Typically thought to be reserved for industrial vehicles, diesel engines are significantly less common or covered in the media than gasoline engines. Unless you own a truck with a diesel engine, you probably don’t know much about them. Because they’re uncommon, many different misconceptions and misunderstandings have formed around diesel engines. That’s why we want to help you debunk common myths about diesel engines to clear the record and their name.

Diesel Engines Are “Dirty”

We associate diesel engines with trucks and heavy-duty industrial vehicles, so we consider diesel “dirtier” than gasoline. This isn’t true, however, and gone are the days when burning diesel fuel produces billowing black smoke. Modern diesel engines are much more efficient and are on par with gasoline engines when it comes to how “clean” they are.

Diesel Engines Struggle in the Winter

Because diesel requires high temperatures through compression to ignite the fuel, a common myth about diesel engines is they struggle to function in the winter. Thankfully, this is not the case. Many areas with colder climates still use diesel engines in their vehicles to keep their industries running. Newer engines compensate for this difference in temperature with features like engine glow plugs that use the vehicle’s battery to preheat the cylinders on start up to help the engine warm the air faster and ignite the fuel. When starting your diesel engine in the morning, the fuel is primed and ready to ignite without a problem.

Diesel Engines Don’t Perform Well

An odd myth surrounding diesel engines is the misconception that these engines don’t offer high performance. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Many owners of diesel engine vehicles have noted they perform better than their gasoline engine counterparts—consider how well diesel engines are able to perform while hauling heavy cargo! Diesel fuel not only provides more power per gallon, but diesel performance parts are available to further improve and fine-tune your diesel engine for optimal performance.