Expected Differential in Mileage of Gas vs Diesel e-350

[NeilGoBlue]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum. I appreciate any advice you all have. I need to buy a van for my business. We drive about 50K miles a year loaded with about 1000lbs. It's kind of a courier service, so we make about 10 stops a day.

I would like to know the difference between gas and diesel for an e-350.

I have a 1991 e-250 with the small v-8 and average about 12.5 mpg.

I apologize if this has been asked before but I couldn't find it. I found a lot of info for pickup trucks, but not for vans.

Can I expect about 4-5 more mpg for a diesel? I'm trying to justify the price differential.

I also should say that I'm looking at a used van in the 1997-1998 range.


Thanks!

Neil

[Larry M]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a 1991 e-250 with the small v-8 and average about 12.5 mpg.

[/ QUOTE ]

For the in town service you've described with stops you're not going to benefit by going to a diesel in the long run based just on MPG as your question is framed.

BigBob might give some more inisight on the overall tradeoffs since he has lots more experience with a business and the gasser/diesel experience.


Larry
keeper of the <font color="blue"> "little secrets" </font> [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[NeilGoBlue]

Thanks for the quick reply. I was looking at the savings on gas along with the savings of being able to drive 100K or more on the diesel.

[Larry M]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the quick reply. I was looking at the savings on gas along with the savings of being able to drive 100K or more on the diesel.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now that's a whole different question and you need to spell out exactly what, where, and how you're using your vehicles along with how may etc. I'm not sure we can answer the type of question you maybe asking here. The only person I know that might have some of the experience you might be looking for is BigBob since his business uses both.


Larry
keeper of the <font color="blue"> "little secrets" </font> [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[robrocketanski]

no educated answer here but .02 none the less [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

I have a non turbo and get 16 mpg. I cost me 250 bucks to drive it to California and I figured it would be at least a 100 more w/ gas. But around town here in California (stop at every light) I get about 10-12 mpg. It is a 15 passenger and I floor it every time! I still think it is worth it, I have 223k on the van and I don't see a gas engine holding up as well.

And it is way cooler [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[bork]

I was wandering if psd got better or worse milage. Cause I know I would be standing on it from light to light also. How many sec to go from 0 -60 mph in the old 7.3 non turbo? And original tranny? No rebuild?

[WarDogz]

Hi Neil,
I bought a psd e-350 last year in the fall after driving an e-250 for 5 years. The e-250 was a 97' V-6 extended (super duty) and I carried a 1000lbs of tools and supplies..mebe more. I traded it in after putting a 100k on it (130,000+) and it was using a little oil. mechanically it was in good shape, but I'd used the best of it's life.
The V6 gave me better milage than this 02' psd but in the long run it's gonna cost me less since I expect to get twice the life out of it.
Carrying a 1000lbs+ around every day I get 13mpg in rural driving (some in town, some on the highway)

[wiskey6]

Hey Guys,
Kinda jumpin into this thread. I am going to look at an E350 with the 6.0 next weekend. Wonder why there is such a differance in mileage between the trucks and vans. This will cause me to rethink the van.
I also noticed last night that the in th eE series, Ford does not seem to charge the extra $5000 for th e6.0 that they do in the trucks.(this was looking at v10 and 6.0 vans)Does the V10 cost as much as the 6.0 I wonder?

[HeyBob]

Neil,

A Powerstroke driven daily around town with a lot of stop and go as we drive them will get you 12 to 14 mpg depending on the driver.

A 5.4 driven in the same manner will get you between 9 and 11 mpg depending on the driver.

I only have 1 diesel fleet vehicle left and it's for sale. The maintenance cost and initial cost of the diesel do not make the diesel very attractive when buying new. Used is a better deal.

Another problem is the diesel will out last the body here in Michigan, a diesel will go 225K plus, the bodies are crap after 8 or 9 years.

I have bought my first Morgan Olson van last month, all aluminum, 5.4 gasser on an E-350 stripped chassis. A diesel in that application would be worthwile because the body will never rust, but it's not available.

[WarDogz]

Wiskey
there's alot more steel in a van [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
And they are usually loaded with more stuff on a regular (everyday) basis

[NeilGoBlue]

Thanks for the replies everyone... based on Bob's and other feedback, i'm going to budget for a 3 mpg increase in fuel efficiency (plus longer life of engine, minus increased maintinence costs)

Thanks!!!

