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

When you’re shopping for a pickup truck in the Provo area, your options include diesel and gas models. But what are the differences? And what are the pros and cons of a diesel vs. gas truck? Let’s get into the nitty gritty below with Brent Brown Toyota before discovering the Toyota pickup selection!

Diesel vs. Gas Trucks Pros and Cons

Reasons to Choose a Diesel Truck

• Torque & Towing – Diesel trucks often generate more torque than their gas-powered counterparts. Because of this, they can often tow heavier loads in comparison to gas-powered engines of similar sizes! This makes them ideal as work trucks and transport vehicles in Lehi.

• Fuel Economy – 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 when they’re traveling across the area.

• 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 & Horsepower – While diesel engines tend to offer more torque, gas-powered trucks take the cake when it comes to horsepower and acceleration specs. If that’s more of your priority for your next truck, you will easily choose a gas truck over a diesel one. 

• 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 Draper. In fact, since diesel engines employ heavy-duty and sometimes hard-to-find parts, service appointments and repairs can often be pricier.

Technical Comparison: Gas & Diesel Engines

If you want a more in-depth comparison, here are some things to note: 

• 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 a Diesel vs. a Gas Truck in Person Today!

At Brent Brown Toyota, we have a selection of new and pre-owned pickup trucks waiting for you! Make your appointment today before you head on over to our Orem lot to experience the differences between a gas and diesel truck yourself.