Your car’s gasoline engine should last roughly 200,000 miles before it requires a major maintenance or you need to purchase a new vehicle. But diesel engines can constantly run for an amazing 1,000,000-1,500,000 miles before needing any substantial work. In fact, a well-maintained diesel engine can last for 30 years or more on the road.
According to Capital Reman Exchange, there are three key factors for a diesel engine’s lifetime, endurance, and reliability:
A diesel engine is gear-driven in design. Gears, unlike other parts that might be broken or damaged, are easy to repair and never lose their timing. Gear-driven water and oil pumps are available on most diesel automobiles. Parts and components are less likely to fail as a result of this.
Diesel-powered vehicles are typically built with heavy-duty components that can withstand the vehicle’s power, resulting in less wear and tear on all parts of the engine.
Diesel engines are also fantastic since they are self-cooling, which means they have a far lower possibility of overheating. There are multiple sensors and thermostats in use, which means that if one fails, the engine will not overheat. A steady supply of coolant flows freely through the engine thanks to many piston-cooling nozzles.
Compression ignition is used by a diesel engine to use its fuel to power itself. This happens when diesel fuel and air are squeezed to the point that heat is generated, resulting in spontaneous combustion. This spontaneous combustion, according to Digital Trends, is significantly more favourable for a long-lasting engine.
What is considered high mileage for a diesel?
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but these vehicles aren’t worth the risk. If you absolutely must have a high-mileage vehicle, go for the petrol model with the largest engine.
A smaller engine will be pushed to 90% of its capacity under the same driving conditions, whereas a larger engine will cruise at 70%. Less stress equals fewer repairs.
“Is automobile age or miles more important?” I’m regularly questioned when it comes to older vehicles. When compared to a newer car, an older car always wins – which makes obvious when you think about it…
How many miles can a diesel car engine last?
How Long Do Most Diesel Engines Last? A gasoline engine in a typical car lasts roughly 200,000 miles before it needs to be repaired or replaced. However, the diesel engine can travel 1,000,000-1,500,000 miles before requiring extensive maintenance.
Is 100 000 miles alot for a diesel engine?
Because diesel pickup trucks have more durable engines that can sustain greater compression ratios, they often obtain better economy than gas trucks. Powerstroke, Cummins, and Duramax diesel vehicles often last well beyond 100,000 miles, even when used frequently for towing and hauling. As a result, diesel pickups with 200,000 or even 300,000 kilometers sometimes attract high resale values on the secondhand truck market. Drivers shopping for a used diesel pickup understand that a truck’s life isn’t over just because it has a lot of miles on it.
With modern trucks surviving longer than ever before, it’s not uncommon to come across gas trucks with 200,000-mile lifespans. Diesel trucks, on the other hand, can exceed that limit. Diesel pickup trucks may easily last 500,000 miles or more. It isn’t simply their engines that are more durable. Because diesel engines are heavier than gas engines, diesel vehicle hulls are designed and constructed to be more durable.
Not all high-mileage diesel trucks are created equal, much like other cars. For example, a diesel truck that has been used extensively for towing and transporting large loads for 100,000 miles may require serious repairs, whereas a diesel pickup that has been rarely used and has 200,000 miles on the clock may still have years of trouble-free life ahead of it. However, it’s also crucial to know that the life expectancy of a diesel vehicle is determined by a variety of other elements outside the odometer reading, such as:
For example, a 200,000-mile diesel pickup with only one or two owners and strong maintenance records is likely to be a better investment than a 100,000-mile vehicle with four owners and few records.
The general condition and appearance of the truck are also significant. A truck with a well-kept exterior and interior is likely to have had its mechanical components well-kept as well.
Duramax is a brand of diesel engine found in GMC and Chevy vehicles manufactured by General Motors. What constitutes excessive mileage for these engines is a matter of debate. Some owners consider 100,000 miles to be excessive mileage for Chevy diesel trucks, while others believe that anything less than 350,000 should be considered high mileage. A poorly maintained engine might swiftly deteriorate before reaching 100,000 miles, whereas a well-kept Duramax pickup truck should last 400,000 to 500,000 miles.
