diesel/petrol engine query

[ugene425]

Hello,

Is there a mileage level that if you are exceeding each year, it makes sense to buy a diesel car? For example, if you are doing less than 12k miles a year, should I be just looking at petrol engines? Where is the cut off per say?

Thank you.

[Scrump]

I would have thought it depends more on the type of journeys.
Weekly journeys of 250 miles would suit a diesel.
Multiple daily urban journeys of 10 miles or less would suit a petrol.
Both would give around the same annual mileage.

[culpz]

15k per year is probably where you'll start to save over a petrol, although i reckon 20k+ is more significant.

[ZX10R NIN]

12k & above is the marker but if you're doing 8k but long journeys then a diesel will suit then too, if on the other hand you're doing short journeys then get a petrol.

[ugene425]

culpz said:

15k per year is probably where you'll start to save over a petrol, although i reckon 20k+ is more significant.

Interesting, I don't think I will be doing more than 12-13k, so it seems petrol is the best bet.

Edited by ugene425 on Wednesday 13th January 10:01

[ugene425]

ZX10R NIN said:

12k & above is the marker but if you're doing 8k but long journeys then a diesel will suit then too, if on the other hand you're doing short journeys then get a petrol.

Mainly short journeys daily. The longest being 13.5 miles twice daily. All other daily journeys would be approx. 2-3 miles. The odd 5 mile etc. All rather short distances I appreciate so petrol it seems is the best option for me.

[DaveH23]

Scrump said:

I would have thought it depends more on the type of journeys.
Weekly journeys of 250 miles would suit a diesel.
Multiple daily urban journeys of 10 miles or less would suit a petrol.
Both would give around the same annual mileage.

This.

The number is largely irrelevant, it's the type of Journeys.

[culpz]

DaveH23 said:

Scrump said:

I would have thought it depends more on the type of journeys.
Weekly journeys of 250 miles would suit a diesel.
Multiple daily urban journeys of 10 miles or less would suit a petrol.
Both would give around the same annual mileage.

This.

The number is largely irrelevant, it's the type of Journeys.

That's not actually correct. The overall number is very relevant, in terms of working out a saving long-term over a petrol. Diesels ultimately exist to save you money, so why would you bother if it didn't actually benefit you?

[Mike Jersey]

No point getting a diesel if your doing under 8k a year. Modern diesels are not very reliable if the are constantly driven around town without any motorway driving.

[Dashnine]

Mike Jersey said:

No point getting a diesel if your doing under 8k a year. Modern diesels are not very reliable if the are constantly driven around town without any motorway driving.

The problem with modern / new (Euro6) diesels is that they have exhaust filtering hardware (the 'DPF') which needs long runs to burn the soot gathered in the filter.

Lots of short / low speed journeys won't allow the 'regeneration' to happen so the DPF gets clogged up with soot and can cost hundreds to clean or thousands to replace.

I'd suggests the old 12K miles per year measure is up to around 20K miles a year - and there needs to be frequent +30 minutes journeys on A road or motorway speeds to give the DPF chance to clean itself.