Could you explain how diesel trucks only cost a COUPLE cents more per mile?

 

Simple--

Take as an example the cheapest regular unleaded gas here where I live is $3.11/gal and the cheapest diesel here is $3.39/gal.

14mpg @ $3.11/gal = $0.222/mile
14mpg @ $3.39/gal = $0.242/mile

or, in another way, $3.39-$3.11 = $0.28 more for diesel per gallon
$0.28/gal / 14mpg = $0.02/mile

The additional fuel cost for driving a diesel ignoring maintenance cost is in the noise if you're not driving hundreds of miles a day all year long..

When diesel was cheaper than unleaded, life was even better.

 

The MPG people post has a lot of variables due mostly in part on driving habits, equipment setup, and local. In our area (city and rural area) I can get 12-14 if local- but freeway I can get up to 20 on steady freeway 70mph cruise controled speed. Above 70 the mpg really tanks. Towing on a long haul 8K trailer. 11-12mpg. Also remember when you get a diesel the oil changes cost a lot more. 15qts of oil and a costlier filter adds up. Good luck on your search. But if you need POWER the diesel is the way to go for longevity of engine. The diesel engine isn't even broke in till 100K but maintance is the key.

PS our truck is stock

 

I firmly believe if you don't need such a heavy truck for your daily driving you should keep you'll old one for when you do and get a smaller truck. Yes the extra insurance,etc. plays into it but at the cost of a newer SuperDuty with it's maintaince cost,tire were cost,etc. your far better getting a mid size like a Tacoma. Cost of running it is far cheaper then running the SD and fuel mileage is much better.
The tuner will shorten the life of your SD and the cost benefit for mpg,warantee loss,etc doesn't justify the cost. For the 2 or 3 mpg you get.
Empty I get only 12 or 13.5 on the highway. Tacoma gets 22 or more. Thats for the V6 CC.
Tires for the SD are 1K plus., filters are $60 fuel, oil and filter is $ 60 plus giving your doing it yourself. If something goes like turbos or batteries costs are high..the list goes on and on.

 

and here in Central Texas, Diesel is $2.95 vs $2.79 for regular.. so 16c/gal diff. I get the same unloaded mileage 14.5 as I did on my 06 4.6l F150.. which couldn't pull a mouse.. with the Suburban small block I get 14 unloaded and 6 towing my enclosed car trailer.. Yesterday with the 08 F350 SD I got 9.7 towing the trailer..over 400 miles, so a 61% increase in mileage.

so, unloaded it costs me 1c/mile, loaded is saves me 16c/mile (279/6 - 295/9.7)

we plan to haul the hotrod to a show in tennessee in June, 1000 miles each way... that fuel cost difference is 930(gas) vs 609(diesel) for 2000 miles.
(yeh, I know it changes by the minute!)
Sam

 

I personally can't justify having a diesel. I needed a 3/4 for plowing, but the 5.4 did it fine. It was definitely a pig on gas though. I would never get more then 10-11. Put a 900lbs plow on the front and 600lbs in the bed and it could barely get out of its own way. However, running the 6.4 is amazing. The power is endless, and the mpg are much better. I can honestly say, I don't think I will ever own a gas 3/4+ truck again.

 

my right foot could vary my 6.0 from 26-10 mpg.

 

I have a 2010 F-250 LB with a little over 6000 miles on it now and its' performance is about what you are seeing. On a recent trip of 350 miles the lie-o-meter was showing 22.4 when I turned into my drive. This was varied driving, all non-towing, interstate and two lane, rarely over 65 mph. Towing an 8000 lb TT I get 11-12mpg, unless I am facing a stiff headwind. I am what may be called a "grandma" driver, very conservative, but with the speed of most traffic. At this point, I love this truck. This truck is factory stock as well.
Marty

 

If you guys go by the lie o meter good luck. Mine read 12.8 to 12.2 all day yesterday towing. I hand calcuated and got 9.5 mpg. That's highway mostly after 230 miles.

 

I allowed a 15% error on the high side and was still content with the near 20 mpg. I did make the 350 miles on 1/2 tank of fuel though.

 

Why spend all that money for a 6.4 when you can find a clean 7.3. No Smog junk, easy to do DIY maint., cheaper filters. Install a custom tuner, intake, exhaust and it will perform as well as a 6.4 and get you 19 or 20 mph highway. Insurance and tags half the price. Just my .02

 

What are you smoking? Maybe a stock 6.4 but do what I got in my sig and I get 22 mpg on the hwy and make over 500 rwhp and 1100 rwtq.

 

Smoking? I quit that years ago although it looks like here in California it will become legal soon. I am not knocking the 6.4 at all. I sold mine because of all the problems with the emissions junk I had.
Reading the original post it seemed to me the OP is on a tight budget and I just wondered why he was so sold on a 6.4. The only major cosmetic difference is the grill, headlights, tailgate and dash. As for performance, I live in California and if I had your truck, with your mods, it would not pass the emissions test w/o being returned to stock. I understand that in Texas the inspection only requires a muffler. We arn't that lucky. Again, I didn't mean to bash the 6.4L.