There are several pickup models that come with diesel engines under the hood when you are searching for a new truck. Are diesel trucks actually worth the money you spend on them? See what we can find out.
How Much Do Diesel Trucks Cost?
You will have a better chance of finding a cost-effective diesel truck if you consider smaller and 11.2 ton trucks.
However, if you purchase a car over 34.4 tons, you will reduce your cost-effectiveness.
Due to their price premium, the cost of owning a diesel truck is higher.
The price difference is $9,668 more than the gas equivalent.
By increasing the prices of diesel fuel, more taxes and depreciation are incurred, which are not offset by the savings.
The news is not all gloom and doom. To help you decide whether to write off diesel trucks, here are some pros you should consider.
How does purchasing a diesel truck benefit you?
Diesel trucks have several advantages over gasoline-powered ones, according to Truck Trend. Fueling up a diesel pickup truck has become an issue for many with diesel prices rivaling those of fuel in some areas. In general, trucks powered by diesel engines are more fuel-efficient than their gasoline counterparts, according to Truck Trend.
The life of diesel trucks is known to be longer than that of gasoline powered vehicles. Diesel engines are often capable of lasting well over 500,000 miles, according to Hot Shot’s Secret. A number of reasons are given by Hot Shot’s Secret for the situation. Who will win this battle? Hot Shot’s Secret claims that it is a result of improved oil flow and better engine lubrication.
Towing with diesel engines is more efficient?
Pickup trucks can tow pretty heavy loads either with gasoline or diesel power. Diesel trucks, however, perform better when it comes to this. The answer to this question is torque, as explained on How Stuff Works.
According to the website How Stuff Works, diesel engines typically generate more torque than gasoline engines because the pistons in the truck have to travel a longer distance and compress more air for ignition. The longer that distance is known as the stroke of the truck, the more torque it produces.
Ram pickup trucks powered by 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engines are a fine example of how Stuff Works uses this technology. Based on its 650 foot-pounds of torque, How Stuff Works reports that this truck will provide superior towing capabilities compared to a Ram truck equipped with a 5.7-liter Hemi gasoline V8 engine, which offers 383 horsepower and 400 torque.
Despite having similar towing capacities – 15,650 pounds (7,098.7 kg) for the gasoline engine and 16,350 pounds (7416.2 kg) for the diesel one – the diesel can effectively pull things without a struggle, according to How Stuff Works.
Diesel trucks have some downsides
It’s important to note that a diesel pickup has many other disadvantages as well. To begin with, diesel trucks are usually pricier than gasoline trucks. Their prices aren’t just higher just because of their base prices either. Oil changes are generally more expensive for gasoline engines when compared to their counterparts for routine maintenance, according to Autotrader.
Even in the winter, diesel engines aren’t so hot. Due to low temperatures, diesel engines are prone to gelling over the winter months, according to Autotrader. Although some diesel pickups take less time to warm up, Autotrader notes that it may be slower to start the diesel pickup if temperatures are freezing.