Have you always wondered what separates a diesel-powered car from a gasoline-powered one? For starters, you’ll never need to change a diesel engine’s spark plugs or a gasoline engine’s glow plugs. Both technologies are similar in the sense that they ignite a fuel inside cylinders to create horsepower and torque — however, there are also major differences in how the two types of vehicles work. That’s why you can’t fill up a diesel with gasoline (or vice versa) without causing expensive damage to your engine — or, in some cases, completely destroying it.
Here’s the difference between gasoline- and diesel-powered engines.
Further reading
Diesel vs. gasoline
Diesel engines, like gasoline-burning units, are internal combustion engines (ICE). That means fuel is mixed with air as it goes into the engine and that mixture is compressed internally, inside the engine’s cylinders. At some point, the fuel ignites (combusts), driving a piston down and turning the crankshaft, which is connected to the vehicle’s transmission and ultimately turns the wheels. The piston then moves up in the cylinder, pushing the burnt gases out of the engine and out the tailpipe as exhaust. This cycle repeats several times per second.
The more cylinders an engine has, the smoother it tends to run and the more power it can make since the combustion events occur very close together. The more cylinders an engine has, however, the more complex and mechanically inefficient the engine becomes. How the cylinders are configured also has a bearing on performance, vibration, and other factors. That’s true for both gas and diesel engines.
Where diesel and gas engines diverge is how the fuel is ignited inside the engine. In a gas engine, the air and fuel are compressed and, at a critical point in the timing of the cycle, a spark plug ignites the mixture. But in a diesel engine, there are no spark plugs. When diesel fuel and air are squeezed enough, the extreme compression generates enough heat that the mixture spontaneously combusts. This is known as “compression ignition,” and it’s the basis of how a diesel engine works. When a gasoline engine has compression ignition, we often call it “knock,” and it can ruin the engine. Diesel engines are built to take advantage of it.
The price difference
Diesel fuel, which is syrup-like compared to watery gasoline, packs more of a punch in terms of energy per unit of weight than gasoline (say, per gallon or liter). Even though it often costs more than gasoline, it contains more potential energy, so less diesel is required in terms of fuel to accomplish the same amount of work (in this case, driving distance) as gasoline. That’s why diesel cars tend to get mileage in the 30s, 40s, or 50s — or more — depending on the engine and vehicle type. In terms of fuel comparative costs, it’s either a wash or a slight advantage for either fuel, depending on the price difference, vehicle, and driving style. But overall, the final cost for using either fuel over time is going to be nearly the same.
Diesel owners also have another fueling option: Biodiesel. Biodiesel is made from non-petroleum sources such as fry oil or vegetable oil. Indeed, the first diesel engines ran on peanut oil-derived diesel fuel. And while making your own gasoline at home is very complex, dangerous, and ill-advised, it is possible to safely make your own biodiesel using ready-made kits.
Getting your diesel vehicle to run on biodiesel may require some small modifications — especially if it’s older — but it depends on several factors, including what percentage of your fuel is biodiesel, which can be blended with regular diesel. There is a large biodiesel community online that can answer questions about the popular alt-fuel. The per-gallon cost of bio-diesel may also be higher than pump fuel, but since you can make it yourself, it really depends on aggregating the cost of the equipment, the oil source (which can be free), and your time.
Power output: Horsepower vs. torque
The output of gasoline and diesel engines is measured in terms of horsepower and torque. Horsepower is a measure of power, while torque is a measure of an engine’s twisting force on the driveline. Big amounts of both are great, but if you have a lot of horsepower with only a little torque, your vehicle is going to be slow to get going. It’s torque that gets things moving, which is why diesel engines are used in big trucks; they are great for moving heavy loads because they have so much torque. But diesel engines don’t rev up very high, so they make less horsepower on average than gas engines, which is why there aren’t many sports cars with diesel engines.
What car manufacturers have found is that drivers love torque, both in pickups and cars. Step on the accelerator pedal and a diesel-powered car has brisk acceleration. Coupled with a capable transmission, modern diesel engines can get going fast in a hurry. While they don’t scream to a high redline like a gas engine, that’s not a big deal for most people, who would rather have real-world power (torque), acceleration, and good gas mileage.
Reliability
Because diesel engines use compression ignition, which can quickly ruin a gas engine, they’re built tough. And because they come from a workhorse heritage, they tend to be reliable and require relatively little care. This used to translate into a ton of weight, but with modern manufacturing methods, the weight penalty for a diesel engine has been greatly reduced and the engine’s weights are now almost on par with gas engines.
