JohnnyCMH
Houston, TX, Harris County
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Joined: 01/02/2005
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Do you own the property pictured around your wonderful RV?
How did you find the property?
It looks like there are a lot of other RVers around you. Is that true?
I notice you have a 32ft. rig. What do you think is the maximum size RV your Dodge Ram will handle?
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Keikoas Mom
Aurora, CO, USA
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Joined: 01/13/2004
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just saw this thread, and I know it's old, butI have some valuable and interesting info. I personally don't like Diesels because they are smelly and pollute so much, but my son recently saw a show about Bio-Fuel, and I wish I had one!
Bio-fuel (for ALL diesels) is made from vegetable oil and other ingrediants, and can be made at home. More importantly, it can be made from USED cooking oil, from Winchells, KFC, etc. I don't have the whole process, but it is being made in two locations in CO, and several in CA-sorry, that's all I know off-hand.
For more information, do a search online for bio fuel, and you'll get the scoop! In fact I'm thinking about going into business, although, remember the guy in the early '80s who made fuel from
garbage? (Probably ethanol?) He was on 60 Minutes. He had had attempts on his life.....and where is he now?
Linda
Linda And Jim ">
four grown kids, 4 grandkids,
The birds :> feathered kids
Keikoa, Little Bird and Friday,
and Brandy, Bubo and Lovey~
Zira "> furry kid
Looking for a TT with open bunks~
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hone eagle
essex ontario canada
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Joined: 11/18/2004
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mom bio-fuels bin around for a while,usally as a % mixed with the dead dino juice.lots of threads out there about alternate fuels,some diesel guys burn there own engine oil(after they change it)hows that for recycle,restarant grease,on and on.Oh by the way we love the mannly smell and the smoke is for the open windows of the little eco-ricers with booming radios.LOL
2005 Volvo 670 singled freedomline 12 speed
Newmar 34rsks 2008
Hensley trailersaver TSLB2H
directlink brake controller
-when overkill is cheaper-
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JimInMich
Mi
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Joined: 06/21/2003
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I only read the first 5 pages of this thread, but didnt see mention on replacement parts costs.
How much for a starter on a cummings compared to a 454gasser? Waterpump? Fuel Pump? ACK, Injectors?
Whats the cost differences of remanufactured motors of each? And for the trannies?
Whats the cost difference for fatory create replacements?
If a person plans on keeping his rig for 400K miles, I'm sure these cost's must come into play somewhere.
Just wondering...
Current: 1987 Georgie Boy Encounter 34',John Deere chassis,460c.i./C6.
SOLD-2012 Cougar XLite 27RLS
SOLD-2008 Aerolite 24FB
SOLD-2004 Shadow Cruiser Fun Finder 189FBR
Just the Wife and I.
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tgatch
Meridian, ID
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Joined: 08/13/2003
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Quote:I only read the first 5 pages of this thread, but didnt see mention on replacement parts costs.
How much for a starter on a cummings compared to a 454gasser? Waterpump? Fuel Pump? ACK, Injectors?
Whats the cost differences of remanufactured motors of each? And for the trannies?
Whats the cost difference for fatory create replacements?
If a person plans on keeping his rig for 400K miles, I'm sure these cost's must come into play somewhere.
Just wondering...
Transmission is easy. Torqshift is available with the v10 and the diesel. The Allison is behind the 8.1 as well as the Duramax. I would venture to say that the 4 speed 48RE is less complicated and les expensive than the new 5 speed auto in the Dodge trucks.
Now water pump? 2003 Cummins $45, Hemi $86.
Starter? 2001 Duramax $150, 8.1 $140 - $209. Depending on maker.
Fuel Pump? 2000 Ford 7.3 $214 - $478, 6.8 V-10 $139-$693 Depends on maker.
About the only injector prices I have found so far are for the Duramax. US Diesel parts has new ones at $785.00 and remanufactured ones for $550.00 w/core exchange.
To put that into context The 8.1 injectors are Between $68 and $85.
As far as remanufactured motors go. If it becomes that much of a problem, time for a new vehicled anyway.
I figure I'm saving about $450 per 10,000 miles in fuel cost. Even with diesel being expensive. So let's see at 400,000 I will have saved $18000 in fuel costs. That's assuming 17 mpg for the diesel and 12 for the big block gas.
Not likely that I'll keep it that long, but you brought it up.
Tom
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Aquaduct
Winchester, VA USA
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Joined: 05/30/2004
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Quote:For more information, do a search online for bio fuel, and you'll get the scoop! In fact I'm thinking about going into business, although, remember the guy in the early '80s who made fuel from
garbage? (Probably ethanol?) He was on 60 Minutes. He had had attempts on his life.....and where is he now?
