The most recent propulsion comparisons deal with the differences between gasoline engines and electric electric vehicles. But the diesel engine quietly offers a third option, primarily for trucks carrying payloads and trailers. So this comparison, gas and diesel engines, is largely up to truck buyers. And to compare, we have to cover many disparate factors.
What about the resale of diesel and gas engines?
Let’s start with the price. Diesel engine options cost more to buy. Emission systems require more maintenance, which also adds to annual costs. And diesel costs more than petrol, even though diesel engines get better mileage than petrol. Also, insurance companies are mostly ecumenical, although some think diesel vehicles cost a bit more to insure.
One thing buyers don’t always consider is resale value. That’s why diesel vehicles sell more than gasoline ones. According to MoneyBarn, diesel vehicles sell for about 10% more than gasoline versions.
But note that diesel sales are slowly declining. While gasoline vehicles account for 54% of new vehicle sales, diesel accounts for 10%. The rest are electric and hybrid vehicles, which represent 36%.
Are diesel or gas engines more economical?
Engines that require more energy to produce power are less efficient. This means that gas engines use more energy, which means they are more likely to be replaced or repaired sooner than diesel engines. And diesel contains more energy than the same amount of gasoline.
And diesel engines emit less CO2 than petrol cars. But diesel also produces more emissions overall. Nitrogen oxide emissions are much higher for diesel engines than for gas.
From the standpoint of gasoline engines, they are cheaper to run because gasoline is cheaper. And its emission rate is lower than that of diesel engines. But make no mistake, petrol engines produce a high rate of emissions, specifically CO2.
Does reliability depend on how diesel or gas engines are used?
Diesel engines are generally built stronger because the expectation of harder use is included. For owners, diesel engines have longer service intervals. And because diesel engines run at lower RPMs, there is less wear and tear on parts. And these parts are built more robust due to the internal pressures found in diesel engines.
Another factor in favor of diesel engines is that diesel is more like petroleum. Therefore, it lubricates the parts as it flows through the heads and other components. But if you plan to go on off-road excursions, you’d better be fine with gas engines.
Reliability is more about necessity
As we said at the beginning, the reliability factor is not so much based on longevity and strength, but on necessity. If you buy a gas truck to do heavy hauling and towing, it will decrease its longevity and increase service. But if you choose a diesel engine for mostly around-town hauling and occasional towing needs, a gas engine makes more sense.
So in the end, the right motor used for the right applications means that in every use, they will be reliable longer. Beating a gas engine with regular heavy hauling, or expecting a diesel engine to do city duty with occasional heavy duty, reduces its reliability.
