Diesel cars cost more to buy than a petrol, but cost less per mile in fuel.Diesel Engines are very complicated because the combustion and functioning mechanism is very different from petrol ones. This engines are more efficient and often as powerful compared to petrol engines.And thus petrol cars are beneficial for those people who uses less car .But Maintenance costs are high for diesel cars and their life is smaller compared to petrol cars.I would suggest diesel cars for those who’s usage is high.

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Dunno if I agree with all of this. I'd sooner have a mechanical diesel injection pump than the electronic fuel injection found on a petrol car - using my 'in the middle of the Sahara' benchmark at any rate. And you couldn't run a petrol on cooking oil!!

Also, I think most people on this forum would agree that all other things being equal the average diesel engine lasts longer than the average petrol one.

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I'd agree, my daily driver being a diesel eurobox , its great on fuel usage and long lived engines

Diesel on my Iveco is on 250K klicks , Luke the prev owner had it rebuilt at 200k klicks and was told by mechanic that it really didn't need it, see Toyotas for very high mileages on engines

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Rich

Iveco Turbo Daily 4x4 40-10
Ex Owner LR101 300Tdi Ambi 'Tiggurr'

Petrol vs. diesel? Nice thread, it reminds me the evergreen argument Toyota+expensive spares vs. LR+inexpensive spares. Only parameters worth of considering imho are availability of fuel and degree to which car will be exposed to water . I have both diesel and petrol and both are quite reliable. I disagree that petrol engine is less reliable due to its complexity, diesel runs at much higher pressure that has its consequences i.e. wear& tear of self-lubricated injection pump. I personally ran down the pump with bad fuel and friend of mine did the same in Africa on its LC100. Personally never met anyone who terminally damaged injection on its overland petrol car during my trips. Replacement rather simple on petrol car provided one has spare parts.
As to the fuel consumption, true, there is difference but speaking about LC this difference tends to decrease while in hard terrain. LC 80 4.2 tdi will burn ca.18-20ltrs/100 km in hard terrain vs. 25 ltrs in case of my 4.5 petrol (difflocked +overdrive). Volume-wise it is a difference but if you consider density (weight) it is not so much as the gasoline is lighter fuel. My FZJ80 has 270 ltrs fuel tanks’ capacity and it is pretty much enough for any circumstances + jerry cans. Deep water crossing/wading is only uncomfortable option for me to imagine for the petrol car.

cheers

I've got to disagree with most of this.

Yes, diesel cost more to buy.

Diesel, especially the older mechanical injection models are not complicated at all, NO timing, NO fuel mixture none of the hassles involved in petrol engine tune ups. Newer electronically controlled diesels can be an issue for expedition use if there is ever a computer or electronic issue, either due to malfunction or mechanic ineptitude.

Diesel is usually considerably more economical than petrol.

On maintenance the only area that might be more expensive is an oil change. You NEVER need spark plugs, tune ups or all the other stuff needed with a petrol engine.

As for life span, other than the cheapo GM 350 "wannna-be" diesel of the 1970's and early '80's, a diesel should outlast a petrol engine everytime.

Overland diesel is likely easier to find than petrol. All trucks run diesel, no diesel = no commerce. In my travels there have been several times when petrol has been in short supply but diesel has been available.

When you drive in Asia, stans,with diesel at 14pence-37pence per litre, one tank is fine, as we obtained diesel easily, but going to the Gilf Kabir ,Egypt, and Sudan worth using 2 tanks, plus jerrys.Diesel quite easy to buy but cueing with the locals when filling 10 plastic container,plus 8 jerry cans on the fore court , took hours.the locals were not amused.
Filled a few containers with diesel ,to bring back home, but forgot this was from a hot country,when home poured diesel in to the LC and it came our as glue,.so had to wait untill spring for it to thin. Oh yes and we also carried 300 litres of water.What a vehicle, no problems.LC 80,1996.