What to Know Before Buying a Diesel Truck?

What to Know Before Buying a Diesel Truck?

The diesel truck has been a mainstay of roads in the USA and across the world for more than 100 years. Invented in the later part of the 19^th century as a more efficient internal combustion engine (ICE) than the popular gasoline version, the principle was devised by Rudolf Diesel, who patented his idea in 1892 in the USA.

In the article that follows we will be looking at why you might want to buy a diesel truck, the difference between diesel and gasoline engines, and other factors you need to know when making your decision. Let’s begin by looking at who offers diesel trucks in the USA and the companies that build diesel truck engines.

Who Builds Diesel Engines?

One of the biggest builders of diesel engines in the world is a brand you may not have heard of: Cummins which was founded in the early 20^th century with a mission to improve the increasingly popular diesel engine. Cummins now provides a wide range of engines for heavy trucks, heavy plant and agricultural machinery, and only occasionally for smaller trucks. Their technology is an inspiration for many other makers, and they are the market leaders in heavy duty diesel engines.

However, the makers we are looking for today are more commonly known than Cummins. This is a list of some of the manufacturers and diesel engine makers that offer diesel trucks for the road today:

• Ford offers diesel versions of the market-leading F-series including the F150.
• Chevy has both Silverado and Colorado models with diesel power.
• The Jeep Gladiator can be ordered with a diesel engine.
• Both GMC Canyon and Sierra come with a diesel option.
• The RAM 1500 and 2500 are offered with several engine options including diesel.

The above is not a comprehensive list but one showing the diesel models that are popular from US manufacturers. Now let’s look at reasons why you might consider a diesel truck.

Why Would You Buy a Diesel Truck?

The fundamental difference between a gasoline engine and a diesel engine lies in the way the ignition spark is generated. With a gasoline engine a spark plug is needed to ignite the petrol and begin the cycle. With a diesel engine air is compressed to such a degree that it heats to the point where it ignites the diesel fuel. What is the benefit?

Without going into too much intricate detail, the benefit of a diesel engine is in its ability to produce greater levels of torque more cleanly throughout the rev and power range. In other words, a diesel engine will ‘pull’ from very low revs and continue doing so without interruption. This is why such engines are used in heavy plant and in heavy trucks. Rather than horsepower, it’s torque – the pulling energy of the engine – that is the diesel’s heart.

Diesels are also noted for greater fuel economy, and they tend to last longer than a gasoline engine. If you need a workhorse then a diesel engine may be the answer. So, how do you choose a diesel truck if you know that you want one?

Choosing a Diesel Truck

Now you know what to look for in a diesel truck it’s time to make your choice. We recommend you check out the leading brands and models and talk to your local dealers, as when they know you’re shopping around you might get a good deal thrown your way! Happy hunting, and we hope that this brief article has helped you understand the many benefits of diesel trucks.