Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 20:11:57 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 88 GL - Failure to Start - but now it does!! Hip Hip Huzzah!!
The cost of Diesel Fuel.
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As some of you know I have a Diesel powered motor home. With a 100 gallon
tank I get to pick where I get fuel when traveling. I prefer truck stops and
in particular the FlyingJ as they tend to be the most RV friendly. Before a
trip I go to their web site which posts real time fuel costs for most of
their stations. I then plan for the lowest cost to get fuel.
Typically when I fill up I see the Diesel is anywhere from $.40 to $.80 more
than regular gasoline. I have seen the difference close to $1.00. This is
painful.
As for economy my 39' RV does about the same as my first 27' class C motor
home with the Ford 460. What has been surprising though is the increased
cost of maintenance and repairs. Oil change time is 20 quarts as compared to
7 and filters cost much more. I am getting ready for exhaust #3 and have had
to replace 2 injectors and the cooling system including radiator. If it was
2007 and later I would also have to deal with the special fluid for the
exhaust.
Luckily the engine is in the back. It is a dirty sooty mess. A few times
towing Fun Bus I forgot the close the fresh air intakes. What a mess inside
the van.
From folks that have Diesel and turbo diesel Vanagons I think one of the
ways they get better fuel economy is that they drive slower. Slower
acceleration and lower top or travel speeds. Driving 55 will take ~25-30%
less fuel than 70 no matter what you drive.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jim Arnott
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2014 7:04 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 88 GL - Failure to Start - but now it does!! Hip Hip Huzzah!!
The data's all on fuelly.com
Go examine it yourself and draw your own conclusions.
FOR ME: Diesel is about 30% better mileage. Diesel's cost in NE Oregon is
about a 10% premium.
I didn't say it was scientific. It's just my observed data. I didn't track
the distance with anything other than the odometer. Gas rig: about $45 to
fill every 200 miles. Diesel: about $50 every 300 miles. Each driven over
the exact same route. (Daily commute = 15 miles each way. 5% city, the rest
55 mph.)
Visit fuelly.com The emperical data from many is right there. Draw your own
conclusions.
For me, the diesel is significantly cheaper to drive.
Jim
On Jun 12, 2014, at 10:00 PM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> Comparing the MPGs of a Westy to that of an AW is In&OfItself a
> Grossly Unequal Example & then throwing in 66K Mi's to 12K Mi's makes
> the Comparison
>
> Absolutely Irrelevant ( unless those miles were all RackedUp during a
> TimeFrame when the FuelPrices DidNotChange ) ~
>
>
> ORR ~ DeanB
>
> On 12 Jun , 2014, at 9:06 PM, Jim Arnott wrote:
>
>> Fuel economy.
>>
>> Diesel Westy average cost over 66k miles: $0.127/mile ABA gas powered
>> Adventurewagen average cost over 12k miles: $0.189/mile
>
