Thinking about ditching my powerstroke
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 1
From: Hickory, North Carolina
Thinking about ditching my powerstroke
Well i have had a great run with my powerstroke but I am almost o the breaking point with the maintenance and fuel costs. So far I am averaging in excess of 130 a week in fuel and just recently looked at switching to synthetic oil. But thats going to cost me 85 dollars just to change the oil. I am spending 10 grand a year just to fuel and change the oil in this thing! So what do I do? I need my truck b/c I need to pull my trailers for my landscaping business but I have had it with the fuel bill. I have thought about buying the fuelmister and going to bio but that would be a a pain in the rear dealing with that. I think I would spend the difference getting rid of the glycerin and collecting my oil/ lye ect. I would save over 500 bucks a month if i did it. On the other hand i am thinking of selling the truck but i don't know what I would buy. It's really killing me just running around in this truck sometimes. any suggestions?
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,584
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From: Millbrook Alabama
Originally Posted by guthrie&co
Well i have had a great run with my powerstroke but I am almost o the breaking point with the maintenance and fuel costs. So far I am averaging in excess of 130 a week in fuel and just recently looked at switching to synthetic oil. But thats going to cost me 85 dollars just to change the oil. I am spending 10 grand a year just to fuel and change the oil in this thing! So what do I do? I need my truck b/c I need to pull my trailers for my landscaping business but I have had it with the fuel bill. I have thought about buying the fuelmister and going to bio but that would be a a pain in the rear dealing with that. I think I would spend the difference getting rid of the glycerin and collecting my oil/ lye ect. I would save over 500 bucks a month if i did it. On the other hand i am thinking of selling the truck but i don't know what I would buy. It's really killing me just running around in this truck sometimes. any suggestions?
I would sympathize with you but I am averaging about $180 to $200 per week in fuel.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Is your truck paid for, in good shape mechanically and apperance too?
You can buy a lot of fuel for the amount of money that it would cost to buy a truck with 1/2 of the capabilities of the one that you already own.
Don't forget you have THE premier towing rig on the planet for what you are using it for. Anything else (unless you buy another Powerstroke, ( why???? )) would be a step down and you'll get worst mileage than what you are getting now.
You can buy a lot of fuel for the amount of money that it would cost to buy a truck with 1/2 of the capabilities of the one that you already own.
Don't forget you have THE premier towing rig on the planet for what you are using it for. Anything else (unless you buy another Powerstroke, ( why???? )) would be a step down and you'll get worst mileage than what you are getting now.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Fuel costs are just the cost of doing business.
I have a very small auto repair shop and I have to work for 4 days to be able to be paid for 1.
It's just they way it is.
Charge accordingly, everyone else has to do it or they won't be in business for long.
I have a very small auto repair shop and I have to work for 4 days to be able to be paid for 1.
It's just they way it is.
Charge accordingly, everyone else has to do it or they won't be in business for long.
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
If you do a lot of towing with your truck, it doesnt seem to me like it would be a good idea to go to a gasser. Maybe look at getting a 6 speed truck instead of an auto for the towing aspect.
How much less is gas then diesel where you live? Here diesel is currently 10cents or so a liter lower, and in the winter time it varies whish is lower. In the summer time diesel is lower here, as a rule.
I wouldnt reccomend getting a different brand of diesel truck either, because they all get fairly similar mileage.
How much less is gas then diesel where you live? Here diesel is currently 10cents or so a liter lower, and in the winter time it varies whish is lower. In the summer time diesel is lower here, as a rule.
I wouldnt reccomend getting a different brand of diesel truck either, because they all get fairly similar mileage.
Last edited by preppypyro; Feb 3, 2008 at 06:12 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 699
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From: northern Michigan
I my area currently I can get gas for $2.959 per gallon and dino Diesel for $3.209 per gallon. When I towed with An F250 with the 360 V8 4X4 4 speed, 4 barrell holly I got 8 mpg. When I switched to the same truck with the 7.3 turbo six speed I went to 11.5 mpg. With the AIS intake and 4" exhaust I now get 12.5mpg with the same trailer. The 7.3 should be good for over 500,000 miles without any major repairs. Moneywise I would wager the diesel to be the more economical over the long term even with the higher fuel cost just because it uses less of it.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Diesel has to be about twice as much as gas for the gasser to make it worth the difference. Just the way it is. I doubt seriously the change to a gasser would give you any benefit whatsoever. Make sure you're getting top mileage by keeping those I/C boots tight, EBPS tube clean, up-pipes tight, and keep your foot out of it unless you really have to step on it, and you should do pretty well.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 10,600
Likes: 3
From: Carhenge
There was just recently a thread over in the Superduty forum about winter mileage on the V-10. I's suggest you go look it up if you're thinking of that route, made me feel really good about the price of diesel considering the mileage I get.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Kwickk has it right. All company's raise their prices a little when circumstances require it. Trucking co.'s and taxi's do it for example. Talk to your customers and explain your situation, most will understand. The one's that don't probably weren't worth keeping anyway. Fuel surcharges are a fact of life these days, all businesses are in the same boat and have to do what is necessary to survive. You shouldn't have to give up your truck just to keep your business.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
Originally Posted by bdrummonds
Here is the big thing, If you go to a gasser(yes gas is chaeper than diesel) but the mileage is so much worse. 8MPG for a gasser, vs 14 for the diesel (your numbers may vary). ....
New User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2
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we use a 2004 7.3 turbo diesel for work and we move houses and what not, our one ton diesel is always loaded down with loads u would be scared to go down the road with. when we picked this truck up it had an edge power programer installed on it already and we cant complain about the power responce or the fuel mileage in fact the milage is awsome compared to our 3/4ton vortec chevy so try lookin into computer mods air intake mods or exhuast mods all of which are reasonably cheap n easy to install and to top it off diesels respond nice to theses mods
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
With racking up that many miles, I would start making bio-diesel. Yes, it can be a pain sometimes collecting and filtering oil (I run a vegistroke system). And to make bio add doing the chemical thing. But I don't mind it.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
I have a landsacpe maint. business. Went from a gasser to a diesel this year. I was getting 7mpg towing with my 460 ci. I looked at the other options and a 3/4 ton with the 5.4 was too weak for extended towing.(I have one in an expedition and it does ok for a temp fill in). You need a 3/4 ton for this type of business and diesel will get you better milage. I don't see a savings going with a 3/4 ton with a V10 either. Unless the truck is giving you issues and you mechanically need to change, I would stick it out with what you have.
Paul
Paul