Cummins engines can be found in Dodge diesel trucks and Ram diesel trucks. Cummins diesel engines, like the Duramax, are designed to last a long time. On a Cummins diesel, 350,000 to 500,000 kilometers is normally considered high mileage. Of course, this is dependent on how well the engine is maintained.
Although maintaining the engine is crucial, some diesel pickup drivers believe it is even more important to keep the truck alive around the engine because the truck itself is less likely to last more than 500,000 miles, even if the diesel engine is well-maintained.
The Powerstroke engine, like the Duramax and Cummins engines, is found in Ford trucks and can last up to 500,000 kilometers. However, similar with the Duramax and Cummins engines, a Powerstroke engine with 350,000 to 500,000 miles on the clock is considered high mileage. The key to gaining the most miles is to keep the truck and engine in good shape. Ford vehicles are the most popular truck brand in the United States, and they’re regarded for their overall dependability.
Purchasing a diesel pickup truck with at least 250,000 kilometers could be a good deal. Diesel pickups are more expensive than their gasoline counterparts when new, so buying one used might save you a lot of money. When purchasing a used diesel truck, keep the following in mind:
Oil leaks are common in high-mileage engines, but they aren’t always cause for concern. It’s not uncommon to have small leaks around gaskets and seals. A little oil seepage around the front and rear main seals, for example, isn’t all that concerning and is even expected. Oil that is more densely coated around a seal or gasket, on the other hand, may raise suspicion. It depends on how much oil is smeared across the surface. To put it another way, while having no oil leak is definitely better, a tiny oil leak on a high-mileage diesel engine shouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker.
When purchasing an older diesel truck with a mechanical injection system, it’s a good idea to start a diesel fuel additive routine. Long-term running without supplemental lubrication of one of these older diesel engines can result in early injection pump failure. A fuel additive, on the other hand, can improve modern diesel engines. Additives can help any diesel engine, whether it’s a high-mileage or not, get better gas mileage.
Distinct trucks and engines, like any other vehicle, have different challenges. Buying an engine model that appears to have the fewest difficulties may be irrelevant if the truck it’s in has issues. It’s also crucial to look into the individual truck’s troubles, in addition to the engine’s concerns. Maintenance records can be extremely useful in this situation.
For example, the water pump on a particular truck may fail every 100,000 miles or so. Even if a truck has 300,000 miles on it, if the water pump hasn’t been updated in 150,000 miles, you could be looking at expensive repairs.
On a high-mileage diesel truck, it’s never too late to switch to synthetic engine and gear oil. The following are some of the advantages of synthetic oil:
Heat, repetitive mechanical pressures, and chemical breakdown from fuel dilution are the major enemies of oil stability. All of these forces are more prone to higher-mileage engines. Synthetic oil can help a high-mileage diesel engine last longer and run more efficiently.
Synthetic oils, in the end, minimize friction better than traditional lubricants. Friction can increase as diesel parts wear out in high-mileage engines. More friction equals more heat, which accelerates the deterioration of oil and diesel truck parts.
To summarize, there is no single number that defines what constitutes high mileage for a diesel pickup truck; however, anything beyond 500,000 is commonly considered excessive mileage. However, remember that there are many more factors to consider when purchasing a used diesel pickup than mileage. A well-maintained, high-mileage Powerstroke, Cummins, or Duramax diesel pickup truck is almost always a better option than a poorly-maintained, heavily-used diesel pickup truck with lower mileage.
Is 150k miles a lot for a diesel?
When it comes to mileage, according to Prosource Diesel, diesel vehicles frequently receive better mileage than gas trucks since their engines are more durable. As a result, according to Prosource Diesel, it’s not uncommon to find a used diesel truck with more than 200,000 kilometers on the odometer. There’s a good chance you’ll stumble across a used diesel vehicle with 300,000 miles on the clock.
