Diesel or Gasoline

[pearson1662]

Are diesel engines more reliable than gasoline?

 

[Martian]

I find them to be. I don't know if there's an "exact science" but I do believe that it is common for a diesel engine to last longer than a gas engine. Not to mention diesels give you a little more power.

Now what are we running here, are you talking in general or for different purposes as it may vary as well?

 

[namesray]

i feel they are. i would prefer a diesel engine over a gas engine on equipment. i think they last longer, work harder, and have more low end torque for working. all my equipment is diesel.

 

[tessiers]

I don't know, I'll tell you in 70 years if my JD lasts longer than my old Farmall. I like the efficiency and torque of the diesel, however the gas is equally reliable in my opinion. You are going to find a lot of opinions here but bottom line is both have there place. Good luck finding a gas tractor these days, seems like they stopped making them in the 80's.

 

[pearson1662]

I'm considering buying an older tractor and several that I think might suit my needs were made in diesel, gasoline or both. For instance and one that I am considering is an IH284. My understanding is that it was originally manufactured with a gas engine (1976 to 1981) and later manufacturing changed to diesel (1980 to 1984). I'll be using it to clear brush and disc.
I'm considering several at this point and concerned about getting parts for some tractors even those US made. I think the oldest tractor I've considered (IH/Farmall 300) was manufactured in 1955.

 

[rsewill]

Are diesel engines more reliable than gasoline?

It isn't the fuel, it's the quality of the engine manufacturing, design, etc. Diesel is more economical.

 

[Artisan]

Are diesel engines more reliable than gasoline?

pearson whats up? Why do you ask please?

 

[MasseyWV]

Reliability and longevity of either diesel or gasoline engines depend on many factors but I believe a diesel engine has higher operating and maintenance costs than a gasoline engine.

 

[jenkinsph]

Buying a tractor from the 50's to 70's I would think the gas engines were about as good as the diesel engines. While I prefer the diesel fuel economy the old gas motors were well made and heavy duty, that's why so many are still around. The last gas tractor my family had was a 460 International, the engine was good but the rest of it was horrible. All the other Internationals we had were great tractors.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I don't think one is more reliable than the other. Diesel engines were originally designed to run on low grade fuels, actually coal dust, but that didn't work out. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

The gasoline engine on my log splitter below is a Wisconsin single cylinder engine built in 1955 (57 years of service) and has many, many hours on it and has never been overhauled. Originally this engine was used to power stripper wells in the oil fields of Texas running 24/7 for months on end without much downtime. Pretty hard to beat that kind of reliability.

Kubota B3030 HSDC snowblowing Jan 2012 (HD) - YouTube