6.2 Diesel vs SBC

[motornut]

almost every gas station has it now, but sometimes ,diesel can be hard to find

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by Dalaigh

Diesels an easy 6 cents cheaper then gas here, it's never gone higher then gas.

Diesel is about 30 cents more per gallon here in Texas. Several months ago, it was 70 cents more per gallon.

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by Car'n'Guitars

Okay what are the advantages and disadvantages of each with stock set ups? Such as towing capabilities and fuel mileage?

What kind of towing capability do you need out of your truck?

[Dalaigh]

Originally Posted by Edahall

Diesel is about 30 cents more per gallon here in Texas. Several months ago, it was 70 cents more per gallon.

Thats six cents a litre, we are about 24-30 cent cheaper on average per gallon.

[Car'n'Guitars]

Either way it's still not cheap.

[Corts60]

Originally Posted by Dalaigh

Thats six cents a litre, we are about 24-30 cent cheaper on average per gallon.

Must be nice. Diesel here is on average 10 cents higher per litre. That's 40 cents more per gallon than regular gas.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by Edahall

-Engine doesn't have enough power to maintain legal speeds driving solo.

Are you talking unloaded here?

If so, that has not been my experience with either of my 6.2's
One is a K20 Burb,
One is a V3500 crew cab long bed.
They both run 75 mph on the highway, no problem.

I haven't towed anything very heavy with either one though so I can't be much help on the towing aspect...
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[Edahall]

Originally Posted by joe231

Are you talking unloaded here?

If so, that has not been my experience with either of my 6.2's
One is a K20 Burb,
One is a V3500 crew cab long bed.
They both run 75 mph on the highway, no problem.

I haven't towed anything very heavy with either one though so I can't be much help on the towing aspect...
Posted via Mobile Device

Yes, I'm talking about unloaded here. I'm also talking about where I used to live which was quite hilly. It was plain embarrassing to have to shift into 2nd gear to ascend a 6% grade, only be able to maintain 45 miles per hour and get passed by semi trucks.

However, keep in mind my 1982 Suburban with the 6.2L had 3.08 gears and only 130 hp. However, it would get 25 mpg all day long. After the headers and exhaust, I could maintain 70 mph up that same grade in 3rd gear.

Later on, power became a priority over fuel economy and GM increased power output on these 6.2L engines by using larger precombustion chambers in the heads. Power output did increase but at the expense of fuel economy. I suspect that your K20 Burb and V3500 have the larger precombustion. chambers which do help with power.

[C-10 simplex]

Originally Posted by Car'n'Guitars

Yes everything would need to be converted. And if I do decide I want to do it then every aspect of it will be researched, and the truck right now has a th700r4 in it.

So....."they" really can't switch it over in "a day or two?"


That was mah point; Don't just look at mpg figures. Look at the total cost of going diesel and how long it will take for it to pay itself back. i think you'll find in most cases gas is the better route.

[csa daddy]

Ok I personally just got done converting my 91 sub from gas to diesel . The fuel maybe be a little higher but the fuel mileage will pay for it self . An as far as time goes I took to sub pulled all the wiring front to back changed all fuel lines hydro boost steering colomun an steering box an done about all of it within a week with just me 1 person so two days or so a couple guys should be able to do it . With a good knowledge of Chevys
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[joe231]

Originally Posted by Edahall

Yes, I'm talking about unloaded here. I'm also talking about where I used to live which was quite hilly. It was plain embarrassing to have to shift into 2nd gear to ascend a 6% grade, only be able to maintain 45 miles per hour and get passed by semi trucks.

However, keep in mind my 1982 Suburban with the 6.2L had 3.08 gears and only 130 hp. However, it would get 25 mpg all day long. After the headers and exhaust, I could maintain 70 mph up that same grade in 3rd gear.

Later on, power became a priority over fuel economy and GM increased power output on these 6.2L engines by using larger precombustion chambers in the heads. Power output did increase but at the expense of fuel economy. I suspect that your K20 Burb and V3500 have the larger precombustion. chambers which do help with power.

I see...

The V3500 is a 91 so it has the highest rated 6.2 in it.
The K20 is a 84, I'd have to look up the rating on it.
Both of them are J code also.
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[Car'n'Guitars]

Okay thanks for the input guys, but it really doesn't matter anymore we just bought a Dodge Cummins yesterday, so thanks for all your input.

