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30+ mpg on diesel

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Rich Iowa

05-02-2006 21:16:46

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I"m just curious what models of cars/ trucks are out there that get 30+ mpg on diesel fuel. I know about the old VW rabbits, the new VW Jetta, the old Ford Rangers, and I"ve heard of Chevy S-10s with small diesels but I"ve never seen one. I"ve been thinking of trying to find something that gets good milege on diesel. Any opinions on any of the vehicles is welcomed too.

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Richard Scott

05-03-2006 20:18:37

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

Wait until 2007. New diesel fuel standards go into effect January 1 limiting sulphur which will make it easier for manufacturers to meet EPA pollution standards. You will see several more diesels on the road then.

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buickanddeere

05-03-2006 17:44:13

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

There has been some guys on here that claim thier "chipped" dodge,ford GMC or what ever gets 30+ mpg while hauling a 10,000lb 5th wheel trailer down the interstate at 70mph..... .....

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Bob

05-03-2006 17:57:51

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to buickanddeere, 05-03-2006 17:44:13

We got some of those guys around the 'ole coffeshop, too. Sometimes, I think more than their truck as been "chipped".

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Ryan - WI

05-03-2006 17:38:29

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

If you can find one, I highly recommend the VW 1.9 Turbo Diesel (TDI) coupled with the 5 speed. I wouldn't trade ours for the world.

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Jerry/MT

05-03-2006 16:16:37

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

I had a diesel Ford Escort ( an '84 I think) that got 48-50 mpg @ 55 mph running back and forth to work (25 miles one way) before the freeways in the Seattle area became long, skinny parking lots.

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RayP(MI)

05-03-2006 16:02:55

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

Used to have a Cehvy Caprice Classic station wagon which had a 5.7 diesel - easily made 30mpg.

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Edwin Burgess

05-03-2006 13:55:46

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

My wife has a 307 peugeot turbo diesel which gets 54 miles per gallon, 61 on good roads and a long run .Diesel here in ireland is about 5.08 euro a gallon so we enjoy the economy of the peugeot

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ucasss

05-03-2006 11:58:46

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

those older mercedes 4 cylinder deisles in cars get over 30 mpg when warmed up..

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Bill from MA

05-03-2006 11:27:16

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

In the 80's one of my co-workers on 3rd shift had a GM/Chevy pickup with a diesel. I think it was a Luv? Anyway she had to let it run for 15 minutes at lunch time or it would not start on a cold morning.

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IA Roy

05-03-2006 10:08:04

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

Too many people, too power hungry with pickups. Mileage on diesel pickups is sacrificed for power that few people use or need. Cummins 4BT (3.9L 4 cylinder version of 6 cyl 5.9L) was used in many large step vans by the bread and potato chip companies. These replaced 350 chevies and I hear they did fine. Ford is selling a 4.5L 200 hp, 440 ft lb torque V-6 powerstrokes in medium duty LCF delivery trucks up to 19,500 GVW. Isuzu, Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso and other imports are using sub 5 liter turbocharged diesels and they seem to go down the highway fine. Get your requests out and be heard if you want somthing that gets mileage. The technology is there. How many of you need 600 ft lb of torque when for years many of you ran 350 chevies and 351 fords and 360 dodge gas engines. The pickups are available with more power than most of the semi's had not that long ago. A Canadian friend of mine bought a 1 ton Dodge sprinter with the 2.7L 154 hp, 247 ft lb torque 5 cylinder Mercedes to deliver from his business. He is replacing a 7.3 PS in an E-350 with a 14' van body. He says that big PS engine won't get any mileage and that was his best choice until recently. Sorry for the rant, but as usual the customer doesn't have the choices of products that they want or need. The marketing guru's have too much power to determine what the customer gets to choose from.

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JDknut

05-03-2006 14:12:00

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to IA Roy, 05-03-2006 10:08:04

These sprinters with the tiny Diesel engines move right along down the highway, too.

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TimS

05-03-2006 09:10:40

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

We have a Dodge 3/4 ton with the diesel, it gets in the high teens normally unloaded on the highway. For commuting I have a VW Passat TDI ( diesel ), it does great and I am real happy with it. It gets 44 mpg. I agree on the service, its best to avoid VW dealer service as they are pricey and usually not very good with the diesels. There are some good websites with lots of info and they can point you to some VW diesel gurus that can service the car reliably and cheaply.

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T_Bone

05-03-2006 08:45:00

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

Hi Rich,

Well according to last nights TV news you can't trust the EPA numbers you have seen on new car stickers for the past 2yrs as the EPA now allows the auto mfg to rate fuel mileage on a dyno, not actual fuel mileage road tests like before.

AAA said the spot check showed fuel mileage way below what is being reported on the sticker on actual test roads, like 38mpg rated to 23mpg actual. Ya, that huge of a difference!

