Gas or Diesel? Help me decide.

[Rollin Ollen]

My main reason is expense of ownership.

I Just want to make it clear, We do not own a diesel nor have we ever dealt with NIRV so I am not in any way endorsing their company. I was curious about the cost of a diesel and I found this video interesting.



I was surprised to hear the owner of the coach say that when he performed a basic oil change himself it cost in the area of $2000.00!! Wow. Next I was not overly surprised when the cost of the 30,000 mile service cost in the area of $4000,00. I actually expected it to be higher. My question, to you folks that have a diesel pusher, are these costs the norm?

 

[Cuervo CAT]

Last year, the average price of 87-octane gas was around $3.29 per gallon. For the entire 2024 season, I averaged less than $3.20 per gallon, with a low of $2.77 and a high of $3.49 in Pennsylvania. This was for 119 nights camping and 9000 miles.

Today, as I write this, gas in WNY State (where I'm from) ranges from $2.97 to $3.19 per gal. Open Roads discount fuel at the closest T/A Travel Plaza is $2.99, and Speedway across the street is $3.00 (no .9 either!) I've found that leaving high-tax NY State (and PA), the diesel prices will be even lower compared to gas.

I admit last year's prices and this year's haven't been the norm since I purchased my DP in 2018.

All I can tell ya is that diesel costs 40 cents more per gallon than gasoline at this time in Silver City, New Mexico... but when I attend the rodeo this weekend, the primary fuel will be methane, lol.

 

[DennisT]

I Just want to make it clear, We do not own a diesel nor have we ever dealt with NIRV so I am not in any way endorsing their company. I was curious about the cost of a diesel and I found this video interesting.



I was surprised to hear the owner of the coach say that when he performed a basic oil change himself it cost in the area of $2000.00!! Wow. Next I was not overly surprised when the cost of the 30,000 mile service cost in the area of $4000,00. I actually expected it to be higher. My question, to you folks that have a diesel pusher, are these costs the norm?

Have a Superstar so may be a bit different for pushers.

First year chassis and engine maintenance was about $1200.

Just had the 2 year done (same as the 30k) along with generator maintenance. Was little over $1400 this time mostly because we added the generator service.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Didn’t watch the video about the cost of oil change, but sounds like it is sensationalized.
On our SuperC, in which an oil change requires a bit over 12 gallons (not quarts), it costs us a little over $300 for the oil change, filter and chassis lube (at a truck service shop. Tack on another $125 for the fuel filters change (2 fuel filters).
We do the 12.5k gen service myself each year, IIRC, around $75.

 

[Underboss]

Yes maintenance will cost you more but not the drama in that video. Two idiots making money with clicks. There is a difference between gassers and diesel. In general you have a much better chassis, engine and trans. The better brands, diesel coaches are a better build then the gassers, but that is what you are paying for, its not just a diesel engine. You are buying a coach that is built better, better suspension and more amenities.
Now its a personal decision on how deep you want to be financially in a coach. Gassers, proper brands, are good coaches. I have owned four. I would ignore the videos made by idiots to get clicks. Its all about the drama. Do your own research, there are pros and cons to every decision

 

[Boat Bum]

I could handle the initial cost, it's the ongoing costs of everything that puts me in a gas motorhome. Same with my past boat, a 31' gas powered. The gas powered, in both cases, satisfied my usage. YMMV

If cost was no object, diesel all day.

 

[Vint]

area of $2000.00!

No freaking way. I mentioned in my prior post, and first on this forum, that an oil change for my 6.7 Cummins costs around $150. That's for 16 qts. of oil and an expensive Fleetguard filter, around $40. The price depends on where I buy the oil, whether it's on sale, and Amazon's latest price for the filter. Now, I know bigger diesels like the 8.9 Cummins take more oil, but not enough to bring the price up to $2K.

 

[JBright11]

I could handle the initial cost, it's the ongoing costs of everything that puts me in a gas motorhome. Same with my past boat, a 31' gas powered. The gas powered, in both cases, satisfied my usage. YMMV

If cost was no object, diesel all day.

Exactly the same for me.
Though I could make both fit in the budget, the gas unit was a much more comfortable squeeze both initially and ongoing maintenance. It fits our travel style just fine as well.

 

[wildebill308]

I Just want to make it clear, We do not own a diesel nor have we ever dealt with NIRV so I am not in any way endorsing their company. I was curious about the cost of a diesel and I found this video interesting.



I was surprised to hear the owner of the coach say that when he performed a basic oil change himself it cost in the area of $2000.00!! Wow. Next I was not overly surprised when the cost of the 30,000 mile service cost in the area of $4000,00. I actually expected it to be higher. My question, to you folks that have a diesel pusher, are these costs the norm?