Also, a diesel engine is simpler than a gas engine since it runs without spark plugs and the associated electrical system needed for them. Now, cars and SUVs can run on diesel and have performance more akin to a gas engine, but with the added gas mileage and reliability of a diesel. In general, a diesel engine will outlast a gas engine in terms of how many miles or hours it can run before it needs major service, so repair bills are smaller and typically further apart for a diesel engine. Keep in mind these are broad statements; you can encounter an unreliable diesel (especially if it hasn’t been maintained properly) and many gas engines go 200,000 miles or more before needing a rebuild.
Pollution
This is one reason diesels have traditionally had a hard time making inroads in the new car market — especially in the wake of Dieselgate — but technology has caught up and now diesels run cleaner than ever before. This applies to big rigs, pickups, and cars, though, diesels can still be dirtier than cars because the fuel does not burn as cleanly as gasoline. All the black stuff coming out semi exhausts for decades included a lot of soot, caused in part by the burning of sulfur, which is present in diesel fuel. Most of the sulfur, however, has been removed from modern diesel fuel, and further filtration of diesel exhaust in some cars has actually pushed them to the forefront of clean vehicles.
Many diesel cars now use a separate additive called DEF, also known as AdBlue. AdBlue is a urea-based liquid additive that is held in a small tank onboard the vehicle and is used to treat diesel exhaust to make it cleaner.
Noise
Let’s face it, early diesel cars sound just like… trucks. It didn’t matter if it had a Mercedes-Benz star on the hood and got 50 mpg, it still sounded like a small semi when you started it. Once again, however, modern technology has largely mitigated this complaint. The noise pollution often associated with old diesels is gone, along with the cloud of dark smoke that appeared when the vehicle started up. And from the inside of most diesel passenger vehicles, the driving experience is essentially the same as a gas-powered car. For most people, if you didn’t tell them they were in a diesel-powered vehicle, they probably wouldn’t know.
Which cars are available with a diesel in 2020?
Chevrolet’s Colorado and Silverado (pictured above) models are both available with a turbodiesel under the hood. So are their GMC-badged twins, the Canyon and the Sierra. If you’re a Ford loyalist, though, your only option for diesel fuel is the F-150. If you want a bigger vehicle with diesel power, Ram’s 1500 offers a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 named EcoDiesel that returns up to 32 mpg on the highway. For a big truck, that’s a jaw-dropping figure. Larger heavy-duty models from the brands mentioned above are available with diesel power, too. You can expect to pay more for these options, of course, but the payoff is considerable for the features you get.
Diesel engines are right at home in an off-roader, which is why the Jeep Wrangler is finally available with one in the United States. The Gladiator, which is closely related to the Wrangler, will be available with the same engine fairly soon. Chevrolet’s new Tahoe and Suburban both debut with the same straight-six turbodiesel as the Silverado. Plus, Cadillac’s new Escalade will offer it, too.
Jaguar – Land Rover is also a big proponent of clean diesel technology. If you haven’t driven a diesel since Ronald Reagan was in the White House, the Range Rover Td6, prepare to be flabbergasted. To add context, the diesel-powered Range Rover returns 22 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 24 in a combined cycle, according to the EPA. Order the SUV with a six-cylinder gasoline engine, and you’ll see those figures drop to 17, 23, and 19, respectively.
Finally, the Mazda CX-5 is available with a turbo diesel four-cylinder engine. Note the engine is only an option in the top-spec Signature trim level, which starts at $41,000.
Europeans, and Germans, in particular, have always appreciated diesel engines for cars. While Americans have always been skeptics when it comes to diesel engines, they are slowly beginning to come around to the idea of them as top-quality the more European diesel cars start to make an appearance on American soil.
Traditionally, diesel exhaust produces clouds of thick black smoke. Many people still think of diesel vehicles as major pollutants and environmental threats. Fortunately, with advances in technology, diesel has become far more efficient and leaves a smaller carbon footprint. These innovations may bring diesel back into the mainstream.
Overall, gasoline and diesel engines have a lot of differences, from fuel requirement to noise. As you consider buying, you’ll want to review things like pricing, torque, mileage, and fuel efficiency. Diesel’s biofuel options or cheap maintenance may appeal to you, but in general, a little research will go a long way to help you towards a decision.
