Diesel vs Gas

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Dec 9, 2007 | 09:54 PM

jerkyboy

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Diesel vs Gas

I am interested in buying an '05 F250 crew and spoke to a local mechanic that said the diesel's are laiden with problems (he's worked on lots of them) and very $$$ to fix; he said I'd be much better off getting a 5.4 since I won't be doing any heavy towing and has seen far fewer of them in his shop. I originally thought the diesel would be better for mileage but he said the reliability and decreased maintenance costs more than offset the better mileage. What has everyone's experience been with the 6.0?

Dec 10, 2007 | 07:46 AM

origcharger

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approximately;
70% love them.
20% have had some issues.
10% would just as soon have herpes.

Dec 10, 2007 | 09:39 AM

poppie

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From: Boulder Junction Wi

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerkyboy

...........What your machanic said,your not towing or carrying anything heavy,why would you want to pay $0.20-$0.40 cent's a gal MORE for the fuel and wind up with LESS MPG in the diesel and $18.00 for the oil filter's and 2 time's the amt of oil in a change if your not going to work that truck,in your case it's not cost effictive,buy the 5.4,we have the 5.4 in the wife's expdition and the diesel in my truck used for towing our 5th wheel, a F350 4 door long bed dully.

Dec 10, 2007 | 09:40 AM

tex25025

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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN

Quote:

Originally Posted by origcharger

10% would just as soon have herpes.

I would actually had prefered never to have been thinking if I would rather have herpes or not in the morning(thankfully I fall in the 70% catagory).

Dec 10, 2007 | 09:48 AM

tex25025

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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppie

why would you want to pay $0.20-$0.40 cent's a gal MORE for the fuel and wind up with LESS MPG in the diesel

Overgeneralizing. I have known 5.4 1/2 tons that get really really bad mileage and they are driven like someone is driving to max. economy and I'm able to drive the diesel how I want to and still get better mileage. Now I do agree with you, if your not going to work it even in the slightest don't get diesel. As to reliability, I haven't had a problem with mine and quite a few other's haven't as well for the mechanic to overgeneralize about all diesels having reliability issues isn't correct. Bottomline, if your going to get what you want, get what you want, however, if your looking for opinions, if you don't tow and/or haul anything of particular weight then stick with the 5.4.

Dec 10, 2007 | 09:55 AM

lowell75

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Luv my diesels (3), but then again I don't have
to drive a tank (truck) to the store or office, only
one of them is a Ford.

No smog on them in Ca and not to cold to start!

Biodiesel is the future!! :<)

Dec 10, 2007 | 10:07 AM

Joshua0606

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Joined: Apr 2007

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From: Marco, Louisiana

I have a '03 F-250 5.4 gasser and a '05 F-250 6.0 PSD. The only reason I got the 5.4 was because a guy made me an offer that I couldn't pass up. But IMO it isn't a choice go with the diesel.

Dec 10, 2007 | 10:23 AM

Joshua0606

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From: Marco, Louisiana

Running empty or towing I get better mpg with the 6.0 diesel than the 5.4 gas.

Dec 10, 2007 | 11:31 AM

#10

poppie

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From: Boulder Junction Wi

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghunt

Actually the filters are $10...and you can change the oil for $35, I don't really get the big deal.

.................$10.00 for the 7.3 filter at wallyworld,he's looking at an 05 6.0,6.0 filter's are $18.00 at wallyworld,wife's expy with the 5.4 does18-21 mpg,my 02 7.3 does 15-17 mpg,both with me driving,the expy is based off the F150 platform and a F250 is heaver which will = somewhat lower MPG figure's,"he can drive what he like's",me i've been driving the wife's expy more than the stroker to save a buck,btw the way I forgot about the ungodly price of the fuel filter's for a 6.0 compared to a 7.3 and with a gaser you never have to change them as often as a diesel ,he was looking at a 05- 6.0 right.

Dec 10, 2007 | 12:27 PM

#11

ghunt

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From: Clarksburg WV

18-21 mpg with a 5.4 expedition?

I find that REALLY hard to believe.

Dec 10, 2007 | 12:33 PM

#12

tex25025

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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppie

wife's expy with the 5.4 does18-21 mpg,my 02 7.3 does 15-17 mpg,both with me driving,the expy is based off the F150 platform and a F250 is heaver which will = somewhat lower MPG figure's.

Unless your saying that the 5.4 he gets is going to yield the same numbers that yours does compared to if he had gotten a diesel then what you said isn't worth alot. I have yet to match the average mileage of alot of diesel owners on here and there are too many variables that go into determing mpgs in order to say that he will see this number or that number. Unless he has the exact same driving habits of you, exact same variables as you do, what you see for mileage isn't going to be the same as you, unless the variables that he has evens out with the variables that you have(rather he drives differantly to compensate for the area he drives in that averages as the same as what you end up getting), he isn't going to see the exact same as you. I know a guy with a 1/2 ton 5.4 that's getting 15 highway and 13 in town(both of those are empty readings), that's a little worse then I get with the diesel and I'm not empty(atleast not most of the time).

Dec 10, 2007 | 12:59 PM

#13

ag-ford-4x4

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,690

Likes: 29

I just did a comparison the other day, with a spreadsheet. If you are looking to get a diesel so that your overall cost of ownership, including fuel economy is lower, then its a bad idea. You will never recoup the cost of it. The only way you will be getting close is is you are AVERAGING 18.3 MPG....if you drive any faster than 60mph on the highway 90% of the time, thats not happening.

My comparison was my 05 F-250 vs. my 02 F-150.

The gas is the way to go for cheaper costs.

Dec 10, 2007 | 01:03 PM

#14

tex25025

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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN

Quote:

Originally Posted by ag-ford-4x4

If you are looking to get a diesel so that your overall cost of ownership, including fuel economy is lower, then its a bad idea.

Very true, fuel economy alone could have been a factor 4 or 5 yrs ago and you would have done alright, but not now and I really don't foresee that changing unless there is another change that happens.

Dec 10, 2007 | 01:06 PM

#15

poppie

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From: Boulder Junction Wi

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghunt

18-21 mpg with a 5.4 expedition?

I find that REALLY hard to believe.

..................Starke Florida walmart on hwy 301 to to walmart on 535 just south of I- 4 in Orland Fl = 140 mile's on the nose/took 6 gal's to top off the tank= 23.3 MPG all highway mile's with 2-3 stop's for toll's,now that's not driving 75-80 MPH,I drive 60-65 the same speed that I drive my stroker,now that 18-21 is mixed town/highway driving,(all in town "SUCK'S"),right around 14 MPG all hand figured,the on board computer is off 1-2 MPG on the high side,no tall tail's here,just the fact's,it has 3:31 rear gear's and turn's only 1500 rpm's at 60 mph.

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