Vehicles Powered by Diesel Engines Overview

If you are looking to reduce your dependence on gasoline, reduce your impact on the environment, and cut costs, you may want to consider purchasing a car with a diesel engine.

Here we will introduce what a diesel is, its advantages and disadvantages, and what you should think about when considering purchasing one.

What exactly is a diesel?

There are several types of diesel on the market today. There is petroleum diesel, which is made by fractional distillation of fuel, biodiesel, and biomass liquid fuel.

Diesel differs from gasoline in that it is ignited by friction rather than sparks.

What cars are compatible with diesel?

Currently, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and others are selling diesel vehicles. There is quite a wide lineup of sedans, SUVs, and trucks.

The price range of the cars is also wide. Some are inexpensive sedans, while others are luxury SUVs.

As a matter of fact, the appearance of a diesel car is no different from that of a regular car, unless it is very different.

Cost factor: Will it save you money?

Unfortunately, the answer is "no."

Because diesel cars require more expensive technology to manufacture, and because they are not produced on the same scale as other cars, their initial cost tends to be a bit higher than gasoline cars.

Can I save money on gasoline? The answer is "probably." Diesel prices are sometimes below standard gas prices and sometimes higher than premium gas. The variability is so great that it is difficult to determine if you are actually saving money.

In other words, if you're considering a diesel for the money, you might want to consider a hybrid instead. In the long run, hybrids will save you more money.

However, one interesting way to reduce the cost of diesel is to produce your own gas. This can be done by processing the biomass into liquid form. This is a time-consuming process, but an interesting scientific experiment.

Let's consider this some more.

People who are considering a diesel car should know that they are slightly louder than gasoline cars. Also, some people say that diesel gas smells different from gasoline, but it is not particularly unpleasant.

Lastly, not all gas stations have diesel fuel. Many gas stations do carry diesel fuel, but you may have a hard time finding gasoline when the time comes.

So, in the end, should you drive a diesel car? If you want to reduce your impact on the environment and cut down on gasoline consumption, diesel cars are a great way to go. On the other hand, from a pure cost reduction point of view, diesel cars are not recommended.