Another guy confused about diesel
Hey All, Not trying to add to the "Diesel vs Gas" debate, but like many other readers who are contemplating the Diesel upgrade I'm confused about just how needy the new Diesels are. In my area dies...
Forum Discussion
Diesels get 30-40% better fuel mileage than a gas engine with similar performance. This is a function of the thermodynamics of having a higher compression ratio (16 or 17 to 1 vs 8 or 10 to 1). Of course, you can get higher power engines of either sort which will change that mileage differential in obvious ways. Most trucks use some of that fuel savings to give you better pull for the diesel version.
As for additives, mostly snake oil, just as with gas additives.
One important detail is that diesels are pretty much all turbocharged, whereas gas trucks are mostly not. This alone makes a vast difference in the mountains. Turbo engines do not lose power at altitude because the turbo simply works harder to supply air at the same pressure regardless of altitude. I have a turbo diesel BMW X5 SUV as my tow vehicle, and have noted it pulls every bit as hard at 11,000 feet on I-70 west of Denver as it does here in the Appalachians at 800 feet.
As for additives, mostly snake oil, just as with gas additives.
One important detail is that diesels are pretty much all turbocharged, whereas gas trucks are mostly not. This alone makes a vast difference in the mountains. Turbo engines do not lose power at altitude because the turbo simply works harder to supply air at the same pressure regardless of altitude. I have a turbo diesel BMW X5 SUV as my tow vehicle, and have noted it pulls every bit as hard at 11,000 feet on I-70 west of Denver as it does here in the Appalachians at 800 feet.
