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Choosing a Motorhome: Gas Vs. Diesel

Gas or Diesel Motorhome Articles from Autoplex RV

The engine on your motorhome may not be your biggest concern, but it can make a big difference in the performance, operating costs, and longevity of your motorhome. The two main varieties of motorhome engine are diesel and gas. The majority of motorhome engines are diesel-powered, and there are probably some good reasons for that. But there are also arguments for why gasoline engines might be a good choice for some perspective owners. Read on to learn for yourself what the main differences are between these two types of engine. Stop by Autoplex RV if you have any more detailed questions or you want to compare specific models. We proudly serve the Calgary, Alberta area from our High River and Vulcan locations, including all of Southern Alberta.


Initial Price

For many buyers, price is the first question to ask. In this regard, diesel engines are generally much more expensive than gas engines. Exactly how much more expensive will depend on the manufacturer and model, but in general, choosing gas over diesel will save you several thousand—or even tens of thousands—of dollars. If initial price is your biggest concern, you’ll probably want to go with a gas engine.

Maintenance/Reliability

Of course, the initial price shouldn’t be your only concern, even if you’re primarily concerned about finances. For example, in the long term, maintenance costs can make the lifelong cost of one RV much higher than the next. When comparing gas and diesel engines, this isn’t always a simple calculation. Gas engines tend to break down more often, but parts and labor tend to be cheaper. Diesel engines, on the other hand, are usually more expensive to work on because diesel mechanics are considered specialists. Diesel engines are also substantially more reliable. This is one area in which the make and manufacturer of the engine may have more to do with long-term ownership costs than just the fuel source.

Fuel Costs

Similar to the maintenance and reliability question, the question of what type of fuel will be more expensive can be complicated. Diesel typically costs more per gallon than gasoline, but there have been times when the prices were mostly equal or even where gasoline was more expensive. While diesel is usually more expensive, it also contains more power per unit than gas, so diesel engines tend to be substantially more fuel efficient than their gas counterparts. Under normal circumstances, diesel is generally cheaper to run.

Longevity

When discussing longevity, there’s a clear winner, and it’s not even really close. Diesel engines last many times longer than gasoline engines, in most cases. Your typically gas engine will need to be rebuilt after as little as 100K miles, and you usually can’t expect much more than 300K miles in total. Diesel engines, on the other hand, can last as much as a million miles. You may eventually need to have the engine rebuilt, but you’ll probably still get many hundreds of thousands of miles after that.

Horsepower & Torque

Diesel engines and gasoline engines operate in different ways and therefore have different types of output. Diesel engines operate on much, much higher cylinder compression ratios than gas engines. This is because diesel engines use compression, instead of spark plugs, to ignite the fuel/air mixture. The result is that diesel engines have substantially higher amounts of torque than gas engines. While gasoline engines have lower torque, they offer more total horsepower. Towing generally benefits from higher torque, so if you plan on towing a trailer behind your motorhome, that might be your best bet. On the other hand, if you want a motorhome with a little more get-up-and-go, gasoline is a good choice.

At the end of the day, you’ll have to consider your own needs when choosing between gas and diesel engines. Stop by Autoplex RV for a more in-depth conversation and to see what amazing motorhomes we have for sale. We have locations in High River and Vulcan, and we proudly serve Calgary and the rest of Southern Alberta. Stop by today!