When you are shopping for a new car, you have many options. Some cars are available with diesel engines, and you may be wondering whether buying one is a good idea.
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Until recently, most of the diesel-powered vehicles in Nigeria were trucks because diesel motors are much better suited for large, heavy vehicles such as tractor-trailers, construction vehicles, and school buses due to considerations like durability and the cost of owning a diesel truck vs. a petrol-powered truck.
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However, passenger cars with diesel motors are gaining popularity, and carmakers are producing more of them each year. If you are asking yourself, “Should I buy a diesel car?” you may find it beneficial to weigh out the pros and cons associated with these types of vehicles.
Just make sure that no matter which type of vehicle you choose to buy, you’re covered by a good car insurance policy. Local independent insurance agents can help you find affordable coverage.
A diesel car is quite important right now or in the near future because of the scarcity in the country. Although diesel might seem like an expensive alternative, isn’t it better than queuing for hours on end?
What Is a Diesel Engine?
Most people know how to tell if a truck is a diesel since many on the road are not very well maintained and typically have an offensive odour and emit smoke when starting up or accelerating. This may deter you from wanting a diesel car. However, a well-maintained diesel car will not have these problems and is often indistinguishable from traditional petrol-powered vehicles.
Before we start looking into diesel engine pros and cons, let’s talk about how a diesel engine is different from a traditional petrol-powered engine.
Both types of vehicles have combustion engines, but they differ in how they ignite the fuel to power the vehicle. Petrol-powered cars use spark plugs, whereas diesel engines use extreme compression, which generates enough heat to ignite the fuel.
If you put gasoline into a diesel engine, the generated heat would not be sufficient to ignite the fuel, and the car would not run. If you put diesel fuel into a fuel-powered car, you would destroy the engine as soon as you turned it on. Fortunately, diesel fuel pumps are designed to not fit into fuel-powered cars to deter people from making this error.
The following are several pros and cons when considering diesel vs. petrol cars.
Fuel Efficiency and the Diesel Engine
The main reason that many people choose to buy a diesel car is for the improved fuel efficiency the cars can offer. So, does diesel get better gas mileage?
Reports show that a diesel car will frequently get about 30% to 35% more miles per gallon than the same car with a petrol-powered engine. If you own a truck or SUV, the difference in gas mileage is usually lower but still about 20% higher than a petrol-powered truck or SUV.
It is worth noting, however, that diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline. If you are used to using only premium fuel, this cost difference will be less apparent to you. But for those who like to fill up with the least expensive option, paying slightly more than the cost of premium fuel may be hard to swallow at first.
Fortunately, because of the increased gas mileage, your trips to the pump will be less frequent. Even with the increased cost of diesel, you can expect to pay less in fuel costs each year.
Another thing to keep in mind is that traditionally, not all petrol stations have offered diesel fuel. The good news is that with the rise in popularity of diesel vehicles, nearly two-thirds of petrol stations in Nigeria, including all newly built petrol stations, currently offer diesel as a fuel option.
Finally, the area in which diesel engines excel most is highway mileage. If the bulk of your driving involves frequent stopping and starting for traffic lights, traffic, and stop signs, your mileage difference will be far less apparent, and you may be better off with an electric car or a hybrid. However, if you spend a lot of time on the highways, you stand to save a lot of money in fuel costs.
Car Maintenance Considerations
You may be wondering, “Are diesel expensive to maintain?” They may be, but it usually balances out in the end.
In some ways, diesel-fueled engines require less maintenance. This is because these vehicles do not use spark plugs or distributors. Thus, there will be no need to have ignition tune-ups done.
However, keeping your engine well-maintained with regular and frequent oil changes, along with air, oil, and fuel filter changes, is absolutely necessary. Diesel cars are also equipped with water-separator collection bins that you must empty manually.
Failure to keep your diesel engine maintained with routine care can result in dire consequences. The fuel injection system can break down and require expensive repairs. Additionally, you may need to have a dealership or certified diesel mechanic do repair work, and these professionals work at a much higher rate.
Engine Power: Diesel vs. Petrol Engines
Why is diesel better when it comes to towing and transporting heavy loads? The answer is the reason that so many trucks have diesel engines: the high amount of low-end torque they can produce. This is one of the top considerations for people who ask, “Should I buy a diesel or petrol truck?”
A diesel-fueled car, truck, or SUV can accelerate more rapidly from a complete stop than a petrol-powered car, and these vehicles have far better towing capabilities.
Another the benefit of diesel engines is that they are powerful and long-lasting. If you are purchasing a truck or SUV that you will frequently use to tow or haul very heavy items, then a diesel-powered engine may be the best choice for you.
However, with the increased torque comes decreased horsepower. This means that diesel-fueled cars are not very zippy. If you are the type of person who enjoys speed, you may be disappointed with your car’s performance if you buy a diesel car. But if you are looking for a strong and steady engine that will get the job done, buying diesel may be the best choice for you.
What about noise and the smoothness of the ride?
Traditionally, diesel-powered engines have had the reputation of being stinky, noisy, and clattery. This gave these vehicles a bad reputation and is one of the main reasons they didn’t get a strong foothold in the Nigerian marketplace until recently.
Today’s diesel cars benefit from current technology and building methods that make for a much quieter and smoother ride.
However, despite these improvements, diesel owners might notice that their cars’ engines are not as smooth or quiet as their petrol-powered counterparts, and they may make an occasional clicking or clattering sound. The question is whether the increased noise comes at a level that you find acceptable.
Overall Costs: Saving Money in the Long Run
When considering the cost of owning a diesel car, the first thing you may notice is that these cars are more expensive to purchase.
Why can diesel cars and trucks get so expensive? It has a lot to do with the weight of the engine block. Although diesel vehicles generally cost more to purchase than their petrol counterparts, you can recoup most of this cost at the fuel pump if you keep your vehicle long enough.
One of the greatest advantages of a diesel engine is that it is very long-lasting, which makes your car’s trade-in and resale value much better.
If you plan to keep your car for a long time and provide it with frequent routine maintenance, you can expect your vehicle to save you money in the long run. If, however, you are lax on the upkeep because of the increased cost of having a diesel mechanic work on it, buying a diesel car may end up balancing out or costing you more in the long run.
Do You Think a Diesel Is Right for You?
Only you can decide whether a diesel car is right for you. These cars have the potential to save you a lot of money. But it must be an option in the near future because petrol-powered cars are not sustainable.
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