Choosing Between Diesel vs. Gas Trucks

Whether you work a job that requires heavy lifting via your truck or you simply prefer a pickup for your daily drives, you can find something for you in the vast inventory at Holiday Automotive! Whether you opt for a Chevy, GMC, or Ford truck, we have the right pickup for you. However, you’ll need to decide between diesel vs. gas truck options. There are pros and cons to both diesel and gas truck options, so which one is right for you? Holiday Automotive is here to help narrow down your options.

Diesel vs. Gas Trucks: Pros & Cons of Diesel Engines

Looking to drive home in a diesel truck option? This is a great choice if you want optimal power without sacrificing fuel economy. Here are to pros of opting for a diesel engine:

• Fuel Economy: As noted above, diesel is a good choice if you want to prioritize fuel economy. Diesel engines are more efficient than gas engines, though they are also often more expensive. When you choose a diesel vs. a gas truck, you’ll be able to significantly limit stops at the gas station.
• Performance: When you choose a diesel truck, you can expect more torque than you’ll find from a gas-powered truck. This means your truck will probably have a stronger towing capacity, making it perfect for a work truck or transport vehicle.
• Reliability: Diesel trucks are typically capable of lasting longer than gas trucks thanks to their simpler construction and stronger engine blocks. If you maintain your diesel engine well, it has the potential to power your vehicle for 500,000 miles or more!

Diesel vs. Gas Trucks: Pros & Cons of Gas Engines

If you’re interested in affordability and convenience, then a gas truck might be the right option for you! Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of gas-powered engines:

• Convenient Fueling: While diesel engines are efficient, it can also be more difficult to find diesel fuel at your average gas station. When you choose a gas truck, you won’t have any issues finding places to fuel.
• Performance: While diesel engines offer more torque, gas engines typically offer more horsepower. Having lots of torque is great for a work truck, but you may prefer the accelerations specs a gas-powered engine provides if you use your truck as a daily driver.
• Affordable Maintenance: Diesel engines don’t have spark plugs and have a simpler design, but their maintenance is actually more expensive. Because diesel engines are a bit more heavy-duty, their parts are usually more expensive. If saving on car maintenance is important to you, you may want to choose a gas-powered truck.

Gas vs. Diesel Engines: Technical Components

Now that we’ve covered the main pros and cons of diesel vs. gas trucks, let’s dive into some of the technical elements you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing your next truck:

• Both truck options utilize internal combustion engines. This means that fuel turns into energy inside the engine itself. If you have a vehicle with an external combustion engine, that means heat is produced in a separate location and routed to the engine.
• You can expect gas trucks to compress air and fuel at a ratio of 10:1. Diesel trucks, on the other hand, have a ratio that falls between 15:1 and 25:1 as a result of a much hotter cylinder (meaning diesel engines won’t require a spark plug).
• The above relates to diesel engines’ higher fuel efficiency rates — engines provide better fuel economy based on the relative difference between the maximum hot and cold temperatures. Engines that have higher compression ratios (like diesel) yield better fuel efficiency.

Choose a New Truck Today at Holiday Automotive!

Now that you’ve compared the pros and cons of diesel vs. gas trucks, it’s time to make your decision! Visit one of our Fond du Lac-area automotive dealers today to purchase a diesel or gas truck that works best for your daily activities. Before you buy, be sure to check out our new vehicle specials to get the best possible price. Have questions about truck financing? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our finance department at your convenience! We hope to help you find the ideal Ford, Chevy, or GMC truck for your lifestyle and budget.