One of the most important questions for a car buyer is what type of fuel to choose – diesel or gasoline.

When selecting between diesel or gasoline vehicles, the choice depends on how long you are going to use this car. The fuel of a higher quality will be the better choice, and you may benefit from its buying if you use fuel cards or other ways to save.

Let’s recall the Pros and Cons of diesel and gasoline engines.

What is the difference between them?

The gasoline engine is powered by gasoline, and a mixture of fuel and air in it is ignited by spark plugs. The gasoline car is traditionally dynamic, fast, quiet, and rather undemanding to fuel quality. The gasoline engine has no expensive components, for example, such as a high-pressure fuel pump.

The diesel engine, in turn, has no ignition system: the fuel in it is ignited by compression. Many parts of the engine have to be made very strong, so they are heavier and more expensive.

This engine type usually comes with a turbine that is a complex and vulnerable unit. At the same time, the diesel engine has a significant advantage: it is 20-30% more cost-effective than gasoline.

Another good feature of the diesel engine is a high torque in the lower speed range. In motion, it means maintaining traction at the full load of the vehicle.

Which engine is better – diesel or gasoline?

Modern designers have brought parameters of diesel and gasoline engines close to each other, so a decisive factor in what to choose is only the driver’s personal preference.

Engineers nullify the disadvantages of each engine type by borrowing advantages from others. For example, many of today’s diesel engines, even cheaper ones, are quiet and work without vibration. Premium brands use such engines even in sports cars.

On the other hand, gasoline engines become more and more fuel-efficient year by year, and due to turbines and automatic transmissions, they achieve the real consumption of 6 l/100km in the city (39 mpg). Moreover, significant traction in the lower rev range is now available to drivers of many gasoline vehicles.

As for structural complexity and durability, modern gasoline engines took a step back. They have numerous troublesome components and systems: direct injection, turbo- or mechanical supercharging, multi-valve heads with phase shift systems.

So, how to determine which engine is better – diesel or gasoline? There is a difference, and it is not only that someone likes the smell of diesel, and others – gasoline. There are several factors that are important: service life, fuel economy, the vulnerability of nodes.

Nuances of choice

Diesel engines are more fuel-efficient and pricier than gasoline ones. Therefore, your daily mileage should be large. Otherwise, the vehicle will not pay off soon. Be prepared for possible expensive repairs if you are going to own a diesel car for more than 3-4 years.

It makes sense to use the diesel-powered vehicle if you drive often and long distances. Diesel cars are more agile and safer when overtaking.

Some drivers wonder why diesel vehicles are more fuel-efficient than gasoline ones. Even poor mixtures combust well in diesel engines contrary to gasoline. Almost as much fuel is needed as the design itself allows for useful work.

The gasoline engine proves its advantages not only at a time when you suddenly want to drive on a flat section of highway. Bills for its maintenance and repair are much lower than diesel. Besides, to cut expenses twice, you can supplement the gasoline engine with the gas-balloon equipment.

Summary

Diesel engine features:

1. Good fuel economy
2. Good traction
3. Low range of effective traction
4. Higher risk of repair
5. More expensive maintenance and repair
6. Vibrations and high noise level
7. Low heat dissipation and slow heating

Gasoline engine features:

1. Undemanding to fuel quality
2. Better adapted to fast movement
3. Wide dynamic range
4. Cheaper service and repair
5. Quieter operation
6. Can be equipped with the gas-balloon equipment to reduce fuel costs by almost half
7. Under equal conditions, the total fuel consumption will be much higher than that of diesel engines.

When deciding what to choose, diesel or gasoline, forget for a while the advice of experienced drivers, bloggers, and environmental activists. The main question is how exactly you plan to operate your car – how many kilometers/miles you will drive per day and for how many years you take the car.

Source: avtonovyny.com.ua