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Advantages and disadvantages of diesel engines

B

BooGiMaN

Diamond Member
Im looking at getting the dodge ram quadcab later this year, can soemone tell em what would be the advantages and disadvantages of going with the diesel engine over the hemi.

I dont plan to use it for towing or anything just a daily driver.

Is diesel gas cheaper? I put alot of highway miles to and from work.

 
diesel is usually about the same price as regular.
advantages:
gobs of torque
good mileage compared to gas engine

disadvantages:
diesel fuel not available everywhere
LOUD
stinks

 
I think that in recent times the issues of diesels being a pain to start in cold weather have been substantially or fully eliminated.

Diesel to me seems around the same currently as mid (89) octane gas. However, since you're going to get so many more miles per gallon your fuel expenses will be less.

Not sure about that particular vehicle but generally diesels cost a little bit more upfront. However, their engines generally are more reliable/last longer, and regardless of that fact you can make up the extra expense by saved fuel, especially if you drive a lot.

Diesel is harder to find but the range on your vehicle will be so much better that you don't need to fill it as frequently. You shouldn't generally have a problem finding a diesel place. Afterall a lot of vehicles run on it.
 
Originally posted by: FallenHero
diesel be expensive and g/l starting it in cold weather.
Click to expand...

By cold weather do you mean like freezing temps, I live in southern calif so hopefully this isnt an issue
 
Lets see my fiancee just got a diesel. In 5F the diesel takes 6 seconds for diesel wait to go away and starts right up.

It doesn't stink and gets good gas mileage.

Diesel prices are just about the same as gasoline.

The only disadvantage I see if that it isn't available everywhere.
 
Originally posted by: BooGiMaN
Originally posted by: FallenHero
diesel be expensive and g/l starting it in cold weather.
Click to expand...

By cold weather do you mean like freezing temps, I live in southern calif so hopefully this isnt an issue
Click to expand...
Oh hell then that's no issue at all.

 
Paging Dr Laust...Paging Dr laust.

Edit-If you are not going to use ot for towing or any real work then get a Hemi.
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: BooGiMaN
Originally posted by: FallenHero
diesel be expensive and g/l starting it in cold weather.
Click to expand...

By cold weather do you mean like freezing temps, I live in southern calif so hopefully this isnt an issue
Click to expand...
Oh hell then that's no issue at all.
Click to expand...

what he said.

<----midwest
your "cold" is my "get a tan"
 
We've also had sub 20's temperatures for the last two weeks. My truck's started up every morning without any problems. You just have to wait a few seconds for the coils to warm up before you crank her over.
 
disadvantages, in Canadian winters diesel can be hard to start unless the car is plugged in at night.
actually, in the -20 temps it's near impossible to start unless it's plugged in.
not sure about brand new diesel cars, but i know this is how it was a while back for diesel.
not as powerful, but lots of torque... no needing to downshift to pass someone..
and slightly cheaper than gas, but enough you save alot cause the mileage is also a lot better.
 
Originally posted by: Yield
disadvantages, in Canadian winters diesel can be hard to start unless the car is plugged in at night.
actually, in the -20 temps it's near impossible to start unless it's plugged in.
not sure about brand new diesel cars, but i know this is how it was a while back for diesel.
not as powerful, but lots of torque... no needing to downshift to pass someone..
and slightly cheaper than gas, but enough you save alot cause the mileage is also a lot better.
Click to expand...
You have to convert to Fareinheit for the Yanks! That's -4 F 🙂
 
What about the maintenance costs on diesel engines?
is it just oils changes and such like on regular engines or are there other maintenance issues just for diesel?
How hard are they to do 'do it yourself' type fixes
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: Yield
disadvantages, in Canadian winters diesel can be hard to start unless the car is plugged in at night.
actually, in the -20 temps it's near impossible to start unless it's plugged in.
not sure about brand new diesel cars, but i know this is how it was a while back for diesel.
not as powerful, but lots of torque... no needing to downshift to pass someone..
and slightly cheaper than gas, but enough you save alot cause the mileage is also a lot better.
Click to expand...
You have to convert to Fareinheit for the Yanks! That's -4 F 🙂
Click to expand...

sorry dude.. i know i've posted before that i am a dual-scaler. 😛
i use fahrenheit and celsius depending on season.
fahrenheit in the winter just doesn't sound cold. -20 sounds colder 😛
celsius in the summer just doesn't sound warm. so i switch to fahrenheit. i grew up by Detroit (in Windsor, Ont) so I know both scales relatively well...🙂
 
diesel is usually about the same price as regular.
advantages:
gobs of torque
good mileage compared to gas engine

disadvantages:
diesel fuel not available everywhere
LOUD
stinks
Click to expand...


Diesel fuel is widely available on every interstate.
Modern Diesels do not emit obnoxious odors.

Go for it, diesels require very little maintenance compared to gasoline engines, they do not require plugs, wires etc. for a tuneup, they tend to last a lot longer than gas engines, they will never stall when you submerge your truck in a mud bog (No high voltage ignition to short out).

As for the cold weather starting, in temps below 20 F, they do tend to gel there fuel but this handicap is easily overcome by adding a antigel supplement during fill ups ($1.50 extra per tank), if you live in a extremely cold weather enviroment you will have to plug in the engine block warmer on a nightly basis.

On a side note, aftermarket performance part suppliers now have a vast high performance parts selection to raise those HP numbers up through the roof, besides, there is nothing like torque, torque, torque when you are driving a P/U truck 😉


What about the maintenance costs on diesel engines?
is it just oils changes and such like on regular engines or are there other maintenance issues just for diesel?
How hard are they to do 'do it yourself' type fixes
Click to expand...

Oil, oil filter and fuel filter changes are all that is required for maintaining diesel engines.

 
Pro: Vastly more efficient because of higher compression and a lack of pumping losses (diesel does not have a throttle butterfly), more torque, longer lasting.
Con: Hard to find fuel in some small towns, "ball bearings in a coffee can" sound, harder to start on cold mornings (it has improved, but it's not as good as gasoline), higher initial expense.

ZV

EDIT: What Roger said.
 
I used to run diesel VW's. They hardly ever required any maintenence but when something did go wrong (almost never) it was usually something fairly major since the engine is very basic.
 
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