What constitutes excessive mileage in the case of specific diesel engines? According to Prosource Diesel, a secondhand diesel truck with a Cummins or Duramax engine with more than 350,000 kilometers is considered excessive mileage. For a Powerstroke diesel engine, anything above 350,000 miles is considered high mileage.
How often do diesel cars need a good run?
The easiest approach to keep a DPF in good working order is to make sure it can regenerate itself when it’s full of soot (when the warning light appears).
Passive regeneration
Passive regeneration happens when the car is traveling at a high speed on a long highway drive, allowing the exhaust temperature to rise to a greater level, allowing the excess soot in the filter to be burned off cleanly.
To help clear the filter, drivers should give their diesel vehicle a solid 30 to 50 minute run at sustained speed on a highway or A-road on a frequent basis.
However, not all drivers engage in this type of driving on a regular basis, which is why automakers have devised a different method of regeneration.
Active regeneration
When a filter hits a predetermined limit (usually around 45 percent), more fuel is injected automatically as part of the vehicle’s ECU to boost the temperature of the exhaust and burn off the stored soot.
However, if the journey is too short, problems may arise since the regeneration process may not be completed completely.
In this instance, the warning light will remain illuminated, indicating that the filter is still partially clogged.
In that instance, completing a regeneration cycle and clearing the warning signal should be doable by driving for 10 minutes or more at speeds greater than 40mph.
The following signs will indicate whether active regeneration is occurring:
How many miles should a diesel car do a year?
Diesel is losing favor in the United Kingdom for a variety of reasons. However, if you drive 15,000 miles or more each year, a diesel automobile might be suitable for you. Because diesel is roughly 20% more efficient than gasoline, it should be cheaper to run in the long run, but only for drivers who travel large distances or frequently utilize highways.
If you reside in a city and/or drive less than 15 miles every trip, buying a gasoline is a better option. When driving a diesel automobile at low speeds, it emits the greatest pollution, and some aspects of a diesel car might become problematic if utilized wrongly.
Why do diesel engines last so long?
A gas engine would have reached the end of its life 20 years ago at about 100,000 miles, but today’s engines are constantly making another trip around the odometer. However, while gasoline engines can now reach 200,000 miles and beyond, diesel engines can also reach 500,000 miles and beyond. The following are three reasons why diesel engines survive longer than gasoline engines:
THE DESIGN OF A DIESEL ENGINE
We’ve all learned the hard way that larger isn’t necessarily better. Diesel engines, on the other hand, are designed to endure longer than their gasoline equivalents. Compression ratios and cylinder pressures are higher in diesel engines than in gasoline engines. Diesel engines are designed with these factors in mind. Their crankshaft and camshaft are larger, necessitating larger bearings and stronger main and rod bolts. Increased clearance from larger crankshafts and camshafts provides for greater oil flow. Better engine lubrication means reduced engine wear, which extends the engine’s life.
Other significant design features of the diesel engine contribute to its durability, including:
- Most diesel engines feature a gear-driven construction, which means you won’t have to worry about timing belt issues. This also saves money on costly maintenance because the timing belt does not need to be replaced.
- Piston cooling jet – Piston cooling jets spray engine oil on the bottom of your pistons in diesel engines. This engine oil spray protects pistons from premature wear by keeping them properly lubricated, which lowers friction and keeps them cool.
- There are no spark plugs in diesel engines, so the gasoline burns more slowly. Because of the slower burn, there is less stress and more torque, which is essential for diesel engine efficiency.
Diesel Fuel
The fuel that diesel engines burn is another reason they survive longer than gasoline engines. Diesel fuel is a form of distillate fuel made primarily from crude oil, which allows diesel engines to wear their cylinders out more slowly than gasoline engines. This adds diesel fuel lubricating qualities, extending the engine’s total lifespan. On the contrary, gasoline is mostly composed of aromatic hydrocarbons, which function similarly to harsh and corrosive solvents. This lack of lubricity causes your engine’s components to wear out prematurely. Diesel engines have lower exhaust gas temperatures (EGTs), which contributes to their increased lifetime. Despite the fact that diesel fuel has 139,000 British thermal units (BTUs) compared to 115,000 BTUs for gasoline, the principles of thermodynamics dictate that the higher compression ratio diesel engine’s expansion rate actually cools the exhaust gases faster. The first flame front is cooler due to the lower auto-ignition temperature of roughly 410°F for diesel fuel compared to 495°F for gasoline. Diesel engines also have a substantially lower air-to-fuel ratio, ranging from 25:1 to 70:1, compared to 12:1 to 16:1 for gasoline engines. EGTs are cooled by a lower air-to-fuel ratio. In addition, gasoline burns more faster than diesel fuel. Because of the slower laminar speed of the flame during combustion in diesel engines, there is less shock to the rotating assembly, which adds to their durability.
