Count me in that group. In the mid 80's I bought an '83 Chevy van with the 6.2 diesel and built it into a camper. It would get an honest 33 mpg on the highway, amazing to me at the time for such a big van. It had a 35 gallon fuel tank and I could drive from N. Virginia to S Carolina and back without stopping for fuel. The day the injection pump died I nearly cried when a saw the bill! I paid it and sold the van and went back to gas engined vans. Jeff Stewart ----- Original Message -----
> Replacement costs? If the diesel engine goes south what would the
> replacement costs be vs a gasoline engine? Are parts of the diesel
> really expensive?
> I've "heard" diesels are expensive, I've known people with 'other'
> diesel engines who have been really really unhappy when something
> like an injection pump went out. I've been loosely following this as
> I am interested in better performance & better mileage too.
> Rob
> becida@comcast.net
> At 1/22/2012 08:17 PM, Travis Newhouse wrote:
> > > IMHO, most people are better off with a more modern gas engine
> > vs. diesels strictly from a general drivability & economic point of
> > view. Other factors come into play why people go to oil burners
> > though.;-)
> >
> >Can you elaborate on why you think gas engine is better for general
> >drivability and economic point of view. I'm one of the
> >"fence-sitters" someone mentioned who has been considering a TDI
> >conversion for a Westy. I thought the roughly 15% price difference in
> >diesel fuel (that I see locally) would be outweighed by the nearly
> >50%
> >improvement in MPG. I agree that the TDI can cost more, but I've seen
> >prices for 1.8T that seem similar - to compare to a modern gas
> >engine.
> >
> >As for drivability, I cannot comment, and I certainly have questions
> >about what it is like. I've never owned a diesel, nor driven one
> >myself. I have to imagine the TDI had to be somewhat driver-friendly
> >to go into Beetles, Jettas, and Passats. But, I would be happy to
> >hear more about your comment on general drivability.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Travis