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mojo_norte
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 2-14-2006
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Used Diesels MPG reliability buying tips
I'm shopping for used Diesel Pickups- probably late 90's given my budget. I need to haul a trailer one way all the way down from Colorado. The rest of
the time it will haul an overhead camper and do misc. utility duty. Annual mileage will probably be 3000 Baja 3000 US. Up here diesels 4.50/gal so
I'm wondering what MPG I can get with the various models and which have reliable drive trains and what to stay away from- tranny's etc.. Perhaps
there's a good online forum on this?
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boe4fun
Super Nomad
Posts: 1040
Registered: 1-22-2006
Location: Margaritaville
Member Is Offline
Mood: Circling the drain........
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Last year I bought a 2005 GMC 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed with 4X4. It had less than 10K miles on it when I picked it up. When towing my 25' Alpenlite
5th wheel I manage to get 15 MPG on average. The best mileage I have yet to get was when me and my wife visited my daughter in San Diego (not pulling
anything and with truck only loaded with suitcases and us). We got an amazing 24.4 MPG on average between Norwalk and S.D.!! Of course, I drive at
around 57 MPH, and have found this to be about the best speed for economy. I would suggest a model year (prior to 2007) truck that will burn either
LSD or ULSD, as the latter may be hard to find in Mexico for a while. Buena Suerte, Paul Boe
Two dirt roads diverged in Baja and I, I took the one less graveled by......
Soy ignorante, apático y ambivalente. No lo sé y no me importa, ni modo.
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Dodge 24 valve six cyl.
The rig below will get about 21 mpg all day long up hill and down, headwinds included. It is a 2001 with an old BullyDog chip. Otherwise it is
stock. It does slightly better on the Baja highway because my average speed is probably closer to 40-45 mph.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Vag,
That is pretty impressive mileage. Do you know what the ratio of the rear end is?
Ken
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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I have a 2002 Ford F250 Ext. Cab, 7.3 Diesel. Purchase with 35,000 Miles 4 years ago now has 89,000 or so miles. Most milage pulling n 18 Ft. Texas
Roll Back Trailer converted to a Utility hauler. Now Pulls a 2 Horse Slant Horse Trailer.
Facts:No Tow running 72 Miles per hour basically flat roads ---22MPG
Towing 3200Lb. Horse Trailer 2 Horses--65MPH 16.5
I am a Light footed Driver.
Caution if you find a Ford after 2004 with the 6.0
Caution: Do not buy a Converted Chevy v8
Ideal Truck if they made them: Ford 7.3 with an Allison Transmission.
Good Luck
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Ken, the rear end is stock. I don't know the ratio. It runs 65 mph at about 1700 rpm. General around town driving and short 35-50 mile runs gives
about 17-19 mpg. All of these are about 3-4 mpg lower with the BullyDog out of the system. The chip makes a really noticeable difference in
performance and economy. I also have a very light foot, and I can really tell the difference if I don't do that. 
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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Vag,
What Bully Dog Chip do you have and how many modes/settings does it have? I'd buy one in an instant with a reliable 15-20% increase in MPG's like
you're getting.
My guess is you have a pretty tall geared rear-end , 3.5-3.7+- judging from the speed/rpm's.
Ken
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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The BullyDog must be about 8 years old. It is not programmable. You get OFF, MID RANGE, and EVERYTHING ITS GOT. I think I remember I read that it
boosts HP by about 60 at the max.
I should add, Ken, these milage readings are coming from the truck's computer. I tend to trust them because the few times I've done the math it was
real close. Before I replaced the fuel pump and lift pump, the readings were way off. I used to have two gallons in the tank with the "miles to
empty" saying zero, now when it reads zero, ya' better pull over and shut it off if you don't want to bleed the system!
[Edited on 9-29-2008 by vgabndo]
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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Baja-Brit
Nomad
Posts: 138
Registered: 8-28-2008
Location: London, England & La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy in Baja!
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Excuse my ignorance but why are N Americans so obsessed with running such big, thirsty engines?
I'm thinking it has much to do with being "Macho".
As you were.
