Which Fuel Type is Best For a Truck?

There are a variety of fuel types that trucks are designed to run off of. Some can utilize several fuel types while others are designed for a specific fuel—but what are the advantages and disadvantages of each? We here at 56 Auto Sales want to help you find the truck that’s best for you, so we’ve put together some basic information on three of the most popular fuel types a truck can use, below. To learn more, or to see the trucks we have for sale, contact our store in London, Ohio, today!

Gasoline: Pros & Cons

Gas is the basic fuel type and possibly one of the most popular. They tend to be more affordable up front than other versions, and given how commonplace gasoline is, it’s easy and cheap to fuel up. Though they require more maintenance than their diesel counterparts, they’re more than sturdy enough to rely on for short- to mid-range runs

Diesel: Pros & Cons

Diesel engines are typically a bit more expensive than gasoline models, but if you can cover the up-front costs, there are long-term benefits to them. First, they’re more durable generally than gas models, and that means they’re going to last longer, making them a wise long-term investment. That also means fewer maintenance visits, which will save you money and time by lowering the number of visits you need to make to the service department. Even the exhaust system will last longer, since the waste diesel gives off is less corrosive than gasoline. 

However, diesel fuel often costs more than simple gasoline, and they produce more harmful greenhouse gasses, making them less environmentally friendly. They’re also noisier, contributing more to noise pollution as well, and if you don’t drive regularly and your engine uses a diesel particulate filter (DPF) it could get clogged up, causing serious trouble down the line.

Flex-Fuel Engines

A relatively more modern approach, flex-fuel engines can use fuel that’s any combination of gasoline and methanol or ethanol. These engines do considerably less harm to the environment since their fuel burns cleaner, and since they can utilize any proportion of fuel mixture they have, you don’t need to worry about precise blending. The ethanol many of these engines run on is also sustainably sourced from things like cane sugar and corn, making it less harmful to produce as well as to burn—and you might even save on taxes by driving them!

However, because these engines rely on certain crops, any year where those crops suffer will see flex-fuel pricing rise. Ethanol also absorbs dirt easily, so you risk engine damage, and there aren’t many fuel stations that can top you off.

Ready to see which fuel type works best for your needs? Contact us at 56 Auto Sales for more information, or to see the trucks we have available for each fuel type. We proudly serve Springfield, Dayton, and Columbus, Ohio—let us serve you today!