Gasoline or diesel?
That is the question.
When buying a new vehicle, deciding whether to purchase an automobile with a diesel or gasoline engine is one of the many issues which factor into the overall decision.
Both have advantages and disadvantages.
“Vehicles with diesel engines usually will cost $10,000 more than gas ones depending on the specific design and manufacturer,” said NorthStar Ford sales consultant Brian Ross.
Diesel vehicles not only cost more on average, but also require more oil than their gasoline counterparts as well as more maintenance.
“They do require more maintenance, but they do have their advantages,” said Ross. “Diesel engines will normally last a bit longer than gas ones, and they also have more torque and horsepower.”
Many commercial businesses such as towing companies mainly use diesel vehicles for their superior towing capability.
The same can also be said for people who pull large fifth wheels and heavy loads over long distances.
“The majority of engines out there are gas, diesel is more for a specific application like towing,” said Ross.
“If someone has a fifth wheel, chances are they may go to a diesel, just because it gives them more power and mobility. Towing for a gas engine can be a disadvantage a lot of the time.”
Comparing Ford’s 2015 F-350 diesel and gasoline crew cab 4x4s, the gas engine has a towing capacity of 12,500 lbs, compared to the diesel’s 14,000 lbs. That is a significant difference.
In the summer months it isn’t much of a factor, but in the winter, when temperatures can reach -35C, gas engines are far easier to turn over than their diesel counterparts, which for people in the morning traffic rush could mean the difference between being on time or being late for an appointment/work.
Overall, gas engines are more cost efficient, require less maintenance, and in the summer months when people tend to due more travelling, filling up at the pump is a little less strenuous on the wallet.
“We do get a lot of customers come in and ask for diesel trucks, but our best seller the F-150, is only available in gas.”
Truth be told, Ross said that unless a person does a lot of towing or hauling, the extra money dished out for a diesel vehicle could be wasted money.
“A lot of our F-250s and F-350s come in diesel, but in the end it depends on the application the customer is looking for.”
