Diesel Versus Petrol – What’s The Difference?
Diesel cars are currently taking the Australian car market by storm with sales of diesel-powered vehicles continuing to rise as manufacturers introduce more models on a regular basis. Leading the charge is the growth in sales of SUVs, which families are flocking to as they take advantage of more room and better fuel economy. There are numerous factors to weigh up when deciding between a petrol or diesel model, such as the cost of car insurance, so here’s a guide to the pros and cons of diesel over petrol.
Diesel fuel is cleaner
What is diesel? It’s something we usually associate with trucks and tractors, but the benefits of using it in family cars are becoming more apparent. The difference between diesel and normal petrol is that it is heavier and oilier, meaning it evaporates slower than petrol. As a general rule, diesel is also less refined than petrol. It does not burn as hot as regular fuel and produces fewer emissions – studies have shown diesel engines to produce between 10% to 20% less greenhouse gas emissions that regular petrol engines. The design of diesel engines, which take into account the way the fuel burns and its viscosity, also helps to reduce emissions.
Diesel cars are more fuel efficient
Studies have shown that diesel engines are cheaper to run and fuel consumption can be anywhere from 20% to 40% less than a petrol engine. It’s probably the biggest reasons why more families are choosing the diesel option. However, the price of diesel can be much higher than regular unleaded petrol at the pump, particularly in regional and rural areas. Diesel engines may also not have the performance of its petrol cousin, and this is one of the main reasons why some buyers will lean towards a petrol version. But diesel engines have a lot more low-down grunt known as torque, which is why so many 4WD vehicles go for diesel.
Some costs with diesels are higher
There are several factors that can offset the immediate fuel cost savings of a diesel car. Take servicing your vehicle, for example. Diesel engines are probably going to cost more than a petrol version, whether it is a car service in Sydney, a car service in Perth or a car service in Melbourne. Do your homework first and make sure the mechanic you choose knows their way around a diesel engine. Also, it’s generally going to cost more to fix a diesel engine if something goes wrong. But the design of modern diesel engines is of the highest quality so you should have no reliability concerns when compared to a regular petrol engine. Diesel vehicles usually cost a bit more to buy than petrol versions as well, so it’s another factor you need to consider. On the plus side, insurance is likely to cost less on a diesel vehicle, so shop around for car insurance quotes.
It comes down to preference
In the end, the choice between diesel and petrol is going to come down to that vehicle’s particular characteristics. Studies have shown that when taking everything into account, the running costs over a period of years differ very little between petrol and diesel. So it will likely be performance and engine characteristics that really sway the decision.
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