diesel vs gas

[corelokt]

Now that diesel is costing me $1.20 more a gallon than gas, and the diesel motor is not saving me anything in maintenance cost, is there any savings in driving the 6.2L rather than a 292 inline six or a small V8?
My truck has a 700R4 and otherwise stock drive line and tires.

 

[Skinny]

Unless you are getting a replacement and conversion parts for free...probably better to run what you have already and try to gain as much in mpg's with tire pressure, IP timing, air filter, etc.

 

[11Echo]

Now that diesel is costing me $1.20 more a gallon than gas, and the diesel motor is not saving me anything in maintenance cost, is there any savings in driving the 6.2L rather than a 292 inline six or a small V8?
My truck has a 700R4 and otherwise stock drive line and tires.

Well, you posted in the CUCV forum without being specific so here's my take on it.
If I needed to change out the 6.2 in a M1009, I would consider a 4.3 V6. Plenty of power, cheap and easy to maintain. I have installed a few 267 V8's which are great motors for an economical power plant,(only GM smallblock below 300ci with the same crankshaft as a 350 and not to be confused with the 262 or 265 motors.).
In a 1008 or it's variants, a bigger gas motor would be required if you wanted it to get out of it's own way. I have a BB in my M1008 after 2 blown 6.2's. Lot's of power but, fuel economy is gone. I've had good luck with the "509" block 400's in many of my 4x4's.
The 292 6 is not a fuel miser.

YMMV
View attachment 419828View attachment 419829

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

A small engine will be beaten to death and will not get good fuel economy, because it has to be worked HARD all the time.

Over on a Ford forum, I read about an older fellow that bought a new RV, one built on a Ford E-350 chassis. His buddy bought the same model. One got the 460, one got the 351. Went on a trip together. Mr. 460 had no problem with hills or headwinds. Easy, relaxing trip. Mr. 351 struggled and stressed. At the end of the trip, they compared mileage.

No difference.

Knew a fellow myself who bought an F-150 with the 300 ci straight six. Put a camper on it.

He got lousy mileage.


Small engines get good mileage in small vehicles. Not otherwise.

 

[twomorestrokes]

Very true. Small engine in a heavy vehicle equals bad fuel mileage because the engine just plain works too hard and your foot's always in it. Same can be said for gearing up to a point. I have an '83 Olds with a 307 V8 4bbl with a 2.08:1 rear axle ratio. (not a typo) It sucks the fuel down terribly, won't get out of it's own way in town, but goes about 400 mph on the highway. (okay, THAT may be an exaggeration but you get the point)

 

[11Echo]

A small engine will be beaten to death and will not get good fuel economy, because it has to be worked HARD all the time.

Over on a Ford forum, I read about an older fellow that bought a new RV, one built on a Ford E-350 chassis. His buddy bought the same model. One got the 460, one got the 351. Went on a trip together. Mr. 460 had no problem with hills or headwinds. Easy, relaxing trip. Mr. 351 struggled and stressed. At the end of the trip, they compared mileage.

No difference.

Knew a fellow myself who bought an F-150 with the 300 ci straight six. Put a camper on it.

He got lousy mileage.


Small engines get good mileage in small vehicles. Not otherwise.

The editor of Chevy High Performance magazine wrote a buildup of 390/410 hp smallblock on 87 octane back in 2001. The article was called "Agent 87". Something like 25mpg in a car.

The 267 V8's I've used are original equipment from Impala and Caprice 2/4 door full size cars. They have good power/torque and were designed for economy during years 1979-81 to help raise their CAFE ratings. More useable power and better mileage than 305-307 carb engines. Would work fine in the M1009's, a bit small for the pickups/maintenance trucks. Again, this is if I needed to replace the 6.2 engine.

Ferd comparisons belong elsewhere, not applicable here.
View attachment 419841

 

[doghead]

What are you getting currently for MPG?

What cucv are you talking about?

Perhaps tire diameter, axle ratio or driving habits could yield better mileage.

Have you had your IP rebuilt or calibrated?

 

[wayne pick]

You should be getting far better fuel mileage with the 700-R4 as the engine runs at a lower RPM in 4th and in lockup which is really a 5th gear ratio. Im getting almost 25 mpg with the 700-R4 and 285 R16 tires. Exactly what stock size tires are you running? You may need taller tires. Downstate, im paying 4.39 a gallon, and thats at a home heating oil company that also sells diesel and kerosene. 4.48 to 4.65 at brand name gas stations. You upstate guys should be paying less as we have to pay the tri state shakedown price. No joke.

 

[doghead]

One local station today is at $3.69 for gas and $4.19 for diesel.

That's only a 50 cent difference. (not $1.20)

Maybe you could simply shop around for your fuel.

 

[doghead]

Guessing this is close to you.

Citgo 7443 S State St
Lowville, NY, 13367 $3.879
$4.179
Lowest Price

Nice N Easy 7392 Utica Blvd
Lowville, NY, 13367 $3.859 $4.249 N/A $4.259

Still not $1.20 apart.

Maybe your mileage isn't as bad as you think.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

Ferd comparisons belong elsewhere, not applicable here.

Physics doesn't care about brand loyalty. Put a small engine in a heavy vehicle and you won't get that small engine good mileage. As with all things, there's a sweet spot for power/weight. Get out of that range, and things don't work as well.

 

[Warthog]

Park it and buy a Yugo....

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

.... and put a 267 in it!

 

[zaxcucv]

Park it and buy a Yugo....

I was gonna say a passat diesel...42mpg!

 

[corelokt]

Now that diesel is costing me $1.20 more a gallon than gas, and the diesel motor is not saving me anything in maintenance cost, is there any savings in driving the 6.2L rather than a 292 inline six or a small V8?
My truck has a 700R4 and otherwise stock drive line and tires.

I'm running 245-75-16 tires on an M1008. My diesel is expensive because of the only store I drive by going to work. On top of that I find that my vehicle starts hard and runs poor on the diesel and prefers kerosene, which is forty cents more. I have shelves full of parts and a complete parts engine from a CUCV. A 292 would a breeze to work on, everything out in the open with lots of room.

 

[DriverSideImpact1008]

Sounds like you have some fuel issues. That would be a main cause for poor mileage. A small V8 or 6 cyl wont save you anything as far as fuel mileage goes in an M1008...in addition to the cost associated with installing a completely different engine.

 

[doghead]

Drive to town for fuel, save $.

Where are you buying fuel?

What exactly is the diesel and kero prices where you'r filling up at?

 

[dependable]

I have owned several trucks with 292s (great old engine) and small block chevys, Neither will get anything close to the same miles per gallon in a 1 ton chevy as a properly running 6.2.

 

[wayne pick]

I would have to agree with 11Echo, The 4.3 would be my choice also. Aside from the crankshaft, it shares almost all the internal parts with the 5.7-350. As far as power goes, they can be built to a 300HP carburated roller engine. With the 4.56 gear ratio,even a stock 4.3 has more HP than the J code 6.2 and would have no problem pulling an M1008 around. There are some pretty nasty high HP 4.3s on youtube.

 

[porkysplace]

I would get fuel someplace else and see if it makes a difference . How often does the station you buy at get their tanks filled ? Do you ever add Power Service or any fuel system cleaning additives ?