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What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:48 pm
by hop
I did search but I can't seem to find any posts that discuss the mileage of the gasser L400 vs. the diesel. Lots discuss the diesel, obviously. Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance.
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:19 pm
by Mr. Flibble
hop wrote:I did search but I can't seem to find any posts that discuss the mileage of the gasser L400 vs. the diesel. Lots discuss the diesel, obviously. Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance.
From my research on this on the Oz forum (you have to be a member there to read their posts) they seem to be about the same. The V6 has a little more power than the Diesel, but of course at low RPM's the Diesel wins out.
Given that Diesel is (usually) less expensive than gas, the Diesel should cost slightly less to run.
Most of the gas V6's get sent to Oz because they get a free conversion from the goverment to LPG (natural gas) which is extremely cheap compared to gas or Diesel. Thus, they prefer the V6 down there.
So, most of us on the forum have Diesels, but you can find V6's if you look for them.
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:19 pm
by jessef
The 2.8 4M40 diesel in the L400 has better fuel economy and low-end torque than the 3.0L V6.
Especially in the city/towing/loaded with people and camping gear.
I had the V6 in our Montero which is close in weight to the L400 when loaded. I didn't like the V6. Fuel consumption went up fast as soon as I loaded it with more weight than myself.
The 4M40 is more reliable.
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 6:36 am
by hop
Good to know, thanks.
Diesel in the US (where my BC-reg'd Deli would live most of the time) is about ~$0.20 more expensive per gallon than unleaded. I am guessing that since the gas engine is shared w/ the Montero it would be easier to maintain in the US (where nobody has heard of Mitsu diesel engines) but if the gas mileage is as bad or worse, then it still may not be worth it.
Time to resume kicking tires and waffling.
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 11:38 am
by thelazygreenfox
Guys
I need a few more tanks to get a better idea but my 2.4 gasser has
much better mileage than my L300 diesel. Lots of gold stars for this vehicle.
A longer range per tank would be beneficial. 600-640 seems normal before the fuel light comes on. 4X4 gravel road use really sucks up the fuel.
The math doesn't make sense yet but few tankfulls have been used and loads,speeds and conditions have varied considerably. I'm happy with the fuel use and load carrying capacity.
Incidentally thelazybrownfox is looking for a new home. Know anyone looking for a good L300?
tlgf
Wayne
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 12:36 pm
by jessef
That's right. L400 has the 2.4 not the 3.0. My mistake.
Wayne, that's the beauty with the 2.8 diesel. Loads, on/off road, the fuel economy doesn't change much whereas the gasser will be worse offroad/city and better on the highway unless loaded/towing.
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 11:17 pm
by luckydad
I think the L400 gasser comes in both 2.4 and 3.0 liters. A dealer in Richmond has a silver SWB with 3.0 liter.

I know for sure there are 2.4 liter gassers.
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:01 am
by aclarker
I own the L400 3.0 V6 and it is brutal on Gas. There are many reasons why I went that way. Too many to discuss here. My gas consumption is 330 kms per tank in the City. Brutal.
I like the engine because parts are readily available. Very little down time when I need to order anything for the engine.
I'm taking my first trip from Calgary to Osoyoos in the next two weeks. I'm thinking a jerry can may be needed. Not sure on the distance between gas stations along the number the number one and 97 South.
If I were to do it again..... Don't know, the jury is still out.
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:21 am
by jessef
If the diesel 2.8 was as reliable as the 3.0 V6, then I would have opted for the 3.0L V6... maybe..
The reason why the 2.8 diesel in the L400 is great is because it's reliability is very high.
Aside from certain maintenance items there isn't anything you need to do at all to maintain it.
- oil changes every 3-5,000 km's
- fuel filter every 10-20,000 km's
- tune up (clean & adjust injectors / set timing)
That's it.
On the gassers, the maintenance items are greater and more serviceability issues compared to the diesel.
Timing chain on the diesel (3-500,000 km interval) vs. Timing belt on the gasser (70-90,000 km interval) is a big deal as well.
The biggest noticeable difference between the gas/diesel is the fuel consumption as soon as you leave pavement (diesel doesn't change vs. gas gets bad fast) and load it up with any weight (diesel has little difference compared to unloaded and pulls just as hard compared to gas which fuel consumption soars and pulling goes down unless you have the larger V8/V6).
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:01 am
by psilosin
I'm taking my first trip from Calgary to Osoyoos in the next two weeks. I'm thinking a jerry can may be needed. Not sure on the distance between gas stations along the number the number one and 97 South.

haha its not the Australian outback in the southern interior of BC...
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 6:18 pm
by roadie
Just returned from a 5000km trip in the diesel L400. Best tank of fuel was 9.5 L/100kms. Worst was 12L/100kms. Average was 10.5L/100kms or around 27mpg. Keeping the speed around 100kph was definitely better on fuel.
You'll never get that with gasoline.
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:21 pm
by mararmeisto
psilosin wrote:I'm taking my first trip from Calgary to Osoyoos in the next two weeks. I'm thinking a jerry can may be needed. Not sure on the distance between gas stations along the number the number one and 97 South.

haha its not the Australian outback in the southern interior of BC...
I reckon it's near-on a full day's drive from Osoyoos to Calgary. O' course, if ye ged sidetrack'd 'long de way, up-round Williams Lake or Barkerville way, well, yer gonna nee' more dan a singa jerry can to get yer sorry hide to Cowtown. Ain't nuthin betwixt dem parts and the Prairies 'cept dirt and hills, hills as high as the sky!
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:32 pm
by jessef
Hey Paul. You okay there ?
Y'all sound funny. Like those southerners.

Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:45 pm
by mararmeisto
jfarsang wrote:Hey Paul. You okay there ?
Y'all sound funny. Like those southerners.

Growed up in Kamloops - ain't nothing wrong with the way I was talkeding.
Re: What has better mileage, the gasser or the diesel?
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:05 pm
by jessef
I need a translator !