Diesel Vehicles

As you probably already know, diesel engines get better fuel economy than gas, simply because they don't need to burn as much fuel as gasoline engines to get the same amount of power.  Diesel engines are built heavier than gas engines, to help sustain the added stress of the much higher compression ratios.

Diesel engines don't have an ignition system either, so you'll never have to tune them up.  The exhaust systems will last longer as well, as the exhaust on a diesel isn't as corrosive as an exhaust on a gasoline engine.

With diesel engines, it isn't unusual to see them with 400,000 or even 500,000 miles.  There are some out there that have even went beyond 600,000 miles!

When it comes to maintenance, 3,000 mile oil changes are a must.  Diesel fuel isn't as refined as gas, so the oil will get dirtier faster.  You should also replace the air and fuel filters at least once a year. 

If you live in a colder climate, you'll need to switch to a winter blend of fuel to prevent fuel gelling.  There are several additives that you can put in the fuel as well, to help prevent your fuel from getting gel.

It's also recommended that you replace the glow plugs every two years.  If the temperature drops below 10 degrees, a block heater is something you should have.  This will ensure starting in cold weather, especially with the heavy grade of oil that a diesel engine requires.

If you take care of your diesel vehicle, you can count on it to be around for years to come.  Unlike gas vehicles, diesel engines are built for the long haul, and will last you for miles and miles if you take care of them.

Diesel Or Not

Diesel is often looked at as being smelly, noisy, and many think the only place for it is in a tractor.  The truth to diesel vehicles is that they are slow, noisy, smelly, although they are cheaper to run than gas.

Diesel engines aren't as powerful as gas engines, as gas engines produce more horsepower than that of a diesel engine.  Diesel vehicles however, offer more torque than gas.  Therefore, it is a very thin line as to which one is better. 

When it comes to power, diesel is the more expensive of the two.  Diesel powered vehicles are normally more expensive to buy than gas, and the parts are a lot more expensive than gas vehicles.  The diesel however, is more reliable due to it being less complicated internally and heavier to build, therefore it normally lasts longer than gas engines.

Economy is always a factor as well, as will fuel prices being what they are.  Now days, it costs a small fortune to fill up a gasoline vehicle, especially the bigger engines.  When it comes to fuel, diesel is generally less expensive.  You can fill up a diesel vehicle for less of a price, and the fuel will normally go longer than gas will.

Appearance is also important.  Diesel is generally loud, with the exhaust emitting black smoke when the vehicle is throttled.  You can normally tell when a  diesel pulls off by the black smoke it leaves behind. Keep in mind, this isn't a problem with the engine, just means that the fuel is dirtier. 

Tuning is also important.  Gas engines are more tunable than diesel, as you can get better power increases from gas than you can with diesel.  The major thing diesel owners tend to go for is turbo, as it is one sure way to match gasoline in terms of power.

A turbo charged diesel can and will match a standard gasoline engine for power, if not slightly better it a bit.  This is why most diesel cars come turbo charged, as its a way to keep up with the modern diesel engines of today. 

When it comes to making the choice, you really have to choose what is best for you and your needs.  If you want power with plenty of tuning options, then gasoline engines are what you want.  On the other hand, if you want power and torque, then a diesel vehicle is what you want.

The choices are entirely up to you, as there are certainly plenty to choose from.  Always check out the vehicle you are interested in, and find out if it will match your needs.  Before you know it, you'll have a diesel or gas vehicle that will perform well beyond your expectations.

Diesel Fuel Quality

 

The designs of diesel engines striving to increase performance have made a lot of advancements in engine fuel delivery to the combustion chamber.  The diesel engines of today are much quieter, smoother, and also more powerful.  The quality of diesel fuel on  the other hand has not advanced at the same rate as the improvements of engines. 

As soon as it is produced, diesel fuel begins to deteriorate.  Less than 30 days of refining, all diesel fuel, regardless of the brand, goes through a natural process called oxidation.  This process forms varnishes and gums in the fuel by causing the molecules of the fuel to lengthen and start bonding together. 

Now, these components will drop to the bottom of the fuel tank and form diesel sludge.  The fuel will begin to turn very dark in color, smell bad, and cause the engine to smoke.  The engine starts to smoke as some of these clusters are small enough to pass through the engine filtration and on to the combustion chamber.

As the clusters begin to increase in size, only a small amount of the molecules will get burned, as the rest will go out the exhaust as unburned fuel and smoke. 

Its estimated that eight out of every ten diesel engine failures are directly related to poor quality and contaminated fuel.  The build up of contamination in the fuel systems and storage tanks can clog filters, thereby causing the engine to shut down, and damage to the engine to occur.

The number one reason for bad fuel is due to the increasing popularity of diesel power and the accompanying increased demand for more diesel fuel. Long ago, diesel fuel remained in the refinery storage tanks long enough to naturally seperate and begin to settle, allowing the clean fuel to be drawn apart.  Now, with the demand getting higher than ever, the fuel is never stationary long enough to settle, and the suspended water and solids are passed on to the person buying the fuel - you.

The changes in refinery techniques is also a problem.  In order to get more products, diesel fuel is being refined for more marginal portions of the crude barrel.  This results in a lower grade product that is thicker and also contains a lot more contamination.

As time continues to pass and technology gets better and better, one can only hope that the quality of diesel fuel improves.  As it stands now, the quality isn't good at all.  If you run diesel fuel, all you can basically hope for is that the fuel you are getting isn't contaminated.