I am trying to figure out how anyone could claim it cost $2000.00 to do a basic oil change/filter doing it your self. Did he charge himself labor?
The last basic oil change I did cost me $234.00 for the oil. My ISM Cummins takes 40 qt. and I run Shell Rotela T-6. The filter added $37.00. That would leave me $1729.00 for shop rags/disposal?
By the way this is what NIRVC has on their website for oil change.
$169 LABOR + FILTER + QTS OIL. . . . . . . . . $375–$700
COST OF OIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARKET VALUE
Interesting, he could have had NIRVC do the oil change cheaper than the $2.000 he claims it cost to do it himself.
Bill

 

[Rollin Ollen]

I am trying to figure out how anyone could claim it cost $2000.00 to do a basic oil change/filter doing it your self. Did he charge himself labor?
The last basic oil change I did cost me $234.00 for the oil. My ISM Cummins takes 40 qt. and I run Shell Rotela T-6. The filter added $37.00. That would leave me $1729.00 for shop rags/disposal?
By the way this is what NIRVC has on their website for oil change.
$169 LABOR + FILTER + QTS OIL. . . . . . . . . $375–$700
COST OF OIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARKET VALUE
Interesting, he could have had NIRVC do the oil change cheaper than the $2.000 he claims it cost to do it himself.
Bill

Aha! So the huge additional cost was rags!! I guess he was messy. Thanks to for the critique people. I did note that there was no actual invoice shown for the NIRVC work. We will never know the real cost.

I will say that I kinda liked what I saw in the video about the level of service provided by NIRVC. Has any used them and is what is portrayed in the video accurate? I have had difficulties finding a decent service shop in the Calgary area that will work on our gas class A. It would be my preference to have any services done close to our home base but, if we have to find one away, so be it. I would like to find one similar to NIRVC so I will just keep looking I guess.

 

[Holdmybeer]

I am trying to figure out how anyone could claim it cost $2000.00 to do a basic oil change/filter doing it your self. Did he charge himself labor?
The last basic oil change I did cost me $234.00 for the oil. My ISM Cummins takes 40 qt. and I run Shell Rotela T-6. The filter added $37.00. That would leave me $1729.00 for shop rags/disposal?
By the way this is what NIRVC has on their website for oil change.
$169 LABOR + FILTER + QTS OIL. . . . . . . . . $375–$700
COST OF OIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARKET VALUE
Interesting, he could have had NIRVC do the oil change cheaper than the $2.000 he claims it cost to do it himself.
Bill

For the most part I avoid the RV youtuber testimonials and instructional videos, most of them, but not all, are thinly disguised promotional videos, others are some young couple trying to make a buck yammering on about subjects they know little to nothing about. Anyone who says it cost them two grand to change their own oil is obviously not that bright.

 

[Vint]

over 12 gallons

Are you sure your rig takes 48 Quarts? 8.9 Cummins?

The 8.9L Cummins ISL9 engine has a lube oil capacity of 7.3 US gallons (27.7 liters). The L9 and ISL9 engines are inline-6 diesel engines. For the L9, Cummins specifies 24-28 quarts (23-26L) of oil capacity. The ISL9 engine is used in various applications like well servicing, and also has a 7.3 US gallon oil capacity.

idiots to get clicks

Love the line

shop rags/disposal?

Cashmere?

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Are you sure your rig takes 48 Quarts? 8.9 Cummins?

The 8.9L Cummins ISL9 engine has a lube oil capacity of 7.3 US gallons (27.7 liters). The L9 and ISL9 engines are inline-6 diesel engines. For the L9, Cummins specifies 24-28 quarts (23-26L) of oil capacity. The ISL9 engine is used in various applications like well servicing, and also has a 7.3 US gallon oil capacity.

Love the line

Cashmere?

Yes, the capacity is 12 gallons.
We have the Cummins ISX 15 600 engine.

https://mart.cummins.com/imagelibrary/data/assetfiles/0032935.pdf

 

[wildebill308]

I will say that I kinda liked what I saw in the video about the level of service provided by NIRVC. Has any used them and is what is portrayed in the video accurate?

I think the Video is accurate. I bought my current coach from them. This was a used coach. They were great fixing the usual items like my wife had a hard time with getting the washer door open so they replaced the latch. We had a dedicated delivery team and were encouraged to spend a couple of days in their lot with water and eclectic hook ups. We had their phone number and told to call any time. They also checked on us often.
Where they went above and beyond was after we had signed all the paperwork and it was a done deal they kept finding things they didn't like and fixing them. Things like a crack in the mounting flange on the Oasis overflow tank so they ordered a new one to replace it. One of the teaks didn't like the struts on the wet bay they were letting the door sag down, so he ordered new struts for all the doors that open up. What amazed me was they decided the date code on the tiers were a little to old for them so they put 6 new Toyos on the back on their dime. The fronts were only10 months old.
Can you see camping world doing that?
Bill

 

[Underboss]

Aha! So the huge additional cost was rags!! I guess he was messy. Thanks to for the critique people. I did note that there was no actual invoice shown for the NIRVC work. We will never know the real cost.

I will say that I kinda liked what I saw in the video about the level of service provided by NIRVC. Has any used them and is what is portrayed in the video accurate? I have had difficulties finding a decent service shop in the Calgary area that will work on our gas class A. It would be my preference to have any services done close to our home base but, if we have to find one away, so be it. I would like to find one similar to NIRVC so I will just keep looking I guess.

I recently bought a coach from NIRVC. Some issues came up after the sale. They jumped right on it to make it right. I will only buy fro NIRVC in the future AND their service was impeccable