[MalibuSSwagon]

Originally Posted by Car'n'Guitars

Okay thanks for the input guys, but it really doesn't matter anymore we just bought a Dodge Cummins yesterday, so thanks for all your input.

Nice choice.

My gf and I stopped at a local dealership the other, they had a rusty 89 4x4 crew cab dually sitting at the back of the lot. She was all ready to walk into the dealer and make them a lowball offer for the "big awesome truck", I pointed out that it was a 454 and gas mileage would be an issue.

So now she wants a turbo diesel Chevy, since I told her that truck with a 6.2 would get double the mileage. Women are crazy. haha

[Edahall]

Originally Posted by Car'n'Guitars

Okay thanks for the input guys, but it really doesn't matter anymore we just bought a Dodge Cummins yesterday, so thanks for all your input.

What year Dodge Cummins? Auto or manual transmission?

[manimal]

I know you just got a cummins, but remember, with a diesel (most earlier ones anyway) can be set up to run on waste oil,motor oil, fry oils,kerosene,etc... GAS CANNOT! So if you have a natural disaster in your area and need to bug out NOW, a diesel will serve you WAY better than gas.

[C-10 simplex]

Originally Posted by csa daddy

Ok I personally just got done converting my 91 sub from gas to diesel . The fuel maybe be a little higher but the fuel mileage will pay for it self . An as far as time goes I took to sub pulled all the wiring front to back changed all fuel lines hydro boost steering colomun an steering box an done about all of it within a week with just me 1 person so two days or so a couple guys should be able to do it . With a good knowledge of Chevys
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Describe ALL steps in great detail in order.

[mikev]

Diesel will be my choice. It's a 1 ton truck, not a top fuel dragster. I don't need to go fast stoplight to stoplight, and I'd much rather get 17-18mpg than 8-10.

[68Timber]

Another thing to consider, the turbo parts off a 6.5 are bolt-on. I got all the parts used for around $600. I'll still have to get a crossover and downpipe made but it's not a difficult job bolting the stuff on.

[Your41Plague12]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

Another thing to consider, the turbo parts off a 6.5 are bolt-on. I got all the parts used for around $600. I'll still have to get a crossover and downpipe made but it's not a difficult job bolting the stuff on.

If you have AC in the truck, it won't clear the box though. Keep that in mind.

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by C-10 simplex

So....."they" really can't switch it over in "a day or two?"


That was mah point; Don't just look at mpg figures. Look at the total cost of going diesel and how long it will take for it to pay itself back. i think you'll find in most cases gas is the better route.

I agree with that to a point.

I only like the diesels if they are turbo charged, otherwise I have no interest.

If you are going to spend the money, why not make what you have more efficient? Or go with a more efficient gas swap?

Don't get me wrong, I like the diesel swaps if it's a turbo, I'm just not liking the diesel gas prices at 30-40 cents more per gallon when you consider you are paying more for a fuel that is unrefined, doesn't make sense. But the fun you can have with simple tuning on a turbo diesel makes it worthwhile

Personally I went with a LS 6.0 swap and a 4L60E behind it for my blazer, and I'm getting 22 mpg with this setup, and it has more usable pulling power than a gen 1 sbc or any non turbo 6.2 diesel. There is good gas mileage to be had with gas powered engines if you science out the entire setup.

I was in the same dilema with my 79 1 ton pickup. The 454 spun a bearing. I would have loved a turbo diesel swap in this, but the time and effort and money was holding me back. I instead dropped a GM 502 crate engine down in it (cheaper and easier). It has all the power I need (dyno'd 537 ft lbs.) and gets 14 mpg driving easy. Granted whether towing or not I don't get the mileage a turbo diesel truck does however, but it's not bad for a big inch engine in a truck shaped like a brick. Considering it makes the same power the GM duramax did circa 02-03 (a few years ago now) makes it a pretty fun truck to drive.

What I'm getting at is, I don't think you are weighing all your options that are available to you

[Edahall]

Also, keep in mind that engine longevity often takes a dump when adding a turbo to these 6.2L engines. The compression ratio is too high and bottom end is too weak to support enough boost to make lots of power. You can get by with about 8 psi of boost but more than that, you're just asking for trouble on these engines.

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by Car'n'Guitars

Okay thanks for the input guys, but it really doesn't matter anymore we just bought a Dodge Cummins yesterday, so thanks for all your input.

Ha,,,that's another option I thought about mentioning, just find a decent used turbo diesel truck, that's alot easier