No, modern diesels are generally not good for short journeys because the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) doesn't get hot enough to regenerate (burn off soot), leading to blockages, warning lights, and expensive repairs, though occasional longer drives can help clear them and using premium fuel or additives can mitigate some issues. If your driving is mostly short trips, a petrol (gasoline) or hybrid car is usually a better, cheaper, and less problematic choice for the long term.
That brings us to why short journeys can be a problem for diesel cars. If you only ever use your car for quick trips, the DPF may not reach the temperature needed to regenerate, causing a blockage that could lead to a breakdown.
However, the burn-off temperature of approx. 600 °C is not reached on short distances. This results in the diesel particulate filter becoming clogged over time and increased fuel consumption as well as engine problems may occur.
How Long Can a Diesel Engine Last? The average lifespan of a diesel engine is typically around 500,000 miles. With proper care and maintenance, they can last over 800,000 miles. There are differences between the lifespans of commercial and personal diesel engines.
HYDRA DPF-24: Diesel Particulate Filter Cleaner Additive. Regenerates partially clogged DPF filters without dismantling or renewal. Burn off accumulated soot deposits and reduces particulate emissions. Lowers the temperature of DPF regeneration during city driving and short journeys.
Put simply, a short journey in a diesel is one where the car's engine doesn't reach its proper operating temperature – typically around 90ºC. It varies depending on the car, but many diesels can take five miles or more to reach their operating temperature.
– The easiest way to ungel diesel fuel is to get the vehicle into a normal temperature zone. You can push it into a heated garage or simply wait for the temperature where your vehicle is parked to rise. The fuel will return to normal naturally.
The worst things for a diesel engine involve neglecting maintenance (especially oil/filters), using poor fuel quality, allowing low fuel levels, overloading/lugging the engine, and not letting it warm up/cool down properly, all leading to contamination, excessive wear, turbo damage, and injector/pump failure due to high pressures and sensitive components. Contaminated fuel (water, dirt, high sulfur) is especially damaging, corroding parts and clogging filters in these high-pressure systems.
You should buy a diesel car in 2025 if you do high-mileage, long-distance driving or need heavy towing, as they offer superior fuel efficiency and durability for such tasks, but it's less ideal for short city trips where hybrids/EVs are better, and you must consider potential future urban restrictions and the ongoing maintenance of complex emissions systems (AdBlue, DPFs). While new diesel production is slowing, modern diesels are cleaner, but consider used Euro 6 models or leasing (PCP) to mitigate depreciation concerns as the market shifts towards electrification, with bans on new sales generally targeted for 2035.
What Are the 5 Best Diesel Truck Engines?
Aggressive driving wastes fuel, so avoiding sudden acceleration is critical to maximizing fuel economy in your diesel. Finding your cruising speed and sticking with it will greatly increase mileage.
Top 10 vehicles with DPF issues:
The easiest and cheapest method of DPF filter cleaning is by driving the vehicle for a long-distance at high revs per minute. Doing this increases the heat of the exhaust and burns the soot blocking the DPF filter. It's best to drive on a motorway or A road where you can keep the vehicle at a consistent speed.
Going for a 40-minute motorway drive is a fail-safe way of keeping your DPF filter in good condition, but there are some other tricks. One of those is making sure your car isn't always running on an empty fuel tank.
If you have a large family and will be transporting heavy loads or potentially towing a trailer, small caravan etc. often, then a diesel is the pick. If, however, you're wanting a small runabout or car to travel around the urban environment, then petrol could be a better bet – especially one with hybrid availability.
The best cars for city driving in 2025
The main disadvantages of diesel cars include higher upfront purchase and maintenance costs, increased emissions of harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (soot), potential urban driving restrictions (like Low Emission Zones), and issues with the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) on short journeys, leading to costly blockages. They are also generally noisier and less refined in performance at high speeds compared to petrol cars, making them less ideal for city driving.
Average Mileage and Lifespan Statistics
On average, well-maintained diesel engines can last between 300,000 and 500,000 miles, with some reaching over 1,000,000 miles in commercial applications. This longevity is significantly higher than that of gasoline engines, which typically last between 150,000 and 300,000 miles.
Used diesel/petrol cars will still be an option but ongoing regulatory changes and penalties are not going away any time soon. Diesel cars are however becoming increasingly expensive to run as fuel costs rise, there's higher tax and the increasing prominence of ultra low emission zones (ULEZ) being introduced.
The "holy grail" of diesel engines refers to specific, legendary engines known for combining immense power, legendary reliability, and mechanical simplicity, most notably the Cummins 5.9L 12-valve (6BT) (pre-1998) for its ruggedness and the GM Duramax LBZ (2006-2007) for its sweet spot before strict emissions controls, with both praised for durability and performance before electronic complexity increased. These engines are often considered the pinnacle by enthusiasts due to their robust build, high aftermarket potential, and longevity, exemplified by the Cummins' minimal electronics and the LBZ's strong factory specs.
Fears that petrol and diesel cars will be "worthless" within years due to a ban on the sale of combustion vehicles has been shot down by experts. Motoring specialists at Parkers has accepted there will likely be "less demand" for petrol and diesel vehicles when the ban takes shape.
The question on the minds of many this time of year is, “Should I let my diesel engine warm up?” Simply put, yes. In the colder months it's a good idea to let your engine warm up before you hit the road.
Typically, a tank of untreated diesel fuel will reach its Cold Filter Plugging Point 3- to 5-degrees F. below its Cloud Point and then will begin to plug filters. Fuel that has been treated with an antigel typically will not clog filters until the temperature reaches 20-25 degrees F.
The Effect of Idling on Diesel Fuel
Idling is ineffective to prevent fuel gelling for multiple reasons, including: Limited fuel circulation: When idling, engines experience limited fuel circulation, resulting in an insufficient blending of warm and cold fuel to raise the temperature throughout the system.
As the temperature drops, diesel fuel begins to take on an opaque and viscous appearance that indicates the onset of the gelling process. Diesel must remain at temperatures below -10 degrees Fahrenheit for roughly 48 hours before it gels completely.