Diesel Vs. Gas Commercial Trucks

The term “commercial truck” refers to the different types of vehicles used by many businesses. Because this term covers a very large category of vehicles, there are 8 subcategories that further differentiate the vehicles by their gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Classes 1 and 2 are light-duty, 3 to 6 are medium-duty, while 7 and 8 are heavy-duty.

When you’re ready to purchase a commercial truck, you’ll have to decide between a gas or diesel one. To help you with that, we at Draco Isuzu Truck Center have compiled the following guide. For more information or to look at some commercial trucks for sale, head to our dealership in San Diego, CA.

Sticker Prices

One of the main considerations when buying a new vehicle is the cost. And when it comes to cost, diesel commercial trucks cost about $7,000-$10,000 more than gas ones. This price difference is the result of the exhaust after-treatment technologies that place the diesel vehicles within the EPA regulations standard. The mileage breakpoint of these trucks is 30,000 miles, so if you’re going to go above that, a diesel truck will best suit you. Otherwise, we suggest you get a gas model.

Operational Costs

Though diesel trucks are more expensive to buy, they will give you more miles per gallon than gas commercial trucks. To choose between the two, you should have a good idea about what you’re going to use your truck for. If you haul heavy cargo across long distances, we can recommend diesel trucks, while gas trucks will give you better returns over short distances. Also, remember that gas is more readily available than diesel.

Fuel Economy

For a long time, diesel commercial trucks were the winners when it came to fuel efficiency. Now though, with innovations like turbocharging, multi-cylinder controls, and direct injection, gas trucks have bridged that gap. Here again, it’s the usage that will be the deciding factor. If you plan to add a trailer, a gas commercial truck will have to work much harder than its diesel counterpart to get the work done. This means it’ll use more fuel for the same task.

Longer Lifespan

Diesel commercial trucks are more durable because of the high-compression ratios and high cylinder pressure of their engines. Even the exhaust system of a diesel truck will outlast its gas counterpart because diesel fuel is less corrosive than gas engine exhaust. That said, a lot of the longevity depends on how the truck is used.  Constant overloading or failure to service and maintain it at regular intervals will reduce any commercial truck’s lifespan.

Maintenance Costs

A diesel engine has more components, so it’s more expensive to service and maintain. Replacement parts for these engines can also be costlier because the parts are more complex than those in gas engines. Some dealers estimate that diesel trucks have an average of 2.5 to 4.5 downtime days a year because the necessary parts or technicians are unavailable. While you’ll have to perform more oil changes for a gas commercial truck, they’ll be cheaper than diesel ones.

We hope this guide helps you reach a decision. For additional help or to check out some quality commercial trucks for sale, including medium-duty Isuzu trucks, come on down to Draco Isuzu Truck Center in San Diego, CA.