Diesel Vs. Gas Generators: Which is Better?

Power outages can be a huge disaster for many families and workplaces. In storm situations, it can sometimes be days before power returns to a home or office. It can be very difficult to live and function without this power, but these outages are getting more and more common.

That’s why so many people invest in generators. A generator can ensure that you get the power you need even when the grid is down. But when purchasing a generator, you’ll need to make a few big decisions.

The biggest is likely deciding between a diesel vs gas generator. There are pros and cons to each model. But there will only be one that is right for you. Read on, and we’ll break down the difference between the two types of generators below.

When It Comes To Efficiency…

There are many different factors to consider when it comes to making the choice between a gas and diesel generator. If you’re a money-minded person, the fuel efficiency of a machine might be a big factor.

Even if you’re not so focused on your budget, a more efficient generator can save you a lot of time and offer better convenience. When it comes to fuel efficiency, a diesel generator is probably the easy winner.

Diesel generators often use less fuel than the gasoline-leaning variety. Why is this? In a diesel-based generator, compression is what actually ignites the fuel and allows the generator to work. That means that fuel and air are brought into the engine separate from one another.

Only the air is compressed, which allows the engine to run more efficiently and require less fuel. Generators with gasoline engines must mix air and fuel together in a carburetor before compression takes place. That means a lot of fuel is used in just getting the generator to start working.

A portable diesel generator will run longer for your home and family. That means you’ll have to worry less about running out of fuel during an emergency situation. Diesel generators also cost less to operate in the long run due to this better fuel efficiency.

Is One Louder Or Noisier Than The Other?

If you used to have a diesel generator when you were a kid, you might recall a less-than-pleasant sound. Older models of diesel generators were notorious for being noisy, distracting, and irritating.

Many people carry over this fear to modern diesel generators. Families feel as if they can’t purchase them for their suburban neighborhoods for fear of angering their neighbors. However, this is a false fear.

Modern portable diesel generators run much more quietly than their ancestors of old. They can run and power your home or facility without keeping everyone in the vicinity awake all night.

Diesel generators are also frequently built smaller than gas generators in the modern era. That means they are more easily portable if you plan to move your generator around from location to location. It also means easier storage when the machine is not in use.

Gasoline engines are also quite quiet. In the modern era, the noisiness of generators is not something you’ll need to worry too much about. It doesn’t have to be a big factor when it comes to making your decision.

Maintenance Over The Years

Another benefit of diesel power generators? They also require much less maintenance than gasoline generators.

Diesel generators don’t contain carburetors or spark plugs, which often cause issues in gasoline generators as the years go by. A water-cooled diesel generator can run anywhere between ten and thirty thousand hours before it will need maintenance.

This is a huge leap over gasoline generators, which typically need some sort of service after only five to ten thousand hours of use. This is because gasoline burns hotter than diesel. A shorter life span is the result of this great and sometimes destructive heat.

How Is The Generator Cooled?

Burning both diesel and gasoline can make a machine quite hot, as you might imagine. As such, all generators have some sort of cooling system built into their machines. Generators are either air-cooled or liquid-cooled depending on the model at hand.

The liquid-cooled generators are often more expensive, regardless of whether a generator runs on gas or diesel. These liquid-cooled generators are quite good and are more typically used in larger areas or on big projects. Air-cooled generators are more common among homeowners.

Most homeowners purchase a generator as an emergency tool. It’s used for short-term power outages and is otherwise kept off in the garage. As such, the air-cooled portable generators can be the perfect fit.

It’s only job sites and other places that require extended power that will want to consider a liquid-cooled generator. In these cases, a liquid-cooled portable diesel generator will be the best tool to help get the job done.

While the cooling system doesn’t directly affect the kind of generator you’ll want, this is a good time to remember that diesel generators are safer than the gasoline variety. Diesel burns less hot than gasoline, so you’ll need to rely less on a cooling system to help save the day.

Gasoline also emits more carbon dioxide than diesel does, making it less suitable for clean air around your home and workspace.