Petrol Vs Diesel - Accelerating
Discussion
Hey. I've been looking around the internet for an answer to this question but none seem to be simple enough for my weak mind 
I was curious to know which would be quickest acceleration between 2 equal cars but 1 petrol and 1 diesel. More specifically from 40mph-70mph range.
Why do I ask?
Well I have a 2L petrol BMW 3 series which on paper accelerates in 9.1 seconds. I also drive a Diesel van for work that does 0-60 closer to 12 seconds however when I come to overtaking on the country roads around where I live, it feels as if the van can overtake easier. On average the cars I overtake are doing 50mph so I drop to 4th gear in both vehicles and pass with the foot completely down until i am safely passed the slower car. Ive never had a timer or anything so i can say for certain that 1 is quicker than the other but it just feels like i build up the speed better.
I am asking as I am looking for a new car and due to my area being full over elderly drivers, I am interested in a somewhat easy overtaking car.
Thanks for response and once again, i apologize for knowing next to nothing about cars and asking probably simple questions.
I was curious to know which would be quickest acceleration between 2 equal cars but 1 petrol and 1 diesel. More specifically from 40mph-70mph range.
Why do I ask?
Well I have a 2L petrol BMW 3 series which on paper accelerates in 9.1 seconds. I also drive a Diesel van for work that does 0-60 closer to 12 seconds however when I come to overtaking on the country roads around where I live, it feels as if the van can overtake easier. On average the cars I overtake are doing 50mph so I drop to 4th gear in both vehicles and pass with the foot completely down until i am safely passed the slower car. Ive never had a timer or anything so i can say for certain that 1 is quicker than the other but it just feels like i build up the speed better.
I am asking as I am looking for a new car and due to my area being full over elderly drivers, I am interested in a somewhat easy overtaking car.
Thanks for response and once again, i apologize for knowing next to nothing about cars and asking probably simple questions.
Mikem94 said:
I drop to 4th gear in both vehicles
The petrol car will rev alot higher than the diesel which is why its quicker to 60. Diesels produce their power lower down and dont rev as high.In my petrol powered car i usually start overtakes with the revs just over 3000, which is usually where a diesel is ready for the next gear.
In fourth, possibly the diesel but I suspect the petrol would be vastly faster if you use the right gear. Why on earth would you use fourth gear to overtake from 50? I don't think I've driven a modern car which wouldn't do it better in third (are any modern cars geared for less than 80 in third?); in some I'd even choose second.
Edited by kambites on Sunday 22 March 17:37
Acceleration is proportional to the engine power and road speed at that particular instant. Turbo diesels tend to have a lot more power low down in the engine speed ranges we typically drive at, which is why it feels more 'on demand' as it's there at a squeeze of the throttle. In a petrol the power is typically available much higher so you either need to change down or wait for the revs to rise. This is why some people consider them 'hard work'.
it depends what kind of comparison you want to make. the diesel is likely to pull at a higher gear as it will be in a lower rev range where all its torque is. the petrol will need to be in a lower gear and higher up the rev range in order to pull at its fastest.
If you're pootling along at 50mph in 5th in both cars it's more likely the diesel will pull better from 50mph to 70mph if you stay in that gear.
If you're pootling along at 50mph in 5th in both cars it's more likely the diesel will pull better from 50mph to 70mph if you stay in that gear.
bobtail4x4 said:
I had a 1.6 petrol A3 as a loan car last year, following a truck at 40mph I pulled out to pass and it just sat there,
had to drop to 3rd, my usual 2.0 tdi A3would have just passed it.
with a petrol you have to row it along on the stick.
This is a great example of the sad and sorry state of todays motorists.had to drop to 3rd, my usual 2.0 tdi A3would have just passed it.
with a petrol you have to row it along on the stick.
rallycross said:
bobtail4x4 said:
I had a 1.6 petrol A3 as a loan car last year, following a truck at 40mph I pulled out to pass and it just sat there,
had to drop to 3rd, my usual 2.0 tdi A3would have just passed it.
with a petrol you have to row it along on the stick.
This is a great example of the sad and sorry state of todays motorists.had to drop to 3rd, my usual 2.0 tdi A3would have just passed it.
with a petrol you have to row it along on the stick.
Not that a 1.6 Petrol should be compared to a 2.0 Diesel anyway...but the modern motorist dos not want to use gears or revs, they want instant low down power in whatever gear they find themselves in.
Well are you using the gearbox?
Like for like, a diesel turbo will produce more power at lower engine revs vs a petrol naturally aspirated. That's because the turbo produces loads of torque. So, at 2000rpm I bet the diesel is more powerful.
Therefore, you should use the gearbox to get the better performance from the petrol.
Like for like, a diesel turbo will produce more power at lower engine revs vs a petrol naturally aspirated. That's because the turbo produces loads of torque. So, at 2000rpm I bet the diesel is more powerful.
Therefore, you should use the gearbox to get the better performance from the petrol.
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