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Diesel Vs Gas Engines
Q. Hello Vincent, I was wondering about diesel engines vs. V-8 engines. In terms of gas-mileage, and down the road up-keep. My family and I were interested in purchasing a used or new vehicle. We commute to work and school about 70 miles round-trip. We would need a full-size truck now and then, not every day.
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We currently have a 4-cylinder engine vehicle. Great on gas-mileage, but for our growing family, mountainous terrain, and unpaved roads where we live a truck or SUV would be ideal. So, do you think a diesel or V-8 would be perfect for us, or should we look into a V-6 SUV.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Adrian in Santa Fe, NM
A. In the situation you're in, you'd probably be a good candidate for a diesel engine. They have some distinct advantages over gas engines. First is they do not have an ignition system so you don't have to worry about changing distributor caps, rotors, ignition wires and spark plugs. They do have glow plugs that should be changed at regular intervals but on most diesels that interval is from 30,000 to 60,000 miles. The fuel injection system is a lot simpler than a gas engine and are usually trouble free.
Another advantage is that they get better fuel milage. I have a turbo charged 3.0 liter 5 cylinder diesel in my 1983 Mercedes and I get about 45 miles to the gallon. Also diesel fuel is generally cheaper than unleaded regular by about a nickel a gallon.Diesel engines also tend to last a lot longer than gas engines, up to 400,000 to 500,000 miles are not unusual. I have 215,000 miles on mine and it's still going strong. Diesels put out more torque than a gas engine so you'll have the power for mountain climbing.
There are disadvantages as well. First of all they do not have the quick acceleration a gas engine has. They are definitely slower from a stop and 0 to 60 is nothing to brag about. They are noisier than a gas engine at idle and some people find the smell objectionable. With mine, the only time I get a smell is when I first start it in the morning. Sometimes finding a gas station that sell diesel fuel can be a problem. You can't hop in and start them right up. You have to wait a few seconds while the glow plugs heat the cylinders before it will start.
Diesels do not like cold weather. Diesel fuel has a tendency to "gel" when the temperature gets down to about 20° and makes them difficult to start. Most oil companies bring out a winter blend of diesel fuel to help prevent this and you can also get anti-gel additives that work well. Also the diesel motor oil is heavier than gas motor oil so it too gets thick in the winter. I have a block heater in mine and I just plug it in in the winter and all the cold start issues go away.
Diesels don't put out as much heat as a gas engine, most of the heat is used to ignite the fuel mixture so there's not a lot left over for the heater. You can get a radiator cover to restrict air flow through the radiator and raise the coolant temperature in the winter. I just put a piece of cardboard in front of mine and that works fine for me.
Driving a diesel is not the same as driving a gas powered car. It takes some getting used to but once you get the hang of it, you'll have no problem. I love my diesel and it's taken me everywhere without a problem. Is it right for you? That would be something for you to decide after considering all the pros and cons.
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