Quote:
Originally Posted by Hydro
Timid, My 6.4L barely gets any better fuel mileage than a V-10. I only get 8.5 mpg towing 6,000lbs (my 2003 F-150 got the same mileage yes, same trailer). I can't even muster 12's in the city and highways are around 15-16mpg. There is no way the diesel is worth the price if you're NOT towing heavy and often. With diesel fuel costing 70 cents more per gallon on the average, the loss of a few mpg's on the V-10 damn near make-up for it.
Let's include maintenence in the "pricing". A gasser can go 50k on a fuel filter, can't say that with a diesel, plus you need two. Air filters are changed less with a gasser, no turbo's pulling more air. Oil intervals are the same, except 6 quarts vs. 15 (big difference). No DPF's on a gasser, come 100k miles no worries. Less radiators to worry about, one less battery, etc...
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Comparing to my old V6 and V8 (Frontier and Titan respectively), I never towed. And I still don't tow either, but am trying to make a point with fuel prices having cost me $75 a fill up every 3 or 4 days versus diesel fuel costing me $180 every 18 days or so; I easily SAVE $30 (if not more) even with the prices of diesel fuel. Without towing, like I said, I get pretty good mileage compared to my old trucks (granted they were both heavily modified). I've just come up with another good example, though. My brother owns an '01 Dodge Dakota (gasser) and he's lucky if he gets 10 MPG for some reason. Seriously these gassers suck. In all senses. Nonetheless, I'll defer to your experience as you have actually owned a V10! :-)
Maintenance costs? Well, I save by not bringing my truck to the dealership for things I can do on my own--so there's no increase in cost to me other than parts ($15 of oil every 6k versus $30 is what it is).