From the examples they gave, I seen where if you subtracted 4mpg from the EPA "city" rated mpg then you might be in the general ball park of actual fuel mileage for all vehicles. The above were gasser examples and they didn't address any diesels.

Here's what I've observed on my 02 F350 PSD, 6spd, 3:73, 4wd for the past 25k miles. I have a huge access of power for how I drive, 60mph and even pulling at 31kGCW.

I drive for maximum fuel mileage at all times. I found that DBW fuel control is very sensitive to jack rabbit starts and is the biggest hit for fuel mileage.

Since the PSD has a huge access of power, I need to re-gear to about a 3:08 ratio for my needs. One other owner claims 25mpg with this ratio on F250.

I average 19mpg empty, and 14mpg pulling 16kGCW thru the Colorado Rockies. My life time fuel mileage is 15.2mpg. This is 1600rpm on the flats and 1800rpm on the grades. There is a huge power increase from 1600rpm to 2200rpm as at 2200rpm your using the turbo.

There is a 6cly diesel, can't remember the brand, in a 1-1/2ton mini motorhome that yields 30mpg while fully loaded. This was a couple years ago so it can be done.

T_Bone

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jdemaris

05-03-2006 11:44:56

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to T_Bone, 05-03-2006 08:45:00

The EPA does allow fuel mileage figures rated by dyno tests, as you said. But many of the EPA figues since 1985 are right on the money, or even sometimes low - instead of being inflated. My area is not ideal for good mileage - we have crap roads, crap weather most of the year, and just about no flat-land. For example - EPA rates my wife's 91 Jetta deisels as 37 MPG city and 43 MPG highway. In reality, she gets 37 MPG and 50+ on the highway. EPA shows my diesel 81 Chevette as 39 city and 46 highway - and I actually get around 35 city and 50+ highway.
EPA rates my 1/2 ton 4WD Chevy truck as 18 city and 21 highway, I actually get 16 city and 24 highway. My neighbor has a brand new 2006 Jeep Liberty 4WD diesel - EPA rates it at 22 city and 26 highway - and she's been getting a consistent 32 MPG on the highway with it. I'd like to see some figures on heavy diesel trucks but the EPA does not rate them - only the lighter pickups. You've got me curious about the diesel mini-motor home. I've worked and used quite a few and never heard of one getting 30 MPG. The one's I've had experience with are the LeSharos with French Renault diesels - and they get about 23 MPG on a flat Florida highway, and the new minis that are using the Mercedes/Daimler 5 cylinder turbo and get somewhere in the 24-25 MPG range. I also used a little Volkswagen pop-up van with the 1.6 diesel and it got 28 MPG on the highway - and on steep hills would not go faster then 35-40 MPH.

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T_Bone

05-03-2006 17:31:12

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to jdemaris, 05-03-2006 11:44:56

Hi jd,

I did a search for awhile and I couldn't find anything. The thread title included "30mpg and Van" if I remember correct. I found one thread in 04 where I called it a Frieghtliner and said it had been posted the year before so that's sometime 2003. I did question the Fireightliner part tho.

Any way if you want to search yourself, it was rv.net on the "tow vehicle" forum.

If I run in to the thread I'll bookmark it for you.

The article stated the 30mpg was uder full load and that got my attention.

T_Bone

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jdemaris

05-07-2006 07:01:27

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to T_Bone, 05-03-2006 17:31:12

I just read some test reports on the diesel mini-motorhome I think you saw. It's built on the Freightliner chasis and uses a Mercedes/Damiler 5 cylinder turbo-diesel -similar to what UPS is using now. They posted a best highway fuel mileage at 21 MPG and with pulling a small car behind it on a dolly - 17 MPG.

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jdemaris

05-03-2006 07:01:02

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

Diesel fuel weighs more than gasoline and has more engergy per pound. It is also cheaper to refine than gasoline. So, it's supposed to be cheaper than gas and offer more work per gallon. But - things don't always go that way. I've got around 12 diesel vehicles - some big, some small. In the small category - my wife drives two 1991 Volkswagen Jettas - both will get 52 MPG on the highway. She drives steep back mountain dirt roads to work and gets 36-38 MPG every fill up - which is amazing. In the winter she uses a Subaru Impreza (gas engine) and gets 19-21 MPG on the same trip. I drive an 81 Chevette with a 1.8 Isuzu diesel - it gets just about the same as the Volkswagens - a few MPG less. It will cruise all day at 75 MPH on the highway. I also have an 85 Isuzu PUP 4WD pickup truck - it gets around 30 MPG on the highway and 25 MPG around town.
With my larger trucks - my best MPG is my 82 Chevy 1/2 ton 4WD with a 6.2 diesel and four-speed overdrive manual trans - it can get up to 24 MPG. My worst fuel guzzlers are my two Ford F250 ex-cab 4WD pickups. One has the 6.9 IH diesel, and the other a 7.3 turbo IH diesel. They both get 11-12 MPG regular driving and 14-16 MPG highway. I've had a few rare trips with the turbo 7.3 and automatic-overdrive trans - on flat highway with a wind at my back that I got 19 MPG. In Europe there are many neat little diesel vehicles - but they cannot be sold here without getting certified and updated to meet US specs. Just recently, a company started selling a British diesel car - mostly for the taxi-cab market - here in the US. They had to invest a lot of money to get it US certified. I don't know what kind of mileage it gets. It has a Ford diesel engine that was designed by the same company that made the engine in the 1960s Allis Chalmers ED-40 tractor. You can read about it at:

Link

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Mike M

05-03-2006 07:36:03

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to jdemaris, 05-03-2006 07:01:02

The insurance co. and liscense bureu must love you ! I can't hardly even afford to keep 3 on the roads. LOL

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jdemaris

05-03-2006 09:38:02

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Mike M, 05-03-2006 07:36:03

Only half are on the road at one time. The nice ones only get driven in the summer to avoid road salt. The others are rusty winter vehicles, two with plows. I still have to pay to keep them all inspected, but the diesels only cost half price. In regard to road salt - we have a few dirt roads here that get salted all summer long - which I try to stay away from. Insurance is $150 per vehicle for 6 months. In regard to registrations, I used to cheat a little - but it's not worth the risk anymore. For example, I have two diesel Suburbans - an 87 and a 91 - both the same color. I used to just keep one registered and swap plates back and forth. Same with my 1982,1983, and 1987 diesel K5 Blazers, my wife's two 91 diesel Volkswagen Jettas, and our two blue 4WD Subarus. But, tickets and fines that used to be $15 are now a couple of hundred so it's not worth screwing around anymore.

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cj3b_jeep

05-03-2006 05:23:16

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

My buddy used to have a Chevette Diesel, it was hard to start and not quick at all, but it got great mileage (50+
)and was extremely fast, it just took a long time to get to speed. They also made a Tempo diesel and Toyota had a diesel pickup for a few years. I think the common thing in them is that they were all Isuzu diesel engines, even the toyota.
I don't know why the Liberty does not get better mileage on the diesel, only gets a few miles more than the gas version.

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D boll

05-03-2006 05:06:22

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

UPS delivery trucks with the 5cyl. Mercedes turbo diesel are getting in the 20's for mileage, how come most dsl. pickups can't do that?

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Joe(TX)

05-03-2006 06:04:09

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to D boll, 05-03-2006 05:06:22

Most of the people I know with Dodge diesel pickups get around 20 mpg on normal driving. That"s what I get on mine.

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Tim Shaw

05-03-2006 09:59:39

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Joe(TX), 05-03-2006 06:04:09

I agree Joe, my '98 Dodge CTD will get 20 mpg if I behave. Most guys I talk to get 20 or better when they aren't pulling a trailer.

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Mike M

05-03-2006 04:58:19

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

Too bad no one makes one now only VW. The new Jeep Liberty is not that much better than a gas from the EPA milelage tests.

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Sam (MO)

05-03-2006 04:37:49

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

Got a VW golf, TDI 4 cyclinder 5 speed diesel. I get 54 MPG. I run about 140 miles a day to work and back. This VW gets alot a power for getting on the highway. But, of course I still love my Ford F350 PSD looks great sitting in the driveway.

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Colorado Curt

05-03-2006 11:45:28

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Sam (MO), 05-03-2006 04:37:49

My wife drives a new Beetle with the same TDI in it and a 5-speed. We had to do the glow plugs, but that is about it. She has over 108k on it and it just purrs along. Driving it in the mountains is a blast. That turbo kicks in and you can do any speed you want up hill. She loves that car.

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Rob NC

05-03-2006 03:37:48

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

i have a '02 jetti tdi. the best i have gotten on a trip was 44.5. good savings at the pump, but look out when you take it in for service.

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davpal

05-02-2006 23:27:08

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

I think they used to make a Ford Escort diesel. It used to get about 50 mpg if I remember correctly. That may be the next trendy car to restore if you can get your hands on one.

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mjbrown

05-03-2006 06:22:38

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to davpal, 05-02-2006 23:27:08

Ford makes a turbo diesel Focus that is available in Europe but not here.

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jddriver

05-03-2006 04:32:43

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to davpal, 05-02-2006 23:27:08

I have several of them and getting ready to put them back on the road

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Starvation ridge farm

05-02-2006 22:52:20

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Re: 30+ mpg on diesel in reply to Rich Iowa, 05-02-2006 21:16:46

I have a 1985 gmc s15 and I get about 35 mpg. 2.2 isuzu motor is not much on hp. but it has saved me big bucks on fuel. I really like my little truck and I am considering putting it on veggie oil. If you can find one grab it as they are scarce. I got mine for 100 bucks with out a bed and drove it home. Injector pump govenor was bad but that got fixed for $250, good bed was $75. VW pickup,isuzu pup pickup all good and dependable.

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