PS.. Bob, Go Blue!!!! (went to school in your neck of the woods)

[racerman_27410]

I traded in my 2000 E350 5.4 gasser a month ago on a new 04 E350 XL 6.0 diesel

the '00 had broken two exhaust manifold studs off in the cylinder head (84,000 miles) and while that was being diagnosed i saw them roll two brand new Diesel vans off the transport Hmmmmmmmm could this be a sign?
needless to say i have been wanting a diesel for long life/increased power but the 7L PSDs were very hard to find back in 2000 so i settled for the gas version then.

with the extended warranty running out at 100,000 miles on my old truck i saw this new 6.0 as an opportunity to own a great truck/engine/transmission package (it is still the first year of the 6.0 engine in a van but in its second year of 6.0 production - hopefully all the gremlins have been thoroughly sorted by now)

i have my own HVAC company (one man band) and drive mostly around town-the E350 5.4 gasser would get 9mpg city- about 11mpg highway the diesel gets consistantly 14.5/15 MPG city and 14.3 towing my loaded enclosed trailer in the mountains (5700 lbs)
i have yet to run a tank of fuel on the highway but i am expecting somewhere about 17/18mpg when i do :-)
best part is the engine doesnt even have 2000 miles on it yet- according to the experts i have yet to see max mileage from this engine!!!!

The '04 diesel is no slouch off the line either - the variable vane turbo keeps you from having a lot of turbo lag- when you mash the gas she goes...

keep on the gas and you wont be able to wipe the grin off your face!

towing on the highway and even up the mountains from greensboro into Boone NC she did not miss a lick.

my old van would not hardly get out of its own way going up the same grade with the same load- the new 6.0 never dropped below the speed limit for the entire ascent!

there was the 5000.00 +/-upcharge for the diesel/5 speed torqflite transmission but the van had everything a man who spends a lot of time driving (me) needs- tilt,cruise,power windows,power mirrors, keyless entry/locking and some really nice factory forged aluminum wheels -
i went for it :-)

So far i figure its saving me 60.00 per week in reduced fuel cost and increased mileage per tank as compared to the 5.4 gas engine.
27gal Diesel vs 35gal gas and 420 miles per tank diesel vs 350 (usually less) miles per tank of gas

According to my calculations, maintenance costs are going to come out about equal since i found a good online source for oil filters (filter1.com)- and considering you get the extended mileage between oil changes even using the "severe duty" schedule of every 5000 miles.
vs 3000 miles on the gasser

IMO i couldnt be happier with my purchase and befinitely believe this van will be a moneysaver in the long run!


Frank

[satguy]

I had two E-350's, one '96 and one '98. I just sold the '96 w/240K miles, drove it from New Orleans to Vegas, picked-up a 24' flatbed trailer grossing over 7000 lbs., drove it to Orlando, and then the new owner drove it back to Vegas with a 8000 lbs trailer. The truck got 19mpg empty, 15 pulling the flatbed, and 13 pulling the 8k trailer (it had a lot more drag). Around town I get 17-18 with the AC on and hauling about 1500lbs of tools. My '98 has 140k and gets about the same mileage. When you do your compares, remember the price difference in fuel. It costs me about $45.00 for 600 miles (35 gal tank). When I sold the '96 I got $7000.00! The extra price on the new car sticker came back at resale! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I was replacing gas vans every couple of years when the mileage aproached 90K. I have NEVER regretted buying a FORD diesel.

[Alaskapsdvan]

I am going to add my thoughts to this,,,,,,
Owned a 96' E350(gasser) for two years for my company, with the records that I was keeping the mileage was at or near 10mpg with getting to 12mpg if I was doing the long trip deal...
14 months ago I bought the 7.3 diesel and have been keeping the same type of records and have been getting 15-16mpg in the summer and down to 13-14 mpg in the winter. Highway travel is about 2mpg for both summer and winter.
Now if you start with something like this and then add the lower price of diesel over the gas prices......
I have only towed a few times with either van..... the gasser was almost always down near the 8mpg or a bit lower and the diesel, the one time that I did tow with it ,,, towed about 9000 lbs , hills and the like , round trip I 13.5 mpg round trip.