subject: Recognizing The Benefits Of Diesel-fueled Vehicles [print this page] My father is an automotive mechanic, so I remember clearly the many days and nights when I would ride along when he needed to test drive a vehicle. Sometimes he would even pick me up from school in a customer's car.
I didn't know much about any of these cars, but I could always tell when he was driving a diesel. There always seemed to be this more profound vibration through the whole car (or truck)--and they were certainly noisier!
This has been the general stereotype for a number of years. But as gas prices have continually fluctuated and many of the solutions manufactured by car companies have remained out of the budget for the average American, we are all starting to take a harder look at diesel options.
My spouse and I tend to travel frequently, so our primary concern is fuel economy. Diesel does, believe it or not, address this issue. Each gallon of diesel fuel accommodates more energy than the same amount of standard gasoline, resulting in about twenty-five percent more miles per gallon. Wow!
Naturally, with increased concerns over "going green," the everyday citizen might believe that diesel releases more pollutants.
Actually, in recent years, that has changed. Ultra-low sulfur diesel--generally referred to colloquially as "clean diesel"--has reduced the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses emitted in exhaust. That means that diesel is no longer a dirty word.
For those of you out there that need heavy-duty pulling and towing capacity, a diesel truck will get the job done. Engines that function on diesel have increased torque, which is the necessary component to have high towing capability.
What's more, diesel engines are, in general, designed to be able to handle the strain of towing/pulling heavy loads, so the engine will not wear out as quickly as a normal combustion engine would through handling the same loads.
As I mentioned, the essential design of the diesel engine is distinct from a regular gasoline engine. It is much simpler, allowing for easier repairs and less overall maintenance.
Furthermore, the fuel burns as a much lower temperature than standard engines, allowing them to endure longer. Some experts estimate that diesel engines will remain intact for longer than 250,000 miles. For any repairs you DO have to make, used diesel truck parts are usually easy to find and sometimes less expensive than similar parts in other vehicles.
Sometimes the initial cost of a diesel vehicle daunts potential buyers. But the investment is more than returned on the endurance and benefits of the car itself. In these tough times, you need an automotive that you can truly depend on.
