CNG Vs Petrol Vs Diesel Cars: Which One Should You Buy?

When purchasing a vehicle, there are several factors to be considered. It could be the space, features, interior designs, budget, etc. Among these several factors is the car fuel type. And in fact, one of the crucial factors people consider when purchasing a vehicle. Market research firm, Kelton Global for the American Chemistry Council states that Americans rank fuel efficiency as the most crucial factor in their decision to purchase a vehicle. The research further reported that 79% of more than 1,000 U.S adults put fuel efficiency above safety features, style, or price. 

The reason for this is the car’s mileage, running and maintenance cost vary depending on the choice of fuel type. This article will guide you on the differences between a CNG vs petrol vs diesel car and which would be better for you. 

CNG Vs Diesel Vs Petrol Engine Maintenance 

Petrol engines’ spare parts are affordable. Hence they are cheaper to maintain. But this is different for diesel cars as their engines have complex parts and high spare parts prices. CNG cars operate on bi-fuel petrol engines. That is, you can operate the car with CNG fuel or petrol, which makes the maintenance cost higher than petrol cars’.

This high maintenance is because it has a CNG kit and a petrol engine. Therefore, if CNG engine cars are not properly cared for, repair costs can be very high. The CNG maintenance cost also depends on the quality of the kit. And requires consistent checks to see leaks in the system and fix them.

CNG Vs Petrol Vs Diesel Mileage 

Only a slight difference exists between the fuel economy of petrol car vs diesel car. Petrol cars are the least fuel-efficient. And they offer 15 kmpl of mileage for a mid-size passenger car, which is lower than diesel and CNG cars. The Diesel car does slightly better, offering 17 kmpl of mileage also for a mid-size passenger car.

CNG cars are the most fuel-efficient.  While petrol and diesel cars offer 15 and 17 kmpl, respectively, for a mid-size passenger car, CNG cars offer more. They have an average mileage of about 25-30 kmpl.

CNG Vs Diesel Vs Petrol Engine Life

In this case, the petrol and CNG engines have similar life spans, less than the diesel engine. A petrol engine can last up to 10 years, while a CNG engine can last more than 15 years before it experiences any major breakdown.  

Diesel is a volatile fuel that effectively lubricates the engine parts. And its engines have the highest lifespan, which is a result of their fuel properties. A diesel engine can last up to 30 years before breaking down. 

CNG Vs Petrol Vs Diesel Safety

Unlike petrol and diesel, which come in liquid form, CNG is gaseous. In case of a leak, the CNG dissipates quickly and does not spill or remain around the car’s axis, reducing the likelihood of a hazardous blast. 

CNG vehicles also have the strongest fuel tanks. And its ignition point is 540°C, almost double the ignition point of petrol or diesel. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of CNG Cars

The main reason why automobile owners switch to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is because of the reduction in fuel cost. Here are some advantages you should be aware of before buying a CNG car. 

Advantages Of CNG Cars

Below are some of the advantages of buying a CNG car;

• CNG cars give space for two fuel types: CNG and petrol.
• Cars operating on CNG fuel are eco-friendly. They do not release carbon emissions. 
• CNG running cost is low, compared to petrol and diesel cars. This is because of the low fuel price.
• CNG-powered gas returns a high fuel economy.
• CNG reduces the probability of a hazardous fire in case of a gas leak.

Disadvantages of CNG Cars

Here are some disadvantages of CNG cars;

• The fuel tank capacity of the CNG car is low. 
• Higher maintenance costs.
• CNG cars are more expensive than petrol and diesel cars due to the CNG kits added for the operation. 
• Vehicles that run on CNG have no boot space because the CNG cylinder has taken up that space. 
• CNG cars deliver low performance compared to petrol and diesel cars.
• There are not enough CNG fuel stations. Hence, refueling becomes difficult.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Petrol Cars

Apart from the fact that petrol cars can be slightly quiet and the engines have better throttle response, it has other main advantages. 

Advantages of Petrol Cars

Below are some of the advantages of buying a petrol car;

• Lower maintenance cost
• Petrol cars are less expensive than diesel and CNG cars
• Petrol cars offer low-end performance, and it has a stable overall power output

Disadvantages Of Petrol Cars

Here are the disadvantages to consider before buying a petrol car;

• The high-end performance and torque are less compared to diesel engine cars.
• The running costs of petrol cars are high due to higher fuel prices.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Diesel Cars

There are many advantages of diesel cars including efficient burning fuel for their engines. 

Advantages of Diesel Cars

Below are some notable advantages of diesel cars;

• In the petrol engine vs diesel engine vs CNG lifespan, the petrol engine emerges as the most extended engine lifespan. 
• Diesel cars deliver high fuel efficiency compared to petrol cars. 
• Diesel cars are better for long highway drives. 
• The running cost is lower than petrol cars.

Disadvantages Of Diesel Cars

Here are some cons to take note of when buying a diesel car;

• Spare parts and maintenance costs are expensive.
• Diesel cars are expensive.
• Unlike petrol cars, it has an unrefined engine,  and its NVH (Noise, vibration, and harshness) levels are high. 

Conclusion

After seeing the advantages and disadvantages of each fuel type, you’ll need to weigh the three carefully before making a choice. At York Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, we sell vehicles with different fuel types. If you’re still confused on what to choose, schedule an appointment with us today for a more detailed consultation.