What to take: Diesel or Gasoline engine for a worldtrip?
 

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I travelled over 70`000miles around the world with a V8 Diesel I bought new in 2011. People are asking me whether I would choose gasoline over diesel again for a trip around the world based on my knowledge as of today.

This is in times where many countries forbid older diesel engines in larger cities. Smaller engines and car exhaust gas cleaning systems may have an impact on the reliability on fuel with less quality. And in times where the electric / hybrid cars still aren`t an option for real remote travels.

Who did watch "Long Way Up" about the Panamericana with an electric Harley Davidson on Netflix TV? As normal travellers we cannot afford to order a huge truck to bring an electric generator into remote locations, like the team of Ewan McGregor did it in the TV documenation.

Travellers from the US start to take gasoline based cars, travellers from Europe started to use diesel cars with downgraded emission standards or manipulated DPF in the near past.

Also another question we have to think through - if we like to take an older or new vehicle. And we have to look how the vehicle emission standards develop, over the last years.

And should we take a new rig with more security features like ESC, airbags, pre-crash system - or an old vehicle with less electronic? Which one is easier to repair, for which one do you get easier spare parts in countries in South America, Africa or Asia?

Article: Diesel vs Gasoline for an worldtrip?

Above are my thoughts. All in all, I would go for a new build-up with a new diesel rig today. What would you do?

trippin

Me, and this is strictly a personal opinion, not based on any data of any kind, I would take an older Toyota, gasoline engine.
My thinking is that a well maintained, 1st gen 4Runner, is a relatively simple, but very reliable vehicle. Less to fail, less to worry about out in the boonies. Also, the older, simpler trucks, pickups and 4Runners, are very popular in non-first world countries, so to speak, so parts, should any be required, would be more readily available. Probably more available, even in the local junk yards.

I would avoid electric like the plague. Very limited charging availability, unless you mount some good quality, flexible, solar cells all over the truck, or have a truck/generator setup following you around. Which destroys any eco-savings the electric vehicle might provide.

All this is just my uninformed opinion. It's my logic, for what it's worth. Not much, I realize.
Pat☺

A generator charging an electric vehicle still burns fossil fuel. The electric vehicle is just the middle man. In many cases where we want efficiency or cost-savings, we want to eliminate the middleman.
Whatever vehicle- modern or old, diesel or gasoline can do this - I'll bring :)

I did some water wading with deeps over 1.1m in africa. Pretty silly and unexpected. As foreigner you risk your car - because you dont know how the track below looks like. Are there big rocks? A tree strunk? It can harm your car. If you stop driving the water (or drive slowly) the water is climbing inside quickly, nothing you like in your "home" as a traveller.
Many of us are sleeping inside. Too with doing a worldtrip with a rtt - at least all the gear, luckage clothes for an extended trip are carryed inside. Too notebook, photo equipement and so on. Would you risk your trip itself, not just the rig and your equipement?

In my opinion Diesel had some disadventages in the past, because of the big gap between international fuel quality between standard emission standards per country. But I was able to find both, travellers on diesel and gasoline who get issues because of fuel out of spec at home.

You can use google streetview today to see, that in any Capital the rich locals are using modern verhicles.And they get it maintained and repaired. And are able to get the required fuel, even if the country itself dosnt have the required fuelquality in any region of the country.

Even in the 2nd and 3rd world the emission standard has gained up for newly sold vehicles - so the fuel quality is better available too outside of the capitals today. Just a view countrys today did allows the manufacturees to sell new cars without up2date Emission standard today.

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So we just need range - to fill the gap between quality fuel - what is easier with diesel in my eyes. Too in africa you can find the right fuel - not just in the capitals today in more and more countrys.

For range diesel wins. With an aux. fuel tank I can carry 280l Diesel, what is enough for 2000km (1242 Miles). With offroad usage and 4low.

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But the question is not just Diesel vs Gasline it is too old vs new. Electric helpers and added passenger protection like pre-crash system, airbags and the probability of electric failures. Or better older which is easier to repair, but you may run into trouble to find spares.. What lead directly to the third question - which brand has the best world wide spare parts availability?

My most used spare during my journeys was replacing the windscreen 3x, once a side window. For a Land Cruiser 200 who is used world wide and was even sold in most countrys of the world it was not hard to to replace it. I`m not shure if it was that easy with other toyota modells too, like a 4runner or one of those older land cruisers. You can call 3-4 toyota mechanics in capitals over the world what they have "on stock".

So for me it sounds right to use an actuall modell who is sold everywhere. I guess the Hilux would win, in a world wide comparison of toyota modells. And in case of an accident situation, I would love to have electric helpers, airbags, precrash system and esc - who may help to avoid the crash - or let you survive with less damage...

If you think and Land Cruiser 200 is a Land Cruiser 200 -you are right. But they have different regional specs. The european spec has 2 aircons embedded. and all the lines between the aircons are different

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In the central warehouse of the south american region are just spares for the parts who are embedded on regional models.

If you need a part of the european model spec like the "88710-6B580 Genuine Toyota Tube ASSY Airconditioner" in south america - you can get even these - which a 60 days waiting time. But toyota will do importing & tax for you.

With an locally exotic brand you are on your own for importing & Tax - what can be a mess in the 3rd world (but still possible). DHL / TNT International Express 2 busines days delivers even to the 2nd world inside of a week (2 days till the local custom tax office).

Considering everything in my experience, I would consider a new(er) diesel and still a toyota. Because they will maintaining and servicing your car world wide.

But just read travel diaries - you find a vw beetle with trailer who did a worldtrip, and many many cars. But severall times you find too their repair and extended break downs.

If you ask me what is most important for overlanding you will dont find a car brand, used fuel or 4x4 and difflocks. But choose the right vehicle, can makes your roadlife easier at the end.

My near complete repair list of my journeys:
53420-60050 Hood Hinge Assembly
88710-6B580 Genuine Toyota Tube ASSY Airconditioner
88460-60400 CONDENSER ASSY
3x Front Screen
1 side window

Not a lot in my eyes, considering that I did a lot of non-road stuff.

How valuable it is to choose the right rig you start to know, if you was sarching the local market for spares for 2 days, and nothing did work more than for more than driving 100 miles further.

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I am not a mechanic. So probably this decissions looks different for people who are able to self repair and self maintenance.

What is your favorite car brand and modell for travelling extended and international?

trippin

Personally, I would take a diesel-powered vehicle with me. Diesel is cheaper than gasoline.

Myself an older Diesel Engine before all the Computer controlled engines so simple not near as much to go wrong. I could see depending how far remote you go being down a month waiting for a failed sensor because the engine no longer will run because the computer shuts down the fuel.

It does not need Low Sulfur diesel

Just have extra fuel filters.

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This is the safest option to avoid an electrical problem, but it looks poor with common spare parts such as windshields..

Hope that (c) let us travel again unrestricted soon :cheers: