John

gas 2.09/19mpg = .11 cents per mile

diesel 2.26/28 mpg = .08 cents per mile

not much of a price difference seemingly.  then we look at approximate
fuel costs over a year.

gas 15000 miles x .11 cents per mile = 1650

diesel 15000 miles x .08 cents per mile = 1200

so if you drive that much and you can do a diesel swap for 450 it would
pay for itself in the first year.  it would probably take most people two
years to recoup the cost if they did the work themselves. borrowing a
"line" from the tiico site you can also cut your costs by selling your
good running wasserboxer.  you just have to find someone that thinks used
wasserboxers are worth having :).

beyond that stuff if you have a chip on your shoulder about environmental
issues then you might be drawn to the diesel conversion.  if you want to
run biodiesel or waste vegetable oil your operational cost might be lower
in dollars and cents depending of the value of your time.

or you could just be an odd ball like me and want to do a diesel
conversion building everything from scratch and put it in at 15 degrees
:).  it did help that i found a late model 1.6 NA for $125, and that all
the parts i designed for my inline conversion will mount the engine :).

jonathan

On Sun, 24 Apr 2005, John Rodgers wrote:

> Can anyone tell me why one would w3ant to got to the trouble and expense
> of installing a diesel in their van vs staying with a goline engine????
>
> Gasoline here in my are can be bouth at $2.08.9/gal. , while diesel
> costs $2.25.9/gal.
>
> Sure doesn't look like much incentive for going diesel.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
> Chelsea, AL
>
>
>