Which is the Way to Go: Gas or Diesel? (James Allen.)

When you're in the market for a new truck, you'll have a lot of decisions to make. While most of them are a matter of personal taste, one major decision is crucial to how you maintain your vehicle: Should you go with gas or diesel?

Performance:
How you use your truck determines which choice is right for you. If you stick to paved roads in the greater Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell, Idaho, area, you might prefer the quicker acceleration of a gasoline-powered engine. Gas engines put greater horsepower at your disposal. However, diesel is the usual choice for hard-working vehicles because it delivers more torque. Torque translates into more towing capacity, so if you have a horse trailer, camper or work equipment to haul through the rugged Idaho terrain, a GMC-Chevy Duramax, Dodge-Cummins or Ford-Powerstroke diesel is the way to go.

Cost:
A gallon of commercial diesel fuel costs more than a gallon of unleaded gasoline, but diesel engines are much more economical. It's why most farm vehicles and boats run on agricultural diesel; these fuel-hungry machines would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to operate. Your diesel truck can run for miles on relatively little fuel, so consider the actual cost of operation, not just the price at the pump. Because a diesel fuel injection pump is more efficient than a gas-powered system, you'll spend less to move more. Gage Burlingame, Master Diesel Technician at Gem State Diesel adds, "Modern common rail injectors boost that efficiency even higher. If price is a concern for you, it may be worth investing in a diesel engine, especially if you plan to have your truck for years".

Maintenance:

Shawn Musgrave, another Master Tech with Gem State Diesel suggests, "Gas-powered engines are robust enough to take months or even years of benign neglect; diesel engines are less forgiving. Diesel engines run hotter and have higher compression ratios; although that translates into more power, it also means less room for spotty maintenance. A diesel fuel injection pump that gets clogged can markedly reduce the efficiency of your engine, so regular maintenance of diesel engine parts such as common rail injectors is a must". If you're considering diesel, be ready to adhere to a maintenance schedule. Talk to a certified diesel engine repair specialist to find out about the diesel maintenance Boise drivers use most.

Reliability:
The trade-off for the accelerated maintenance schedule diesel engines require is greater long-term reliability. If you take regular care of your GMC-Chevy Duramax, Dodge-Cummins or Ford-Powerstroke engine, it will take care of you for an astonishingly long time. An average gasoline engine will give you about 150,000 miles of service; a commercial diesel engine can triple that figure. Engines that run on agricultural diesel work hard but also last longer than their gas-powered counterparts.

If you still have questions about which truck is right for you, talk to a specialist in diesel engine repair like those you'll find at Gem State Diesel. And, like Gem State Diesel, if you're lucky you'll find a shop that repairs both gas engines and diesel engines. If you're in Caldwell, Nampa, Meridian or anywhere in the greater Boise area, ask a certified diesel maintenance expert before buying your next rig.

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