Difference Between Gas and Diesel

Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline, which means it evaporates slower. Diesel fuel also has more energy density. These features are another reason why diesel engines tend to have better fuel economy than gas engines.

1. Which is better diesel or gasoline?
2. Do diesel engines last longer than gas?
3. What happens if you put diesel in a gas car?
4. What is the disadvantage of diesel cars?
5. Are diesel cars cheaper to maintain?
6. What is high mileage for a diesel?
7. Why are diesel oil changes so expensive?
8. Is 200k miles alot for a diesel?
9. Will a little bit of diesel hurt a gas engine?
10. Can you put a little diesel in gas?
11. What happens if you accidentally put diesel in a gas engine?

Which is better diesel or gasoline?

Diesel engines are still more efficient than gas engines, but less so for those who are mostly engaged in city driving. Diesel cars also have more torque, which results in better fuel economy along with more impressive acceleration. ... For most U.S. consumers, diesel fuel and gas fuel cost about the same.

Do diesel engines last longer than gas?

A diesel engine will also last much longer than its gasoline counterpart. ... Diesel engines generally last longer, but they can be costly to repair. For starters, diesels have an intricate and expensive fuel pump.

What happens if you put diesel in a gas car?

Gasoline engines cannot combust diesel fuel, so the car would stop running. Once that happens, it has to be towed to a shop, and the fuel system needs to be drained. We start by emptying the gas tank. ... And because the car won't actually run on diesel fuel, there's little risk of damaging the catalytic converter.

What is the disadvantage of diesel cars?

Cons of diesel cars

Diesel cars tend to be more expensive to buy than similar petrol models. Diesel fuel usually costs more. Servicing can be more expensive, although you don't need to do it as often. Diesel cars produce a lot more NO2.

Are diesel cars cheaper to maintain?

Diesel maintenance is cheaper overall, since diesel engines have fewer problems than gas engines; but diesels are more expensive when they need repairs. Diesel maintenance generally will not cost you more than for a gasoline powered version, depending upon the type of diesel car that you have.

What is high mileage for a diesel?

Heavy-duty diesel engines are categorized differently when discussing high mileage. An over-the-road class-8 truck will log 750,000 miles or more before it is considered “high mileage.” It's not unusual for a truck to achieve more than 1,000,000 miles if it is serviced regularly.

Why are diesel oil changes so expensive?

In general, a diesel oil change can be more expensive than a standard oil change simply because diesel fuel and oil cost more than petroleum.

Is 200k miles alot for a diesel?

High Mileage

Generally speaking, diesel trucks are sold with higher mileage than the typical used vehicle. It is not uncommon to see a used diesel truck for sale with over 200,000 miles on it. Granted, diesel engines typically have better reliability than a gasoline equivalent, but high mileage remains a concern.

Will a little bit of diesel hurt a gas engine?

Diesel isn't going to burn in your engine -- but it will sort of "cook" if there's enough gas present in the mixture to keep the engine running. ... Your gas engine will do the same thing if you add a gallon or two of diesel to a tank of gas.

Can you put a little diesel in gas?

Gasoline needs to have an octane rating of 87-91 to fit today's car engines. Diesel fuel has an octane rating of 25-40. Mixing 2% diesel fuel into gasoline will lower the overall octane rating by 1 point. Getting 10% diesel contamination lowers octane by 5 points, which is enough to create problems in most engines.

What happens if you accidentally put diesel in a gas engine?

Call for a tow and have a local mechanic flush out the fuel tank to prevent any permanent harm to your vehicle. If you put diesel fuel in your vehicle, turn on the engine, and maybe even drive it for a few miles before realizing your mistake, pull over as soon as you can and turn off the engine.