Diesel vs. Trucks: Making the Right Choice for Your Needs
Posted Friday, Mar 24, 2023
Both gas trucks and diesel trucks are internal combustion vehicles. They both convert chemical energy into mechanical energy and in doing so, they cause small but controlled explosions. However, they differ in terms of how they cause these explosions.
A gasoline engine mixes fuel with air. Pistons compress the fuel, and a spark from the spark plug ignites it. Conversely, a diesel truck compresses the air where the fuel is injected.
Diesel vs Gas Trucks: Pros & Cons
Diesel Trucks
Pros
Diesel trucks generate a tremendous amount of power and are also more efficient than gasoline trucks. Efficiency and power are why most semis prefer diesel over gasoline.
Moreover, they can haul heavy loads over long distances. These vehicles urge you to challenge them, and they rarely fail in these challenges.
Cons
Compared to a gasoline engine, a diesel engine is heavier. A diesel engine is 800-900 lbs heavier, which keeps it from reaching its true potential, especially when carrying heavier payloads.
Moreover, these trucks are more expensive than gasoline trucks. A diesel truck costs at least $10,000 more than a gasoline truck. Prices of diesel engines are justified by their capabilities, but it is still a significant upfront cost.
Furthermore, an oil change on a diesel engine costs approximately $150. Moreover, the coolant flushes, fuel filters, and anything related to the DEF system cost extremely high.
Gas Trucks
Pros
The best thing about a gas truck is the maintenance cost, which is relatively easier on your wallet. Moreover, unlike the oil changes in diesel trucks, an oil change for a gas truck costs around $30-$60.
Cons
While gas trucks can carry a heavy payload, they come nowhere closer to a diesel engine when towing. A gas truck can only tow half of a diesel truck's weight.
Gas trucks have decent fuel efficiency, but when you start towing, this fuel efficiency goes out of the window.
Furthermore, despite gasoline being cheaper than diesel, you may experience a bit of a burden on your wallet when you start using gas trucks for towing.
Gasoline Trucks VS Diesel Trucks: Head-to-Head Comparison
Cost
Comparing the prices of diesel and gasoline trucks is easy. Luckily, some prominent truck models come in diesel and gasoline variants.
The two most popular trucks are the Ford F250 and the Ram 2500. The diesel version of the Ford F250 costs $10,495 more than the gasoline version.
Similarly, when upgrading to a diesel version of the Ram 2500, you will have to spend $9495 extra.
If money is an issue, a gas truck should be your go-to vehicle unless you want to use it for towing. You will save thousands of dollars with a gasoline truck if you don't have any towing needs.
Towing
It's important to know how these options stack against one another, especially if you buy them for towing purposes.
The towing numbers aren't just mere recommendations; to keep things safe, it is mandatory to follow them.
As discussed above, diesel is a clear winner for towing. Now, let's discuss some specific models and their towing numbers.
A 2021 Ram 2500 has a towing capacity of 14,460 lbs. It can carry a payload of 3330 lbs. However, if you opt for the diesel variant, the payload capacity will drop to 2530 lbs, while the towing capacity will soar to 20,000 lbs. The increase in towing capacity is mostly the same across various manufacturers.
Fuel Economy A diesel engine is approximately 30% more fuel efficient than its gas counterparts under normal circumstances. The only time a diesel engine's MPGs drop is when they are made to tow a heavy load.
However, despite the load, a diesel engine does a better job at fuel efficiency than a gasoline engine.
Maintenance Costs
Diesel engines are more expensive to maintain but tend to last longer than gasoline engines. Some items on a diesel engine can be twice as expensive to maintain as gasoline trucks.
For example, the latest diesel trucks have complex exhaust systems for environmental friendliness, but these parts are just as expensive to maintain.
The heavy mechanic bills are enough to make buyers choose gas trucks over diesel trucks.
Dependability and Lifespan
Diesel engines are built to last and offer a longer life expectancy. Most gasoline trucks can go up to 200,000 miles, while a diesel engine can offer 500,000 miles.
However, regardless of whether you choose a gasoline truck or a diesel truck, there are a few things you must take care of as part of your routine maintenance. Make sure to rotate the tires, change the oil, and keep an eye on the fluid levels to keep your truck running smoothly for a long time.
Depreciation and Resale Value
Like any other vehicle, the sturdiest of trucks also depreciate the moment you drive them off the lot, which affects the resale value. However, according to a study by Green Car Reports, the resale value of a diesel truck is 60-70% more than that of a pre-owned gasoline truck.
If you want to get the most bang for your buck when selling your truck, you should opt for a diesel truck. A diesel truck is also a good option if you don't want to keep a truck for too long, especially if you didn't make a down payment on your purchase.
Final Word
Well, we have a clear winner. The diesel truck is miles ahead when it comes to fuel efficiency, performance, power, and resale value.
However, a gas truck is cheaper than a diesel truck. It is also cheaper to maintain a gasoline truck, but it doesn't offer the same power, fuel efficiency, towing capacity, and resale value.
If you are tight on a budget and don't want to use a truck for towing, a gasoline truck is the way to go.
Preferred Auto Sales are the place for you if you plan on purchasing a truck soon.
Our vehicles are professionally inspected, and we ensure transparency regarding the flaws in the vehicles on our lot. Visit our website today, and pick out the vehicle of your choice.
