Diesel Vs. Gas

Choosing between diesel and gasoline engine is one of the most daunting task you are likely to come across, considering that the engine has a crucial role to play in determining its fuel economy. In such circumstances, a comparative study of diesel and gas can be of a great help for you.

Given are the 4 major attributes, going through which will help you decide the best of the two.

Both, diesel engine and gasoline engine are internal combustion engines, which convert the chemical energy available in fuel into mechanical energy which powers the vehicles. The major difference lies in how the combustion takes place.

In gasoline engines, fuel is first mixed with air, then compressed by pistons, and eventually ignited by sparks from the spark plug. In diesel engines, fuel is injected after the air is compressed. When air is compressed it gets heated, which eventually ignites the fuel. Hence, it does not require spark plugs.

In terms of fuel economy, diesel has a definite advantage over gasoline. Specifically speaking, a single gallon of diesel has around 138,700 BTU of power, while a single gallon of gas has 125,000 BTU of power. If their power output is compared head to head, you will realize that you require more gas to match the power output of diesel.

A large part of the credit for the efficiency of diesel engine is attributed to the direct fuel-injection method used in it, which is much more efficient than the port fuel-injection setup in gasoline engine. Importantly, diesel RVs offer an advantage of 5 - 10 miles per gallon over gasoline RVs―a difference which can be quite significant in the long run.

Advancement in field of technology and new precedents about the regulation of sulfur content in diesel has come up as a major advantage for this fuel. In fact, experts are of the opinion that diesel is a sure shot winner when it comes to comparison in terms of environment friendliness.

The technology used in vehicles with diesel engines today greatly reduces the tailpipe output of particulate matter. At the same time, it also reduces the output of nitrogen oxides. Diesel engines also have the capability of running on biodiesel, i.e., the fuel derived from plants, which again adds to its environment friendliness.

The biggest disadvantage of diesel, especially in recent times, is that its price has increased, when compared to gasoline. In some regions, lesser demand of diesel makes the authorities sell it at a higher price. Though the price is a roadblock, diesel is still a better bet among the two if you are looking for power and fuel economy.