How many miles does an internal combustion engine on gasoline last, and how many miles does an internal combustion engine on diesel last? We’ll try to answer these questions in this article.
In order to fully grasp the question, we’ll need to explore a few additional factors.
To put it simply, the answer is that an internal combustion engine on petrol or diesel oil can last more than a million kilometers or miles provided it is well maintained and cared for, with high-quality parts and high-quality oil. A few minutes of driving without oil in the engine will cause the engine to stop and the pistons to stop as well.
As a result, regular vehicle maintenance and the manner in which the driver executes his or her duties are extremely important considerations.
Choosing a high-quality oil will be the subject of a future article, as I want to take into account a number of factors.
There are other vibrations that we don’t see in gasoline engines, such as in diesel engines, because they are distinct from gasoline engines. It’s important to keep in mind that how you drive your car is just as important as what you do when you get behind the wheel, and this is especially true when it’s cold outside and you don’t allow the engine to warm up for a few minutes before accelerating. This is an aggressive driving style that will cause long-term engine damage, especially when you do it while the engine is still cold.
While pushing the accelerator all the way down isn’t necessarily a negative thing, if the engine isn’t properly oiled, it will suffer.
Whether you stick to the manufacturer’s recommended fuel or go above and above, the quality of the fuel you put in your car counts. This is true whether you make modifications to the car’s engine or not. Petrol and diesel engines are competing for the title of the longest-lasting engines.
Which engine lasts more? The petrol engine or diesel engine?
I’ll begin by addressing the question from my perspective. While it’s reasonable to assume that a petrol engine will survive longer than a diesel engine in theory, the reality is that diesel engines that have traveled over a million miles are just as reliable as their gasoline counterparts.
Since diesel engines have low speeds, big torques, huge displacements, 1500 rpm to 2500 rpm and are utilized for towing and long-distance driving, we do not include them in trucks that can survive more than 1, 600, 000 miles.
Short lengths in crowded streets, cold starts, frequent stops, and lack of oil, especially when you start the automobile, cause the engine to suffer greatly. All of these little things add up to increased engine wear over time.
I was in a friend’s workshop in Germany a few years ago and met a gentleman who had just purchased a 2016 Volkswagen Passat with a simple 2. 0 Common rail diesel engine. It was an intriguing story, and I thought you would enjoy hearing it.
While passing by, I noted the car’s wear and tear and inquired of the owner about its mileage. It had 800, 000 kilometers (about 500, 000 miles) on the odometer and had been owned by the German police force for three years before he bought it.
The car in the preceding example had been in service with the police department for three years and had been operational nearly nonstop for that time period. It’s time to make two straightforward conclusions:
- The car engine that runs continuously lasts longer,
- The engine of a car that is driven on long distances has a longer life.
In addition to the previously listed factors, the way you drive the car, the type of oil you use in the engine, and, of course, regular technical checks of the vehicle are all critical.
Since we now have compact, undersized (downsizing) and turbocharged gasoline engines that are less than a million miles old, I conclude that modern diesel engines survive longer than modern gasoline engines.
Modern gasoline and diesel engines aren’t what they used to be, which is a shame because the older engines were more durable in the face of abuse and neglect due to their focus on reliability.
The reliability of today’s engines has been lowered, tolerances have been reduced, manufacturing accuracy has been lowered, manufacturing costs have been lowered, and more poor quality materials have been used, so new cars are no longer as expensive as they were in the past.
It’s possible to bring back the old, reliable engines at any time and in a matter of minutes, but manufacturers have adapted to the needs of today’s consumers, which include smaller engines with low fuel consumption and more equipment, as well as more comfort and lower prices.
Conclusion
The longevity of a vehicle’s engine is directly related to how well it is maintained. Whether it is a diesel or a petrol engine, you can ensure its longevity by using high-quality oil, replacing its consumables on schedule, performing regular technical checks, and refraining from excessively aggressive driving (especially in the cold).
Obviously, different manufacturers’ engines have advantages and disadvantages; this is common knowledge, even if it is for electric motors this time. However, the driver is ultimately responsible for how many miles an engine lasts because he makes the choices.