Linda
Not to take the wind out of your sails, but I'm a diesel engine engineer. Yep, biodiesel is an established technology. There are some technical differences with regular diesel that aren't that significant in a modern engine. It's safe to say that good biodiesel is a satisfactory replacement for diesel.
That said, most engine manufacturers will only warrant an engine on a fuel that is, at most, 5% biodiesel (technically called B5). This is primarily for 2 reasons:
1. The biodeisel industry can't make that much anyways.
2. Quality control in the biodiesel is hit and miss. There are good biodiesel suppliers but there is a substantial amount of bad fuel. A big slug of bad fuel will destroy the injectors, generally the most expensive components on the engine, and/or other parts.
This comes from the fact that there are bunches of folks brewing stuff with less than critical attention to or understanding of the subtleties of large batch chemical processing, which is a whole different ballgame from refining petroleum or brewing a batch in your sink.
So at B5, we're comfortable that crummy biodiesel won't exist in enough concentrations to damage the engine. Y'all want to brew and use your own, that's fine. You break it, you've bought it. If you want to sell to others, be sure your product liability insurance is paid up just in case you screw up a big pot.
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PSDExcursion
Millstone NJ
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Joined: 08/17/2001
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Quote:I only read the first 5 pages of this thread, but didnt see mention on replacement parts costs.
How much for a starter on a cummings compared to a 454gasser? Waterpump? Fuel Pump? ACK, Injectors?
Whats the cost differences of remanufactured motors of each? And for the trannies?
Whats the cost difference for fatory create replacements?
If a person plans on keeping his rig for 400K miles, I'm sure these cost's must come into play somewhere.
Just wondering...
100% of HD trucks are diesel powered and most are driven well over 400,000 miles.
2002 Chevy Express 3500 8.1 155" WB passenger van
41 Ft 2003 Thor Citation 41-ZBSR TT w/ Hensley Arrow
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rvtravlr444
USA
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Joined: 11/04/2004
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tgatch,
What are your maintenance costs for the diesel? Oil and filter change, fuel filter, coolant flush plus additive vs. a gasser. At what intervals do have them changed?
RVTRAVLR444
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tgatch
Meridian, ID
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Joined: 08/13/2003
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I bought 4 Gallons of Oil for $31, truck takes 15 quarts. My filter runs $18. I change mine every 5,000. Manual says I can go 7500 miles. I use the heavy use schedule though. For comparisson sake, If I had a V-10. Oil Filter is $6 and I would run 6 quarts of Mobil 1 in it every oil change. Mobil 1 goes for about $4 a quart.
Fuel filter is a stinker at $54, but that get's changed every 15,000 miles. Of course anyone that cares about their gas truck should do this periodically too. The V-10 filter will run about $7 as a comparisson
Coolant/antifreeze? 27.5 Quarts. It is the same in the V-10. So no costs savings there.
I don't run any additives in my truck. Haven't had the need to do so.
I change the oil, oil filter, and fuel filters myself as they are extremely easy to do. I did have Grease Monkey change my oil a couple times. Didn't cost all that much more than having them do a full synthetic on my 2001 F150.
So I go through a little more oil than a V-10. I hear that the 8.1 does consume about a quart of oil about every 3,000 miles. That is a characteristic of a big block, nothing uncommon or bad. Let's see even if there is a $20 difference per oil change, the $450 fuel consumption per 10,000 mile advantage will be trimmed to $410. Ok after 30,000 miles that would be $1230 right? Wait I have to account for 2 fuel filters in there, so that would be $108 in fuel filters so that trims the savings down a little more. I guess I would be looking at $1122 in savings at 30,000 miles. That's about how many miles I drive in a year by the way, about 40% of which has been towing.
Still keep in mind that the V-10 version of my truck was about $4,000 less. So, I paid up front to have the diesel. At my current rate, break even will be just short of 4 years.
Tom
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scrity
Portland, OR
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Joined: 01/09/2005
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I am seriously considering a diesel 4x4 but have a hangup about the diesel fumes, even though the newer models are better. My concern is pulling a TT and the fumes entering the TT and now having to live with the smell for the duration of the camping trip. Are others who own diesel rigs finding this to be thacase or am off base here?
The other issue is morning starts. Temps around here pretty much stay around 40 degrees during the winter months. Does a diesel owner experience rough starts with the newer engines at these temps? Or can I expect to just get in and go?
Dale
'00 26' Weekend Warrior TT
'00 1500 Suburban 5.3L
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