There are many different types of generator available which can provide energy to fulfill every possible power requirement. One big consideration that people have to make when choosing the right generator for them is whether to buy a diesel-powered generator or one that is powered by petrol. Both diesel and petrol generators have a wide variety of uses, both in the home and in industry, and they can be used as power generators, mechanical engines, and mobile drives. The application of both diesel and petrol generators is widespread in several areas, including powering construction equipment, locomotives, automobiles, and as backup power sources in power outages and emergencies. When a comparison is made between a diesel generator and a gasoline generator, there are several factors to take into account, but it is widely agreed that diesel generators have the upper hand.
In this article, we will explore five reasons why diesel generators are better than petrol generators.
Less Maintenance
Diesel generators require significantly less maintenance than petrol generators and especially when you buy a new diesel generator, it will not need any maintenance at all for a long period. According to Brett Patterson from Ablesales, the engine of a diesel generator is more simple than that of a petrol generator, making it lower maintenance. Because of this, diesel generators save you money in repairs and replacement parts compared to running a petrol generator for the same period. One key component of a petrol generator that regularly needs repairing or replacing is the spark plug, but diesel generators do not have spark plugs. Diesel fuel auto-ignites and doesn’t require the need for sparking or using any switch or wire for ignition. Diesel fuel is also significantly less corrosive than petrol and so does far less damage to the components of a generator than petrol does. Without any major maintenance, an 1800 rpm water-cooled diesel unit can operate for as long as 12,000 to 30,000 hours, whereas a gas unit of similar size will need maintenance after operating for 6,000 to 10,000 hours.
Significantly Less Noisy
We have all been annoyed by the loud noise which was made by the contemporary gas generators. One of the biggest advantages of a diesel generator is that the sound is either low or non-existent, which ensures that the people who are near the generator are not disturbed. There are many applications of a generator where noise pollution would be an enormous problem. Many people use their generators to power their electrical appliances on camping trips. If their generator is too noisy, then it could spoil their peace and stop them from sleeping. Likewise, many restaurants use generators as a back-up power source during power outages. Their customers’ dining experience will be ruined if they cannot talk to the other people at their table because of a noisy generator. Whether being used in the home or industry, the lower noise levels make diesel generators significantly more user friendly. To maximize noise reduction, choose a liquid-cooled diesel generator over an air-cooled diesel generator as they are less noisy.
Diesel Generators are Far More Reliable
Reliability should be a very important factor when you are making your decision about whether to buy a diesel generator or an electricity generator. An unreliable generator can be a huge inconvenience if you need it for your business, and can even be dangerous if the generator is being used as a backup power source in a home or a hospital during a power outage or emergency. Compared to petrol generators, diesel generators are significantly more reliable and rugged, meaning that they are far less likely to stop working and can handle being moved around and handled a lot more than petrol generators. Most importantly, diesel generators can take on immense power loads for an increased period without their quality being compromised. Diesel engines run at a lower rpm than petrol engines and so there is far less strain on the engine, meaning it will last longer. Diesel generators remain in perfect working order for a long time and rarely have any serious malfunctions unless they have not been looked after properly or have been seriously structurally damaged.
Far Less Cost of Fuel
Whilst diesel fuel is often more expensive than petrol, it is far cheaper to run a diesel generator than a petrol generator because diesel generators are far more fuel-efficient. Diesel fuel provides around 12-16% more energy content than petrol does and so a diesel generator uses far less fuel to run an electrical appliance than a petrol generator needs to run the appliance. By using a diesel generator, you can save between thirty and fifty percent of the cost of running a petrol generator. This is a significant saving and when considered over the lifetime of a generator the accumulated savings can be enormous, especially when added to the money saved from a diesel generator requiring significantly less maintenance during that time.
Significantly Longer Life Expectancy
The life of a petrol generator is considerably shorter than the life of a diesel generator. This is because they burn hotter than the diesel units as petrol generators compress only about half as much air as diesel generators. This significantly reduces the life span of all of the parts in a petrol generator and of the generator itself. Furthermore, as diesel fuel burns it lubricates the engine which keeps all the parts in good working order and helps to increase the life expectancy of the generator. As long as you look after your diesel generator, it can last as long as fifteen years before it needs major servicing.
There are several key considerations to make when choosing the right generator for your power needs. If you are unsure whether to buy a diesel generator or a petrol generator, there are a significant number of advantages that diesel generators provide. With so many diesel generators on the market, be sure to do your homework and it will be easy to find the right generator for you.
