Which Engine Option is Best For You: Petrol vs Diesel?

The age-old debate of Petrol vs Diesel continues to be one of the most intriguing topics amongst car enthusiasts since each has its own merits and demerits. It all depends entirely on what you prefer and how the engine you choose is going to make your life easier. The primary difference between the two engines is that the petrol engine uses spark plugs to ignite the air-fuel mixture while the diesel engine uses only heavily compressed air. As a result of which the compression rate differs in petrol and diesel engines. The rate of compressed air in diesel engines is generally 14-23 times of its original volume while in petrol engines it is much lower.    There are so many unique aspects to both the petrol and diesel engines, meaning one is not decidedly better than the other. It all depends on whether you’re choosing the right engine for you. A diesel powered engine is better for the environment while a petrol engine is cheaper in the long run.

Other notable differences in the engines are as follows:

 

1. Engine power: To begin with, diesel and petrol engines produce power in different ways. Petrol engines are all about revolutions per minute (rpm) and they produce their maximum power at higher rpm. Diesel engines, on the other hand, deliver their power in the form of torque, which has the ability to push you up a steep hill at lower rpm. As a result of which it’s important to inspect both brake horsepower and torque if you’re looking for a powerful engine performance. 

Higher horsepower translates to superior top speed while higher torque translates to more power, meaning diesel engines which produce higher torque are more powerful. For example, if you want to go off-road, a powerful diesel engine will provide you with more power than a petrol engine. Even though petrol engines are not far behind in terms of power as a metric, diesel engines will outperform them every single time.   

2. Engine Cost: Petrol engines are less expensive than diesel engines since diesel technology is costlier. Furthermore, servicing or repairing a serious problem on a diesel car is very expensive, especially when compared with petrol cars. This is primarily due to the use of heavier materials in diesel engines which are designed to withstand the higher compression ratios required for its combustion process. 

Petrol engines are made of lighter and cheaper materials because the compression ratio in a petrol engine is lower than that of a diesel engine, which reduces the overall cost of petrol engines.  

3. Engine Size: Petrol and diesel engines vary in their size and capacity which will affect not only your driving but also your car insurance premiums. Smaller petrol engines generally ranging between 1 litre to 1.9 litre are more economical as there is less fuel to burn. Sadly, this means that they also produce less power than the other engines but if you’re looking for a vehicle that would be perfect for city driving then it’s better to choose the vehicles with smaller engines since they cost less in the long run along with their insurance premiums. 

On the other hand, if you require hard acceleration, need to carry heavy loads or travel long distances on a regular basis then its best to go with diesel engines which are much bigger, heavier and powerful than the petrol engines.   

4. Engine’s fuel consumption: Diesel engines are more fuel efficient since they use 15−20% less fuel compared to petrol engines. This is because diesel engines use more air to increase compression and burn the fuel more effectively while Petrol engines burn a lot more fuel just to produce enough power. 

  Another reason as to why diesel engines are more fuel efficient is because petrol by nature is a lighter fuel that evaporates into the air more readily than diesel, whereas diesel is a denser fuel that is difficult to ignite and relies more on compression to combust the air-fuel mixture. Also let’s not forget that diesel contains more energy by volume than petrol.    It’s a difficult thing to choose between two engines which have their own merits and demerits. Petrol is better for city life while diesel is amazing for long distances. Diesel is less harmful to the environment while petrol is easier on the wallet. It’s vital that you choose an engine that would suit your lifestyle better, meaning it will run smoothly and provide you with a worry-free driving experience for a long time.    Visit Capital Hyundai and get a feel of both the engines before deciding on the one! We will help you with everything from easy test drives to choosing your insurance packages and warranties.