For a big heavy ambulance the 8.1l gas engine (for the GMs) and the 6.8l gas engine (For the Fords) are a better choice IMO. The problem is GM is not making the 8.1l anymore, the 6.8l is available in F-series chassis cabs and probably in the E-series also. In a big heavy vehicle fuel mileage is going to suck even in a diesel. An ambulance is big, heavy, non aerodynamic and the operaters let them idle constantlly. I wouldn't even look at a 6.0l equipped truck for an ambulance but thats just me, not that its a bad engine you will just have to work it to death.

 

The 6.0l GM engine is very reliable. It IS a gas pig though. The lack of support/service for them shouldn't be a huge concern as it is based off the LS family engine (albeit the truck, iron block variant).
Sadly, post 2003 the best Ford's for use in Ambulances are gas engines too.

Welcome to the site BTW

 

Thanks a lot for the input. I had thought it might be reliable, I guess what you might save on maintenance will be lost on gas expenditures, especially around here. I am not quite sure it'll be worthwhile, knowing how medics drive, lol.

Thanks for the welcome. I hope to be able to participate on regular base.

 

We are currently operating 4 of the new Chevy ambulances, one ton van front style, with the deisel engine. They do a very good job as raf as reliability. The biggest issue zi can see is with the cheap plastic used in construction of the interior. The handles fall apart, you can see a big difference in the materials used in the construction of interior components between the Fords and the Chevys. Chevy has gotten very cheap in there construction. I worry that the cheap materials follow through to the important parts like drive line and braking ststem.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if all of the privates go with Dodge Sprinters as they use 30 percent less fuel. Ford once had 90 percent marketshare in the ambulance business and now its getting proportionally worse for them. I don't see a problem with just going to a Type I but many companies are in love with Type III's. Legroom can be nice for those 12hr "idling" shifts...

 

The 6.0L GM LS V-8 is a very good engine. My company runs 100's of them system wide, most gasoline some CNG, with no issues. Fuel consumption is higher than a diesel for sure, but I would consider it good for a gas V-8 of it's size in a commercial truck.

 

Ford is losing the ambulance market around San Antonio. For instance, Kendall county had been using Fords since at least the 80s, and had 2 87-91 Ford F-350s with the 7.3 IDI in service until at least 2004, and one or two 95-97 Ford F350s as well, all well over 10 years old. This was 5 years ago...
I moved back into the area in Feb, and when driving by the ambulance building I see 2 07+ Duramaxe's & 1 03+ Cummins! I'm guessing they, like many other counties, weren't going to chance the 6.0 PSD.
Also noticing more Chevy ambulances in both van & cab & chassis form around San Antone.
San Antonio FD still uses Ford's though, 08+ F-350s.

 

The CNG application wouldn't work in most EMS environments due to the availability of CNG fuel. I know that some PD's use CNG but it would be impractical for EMS as ambulances can move about several hundred square miles in a shift.

Also, after working in the business for several years, some of the "old school" (who make the purchasing decision) cringe when they hear anything other than Ford when it comes to ambulance chassis due to previous problems with non-Ford autos from 20yrs ago.

I know one fire chief who hates Chevy's forever because of a GM powered brushtruck they had 20yrs ago that always overheated. In the interest of fuel savings, I hope we all switch to Sprinter chassis. I can really care less if its foreign built as we have no other options. Ford's Focus diesel gets 60mpg but they won't even consider selling it in the USA. THAT is why I made my first purchase of a foreign car earlier this year. I paid 2100 for it and it gets over 45mpg's.

 

My province's formerly and for many years..all Ford Econoline E350/E450 Diesel DRW ambulance fleet (significant) is being replaced primarily by Chevy cab and chassis 3500 DRW vans with the Durmax diesel.

But they have also brought in 4 Sprinter ambulances and are saying they may go 100% with the Sprinter style...25 % better mileage.

IMO, Ford needs to bring over the Euro Transit diesel...the big one, not that little one...

 

I hear that's what FMC is planning to do and no more E350s from 2012. At least, that's what the ambulance builders are saying.

In any case, the 6.7L will not fit into an E350, so I can just forget about my beloved E350s. We'll cherish them until the bitter end ...