Diesel vs. Gas Trucks

If you’re considering a new Dodge truck, you’ve been faced with the decision to get a diesel-fueled truck like the RAM 2500 or a gas-fueled truck like the RAM 1500. In the following guide, we’ll walk through the main pros and cons between the two options to help you choose which is best for your lifestyle in Elizabeth City.

How are Diesel and Gas Trucks Similar?

There are a few basic ways in which diesel and gas engines are similar. They are both internal combustion engines (ICE), meaning the fuel is compressed inside the engine’s cylinders, ultimately powering the wheels to turn. In an ICE, the chemical reaction of air, fuel, and compression creates the mechanical power of your vehicle. Accounting for the difference between diesel vs. gas is the way in which the fuel is injected and how much compression is occurring— and that affects the power your engine is able to produce.

Advantages of a Diesel Truck

Diesel engines work with considerably more compression than gas engines— ratios as high as 25:1 compared to a gas engine’s ratio of typically 10:1. Due to that, diesel engines can generate enough heat to actually self-ignite without spark plugs. This factor creates a few advantages for diesel-powered trucks:

• Higher Towing Power: The average diesel engine packs more torque power, meaning a much higher towing capacity over gas trucks. This could come in handy at your Camden worksite.
• Higher Efficiency: Though diesel may sometimes be more costly per gallon, the fuel is much more efficient at powering the engine. This means more power per gallon on the roads of Hertford.
• More Life: Simple diesel engines have fewer parts. This creates fewer situations where things can go wrong, which means diesel engines require fewer major repairs. Diesel engine longevity is a benefit of a diesel truck.

Advantages of a Gas Truck

Referencing the chart above, we’ll explain the pros to a gas-powered truck.

• Better Acceleration: Gas trucks get going faster because they have more horsepower.
• More Convenient: It’s more likely that gas stations have regular gasoline, and it’s also easier to find a nearby service center familiar with servicing gas engines.
• Lower Cost at Pump: Per gallon, you’ve probably noticed that regular gas prices are often below that of the more-efficient diesel option, though not always.

Test Drive Diesel vs. Gas Trucks at Carolina Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Now that you know some of the technical points of the diesel vs. gas truck conversation, the next step is to feel the power difference for yourself. If you’re ready to run your own test of diesel vs. gas truck performance and handling, stop by Carolina Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram near Edenton and we’ll put you in the drivers’ seats for comparison. With any other questions about diesel vs. gas truck pros and cons or to browse our inventory of new and certified pre-owned trucks, contact us today.