sales waffle or fact? Forums

willoug

Diesel powered American RVs are very 'Argricultural' and a V8 petrol/LPG conversion is (a) more reliable (b) more environment friendly (c) more economical. surely not I don't believe it. Am i being led up the garden path?
I assume by 'Agricultural' he means sounds and performs like a tractor?

RockieRV

Hi willoug

you should attach a poll to this one. You might be surprised at the results (or not)....

Sharon

ScotJimland · Last edited by ScotJimland on Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

olley · Campsite DB Admin

CLS

Can only really comment on petrol and lpg side of the argument.....

Paying £0.89 per litre unleaded
£0.40 per litre lpg

Approx. 10 mpg average.........you do the maths......LPG !

Diesel does what approx. 14 mpg ? £0.92 per litre

kands

My Chevy diesel sounds agricultural because it is agricultural Laughing

The engine was originally designed to work in a bailing machine, so I understand, and this being the case it is very understandable. American engines in general are not as refined as european / japanese engines and their designs are usually very old. They build them big and tough, it is not unusual to see 1/4 million miles on an American engine and it will still be pulling strongly and with regular maintenance will do the same again. Generally American engines are not too fuel conscious so your consumption figures are not going to impress you however the other side of the coin is their reliability and longevity, so what you spend extra on fuel you are not spending on repairs, this is of course a generalisation.
Our 6.5 ltr turbo diesel is returning about 16 MPG and will run all day. It is a very impressive performer and has tons of power, easily pulls our 30 foot RV up to legal speeds and still has loads left. I cannot comment on comparisons with petrol engined RV's as I have never had one, but my diesel will give you enough power to frighten yourself and the economy is acceptable.
An LPG conversion will cost you between £2500 - 3000 so if you get a petrol engined RV and have it converted you will need to keep it years and do a lot of miles to see the rewards IMO whereas a diesel is going to return the same MPG for ever.
Cost is the usual decider here and a diesel motor is usually much more expensive than a petrol and with an LPG conversion the petrol will be about the same. Do remember that fuel costs are relative, ie it only costs money when you are driving it and depending on your annual mileage the cost differential may not be as much as you think.

The old saying "you pays your money"etc comes to mind.

Good luck

Keith

ScotJimland

There is much more to the argument than just MPG..
LPG is not widely available in Spain and unavailable in other countries, something to bear in mind if you are going to use your RV abroad, and when, not if , the cost of LPG rises.. what then?
Diesel engines have better torque at low revs, longer life and are more reliable ..and If LPG was the answer why do truck manufacturers still use diesel engines ?
A diesel engine can run on just about any oil you care to mention.. it will never become obsolete .. and long after hydrocarbon has ran out diesels will be still be running .....................on veg oil Wink

kands

My mind sees huge queues of RV's outside the chip shops across the country, waiting to fill up Laughing

Keith

Edgie

The thought of picking all those bits of chitling out of the injectors Shocked