Diesel vs. Gas Trucks Pros and Cons

Reasons to Choose a Diesel Truck

• Torque and Towing – Diesel trucks generate more torque than their gas-powered counterparts, and can often tow heavier loads compared to similarly-sized gas-powered engines.
• Fuel Economy – Diesel engines are more efficient than gas engines. And though diesel fuel can sometimes be more expensive, many drivers prefer diesel because it reduces the number of stops needed to refuel when traveling out past .
• Longevity – Evidence suggests diesel engines tend to last much, much longer than otherwise-comparable gas engines, since they employ simpler construction and stronger engine blocks. A well-maintained diesel engine can power your travels for more than 500,000 miles.

Reasons to Choose a Gas Truck

• Acceleration and Horsepower – For many daily drivers, it’s a vehicle’s horsepower and acceleration specs that really matter — and here, gas-powered engines win out since they get up to speed faster, and pass other cars more quickly.
• More Fueling Stations – Drivers who choose gasoline-powered trucks spend less time worrying about where to find their next fill-up near .
• Lower Maintenance Costs – Diesel engines employ heavy-duty and sometimes hard-to-find parts, which often makes service appointments and repairs pricier.

Technical Comparison: Gas and Diesel Engines

Why are the differences between gas and diesel trucks so pronounced? As you’re comparing your options, keep these points in mind:

• Both gas and diesel engines are internal combustion engines, which simply means that fuel is turned into energy inside the engine itself. The opposite would be an external combustion engine, where heat is produced in one location and routed to the engine, elsewhere.
• Gas trucks tend to compress air and fuel at a ratio of roughly 10:1. Diesel trucks compress their own air/fuel mixture at a rate between 15:1 and 25:1. Since the result is a much hotter cylinder, diesel fuel is self-igniting and often does not require a spark plug.
• The efficiency of any engine is determined in part by the relative difference between its maximum hot and cold temperatures. Higher compression ratios allow for a smaller min-max temperature difference, which accounts, in part, for the diesel engine’s greater fuel economy.

Compare Diesel vs. Gas Trucks in Person!

Bettenhausen Automotive is proud to deliver both gas and diesel trucks to drivers from to . Have a sense of which setup might be right for you? Check out our new vehicle inventory and contact us to take the next steps on your search! We can tell you how often to change your oil while we’re at it. And, our dealership offers a great selection of RAM trucks, and our finance team is standing by to help you make a plan.