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Today's diesel engines are not what they were 10 or even 5 years earlier. Gone are the times of smelly exhaust and unacceptably obnoxious engine noises. Diesel engines are now much cleaner, have more power and are far more dependable. These are some of the reasons that people are seeing an increasing number of regular automobiles with diesel engines as opposed to the traditional gasoline engine.
Let's have a look at various differences between these two engine types.
Is One Type of Engine Better?
In theory, a diesel truck engine is rather similar to the engine of a truck powered by gas. Both are internal combustion engines designed to convert one kind of energy to a different type of energy. This energy then results in linear motion, which causes forward motion to occur. The major variation is how the combustion happens. A gasoline truck engine has fuel combustion occur due to sparks from spark plugs. A diesel truck engine has the fuel combustion occur through the heat of the pressurized air in the engine.
Engine Safety
Just like any diesel mechanic will confirm, although you can flame diesel fuel in the open air using just a wick, it is a lot less explosive than gasoline and does not develop a flammable vapor. That means a diesel engine won't ever vapor lock. In addition, 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 in comparison to the sporadic nature of agasoline engine which can use more fuel to obtain less power.
Performance of the Engine
As most diesel mechanics will tell you, what makes a vehicle so attractive is its ability to accelerate swiftly. For this reason, we need to take into account the performance difference between the two engine types. Because engines in diesel trucks and automobiles are focused on torque instead of horsepower, they'll run more efficiently but accelerate rather slowly in comparison. For most automobile owners, that lack of acceleration is unsatisfactory. For car owners who are seeking to use their car or truck for pulling heavy loads such as campers or boats, a diesel engine makes more sense.
Engine Efficiency
When comparing a diesel engine to a gas engine, we cannot overlook the efficiency between both engines. If you're looking for an engine which will be used long-term, then a diesel engine will 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. A typical diesel engine will last around 350,000 miles before needing an overhaul, the gasoline counterpart is good for about 120,000 miles. Should you be looking for short term benefits, however, then a gasoline engine is going to be for you since it will take a few years for a gasoline engine to be less economical overall than a diesel engine.
Ultimately the environmental advantage of utilizing a diesel engine is what swings the discussion in favor of using it primarily. The engines of diesel trucks and automobiles create only a minimal amount of carbon monoxide, so minimal, actually, that they may be used underground. Less carbon monoxide impact on our atmosphere means a more healthy planet, and that is something we should all be striving toward.
