Diesel vs. Gasoline Engine? (vehicle, camper, SUV, spark plugs)

[CHICAGOLAND92]

I've been doing some research on possible future cars, and found out about the Grand Cherokee CRD (Common Rail Diesel). Not only does it offer superior fuel economy to the gasoline engine, but also it has tons of torque!

Unfortunately, I'm not too familiar with diesels, which brings up a lot of questions.

1. What are the main differences between a gasoline and diesel engine?
2. Also, the diesel engine is only rated at 215 hp. Will it be a slow SUV (sorry if this is a dumb question, I just don't get why the rating is so low)?
3. What are the benefits of owning a diesel besides the increased fuel econonmy, if any? What are the drawbacks?
4. Does anyone here own a Grand Cherokee CRD?

Thanks for the replies in advance!

[RedNC]

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

I've been doing some research on possible future cars, and found out about the Grand Cherokee CRD (Common Rail Diesel). Not only does it offer superior fuel economy to the gasoline engine, but also it has tons of torque!

Unfortunately, I'm not too familiar with diesels, which brings up a lot of questions.

1. What are the main differences between a gasoline and diesel engine?
2. Also, the diesel engine is only rated at 215 hp. Will it be a slow SUV (sorry if this is a dumb question, I just don't get why the rating is so low)?
3. What are the benefits of owning a diesel besides the increased fuel econonmy, if any? What are the drawbacks?
4. Does anyone here own a Grand Cherokee CRD?

Thanks for the replies in advance!

Diesel engines have more torque which is what moves the vehicle. They typically develop their maximum torque below 2000RPM where as a gas engine is more like 3000 RPM or more.
The newer diesels aren't noticeably slower than gas in normal driving conditions.
The benefits are no spark plugs or related components. Longer life. More fuel options(bio fuels)
Drawbacks are , higher fuel costs( not always) starters may not last as long.
Don't own one, but if I were in the market for one it would be a diesel.
Use gloves when fueling. I use the throw away plastic ones and most gas stations will give them to you if you ask. You don't want to get diesel on anything in your vehicle.

[Drover]

If you just want an appliance to get you around, it's hard to argue against diesel. But when it comes to rip-snortin' fun, it's tough to be a high-revvin' petrol engine.

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

I've been doing some research on possible future cars, and found out about the Grand Cherokee CRD (Common Rail Diesel). Not only does it offer superior fuel economy to the gasoline engine, but also it has tons of torque!

Unfortunately, I'm not too familiar with diesels, which brings up a lot of questions.

1. What are the main differences between a gasoline and diesel engine?
2. Also, the diesel engine is only rated at 215 hp. Will it be a slow SUV (sorry if this is a dumb question, I just don't get why the rating is so low)?
3. What are the benefits of owning a diesel besides the increased fuel econonmy, if any? What are the drawbacks?
4. Does anyone here own a Grand Cherokee CRD?

Thanks for the replies in advance!

Diesel engines fire on compression, as opposed to spark. They generally will have more torque, but less "snap". They normally get better mileage - though with the increased cost of diesel fuel, the savings are often negligible.

To be completely honest with you, if you're not at all familiar with diesels, I'd steer you away from them. I'm assuming your "user name" means you're from Chicago. Being in Chicago, you'll need to know how to operate a diesel in the winter - and that's a very different sort of thing. You need to run "blended" fuel or #1 fuel. You need to do specific things, or you WILL get stranded in the winter, with a diesel.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

But when it comes to rip-snortin' fun, it's tough to be a high-revvin' petrol engine.

I'd agree. Especially if youre not made out of steel/aluminum/iron.

[scarabchuck]

Without a doubt I would purchase the diesel. You will need to learn about them though. The best thing about diesels is most of the time if there is an issue you can figure it out yourself.
I did not have a clue about them until I purchased my first one, a 01 Dodge Ram with a Cummins. Now that truck has larger injectors, exhaust, and a "chip". The thing with diesels, if you mod them (up to a point) you will get even better mileage. My truck gets 21mpg highway (not bad for #6500) and towing a #7500 enclosed trailer it will get between 12-14mpg depending on speed and conditions, combined it will get 18mpg. I'm an avid snowmobiler and have had the truck sit in below zero conditions for a few days at a time without plugging it in and it will start with no problems.
Now I've added a 00' VW Jetta TDI , as my daily driver. I've added a larger turbo, injectors and different ECM programming and highway driving 75-85mph it will get 48 mpg , combined I'm getting 45-48. If I slow down I know it will get over 50....
Oh and for the one that said something about performance, the Jetta will spin the tires on dry pavemt thru first and part way thru second gear. In the rain you have to have a light throttle foot with either vehicle or the wheels will spin fairly easy.
Maintence is really a big deal. Oil changes on the truck at 7500, and on the Jetta 10,000 miles. In the winter I add an additive every other fillup and I try to plug them in so they are nice and warm in the morning.
The only gasser I would by now would be a performance or "weekend" type of vehicle. Other than that it's gotta be a diesel.

[caution]

The way the EPA regulates diesels is a problem. I forget the exact issue, but it's something along the lines of pollutants per gallon burned rather than per miles traveled. That (or some similar technicality) is one reason they haven't tried to sell the smaller passenger car diesels. I do think the main reason is customer perception of the diesel though.

Jeep had a CRD Liberty in the US for a short run. IIRC it was welcomed in the Jeep community but something went wrong on the regulatory side.

[Compression]

Once you go Diesel, you'll never go back. IF you know what you're doing. As some have said, it's a different animal. If you drive a Diesel like you drive a gasser, you'll have problems. If you understand it for what it is, and treat it accordingly, you'll be a happy camper.

[caution]

Forgot to mention:

IF you're into racing, diesels rock the American LeMans Series. Of course those are multi-million dollar cars, but some of that tech can trickle down :-)

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by yachtcare

Once you go Diesel, you'll never go back. IF you know what you're doing. As some have said, it's a different animal. If you drive a Diesel like you drive a gasser, you'll have problems. If you understand it for what it is, and treat it accordingly, you'll be a happy camper.

Thanks for pegging it dead-on. You have to know what you're doing, and how to drive and maintain them, or you'll grow to HATE diesels. I've driven 5 diesel vehicles (for passenger, not commercial purposes) over the years, and love them. I'd still be driving a diesel, except that the miles I now drive are the wrong kind for a diesel.

I think that has been one of the main problems with Average John Q Public, regarding driving diesels. Too many people got stuck out in the dead of winter - with #2 fuel, heavy oil, and weak batteries - and decided that diesels suck.

Maybe there should have been a mandatory instruction course before anybody was permitted to buy a diesel.