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

 

[cowski]

284 is that the one with a mazda gas engine?

 

[Jay4200]

Are diesel engines more reliable than gasoline?

It's not as much one being more reliable than the other, it's having a gas appliance that sits is the problem nowadays. If I used my tractor regularly all year around, I'd consider getting a gas one. However, that is not the case for me - I used it pretty regularly in the winter (provided it snows occasionally...harrumph), but it sat for 6 months during this past summer since I didn't have any projects going on. You simply can't let a gas sit in a tank for more than a couple of months any more. Diesel doesn't have that problem. I go through enough heartache keeping on top of a dozen dirtbikes/atvs, plus saws, mowers, generator, etc. I spend whole weekends draining gas and cleaning carbs as it is.

JayC

 

[CJONE]

A Diesel is more efficient than gas. A Deisel costs less to operate over time than gas. A Diesel will outlast a gas engine. A Diesel costs quite a bit more to repair than a gas engine. So it is really up to you what you prefer. As far as working a engine I will take a diesel over a gas everytime. CJ

 

[tessiers]

I think the key to the longevity of the old gas engines lies in their rpm's. The gassers from the 50's ran about the same rpm's as the diesels of today, resulting in solid long running engines. I disagree with the comment that diesels are better for setting. The fuel is the only thing that sets better, diesels are more prone to stuck rings, resulting in poor/hard starting because of low compression. I have had several diesel tractors that required dragging for quite a bit (the heat produced from turning the engine will help the rings seal) before firing. Most injector pumps are also prone to leaking after setting for long periods. I have several gas tractors that set all winter and with a freshly charged battery, and a gallon of fresh gas fire right up with no problems. I even picked up a Farmall H that had not been started in 15 years, within an hour she drove onto the trailer.

As for parts I have a 41' Farmall H that I get a lot of parts for right at our local Motor Supply. The rest are easily obtained at a nearby Case/International/New Holland Dealer. I also have a 53' Ford NAA that is equally easy to find parts for. The 284 was made by komatsu and has a mazda engine, which would lead me to believe parts might be harder to find but I don't know that for sure. Any model I was considering I would contact a dealer and ask about parts availability. A lot of stuff is available on line but nothing beats a good mechanic and parts department when you get in a bind.

 

[indianaEPH]

I would agree that a diesel is more reliable. In general they arguably are simpler. They don't have a spark ignition system. So plug fouling, wiring points, CDI are not an issue.

Diesels are typically designed with greater compression ratio and have higher torque andy make their power at lower RPMs. This makes them idea for machinery and the designers tend to make them more robust than gas engines.

The one issue, that has already been mentioned, is that the fuel injection systems are high pressure and high cost. So if the injection system goes out then it is likely to be expensive.

Other consideration, diesel is more efficient but the fuel price tends to be higher.

For myself, I would never consider a gas engine for a tractor. Do they even make any? Must be very old equipment.

 

[JoelD]

I second what Jay wrote. Gas is nothing but trouble when not regularly used.

In my opinion a diesel motor will outlast a gas motor.

I'd rather own diesel anything than gas anything

In the end, I'd ultimately like to have electric everything, then it can sit forever and not be a problem, basically zero maintenance.

one day I think everything will be electric, just about everything.

Good luck regardless.

Joel

 

[Soundguy]

hour wise.. I expect a diesel.. especially a large one.. to run longer.

mind you I'm more comfortable wrenching on an old gasser though

 

[jenkinsph]

I like desels but they have evolved quite a bit from the days off a Buda diesel engine turning around 300 rpm. Today's small diesels are turning at almost double the speed of the 1960's engines. I hear lots of people say how long diesels will last but it is debateable whether these newer faster more complicated engines will last.

Bear in mind I have diesel everything from the lawnmower to all my trucks but I don't think it is as cut and dried as I use to suppose.

 

[Martian]

I like desels but they have evolved quite a bit from the days off a Buda diesel engine turning around 300 rpm. Today's small diesels are turning at almost double the speed of the 1960's engines. I hear lots of people say how long diesels will last but it is debateable whether these newer faster more complicated engines will last.

Bear in mind I have diesel everything from the lawnmower to all my trucks but I don't think it is as cut and dried as I use to suppose.

I think this will be said about a lot of this era's machines (of all types). We have added so much complexity to everything over the last years nothing is going to last the way it did. I have a Farmall Cub and the rest are newer machines, and it's something to be said that you can fix nearly everything on their with a socket wrench set and a little knowledge. The tractor doesn't have an ignition per se that we would think of today. You simply pull a lever the ignites the starter. I will be really surprised if our new machines last half as long as the machines generations ago. Between more parts, more complex machines it's hard to believe that we could expect the same long term reliability. The comfort, power and short term reliability of the new machines outweigh the simplicity of the older for me, but if I were to bet 50 years from now, my 59 year old Farmall Cub would be running over the 110 I just purchased.