Diesel vs. Gas Trucks: Which is Right for You?

Diesel vs. Gas Trucks Pros and Cons

Reasons to Choose a Diesel Truck

• Torque & Towing: When comparing a diesel vs. gas truck, one of the most immediate differences you’ll see is in the torque and towing capabilities. Diesel trucks almost always enjoy higher numbers of torque and towing than gas-powered trucks. For example, when considering the Chevy Silverado 1500, the maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds can only be achieved with the Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine.
• Fuel Economy: Diesel trucks also tend to be more fuel-efficient than their gasoline-powered counterparts–even though diesel is more expensive than gasoline, you’ll be making fewer stops to fill up around Tacoma, leading to more fuel savings down the road.
• Longevity: Scientific evidence has demonstrated that diesel engines last longer than gas-powered engines because they tend to have sturdier, simpler construction. If your diesel engine is well-maintained, you could get as many as 500,000 miles out of it!

Reasons to Choose a Gas Truck

• Acceleration & Horsepower: While diesel trucks have the edge when it comes to torque and towing, gas-powered engines often boast much better acceleration and horsepower numbers. If we again consider the Chevy Silverado 1500, the gas-powered EcoTec V8 engine generates 420 hp, while the Duramax Turbo-Diesel only generates 277 hp.
• More Fueling Stations: Not only is gasoline more affordable than diesel, but it’s also easier to find in your average fueling station. Not every gas station offers the option of diesel fuel.
• Lower Maintenance Costs: Diesel engines may be constructed more simply than gas-powered engines, but they also employ parts that are heavy-duty and difficult to find. Gasoline-powered trucks are generally easier and cheaper to maintain than those powered by a diesel engine.

Diesel vs. Gas Truck: Technical Comparison

Now that we’ve gone over the practical pros and cons of a diesel vs. gasoline engine, you might be interested in knowing what exactly makes these engines so different. Here are the details:

• Diesel and gasoline engines are both internal combustion engines, in which fuel is turned into energy within the engine itself. The opposite, an external combustion engine, produces heat in one location and then routes it into the engine elsewhere.
• Diesel trucks compress air and fuel at a much higher ratio–between 15:1 and 25:1–meaning diesel fuel is hot enough to be self-igniting. Gasoline, on the other hand, tends to compress air and fuel at a ratio of 10:1 and requires a spark plug.
• An engine’s fuel efficiency is determined by the difference between its hot and cold temperatures, with a higher ratio resulting in better fuel economy. Therefore, since a diesel engine gets much hotter, it enjoys more fuel efficiency than a gasoline engine.

Find Your Next Pickup Truck at Sunset Chevrolet

Whether you decide you want a diesel or gasoline truck, we’re here to help! Contact our office for more information on our lineup of Chevy trucks or to set up a test drive of an available model around Auburn. When you shop with Sunset Chevrolet for your new pickup, you can enjoy exciting perks like Warranty Protection for Life and Oil Changes for Life!

For more information about the trucks we offer, continue your Chevy model research to learn more about 2022 Chevy Silverado configurations.