins...I agree. These are the trucks I have personally owned. I would contend, however, that if I used a Ford V10 instead of the Cummins, the numbers would be almost the same (although there is a $600 charge for the Ford V10 over the 5.4 V8), still being a wash at the end....
As a result of my own analysis, I ordered a new 2006 Super Duty V-10 yesterday....can't wait.

 

Very good comparison. The only thing you left out was the additional price of the
diesel over the gas engine when you go to sell these vehicles.
I have a 2004 SD with the V10 and it is the best truck I have ever owned. Enjoy
your new truck.

Jack

 

Madjak, you are correct, but I did not think it was pertinent...here's why.

When I traded my Cummins yesterday, they gave me $4500 more for the trade because it had the diesel...BUT it cost me $5300 to buy the diesel...

It's like when I traded in a truck a few years ago with a stick shift, the salesman said he could have given me $1000 more for the truck if it had an automatic...I told him that I did not have to pay the $1000 so I was even....

I guess that makes sense.....

 

Opps - Jake, didn't get the figures in columns E & F, rows 6 thru 8, nor anything in column K...

 

Way to go davzog! Congrats

Most construction companies around here have come to their senses and have started putting the new V10 to work.

 

...and then if you brew your own Bio-D, it skews the figures way in favor of the diesel...

After all, $.70-75/gal is hard to beat! (last time I paid that for gas, I had just gotten my DL and I was buying leaded gas!)

M

 

Very interesting...

I did a spread sheet like this once and I came out with about the same results, but.....


Then I traded in my V-10 and bought a 6.0 and man was I off.

While I loved my V-10, the Diesel crushed it in mileage - well over 50% better mileage, more like 75%+ (and I drive the exact same way with both)

Also, where i live, there isn't a 30cents difference between gas and diesel.

So, after 200,000 the diesel costs less, hands down.

But (again) I won't keep my truck that long so I won't benefit from those savings. Anyway, my V-10 was a beast and the one is "more beastly" It truly proves that - to each is own -

There is no right or wrong answer. I just can't wait to burn more bio diesel and less terrorist diesel...

Fish

 

What makes you think the trade-in difference on your truck was only $4500 from diesel to gas? Was that the difference in book? I'm just asking, because a gas truck goes below book, a diesel over book, so the real $$$$ difference could be quite a bit more than that- especially on a later model truck.

 

The most important factor you left out is "What you WANT" !

Just get it and don't try to justify it to no one else....

Only ones that do that are the insecure ones that feel they need to

 

I whole heartedly agree....

Everyone told me I had to have a diesel to pull a 5th wheeler...tried it, hated it, and bought a gasseer V10

I am sure lots of folks think I am nuts...but that's a-ok....thanks

 

I think that most of the comparisons do show that the cost of owning one or the other is close enough that you should just get what you want or can afford at the time of purchase. It's not like "should I go with a superduty or a ranger?", the overall cost really isn't that different.

I'm still trucking around in a 1/2 ton gas burner, but my next purchase will be an excursion with a diesel mainly b/c I really want an excursion with a diesel.

I only drive my truck about 7,500-10,000 miles per year and most of those miles are put while towing a 5x14 ft trailer with one or two ATV's on it. I currently tow my atv with a 96 1/2 ton ext cab 4x4 chevy with 183,000 miles on it. It's been a great truck, it's easy to work on, parts are relatively cheap, and I enjoy driving it. I drive an old 89 nissan maxima as a commuter that has 265,000 miles on it. Eventually it will give out and I plan to use the chevrolet as a daily driver and replace it (as a tow vehicle) with an excursion diesel.

If I have to justify the extra up front cost of a diesel it is b/c I travel out west from TN each year for an ATVing trip. 02-04 was colorado and 05 was to utah. I've made the trip once in a buddy's 99 f-250 v10, twice in my twice in my 96 k1500 5.7, and once in another buddy's 01 f-150 4.6. Each of those trucks was a disappointment in the power department once you get to 5,000 feet with the small loads that we were carrying. Our first trip was in the v10 and my buddy who had previously owned a 99 sd with 7.3 six speed and 99 sd with v10 5 speed thought someting was wrong with the truck (we hadn't yet comprehended how elevation affects a vehicle's power). The chevy was just as bad, but the worst display of ability was last year in the 4.6. We left denver heading west on hwy 70 and could not get the truck above 45 mph heading up the mountain. Poor ole truck was turning 4,500 rpms and making 45 mph. Once a duramax pulling a gooseneck loaded with about 6 ATV's blew by us at about 75 mph. We just looked at each other and laughed.

That was when I definitely decided that my next tow vehicle will be a 3/4 ton diesel even though I really only "need" that power once or twice a year.

I had all ready decided that I wanted an excursion and the diesel's up front cost in the used market will likely cost me 5-7,000 more than a comparable v10, but I will be able to load 4 or 5 adults into it, hook up to a 20 foot trailer, put 4 or 5 atv's on it and head to colorado each year and have plenty of power to get over and through the rockies when I get there.

When my neighbor looks at me and asks why'd you go with the diesel, I'll simply say "that's what I wanted".

I may hate a diesel after owning one, but I'll never know til I try.

 

While a FEW, make that VERY FEW... VERY, VERY, VERY FEW people keep a vehicle for 200K miles, I cant say I've ever even met someone that has. I've owned 43 in my life (35 years old), and THAT is an exception as well. But wouldnt most guys in all honest agree 100K is tops for an acurrate comparison?

Nice chart though!