Choosing between a petrol and diesel engine is one of the major decisions required when purchasing a vehicle. Although petrol cars are more commonplace, diesel vehicles have a number of inherent advantages over their petrol counterparts. The following are the main advantages of diesel vehicles.
Diesel Is More Efficient Than Petrol
As a fuel, diesel contains more usable energy than petrol. It is denser, meaning that there is more energy within a volume of diesel than there is in the same amount of petrol. It’s estimated that diesel has 30% more energy, which means that your vehicle can get more work done with less fuel.
Diesel Vehicles Get Better Mileage
Diesel engines are more fuel-efficient than petrol engines, so you get better mileage with them. Diesel powered vehicles can deliver up to 25% better fuel economy than petrol vehicles of the same class or size.
Fuel economy is determined by many factors, including the model of the car and the type of automotive technology that is used in the vehicle. The bottom line is that for cars with similar performance, the diesel version is almost always more economical than the petrol version.
Diesel Engines Can Endure Higher Compression
Heavy commercial vehicle manufacturers prefer diesel engines for a reason. Diesel engines are strong because they are designed to handle higher levels of compression compared to their petrol counterparts.
A typical diesel engine has a compression ratio of 20 to 1, while a standard petrol engine has a ratio of 8 to 1. This means that a diesel engine sends more torque to the vehicle’s drive shaft. As a result, diesel engines can out-tow petrol engines, and this makes them more suitable for carrying heavy loads over longer distances.
Diesel Engines Don’t Require Ignition Tune-Ups
If you’re hunting for the fastest ever diesel truck, then you should be aware that, unlike petrol engines, diesel engines don’t have ignition systems with spark plugs or distributors. The ignition mechanisms of petrol vehicles require regular inspections and tune-ups, which means your vehicle spends more time in the shop. Of course, regular maintenance is important, but the point is that diesel engines are generally more durable and they can work longer before they have to be taken to the shop for servicing.
Diesel Vehicles Emit Less Carbon Dioxide Than Petrol Cars
Because they’re more fuel efficient, diesel engines usually end up emitting less carbon dioxide than petrol engines. From an environmental standpoint, diesel engines are preferable. Although diesel vehicles initially had a bad reputation for being noisy and for producing lots of fumes, diesel technology has improved in recent years, and newer engines are more silent and less smoky. In some jurisdictions, tax incentives are offered to companies and car buyers to encourage them to pick diesel over petrol.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to purchase a vehicle today, you have more options at your disposal than ever before. You shouldn’t be too quick to discount a diesel alternative until you have fully considered the advantages. A diesel vehicle may be just what you need if you’re looking for power, durability, and fuel economy.