DIESEL VS. GAS ENGINE COMPARISONS. WHICH IS BETTER?

Diesel vs. Gas Engines



If you're comparing new reach forks, boom lifts, or forklifts for sale, you might be weighing the pros and cons of diesel vs. gas engines. To help you choose the best heavy machinery for your next job site, let's compare the differences between diesel and gas engines in fuel cost, horsepower, torque, towing, emissions, and maintenance.

After you know more about the advantages and disadvantages of diesel and unleaded fuels, you'll be ready to apply for heavy equipment financing with Ascentium Capital through our website.

Diesel vs. Gas: Cost

One of the differences between diesel vs. gas engines that are typically top-of-mind for most consumers is fuel price. Diesel engines have a direct injection system that wastes little fuel and are typically 25-30% more efficient than gas engines. The downside is diesel is generally more expensive than regular unleaded fuel. When comparing diesel vs. gas fuel costs, diesel is often 50 cents more per gallon than its gasoline counterpart.

Diesel vs. Gas Engines in Heavy Equipment

Along with offering better miles-per-gallon than gas engines, diesel engines typically deliver better power-to-weight ratios and more torque. For this reason, diesel is generally used in heavy machinery. Many consumers looking for heavy-duty trucks for weekend towing and RV pulling tend to turn to diesel for the towing and fuel economy benefits diesel offers on those long hauls.

Diesel vs. Gas: Performance and Maintenance

When deciding if diesel or gasoline is right for you, the answer may come down to performance, durability, and maintenance costs. Diesel engines are different from unleaded gasoline in many ways. They don't just run on different types of fuel, and they're also mechanically different.

Diesel and unleaded gasoline are both fuels for internal combustion engines, but they achieve combustion differently. Diesel engines don't use spark plugs and run at a higher compression ratio, which means they can run longer than gasoline engines before needing routine maintenance and can often reach half-a-million miles on the odometer.

While horsepower is generally lower in diesel engines than gasoline, torque is higher. Since diesel engines are energy dense, they deliver more low-end torque, which makes them ideal for towing and construction.

Diesel vs. Gas: Gasoline Advantages

When weighing the pros and cons of diesel vs. gas fuel options, you'll probably find that unleaded gasoline engines are less expensive at the pump than diesel engines. Diesel engines can also come with a more expensive purchase price because they're built to last longer and take more heavy-duty punishment.

Even though improvements have been made to the mechanics of diesel engines, diesel engines still tend to be louder than unleaded gasoline engines. If you're shopping for heavy equipment for sale , a few extra decibels in exchange for greater torque and long-lasting durability probably won't be a deal breaker.

Diesel vs. Gas: Diesel Advantages

The diesel engines for sale at our heavy equipment dealer are built to deliver long-lasting performance with greater mileage and more power than gasoline engines while also having lower emissions and requiring less maintenance.

Heavy Machinery for Rent

Now that you know the diesel vs. gas differences and which fuel is better for heavy machinery, you're probably ready to make your purchase. But in case you'd like to try before you buy, we offer heavy equipment for rent .

At our heavy equipment and construction supply company, you'll find an impressive inventory of machinery and forklifts for rent. You can try a selection of brands before purchasing from our inventory.

  • GENIE
  • HUSQVARNA
  • DITCH WITCH
  • SKYJACK
  • XTREME MFG
  • SKYTRAK
  • JLG
  • SNORKEL
  • JCB
  • TAILIFT
  • LGMG

Perhaps you need an articulating boom lift or reach fork for your next job but don't anticipate enough future need to justify a purchase. In that case, our diesel equipment and machinery for rent is the ideal option. We stock many top brands with diesel engines to help you tackle your next job. When looking for forklift rentals and JLG boom lifts, you'll find an ample selection of heavy machinery from our equipment dealer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between gas and diesel?

Gasoline and diesel engines are engineered differently to offer different benefits to different consumers and applications. Diesel engines are built to last longer than gasoline engines and endure a lifetime of heavy-duty work. Diesel engines also produce more low-end torque than unleaded gasoline engines for greater torque but don't deliver the smooth, quiet ride of a gasoline engine.

What are the pros and cons of diesel vs. gas?

Diesel engines typically offer more low-end torque, greater towing power than gasoline engines, and higher efficiency for up to 25-30% more gas mileage. However, vehicles running on regular unleaded are quieter than diesel engines while emitting fewer harmful emissions and are quicker to cold start since they have spark plugs. When running heavy machinery, diesel is typically preferred.

Why are diesel engines better?

Diesel engines offer a higher compression ratio than unleaded gasoline engines and generate greater low-end torque. This design makes diesel engines better for towing, and is why they are widely used in heavy machinery. Diesel engines are built to be long-lasting and require less maintenance, which makes them the preferred choice in construction.