Traveling by car has become even more common in the last year or so as international travel has become incredibly challenging. Additionally, more people are able to work remotely, making traveling more accessible for people who want to travel by car. However, when choosing a vehicle that you can travel in, you may be considering diesel or gas engines. Especially since gas prices have increased so much in the last few months.
While you have no doubt heard of diesel engines, chances are you are like most people and think there are few if any significant differences between diesel and gasoline engines. As gas prices continue to rise, alternative fuels such as diesel are starting to get a closer look by those who are on the road day after day. Are there differences between diesel and gasoline engines? Yes, and here are some of the most important.
Internal Combustion Process
This is the biggest difference between these two types of engines. In a gas engine, fuel first mixes with air located inside a piston chamber. Then, it is compressed by a piston, ultimately being ignited by a spark plug. With a diesel engine, the air gets compressed first, then the fuel is added to the engine. This causes it to start heating up but does not require a spark plug for ignition.
Specialized Technicians
When you are comparing gasoline and diesel engines, keep in mind that diesel engines that need to be worked on require the services of technicians who are trained specifically to work on diesel engines. Therefore, you may not be able to take your diesel-powered vehicle to just any auto mechanic where you live. Instead, you may need to rely on Technician Find to locate a qualified diesel mechanic in your area.
Performance and Fuel Economy
When it comes to performance and fuel economy, diesel engines usually do better than gas engines. Considered to be more energy-dense than gas engines, diesel engines possess the advantage of being able to convert heat into energy, meaning they don’t have to release heat like gas engines do when they are running. However, while running a diesel engine used to be much cheaper than using a gas engine, this is no longer the case due to rising fuel prices.
Miles Per Engine
However, when it comes to how long the diesel engine performs optimally, you can typically get thousands more miles out of a diesel engine compared to a gasoline-powered engine. If you plan on traveling thousands of miles over years time, then purchasing a vehicle that runs on diesel may be less expensive over time compared to needing to replace your gasoline vehicle for the same amount of miles.
Expensive to Repair
Last but not least, if your diesel engine breaks down or needs to be repaired in other ways, it will likely cost you more to get it fixed than it would if you had a gasoline engine that required some TLC. Since most diesel engines are highly-specialized, there are far fewer of them on the road today. As a result, getting parts can sometimes be difficult. Also, the parts and labor required to fix these engines can be expensive. That being said, a diesel engine is easier to access and thus, it may be easier for you to make repairs on your own. Many people who drive diesel vehicles, tend to learn how to maintain their own engine to decrease the need to hire a specialized mechanic to care for your vehicle.
When you are comparing gas and diesel engines, make sure you take these and other factors into consideration. No matter which type you select, there will be various pros and cons you’ll need to deal with down the road.
