If you are thinking of buying an overlanding vehicle, it might be your first one, there is one question that will keep a crew around the campfire engaged for the entire night. I’ve looked at the best resources available online to come up with the definitive answer.
Is diesel better for overlanding?
No, diesel is not better for overlanding by definition. It depends greatly on your ambitions, location and budget. Generally diesel engines last longer and are better at difficult offroad conditions but those are not the only points to consider.
What those points are and in which scenarios you are better off with a petrol engine we will all discuss in the article below. Stick around to learn everything you need to know to make an informed decision that fits you.
How does a combustion engine work?
There are a three main types of engines on the market right now. Diesel, petrol and electric engines and before we dive into the positives and negatives of the diesel engine I will quickly dive into the mechanics of combustion engines. I’m leaving electric engines out of the rest of this article because even though they are incredible for offroad driving the battery life + the availability of charging points is not yet up to par for the remote traveling of most overlanders.
The part that makes the combustion engine move are the pistons, and a v8 engine has 8 of them while most other cars have less. A piston is a small cylindrical chamber that can get bigger and smaller. The diesel or petrol is injected into the chamber of the piston when it is getting smaller. The fluid ignites and therefor expands pushing the chamber into becoming bigger again.
The crucial difference between a diesel and petrol is the reason why the fluid ignites. Diesel ignites and expands by itself because of the pressure that gets built up by the compressing chamber. Diesel however needs a spark to ignite and that is what your spark plugs do. Diesel is a bit harder to control precisely but it delivers more power. Therefor diesel engine have to be built heavier to withstand that kind of power but that makes it more expensive in a lot of areas.
The conclusive list of pro’s and con’s of a diesel engine for overlanding
On this list I’ve added the most relevant points for overlanding, there are plenty of other reasons why someone would or would not buy a diesel car but those are for somebody else's list. Not this one.
Common positives of a diesel engine
A diesel engine…
- … is more fuel efficient then a petrol engine, so it has a higher mileage range for longer trips
- … has more torc in the lower rpms meaning it is better at climbing rocky hills at a low speed
- … has a longer engine life, because of the purpose it is built for. A good truck will last for decades
- … is cheaper to fill the tank because diesel is often cheaper in most countries (at least in Europe)
Common negatives of a diesel engine
A diesel engine…
- … has higher maintenance costs due to more expensive parts and a shorter maintenance interval
- … is more expensive to repair
- … has a higher initial cost to purchase
- … diesel is harder to find in remote areas (depends on your country, but a common issue in the USA, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa)
- … modern diesel engine (2007 and up) is more sensitive to bad quality fuel (common in 3rd world countries) than fuel cars (added water or the wrong sulphur content (bad quality fuel) can wreck the car) … is noisy and not as responsive as a petrol engine
- … older diesel engines are not allowed into European city centres due to emission regulations
Other considerations that might interest you
A diesel engine…
- … is less likely to cause a grass fire with a hot exhaust … diesel is easier to store in containers
- … is less fun to drive in sand
- … diesel is hard to remove in a spillage
- … you cannot start a fire with diesel, you can with petrol
- … is better at carrying or towing heavy loads (like a rooftop tent or a trailer)
Those are the most important considerations for choosing a diesel or not, now you might already have an idea what is on your priority list, but if you are a beginner overland it might still be a hard decision. In the next paragraph we will discuss different scenarios and the recommended engine type for each.
Scenarios for buying a car with a … engine
In the end, which type of engine fits you depends on your goals, location and budget. If a diesel car is simply not available then you can search all you want but it is probably not going to happen. So in the list below we
Ambitions of overlanding for the next 10 years = diesel
Because if you are planning to invest into a car that you want to keep for many many many year, you will offset the higher purchase cost with the lower fuel costs.
Local (in your own country) remote vehicle travel = diesel
The higher fuel economy will allow you to go further into the wilderness.
First time getting into overlanding and trying out a first vehicle = petrol
Even after reading all the best meant advice online there is one thing you don’t know yet and those are your own preferences while overlanding and unfortunately there is only one way to find out. By getting out there. So spending less on your first vehicle is a good idea.
Your next overlanding vehicle for more extreme offroading = diesel
You’ve figured out what you want and what you want is extreme offroading while overlanding. Then your next step will be a diesel and you will feel good about spending the money.
City hopping + occasional offroad section = petrol
For easy offroad sections a petrol car is perfectly capable and driving in the city is really bad for a diesel. And with strict emission rules in Europe you are not even allowed to enter those cities with a diesel.
Daily driver + weekend warrior overlanding = petrol
Short trips are really bad for a diesel engine so a petrol engine is the better option here because you will probably just want to take it easy and relax on the weekends. Pitch the tent and read a book in the wilderness.
I’m on a budget vehicle = petrol
Easy, petrol engines are cheaper in almost aspect.
I love the sand smasher = petrol
Petrol engines are more fun riding in sand because of the higher revs so if that is your main goal, buy a petrol car.
Intercontinental overlanding trip = petrol
Diesel is quite hard to find in remote areas of South America, Africa, Asia or the Middle East as well as the diesel quality is poor in those places (both on purpose and not) which will kill a modern day diesel engine. Better to take a petrol car and not have to worry about those things.
Living in South America, Africa, Asia or the Middle East = petrol
Same reason as above. Diesel is quite hard to find in remote areas of South America, Africa, Asia or the Middle East as well as the diesel quality is poor in those places (both on purpose and not) which will kill a modern day diesel engine. Better to take a petrol car and not have to worry about those things.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve managed to make your decision on what type of car to look for. I know what I will be looking to replace my motorcycle with. I’m gonna find our new family a nice petrol car for our first family big overlanding trip.
Save these on pinterest for later
Recommended articles
FAQ
Are diesel engines better for off roading?
Stock diesel engines perform better compared to stock petrol engines on difficult offroad terrain such as steep rock climbs and muddy conditions because they have more power at slow speeds. On easy to moderate offroad tracks both engine types won’t have any difficulties tackling the terrain.
Which is better for offroading diesel or petrol?
Stock diesel engines perform better compared to stock petrol engines on difficult offroad terrain such as steep rock climbs and muddy conditions because they have more power at slow speeds. On easy to moderate offroad tracks both engine types won’t have any difficulties tackling the terrain.
Is diesel good for long trips?
Yes, diesel is good for long trips where the engine gets to run on a consistent speed for hours, because it will be more fuel efficient compared to a petrol engine. If you have to stop and start a lot on that trip than a petrol engine is better.
Is diesel more reliable than petrol?
That depends on the brand of car, but for most brands the answer is no. Diesel cars are nog more reliable than petrol because they require more maintenance and many people forget that.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/jan/27/diesel-cars-cheap-reliable-petrol