If you’re in the market for a new car, you may wonder whether a diesel vehicle is the right choice. Diesel cars have a lot to offer in terms of performance, efficiency, and durability. Here are some reasons you should consider choosing a diesel car the next time you’re in the market for a new vehicle.
Diesel Cars Get Better Fuel Economy Than Gasoline Cars
One of the main reasons people choose diesel cars is because they offer better fuel economy than gasoline cars. A diesel car is a way to go if you’re looking to save money on gas. Diesel cars typically get about 20% better fuel economy than gasoline cars.
Diesel fuel has a higher energy density than gas and is thicker. The thermal efficiency, or the amount of work that can be anticipated to be generated by the fuel fed into the engine, is one of the most significant distinctions between engines powered by gas or diesel. A diesel engine has a thermal efficiency advantage over a gas engine of roughly 20%. That has a direct bearing on the 20% gain in fuel efficiency.
Diesel Cars Have More Torque Than Gasoline Cars
Diesel cars also have more torque than gasoline cars. That means they have more pulling power, which can come in handy when towing a trailer or hauling a heavy load. Because diesel has more energy density, it has more power than gasoline.
The piston of a gasoline engine swings up and down within the combustion cycle, stopping just short of the cylinder top. A diesel piston, in contrast, extends up to the cylinder’s edge.
Because the diesel engine does not have spark plugs, it must close the gap to enhance compression, which superheats the air-fuel combination to initiate combustion.
The speed of combustion is also faster with diesel, increasing torque. The diesel engine produces immediate power when the piston moves back down the cylinder because its combustion occurs at the peak of the compression stroke. In the gasoline engine, combustion is still in the early stages while the piston has already begun to detach from the cylinder top, slowing its rate of motion. The diesel travels more quickly, producing more torque.
Another factor is the size of the bore and stroke. Force times distance equals torque. Despite having a bigger diameter, a gasoline engine’s piston travels less, resulting in a shorter stroke length. However, the increased travel at the piston stroke’s end causes the diesel to have a longer stroke length, which increases the distance in the torque calculation. Since all the force moves farther, it frequently produces more torque.
Last but not least, contemporary diesel engines frequently use the turbocharging technique since they need a high amount of airflow. Diesel engines can accommodate turbos. More air results in more power. There are fewer turbocharged gas engines.
Diesel Cars Are Built to Last
Another great reason to choose a diesel car is that they’re built to last. Engineers must design diesel engines to allow them to tolerate more heat since they must function at greater temperatures to be effective. That indicates that better materials and skills were used to create the final product.
Diesel engines are designed for high mileage and can easily last for 300,000 miles or more with proper maintenance. One of the major benefits of owning a diesel car is that you’ll save money on car maintenance and repair services.
Diesel engines are very simple and don’t have any complex components that require frequent repairs as gasoline engines do. Diesel engines do not need distributors and spark plugs. As a result, they do not need ignition tune-ups. Diesel engines are designed to tolerate increased compression. Thus, diesel-powered vehicles often survive much longer than gas-fueled ones before needing significant maintenance. You can expect to spend less on diesel vehicle repair services over the life of your vehicle. Of course, having a reliable diesel repair center is still crucial when you need it. Ensure that you have one that specializes in diesel engines.
Your Diesel Vehicle Has a Higher Resale Value
Finally, if you choose to buy a new diesel car, you can resell it later and recoup more of your initial investment. After 36 months, diesel cars actually outperform conventional and hybrid vehicles in terms of resale value.
According to a survey by the research company ALG, diesel compact cars held about 63 percent of their original value even after 36 months. In comparison, compact gasoline vehicles only kept 53% of their value, whereas hybrid vehicles kept 55%.
These are just a few of the many reasons why you should consider choosing a diesel car the next time you’re in the market for a new vehicle. If you’re looking for a car that’s efficient, powerful, and built to last, a diesel car is definitely worth your consideration.