Lower RPMs
The third factor that determines how long a diesel engine lasts is its operating efficiency. In comparison to a gas engine, diesel engines have lower revolutions per minute (RPMs) and produce more torque. The ability to create the same power at lower revolutions implies less wear on your pistons, rings, cylinder walls, bearings, valves, and guides, extending the life of your engine. When diesel engines are not in use for long periods of time, they are usually left running. The regular cycling of turning the engine on and off saves wear compared to a gasoline engine since a major percentage of wear occurs at starting. It also decreases heat cycles and maintains stable operational temperatures.
Expert Spotlight:
PSP Diesel in South Houston, TX, is known for their 6.0L Ford Powerstroke builds, and Stephen Peters has this to say about why diesel engines survive longer:
“Diesel users often use their engines for far more than what they were designed for. In contrast to the conventional start/stop patterns of a gasoline engine, this is typically done to generate maximum torque and run for longer periods of time during the day. They aren’t exposed to abrupt starts and stops. One of the most abrasive actions on a motor is starting it. While idling your engine is not good for its longevity, that is exactly what the majority of these trucks are doing. They run long hours and are worked very hard because they are started at the beginning of the day and shut off at the end, but that is their job.”
Peters continues, “Diesel engines are simply intended to be more durable. For example, the blocks are larger, the walls are thicker, and the pistons are larger. And, even with the extra weight, let alone the tight tolerances in the rings to avoid blow-by, the design was created with lubrication in mind, reducing friction and damage to the rubbing parts.”
Do diesel cars need long runs?
- Petrol automobiles use more fuel and emit more carbon dioxide than diesel cars (CO2).
- Diesel cars emit more hazardous emissions depending on the ‘Euro’ standard in effect at the time the vehicle was purchased.
- The costs of servicing gasoline and diesel vehicles are comparable. At least once a year, both require servicing, notably an oil change.
- Diesels have a shorter rev range but a lot of torque, so they’re better for towing and more adaptable on highways or hills where fewer gear changes are required.
- Although petrol is slightly less expensive at the pump, diesel’s superior fuel economy should result in annual savings on your fuel expense. If you have to spend more for a diesel car in the first place, the savings from lower fuel expenses could take several years to recover, depending on your annual miles.
- Diesels, particularly those manufactured prior to 2015, are increasingly likely to be charged or barred from entering big cities.
- Diesels with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) require frequent long runs, some of which must be done at high engine speeds to clean (regenerate) the filter, making them unsuitable for largely short, local trips.
- To minimize emissions, newer diesel cars employ AdBlue, an exhaust fluid that breaks nitrogen oxide gas down into harmless nitrogen and water vapour.
- The first year of car tax is dependent on CO2 emissions, so diesels may be cheaper at first, but from the second year on, a flat charge of £140 applies to both petrol and diesel.
How many miles is too many for a used diesel truck?
If you’re buying a secondhand truck with a gas engine, keep the mileage under 100,000 kilometers. Because diesel engines are easier to maintain than gasoline engines, used trucks with a diesel engine may go a lot further. The wear and tear on a diesel engine is about the same as it is on a gas engine after 200,000 kilometers.
What is good mileage for a used diesel truck?
What is a Reasonable Mileage for Purchasing a Used Diesel Truck? In general, diesel trucks are sold with higher mileage than the average used car. In general, vehicles with less than 250,000 kilometers on the engine should be considered.