Chile Forum

Personal experience is only with diesel Toyota Hilux 4x4 pickups and Hyundai Gallopers in Chile and Argentina.

You may have already noted that in Chile a gas ("bencina") engine is called a bencinera and a diesel ( "petroleo") engine is a petrolera. In Argentina gasoline is nafta and diesel is usually ....diesel.

For the Hilux 4 cyl gas engine on the autopista about 10 km/litre. City about 8 km/litre.

For the 2,8 litre diesel version a little better, up to about 12 km/litre on the autopista, maybe 9 or so km/litre in town.

Naturally this depends on how you drive. And I found that I am more patient with the petrolera since it is a bit sluggish. And a bit noisier as well, but not annoyingly so. The Toyota Hilux diesel option was much more expensive.

Harder to start the diesel truck engine in colder temps or with an aged battery, or old glowplugs. That may be less of an issue with a newish vehicle. Down here water in the diesel is a problem. Newer diesels have decent fuel-water separators but this is a potential problem area. Diesel also gets algae growth and waxy formations in ways that gasoline doesn't.

In the cold regions of Chile they are supposed to switch over to winter-grade diesel but I don't know if they have a summer/winter grade difference down here where it is cold most of the time. Have heard conflicting stories from the COPEC folks. Actually there are supposed to be different summer and winter blends for gasoline as well but the station attendants tend to make things up when they don't know for sure -- rather a national trait you should be aware of.

I have experienced cases where COPEC and YPF and other stations run out of gasoline but never such a problem with diesel. Stations without gasoline can be from disasters like earthquakes, simple supply logistics and unexpected demand, or strikes. Chile is becoming increasingly strike-prone. Punta Arenas has seen several recent strikes, including those where truckers blocked the access to the city and tried to "starve" the population of fuel and food (petty terrorism). The carabineros stood by with hands warming in pockets. But that is another story, and another warning.

Sometimes though not always you see higher prices for maintenance and service for diesels. Down here fuel filters for the Toyota diesel cost about two-three times what the gasoline engine filters cost. Expensive oil filters for diesels in Chile, for Toyotas but perhaps some other aftermarket alternatives might help here. The diesel engines and thus the vehicles tend to be heavier. Diesel is harder to ignite so it's a bit safer to store and handle.

Idle thoughts. Your mileage may vary. Yell at me if opinions differ.