Diesel vs. Gas Trucks: Pros and Cons

When you’re searching for a new truck to take on the streets of Hudson, you’re probably wondering about diesel vs. gas trucks. Follow along with Sawyer Chevrolet where we’ve tackled the pros and cons of diesel vs. gas trucks, and see which one is the better option to take on the challenges of your daily drives.

Deciding Between Diesel vs. Gas Trucks

Before heading to our showroom to pick a diesel or gas truck, let’s take a look at what each engine has to offer:

Advantages of a Diesel Truck

• Torque & Towing – Diesel trucks are often used as work trucks and transport vehicles because they can take on heavier loads. Typically, diesel trucks can generate much more torque than their gas-powered counterparts in similar classes. 
• Fuel Economy – While diesel fuel may cost more at some gas stations around Saugerties, diesel trucks often need fewer refueling stops as a number of reasons allow diesel engines to be the more efficient option. 
• Longevity – A properly maintained diesel engine can often last drivers more than 500,000 miles. Experts and diesel truck drivers often attribute the long lifespan to the use of stronger engine blocks and overall simpler design.

Advantages of a Gas Truck

• Acceleration & Horsepower – When weighing the diesel vs. gas trucks pros and cons, drivers needing acceleration and horsepower on the roads around Windham will find gas-powered trucks are the better option. While diesel engines have the torque, gas trucks are better at getting up to speed. 
• Convenient Fueling Stations – While not every gas station has diesel fuel available, drivers will have no problem finding a convenient and often less expensive station to fill up at. 
• Lower Maintenance Costs – Diesel engines don’t have spark plugs and feature a simpler design, however, they aren’t cheaper to maintain compared to gas engines as they require heavy-duty and sometimes hard-to-find parts. Many service centers are equipped to handle different types of gas engines and the parts are ready for quick repairs.

Comparing the Technical Aspects of Diesel vs. Gas Trucks

We’ve covered some of the diesel vs. gas trucks’ pros and cons when it comes to overall performance and maintenance, but what are some of the technical differences between diesel and gas-powered trucks? When comparing the two, keep this information in mind:

• When it comes to the type of engine, they both are internal combustion engines. This means that instead of heat being produced in one location and routed to the engine, fuel is turned into energy inside the engine itself.
• Diesel engines typically have a higher air and fuel compression ratio between 15:1 and 25:1, this means, as a result of a hotter cylinder, diesel fuel is self-igniting and doesn’t require the use of a spark plug. Gas trucks tend to compress air and fuel at a ratio of roughly 10:1.
• Part of the reason diesel engines are more efficient is as a result of the difference between the maximum hot and cold temperatures. The high compression ratio on the diesel engine allows for a smaller difference in minimum and maximum temperature.

Gas-Powered Chevy Silverado vs. Diesel Chevy Silverado

Whatever type of truck catches your attention, you can rely on Chevrolet trucks for sturdy performance and towing capability. Take a look at how the new Chevy Silverado 1500 and Silverado 2500 HD gas and diesel options compare by visiting us in Catskill. We’ll go over each of their engine options and help you decide which one best fits your lifestyle.

Find Your Diesel or Gas Truck at Sawyer Chevrolet!

Now that you know more about the main differences between diesel and gas trucks, which one fits your driving experience? Make your own diesel vs. gas truck comparison by contacting the team at Sawyer Chevrolet to schedule a test drive. Be sure to browse our inventory of trucks, and explore our legendary Silverado truck engine types and towing capacity today.