Fact Check: Are U-Hauls gas or diesel?

Are U-Hauls Gas or Diesel?

The claim in question seeks to clarify the type of fuel used by U-Haul trucks, specifically whether they operate on gas or diesel. This inquiry arises often among potential renters who want to ensure they are using the correct fuel type to avoid damaging the vehicle.

What We Know

Fuel Types: U-Haul trucks primarily use unleaded gasoline. According to U-Haul's official blog, most of their moving trucks are designed to run on regular unleaded gasoline, with only rare exceptions for certain models that may use diesel or propane autogas (LPG) 2 3.
Identification: Each U-Haul truck is equipped with a decal near the gas cap that indicates the appropriate fuel type. This is a critical feature that helps prevent confusion among renters 3 9.
Transition to Gasoline: U-Haul has transitioned its fleet to predominantly use unleaded gasoline. This shift was made for various reasons, including noise reduction and to minimize customer errors in fueling 10.
Exceptions: While the majority of U-Haul trucks use gasoline, there are some older models that may still operate on diesel. However, these instances are increasingly rare as the company updates its fleet 4 6 9.
Potential Confusion: There is a common misconception that all moving trucks, including U-Haul vehicles, use diesel fuel. This misunderstanding may stem from the prevalence of diesel in larger commercial trucks, but U-Haul's current offerings primarily consist of gasoline engines 7 9.

Analysis

The sources consulted provide a mix of information regarding the fuel types used by U-Haul trucks.

Official Sources: The U-Haul website and its blog posts 2 3 10 are primary sources that can be considered reliable due to their direct association with the company. They provide clear and specific information about the fuel requirements of their vehicles. However, as with any corporate communication, there may be a potential bias toward presenting the company in a positive light.
Third-Party Sources: Other articles, such as those from FuelFlowPro 4 and Vehicle Freak 6, corroborate U-Haul's claims about fuel types but may lack the direct authority of U-Haul's own statements. These sources can be useful for additional context but should be evaluated for potential biases or inaccuracies.
Conflicting Information: Some sources, like the article from Automotive IT News 7, assert that U-Haul has made a significant shift to gasoline, which aligns with U-Haul's own statements. However, the phrasing suggests a definitive transition that may not account for the remaining diesel models still in circulation.
Methodological Concerns: The lack of specific details regarding which models use diesel or the timeline of the fleet transition could be a point of concern. More precise data, such as the percentage of the fleet that still operates on diesel, would enhance the understanding of this claim.

Conclusion

Verdict: Mostly True

The evidence indicates that U-Haul trucks predominantly use unleaded gasoline, with only a few exceptions for older models that may still operate on diesel. This conclusion is supported by U-Haul's official communications and corroborated by various third-party sources. However, the presence of older diesel models and the potential for confusion among customers highlight the nuances in this claim.

It is important to note that while the majority of U-Haul's fleet has transitioned to gasoline, the lack of specific data regarding the exact number of diesel models still in circulation introduces some uncertainty. Additionally, the reliance on corporate sources may raise questions about potential bias in the information provided.

Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information presented and consider the context and limitations of the evidence when making decisions about fuel types for U-Haul trucks.