Diesel vs. Gas Truck: Which Is Right for You?

Many drivers want to know: What are the pros and cons of choosing a diesel vs. gas truck? The Don Franklin Auto has you covered. We’ve put together a short guide on the benefits offered by each, so you can tackle every challenge that arises on your daily drives.

Diesel vs. Gas Trucks: Pros and Cons

Reasons to Choose a Diesel Truck

• Torque and Towing – Diesel trucks often generate considerably more torque than their gas-powered counterparts. As a result, they can often tow heavier loads in comparison to gas-powered engines of similar sizes! This makes them well-respected as work trucks and transport vehicles.
• Fuel Economy – For a number of reasons, diesel engines tend to be more efficient than gas engines. Even though diesel fuel can sometimes be more expensive, many drivers prefer diesel because it reduces the number of stops they’ll need to make to refuel.
• Longevity – Anecdotal and scientific evidence suggests that diesel engines can last much, much longer than otherwise-comparable gas engines, partly because they employ a 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 – True, diesel engines tend to offer more torque. However, for many daily drivers, it’s a vehicle’s horsepower and acceleration specs that really matter. Gas-powered trucks are generally better at getting up to speed and passing other cars.
• More Fueling Stations – Not every gas station offers diesel fuel, so drivers who choose a gasoline-powered truck are going to spend less time worrying about where to find their next fill-up.
• Lower Maintenance Costs – Since diesel engines do not have spark plugs, and generally employ a simpler design, many drivers expect them to be cheaper to maintain. In fact, since diesel engines employ heavy-duty and sometimes hard-to-find OEM parts, service appointments and repairs can often be pricier.

Technical Comparison: Gas and Diesel Engines

If you’re the curious type, you’re probably wondering why the differences between gas and diesel trucks are so pronounced! So, when you’re comparing your options, you may want to 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 Lexington Today

The Don Franklin Auto is proud to deliver both gas and diesel trucks to drivers across Kentucky. Now that you’ve got a sense of which setup might be right for you, why not learn about premium vs. regular gas and check out our new vehicle inventory before taking the next steps on your search! Our dealerships offer a great selection of new trucks from popular makes like Ford and Chevrolet, and our finance team is standing by to help you make a plan.

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