Diesel Engine vs. Gas Engine

If you are thinking about purchasing a diesel vehicle or becoming a diesel mechanic or simply would like to compare a diesel powered vehicle to a more common unleaded gas powered vehicle, there are several things you need to take into account and understand. Each type of engine has its own positives and negatives, so knowing what you need and how you need it for your personalized lifestyle is very important.

Today’s diesel engines aren't what they were 10 or even 5 years ago. Gone are the days of stinky exhaust and unacceptably noisy engine sound. Diesel engines are now substantially cleaner, have more power and are much more dependable. These are some of the reasons that people are seeing increasingly more typical automobiles with diesel engines instead of the traditional gasoline engine.

Let’s take a look at several differences between these engine types.

Are the Engines of Diesel Trucks and Cars Better?

In theory, a diesel truck engine is rather similar to the engine of a truck powered by gasoline. Both are internal combustion engines that are designed to transform one form of energy to a different form of energy. This energy then generates linear motion, which causes forward motion to occur. The major distinction is how the combustion takes place. A gasoline truck engine has fuel combustion arise due to sparks from spark plugs. A diesel truck engine has the fuel combustion occur through the heat of the pressurized air within the engine.

Safety of Each Engine
Every diesel mechanic can tell you, even though you can flame diesel fuel in the open air using merely a wick, it is much less explosive than gas and will not develop a flammable vapor. That means a diesel engine will not vapor lock. Furthermore, a diesel mechanic will advise you that the engines in diesel trucks will be more efficient because of their fuel efficiency, which is practically constant as compared to the sporadic nature of a gasoline engine which can use more fuel to get less power.

Performance of the Engine

As any diesel mechanic will explain, the thing that makes a vehicle so appealing is its ability to accelerate swiftly. Because of this, we have to consider the performance distinction between the two engine types. Because engines in diesel trucks and cars are focused on torque as opposed to horsepower, they're going to run more efficiently but accelerate rather slowly in comparison. For a lot of automobile owners, that lack of acceleration is unacceptable. For car owners who are looking to use their car or truck for pulling heavy loads such as campers or boats, a diesel engine makes more sense.

Efficiency of the Engine
When you compare a diesel engine to a gas engine, we can't overlook the efficiency between both engines. If you are looking for an engine that's going to be used long-term, then a diesel engine will probably be best for your needs because you will save money over the lifespan of the engine. With 20 - 30% less fuel consumption, the savings really can add up. Diesel engines also have a longer lifespan than their gasoline counterparts. An average diesel engine will last around 350,000 miles before requiring an overhaul, the gasoline counterpart is good for about 120,000 miles. If you're looking for short term advantages, however, then a gasoline engine will likely be for you since it will take a few years for a gasoline engine to be less cost-effective overall than a diesel engine.

Ultimately the environmental advantage of using a diesel engine is what shifts the argument in support of using it primarily. The engines of diesel trucks and automobiles produce only a minimal quantity of carbon monoxide, so minimal, actually, that they may be used underground. Less carbon monoxide impact on our atmosphere means a far healthier planet, and that's something we should all be striving toward.

In addition, you can find helpful information on MechanicApprentice.com. MechanicApprentice.com is a site dedicated to helping everyone begin their careers as a diesel mechanic and answering your questions about what it takes to become a diesel mechanic.