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BMG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1776
Registered: 6-10-2007
Location: La Paz / Bahia Asunci�n / Away from home
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We had a 1993 Ford E350 Econoline with the 7.3L Northstar diesel for 10 years or so. Sold it last year about this time with about 200k. It was still
running strong. Main problems over the years were injector pump (replaced twice) and glow plugs (replaced all at least twice).
Used it to pull a 14' dual axle utility trailer, mostly on the highways. Both the van and the trailer were always loaded with stock. Would normally
get 14-15 mpg. Bucking a headwind would sometimes prevent me from being able to cruise in overdrive and mileage would drop to as little as 10 mpg.
I hear the Power Strokes are a better engine than what I had, but have also heard the way to go is with the Cummins. Any of them will be more
expensive to repair than gas engines and, like you say, with diesel fuel so expensive, I'm not sure if you come out ahead running diesel or not.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja-Brit
Excuse my ignorance but why are N Americans so obsessed with running such big, thirsty engines?
I'm thinking it has much to do with being "Macho".
As you were. |
Most of the posts in BN regarding Diesel Trucks are by people that are towing heavy loads, overhead campers, trailers, and boats. No choice but to
have these beasts to do that work.
Ken
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vacaenbaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 640
Registered: 4-4-2006
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We are not running big thirsty engines when we run diesels.
It's all about towing at an economical rate. Diesel does it best.
Especially when diesel in Mexico, at least for the time being ,is cheaper than gas. Ask yourself why most of the CARS in europe run on diesel. Guess
why?
Hard to tow and travel baja in a Mini Cooper.
All about being macho? No that would be pushing your hopelessly overburdened Mini Cooper all the way through Baja.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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yea...just paid $2.25 a gallon for diesel here in mulege...yea
the new pump is "right on"
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
Member Is Offline
Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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Here's a good link for gas mileage comparisons for all makes and years.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymanu.htm
you can even select different models to do a side by side comparison.
another good vehicle research site is http://www.edmunds.com/
First hand knowledge is valuable and looking at what has made it on the BCN&S roads in the past is a good place to start.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja-Brit
Excuse my ignorance but why are N Americans so obsessed with running such big, thirsty engines?
I'm thinking it has much to do with being "Macho".
As you were. |
Yes, it was ignorance. And, no, you weren't thinking.
Please dont be........."as you are".
[Edited on 9-30-2008 by Hook]
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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The '99 - '02 Ford 3/4 ton with the 7.3 Power Stroke and a 6 speed will get you close to 20 mpg with no tuner or chip.
They are go anywhere, last forever trucks.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja-Brit
Excuse my ignorance but why are N Americans so obsessed with running such big, thirsty engines?
I'm thinking it has much to do with being "Macho".
As you were. |
What is this "as you were" stuff ??
Many of us drive trucks so we can haul our trailers, campers and other loads.
We work and play hard in the US !!
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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In the Marine Corps, we'd have to jump to attention everytime some second louie came into the room. Waiting for him to say "As you were" before we
could go on with our lives. Still kind of gives me a case of monkey butt every time I read it.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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Baja-Brit
Nomad
Posts: 138
Registered: 8-28-2008
Location: London, England & La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy in Baja!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vacaenbaja
Ask yourself why most of the CARS in europe run on diesel. Guess why?
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The UK government actively encourages people to drive diesel cars.
I chose diesel because it affords better economy.
Unfortunately Diesel is now around 25c per liter MORE expensive than petrol, which cancels out much of the economy benefit.
As you were.
[Edited on 30-9-2008 by Baja-Brit]
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Baja-Brit
Nomad
Posts: 138
Registered: 8-28-2008
Location: London, England & La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy in Baja!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Yes, it was ignorance. And, no, you weren't thinking.
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Perhaps you're right Hook.
However I comfortably pull a 3,500 Ib caravan with a 2.2 litre HDI diesel.
Therefore I am wondering if smaller, better tuned, more economic engines are the way forward, better fuel economy and better for the environment!
I wonder if fuel prices in the US reached the same high levels that they are in Europe (particularly in the UK) would peoples attitudes change?
As you were.
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