Advantages and Disadvantages of Diesel

What’s more is that Diesel engines are not the loud, smelly, environmentally harmful engines of the 1970s. Instead, due to clean (low sulfur) diesel, special exhaust additives, and advanced catalytic converter technology, today’s modern diesel car are more environmentally friendly than its gasoline powered alternative. But are these new diesel powered cars right for your needs? Take a look at our list of pros and cons and decide for yourself.

Performance Back in the 1970s, in answer to rising fuel prices, manufacturers tried making diesel powered cars available to the general public. The end-result is the creation of a number of slow, heavy and underperforming cars. But the new clean-diesel engine has little resemblance to these early ancestors. Thanks to turbocharging and computer controlled fuel injection, the modern diesel engine offers as much power and performance as its gasoline counterpart.

Cleaner Emissions Diesel engines are no longer the smelly, smog producing machines of yesteryear. Instead, a diesel powered car is a much cleaner option than gasoline, producing lower amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide.

Fuel Efficiency Diesel powered engines are able to generate more power using less fuel – in most cases the result is 30% better fuel economy when compared to an equivalent gasoline powered engine.  Also, due to advancements in high-pressure injection systems, diesel engines are able to burn fuel more efficiently and produce less waste.

The major disadvantage associated with a diesel powered vehicle is the upfront cost. While it’s true that diesel engines do get better MPG than gas powered engines, this is offset because diesel cars are more expensive than their gasoline powered counterparts. In fact, current diesel options cost $2000 or more over the gas equivalent.