The combustion engines powered by petrol and diesel constitute the largest among the cars plying the roads in our country and the rest of the world.
Although there is a global strategy in Europe, Asia and the United States to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, it is a pipe dream that may never be practical to implement in Africa.
So l would like to pick a conversation on which engine is better for you between diesel and petrol.
There are a number of key technical aspects of these two engines that we shall narrow down to some key points that will expose the differences between petrol and diesel cars, both in terms of the purchase price, driving experience, performance, maintenance costs and resale values.
I would like you to be the judge on which one suits you best at the end.
Purchase price: Generally speaking, the diesel cars are typically more expensive than an equivalent petrol in almost every case — although not always by a bigger difference.
Whether it is a brand new car or used these higher purchase prices are down to a number of factors.
One of these is that because diesels ignite fuel by compressing it to very high pressure rather than using a spark plug, the engines need to be stronger.
Emission-control systems like diesel particulate filters and AdBlue also add to the cost.
Power delivery/torque: Diesel engines produce more torque and power than petrol engines, especially at lower RPMs, making them better suited for heavy vehicles and situations requiring strong pulling power, even though petrol engines may have a higher top-end horsepower in most cases.
They are well-suited for towing caravans and boats, and also don’t need to be worked as hard to accelerate, particularly at high speed.
This easy torque and low-rev nature makes diesels excellent highway cars, and also partly explains why they use less fuel.
Fuel costs: Some time ago diesel price used to be much lower than petrol but things have changed and currently both are priced at US$1.55 per litre here in Zimbabwe.
However, diesel powered cars particularly those drivers who do long distance trips, the improved fuel efficiency on diesel gives them an advantage over petrol engines in terms of the number of kilometres that can be travelled per litre.
Servicing: Again, diesel cars tend to have more systems such as the emission-controls than petrol cars, which can add to servicing costs, though often not by much.
It’s worth highlighting that older diesel cars have higher maintenance costs because the spares are difficult to find and that’s why in majority of cases such cars end up being parked at the back yards in Zimbabwe.
But one of my observations is that diesel cars are better if owned under a company that will make sure the servicing is adhered to religiously compared to individual ownership.
Diesel engines must be serviced religiously as per the manufacturer’s recommendation and if not serviced there is a big risk due to components wearing out faster from lack of maintenance, including issues with fuel injectors, filters, and the overall combustion process.
I can sum it up and say diesel engines should be cared for similarly to what husbands should do to their wives. Any mishandling will certainly cost you in the future.
On the other hand, the petrol engines are a little forgiving when you delay to service it and there is less risk of affecting too many components.
Pros and cons of petrol cars
Petrol cars tend to be cheaper and quieter than diesels, but not as fuel efficient.
Advantages
-Cheaper to buy
-No DPF to clog (although some petrol cars now have particulate filters)
-Engines are typically more refined
-Cheaper on service and maintenance
Disadvantages
-Higher fuel consumption
-Higher CO2 emissions
-Not suitable for towing
Pros and cons of diesel cars
Diesel cars are suitable for long distance travelers, but tend to be noisier than petrol engines and there’s less choice than there used to be before.
Advantages
-Better fuel efficiency
-Longer range between refueling stops
-Good highway performance
-Engine doesn’t need to be worked as hard
-Lower CO2 emissions
-Well suited for towing
Disadvantages
-More expensive to buy
-Potentially higher servicing and maintenance costs
-Older models likely to fall foul of emission zones
-Potential for clogged DPFs
The modern diesel cars use a system called selective catalytic reduction and, in particular, a liquid known as AdBlue, to reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
So the AdBlue systems squirt tiny amounts of an ammonia-based liquid into the exhaust fumes to reduce NOx emissions, and AdBlue tanks periodically need refilling.
An AdBlue tank might be 10 litres in size which cost around US$40 00 for that amount.
Different cars and driving styles see AdBlue consumed at different rates, but it’s reasonable to expect 10 litres of AdBlue to last 5,000 to 9,000 kilometres, so the cost is relatively minor.
But whether the engine is diesel or petrol if you drive your car carefully and do regular maintenance that will play a big part in how well the engines give trouble-free driving.
I strongly recommend you to drop the culture of thinking that a car should just keep moving without constant service.
There is an old fashioned behavior by some motorist of trying to apply faith where it is not appropriate.
If you don’t service your car it is bound to give you issues and if the fuel tank is empty you can’t go anywhere! Period!
So in my conclusion if you mostly drive around town and don’t cover high mileage, then a petrol, hybrid, or electric car should suit you better.
There is no right or wrong engine you just have to use the correct one for the right purpose.
*Stanley Makombe has 25 years’ experience in the motor industry, currently handling vehicle imports from Japan, Thailand, UK and South Africa into African countries. He is writing in his own capacity and can be contacted on +254 743 900 590, on X @Stan_Carsales, email: stanley@stanleymakombe.com, www.stanleymakombe.com
