What Is High Mileage for a Diesel Engine? [Explained]

Diesel engines have a high gas mileage. It can go upwards of 350,000 miles (563,270 kilometers). When talking about mileage, it is important to note that it’s all relative.

Some vehicles can consider 100,000 miles high mileage, while it isn’t scratching the surface for other vehicles. 

Where are Diesel Engines Commonly Found?

The most common vehicles that use diesel engines are pickup trucks. These vehicles are often used as daily drivers or for work. It requires efficient dual combustion so that owners can save money.

Buying Diesel Automobiles

When buying second-hand diesel trucks, upwards of 100,00 miles is considered high mileage. Although, it is common to see trucks for sale that have a mileage of two or three hundred thousand. The higher the mileage, the cheaper the price should be. 

There are some pros to buying diesel trucks. One of which is that Diesel trucks are stronger and can generate more power than their gas counterparts. 

Another pro is that diesel engines are more fuel-efficient than gas engines. The efficiency is because Diesel engines utilize compression rather than spark plugs to light the fuel. Diesel engines are also known for their long lifespan. 

Age vs. Distance

There are times when high mileage is okay. A 100,000-mile vehicle that is only three years old is still a good option. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old truck with a 65,000 mileage might pose some problems when bought.

There are many other factors, such as how it was used and the frequency. A daily driver might not have too much wear and tear as a truck that hauls heavy loads.

Even if the daily driver has more miles, it might have less long-term damage. 

Maximum Mileage Distance

Most diesel-powered automobiles can reach a maximum mileage distance of about 1 – 1.5 million miles. This counts for their entire lifespan. It is also dependent on the amount of maintenance and check-ups. 

Servicing your diesel engine depends on the condition you receive the vehicle in. If there are no problems, servicing should only be done every 3 or 4 thousand miles. The costs for this should be around $250 – $450. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How efficient is a diesel engine?

With the compression method of a diesel engine fuel combustion, it is a better and less-costly choice than a gas engine. In terms of numbers, a diesel engine is around 30% more fuel-efficient. 

Which diesel engine lasts the longest?

A Diesel engine brand called Cummins is arguably the model that can last the longest. It is also the model that requires the least amount of maintenance and check-ups. 

Generally, it can be found in Dodge and Ram trucks. With this type of engine, high mileage is considered to be in the range of 250,000 – 500,000 miles. Its maximum mileage can go upwards of 1.5 – 2 million miles. 

How can I Improve my diesel engine’s performance?

There are a few steps that can improve the performance of a Diesel engine. The most common one involves adding fuel additives to the Diesel. It ensures that the fuel runs smoothly through the fuel injection system.

Generally, additives you can add include modifiers, lubricants, anti-freeze, and corrosion inhibitors. 

Diesel tuners are also another great way to improve performance. These are little devices that you can basically help tune your engine to any specific need.

Aside from being easy to install, these are also cost-effective, saving you fuel even more than the efficiency of a normal diesel engine. 

Installing cold air filters and cold air intakes could also improve a Diesel engine’s performance. These lessen the level of air restriction while simultaneously filtering possible contaminants from entering the inside of the engine. 

Having more air intake increases the level of power. Even though it increases the level of power, there would be minimal to no increase in fuel consumption. This is because the modern Diesel engines take this into account.