RUSVD

If two trucks are comparable, (as close as possible)i.e. 4x4,weight, transmission's, hp and trq. the only difference one is a gasser and the other is a diesel. Why does the diesel tow better?
I am looking to sell my gasser to go diesel.


Thanks...............................Jason

skeeter

gaser's do not have the torque of a deisel for one. also the torque range is differnt.you will have more torque in low range 0 to 25 with the deisel you will also have more torque on a hill at 55 to 65 than a gas vehicle . the best way to describe it is to drive both with the same type of vehicle being towed. this is the reason i traded a 1998 dodge 4x4 with a 360 for a dodge deisel. the performance is like night and day

SjLingenfelter

When you go from stock gasser 325tq to 600tq there is one heck of a difference.

Commatoze

Jason is saying that torque is the same too, and in the case of a V-10, there's some serious torque there, 450ft lbs. I think you have to look at where the peak torque occurs. In the case of a diesel engine, maximum torque occurs at a relatively low rpm, and holds that peak across a much longer rpm band than a gasoline engine, ideal for towing. You're also getting (or should be ) better fuel mileage and much longer engine longevity with a diesel.

RUSVD

Using my F250 460 stock trq is 368 lbs trq. I added headers, exhaust work air intake mods adj.fuel pressure regulator. Comparing to a stock 24v year 2000 it shows trq at 367 lbs tq.
I am seeing that the diesel has a longer tourqe curve where the gasser trq curve is at a peak. So if your not right on the peak then your power falls off on a gasser.
It also looks like on the diesel power curve that the trq and hp blend together better from peak trq to peak hp.
Maybe that has something to do with it?
Jason

Commatoze

Yes. A good place to see and compare torque/HP curves is www.dodgeram.org

RUSVD

Thanks Commatoze, that makes since now. Great power band.

Jason

trailblazenyj

As you have seen, you can make any amount of torque you want with a gasser as long as you are willing to spin it. Flatter power band and more btu's per gallon are what diesels are all about.

Most of the people in our jeep club and a majority of the people we camp with have switched to diesels for their tow vehicle. Without fail, everyone of them has gotten out of their new truck with a grin on their face after the first substantial tow.

I know I did and the grin has never left!

Mopar1973man

Funny, You would say that! I happen to have the Dodge 360 CID gasser and then the Dodge Cummins...

If you like the spinting from the line the gasser will do it! But with only about 12-14 MPG.

If you like to haul anything and do it cheap! The Cummins will do it with 18-26 MPG depending on how you BOMB!

What is crazy they are both 360 CID/5.9L engines. I still like the diesel better that gasser! Unless in getting old like the 73 Charger... Can't beat that rush!

welder27

I read about horsepower and torque on http://www.howstuffworks.com. They talked about the differences between a 437 HP Mustang Cobra and a 430 HP Cat C-12 engine. The Cobra engine is 4.6 L and the Cat is 12.0 L. Now, here's the kicker...the Cobra engine makes 354 ft-lbs @ 5600 rpms and the Cat makes 1650 ft-lbs @ 1200 rpms. Why is the horsepower just about the same, but the torque is radically different? Well, horsepower is simply a calculation of TORQUE and RPMS. It goes like this:
TORQUE x RPMS divided by 5252= HORSEPOWER

The difference between the torque ratings is offset by the rpm range of the engines. The gas engine can go up to 5600 rpms and the Cat is probably governed to 2000-2200 rpms. And knowing the reputation of Cat, you know that about one-third of the dump trucks and heavy equipment has that engine and they work hard and don't quit. Part of the reason they last forever is because they don't have to be screaming to do any work. If you've ever driven past an old gasser dump truck on a steep hill you know two things....1) it was creeping along slower than a slug, 2) It sounded like the engine was gonna explode from all the rpms on it. Drive past a diesel dump truck on the same hill and it'll cruise along about 3 times the speed of the gasser and sounds like it has more managable rpms on it.

My whole point is...when it comes to economical hauling, horsepower has nothing to do w/ it...it's all about the torque at low rpms.

Here's some good reading...http://science.howstuffworks.com/fpte5.htm