Four Benefits of a Chevy Diesel Truck

It seems like folks have been having this debate over gas versus diesel powertrains on trucks since the first pickup trucks started rolling off the assembly lines long before any of us were born. Sometimes it may be a matter of preference, but there are some real benefits to having a diesel truck. What are the benefits of a diesel truck? For one thing, diesel engines produce more torque than comparably sized gas engines. Diesel engines are also more fuel-efficient than gas engines, which can put more money back into your pocket. Trucks with diesel engines are also more dependable than gas engines, and, as a result, diesel trucks will have greater longevity than gas-powered ones.

All of these benefits are the reason why Chevrolet now offers diesel engines for its midsize, full-size, and heavy-duty trucks. So if you are searching the internet for a “Chevy Diesel Truck for sale near me,” you should stop by DePaula Chevrolet. We are the choice for a new, used, or certified pre-owned Chevy diesel truck in the greater Albany area, with great financing options so you can get your next Chevy diesel truck hassle free.

1 – Diesel Engines Have All the Torque

Torque is a measure of the twisting force that comes from the rotation of your truck’s engine and represents how much force the engine can apply. In general, diesel engines will produce more torque than gas engines, which translates into more strength to tow trailers and carry cargo.

For example, the midsize Chevy Colorado comes with an optional 2.8-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine that produces 369 lb-ft of torque. This is more than either of the two gas engines – the base 2.5-liter I-4 has 191 lb-ft of torque and the upgraded 3.6-liter V-6 has 275 lb-ft of torque. As a result, the Chevy Colorado with the Turbo-Diesel can tow up to 7,700 lbs while the V-6 gas engine tops out at 7,000 lbs and the I-4 gas engine has a maximum towing capacity of just 3,500 lbs. When you need to get real work done, it is torque that you need, and diesel engines provide it.

This is the same with the other trucks in the lineup. The Chevy Silverado 1500 can come equipped with a 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V-6 that produces 460 pounds to feet of torque. This is as much as the larger 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8 and far more than the other three engine options. This translates into the capability of towing up to 9,500 lbs, more than all of the gas engines on the Silverado 1500 other than the two much larger V-8 options.

It is no contest when you equip a Silverado 2500HD or Silverado 3500HD with the optional 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V-8 and the Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. This beast produces 910 lb-ft of torque, almost double the 464 lb-ft of torque found with the 6.6-liter V-8 gas engine on this truck. If you choose a Silverado 2500HD with a turbo-diesel engine, you can tow up to 18,510 lbs. If you need the maximum amount of towing capability, then a diesel Silverado 3500HD can help you tow up to 36,000 lbs. It’s no wonder why Chevy advertises the Silverado HD as the strongest and most capable truck they’ve ever built. It all comes down to that extra torque generated by a diesel powertrain.

2 – Better Fuel Economy With a Diesel Engine

In addition to providing greater strength through torque, diesel trucks also get better fuel economy trucks with gasoline engines. This is because diesel engines are simply a more efficient design. For example, the Chevy Silverado 1500 with the turbo-diesel engine gets up to 22 MPG in city driving and 33 MPG on the highway. The closest to those figures you are going to find on a Silverado 1500 with a gas engine is the 2.7-liter turbocharged I-4. However, that engine only gets 20 MPG in city driving and 23 MPG in highway driving, and it can only 9,300 lbs – a full 200 lbs less than the Silverado 1500 with the turbo-diesel.

The same holds true for the Chevy Colorado. This midsize truck with a turbo-diesel I-4 and rear-wheel drive can get an estimated 20 MPG in the city and an incomparable 30 MPG on the highway. That beats the two gas engines handily while giving you that great capability of towing up to 7,700 lbs. I guess you really can have the best of both worlds.

3 – Diesel Trucks Are Dependable

Both diesel and gas engines work on internal combustion, the burning of a small amount of compressed fuel and air inside a cylinder in order to produce power. However, a gasoline engine uses an electric spark from a spark plug to ignite the fuel-air mixture. In a diesel engine, the cylinder compresses the mixture to a greater degree, so much so that it immediately ignites as it is sprayed directly into the cylinder by an electronic fuel injection system. This additional compression makes the diesel engine more fuel-efficient. Also, the absence of spark plugs and the associated parts and wiring on diesel engines makes you have less stuff that needs to be serviced and replaced.

You will still need to bring your diesel truck in for routine servicing like oil changes. But, the fact that the diesel engine has fewer moving parts means that there is less that needs to be serviced and fewer things that can go wrong. As a result, you will find your diesel truck to be more reliable than a comparable model with a gas engine.

4 – Diesel Trucks Last a Long Time

Not only will the fact that diesel engines have fewer moving parts translate into more dependability and better fuel economy, but it will also mean that your diesel truck’s powertrain will last longer than a comparable gasoline one. That means you can keep the same truck for a longer time, and you won’t have to replace it as frequently. While diesel trucks typically cost more than conventional gasoline models, they pay for themselves over their life.

Therefore, the longer you own the truck, the more time you will have to recapture value through better fuel economy and more efficient usage. In addition, when you decide to replace your current diesel truck with a newer one, you will get a better resale or trade-in value than if your truck has a gasoline engine. That is how diesel trucks will end up saving you money in the long run.

Get Ready to Find Your Next Diesel Truck

As you can see, there are plenty of major benefits to owning a diesel truck. They give you greater torque, improving overall vehicle truck strength, giving you the ability to tow heavy trailers and carry big payloads. They will also let you spend more time on the road than at the service station since diesel trucks are more reliable and fuel-efficient than the same trucks with gasoline engines. Finally, you will get more life out of your diesel truck, translating into long-term savings and better resale value. However, only at your local Chevy dealership will you find a full array of new and used diesel trucks from the midsize Colorado all the way up to the Silverado 3500HD.