Posted on 06/15/2011 6:07:50 AM PDT by Red Badger
Sorry for the late post, Mine is the ‘02 and gets the best mileage of the later models. (Averages 21 mpg) And it has the one ton frame.
It tows at better than 15 mpg and still does not leak oil anywhere and I go 8,000 miles between changes and never have to add even a quart in that time. It has been by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. The body is also extremely tight and quiet to this day. (Full Leather interior and LT mag wheels with memory seats.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftchx1TDNJo&feature=related
Provides quiet injection without knock because of the ability to release such small amounts of fuel over a longer portion time during the end of the intake stroke and the combustion(or Power)stroke. And fuel is able to be metered more precisely for what is actually needed.
The reason many powerstroke fords smoke so bad is that most on the road still have solenoid controlled by computer injectors or mechanical. And the 6.0 ltr powerstroke are plagued with o ring failures and misdiagnosed rail pressure and injector problems. 7.3 LTR Powerstroke is the most reliable. 6.4 LTR I don't know. I'll take a Dodge Cummins.
It depends. The starting price for a gas Jetta is $16,495 and the TDI is $22,995. The base model Jetta gets 33 MPG on the highway, and the TDI shows to get 42 (23 and 30, respectively, in the city). So, there is a 7-9 MPG difference, let's keep with the high side of 9. To make up the difference in purchase price, given the average $0.40/gallon difference between diesel and gas today, you'd have to drive 470,000 miles to make up the $6,500 difference in price. Granted, prices will change over time, and diesel and gasoline may get closer in price, or diesel may actually go back down, but I wouldn't bet on it.
“To make up the difference in purchase price, given the average $0.40/gallon difference between diesel and gas today, you’d have to drive 470,000 miles to make up the $6,500 difference in price.”
I recommend getting a “slightly used” diesel instead of a new gas version. The engine will likely last much longer, so that’s actually a reasonable tradeoff. Also since we’d expect at least one engine replacement for the gas version over 400,000 miles, that would probably narrow things quite a bit. Still, who keeps their vehicles that long these days besides me? heh
“Granted, prices will change over time, and diesel and gasoline may get closer in price, or diesel may actually go back down, but I wouldn’t bet on it.”
It’s actually insane for diesel to be priced the way it is at the moment, but since the government is involved I suppose that’s no surprise... High diesel has an impact on a wide range of prices, certainly to include food.
We’ll have to see over the long run.
Too true.
About diesels and altitude, in the 1980’s a had a brand new Datsun diesel kingcab pickup truck that I drove to the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado. I thought I wasn’t going to make it to the top and there was a 10 foot long plume of soot coming out of the exhaust. Maybe there was no altitude sensor or something like that on it.
lower oxygen level at that altitude caused incomplete combustion, so more soot.........
When air density is lower in high altitudes the turbine simply turns faster because of less resistance in pushing air that is less dense . It will compensate up to he point that it is capable of. In other words,lightly turbo or non turbo (normally aspirated) engines will still smoke at high altitude.
I had a 92 non turbo 7.3 ford diesel in a F 350 and would make service calls up to Paradise (Mt Rainier WA)and it would really leave nice black cloud. I really felt bad when I passed bicycle riders on the way up. Poor Bastards!
,,, you're right. I'm in New Zealand. I just sold a Benz 108CDi turbo diesel Vito van that I'd done 347,000km in. It was a sootmeister. I've replaced it with a turbo diesel Ford Focus wagon (1,8 litre) and it flies and is a lot cleaner. It's German assembled, with cruise control. The South African assembled model doesn't have cruise control. I don't think I could go back to petrol - there's just so much more to a tank with diesel.
I’m working on my third hundred thousand miles on my 97 VW Passat. I still get nearly 45 mpg. I’ve never had to replace the turbo. I can afford any car I want, I take frequent 1000 mile trips. I love the milage. When they come out with something better I will buy it.
Diesel fuel DOES cost more than gasoline, #5 is not a myth.
I bought my F250 midyear 2003, and for the first 6 months or so diesel was cheaper than gasoline, then is changed, and for the past 7 years fuel has been more expensive than gas.
Not per gallon, per mile.....
Ah, missed that important part.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.