If your current rig is beginning to show signs of wear and tear, calling into question whether it's worth it to continue to make expensive repairs, you may be browsing the local selection of gently used semi trucks. One new technology that may not be on your radar -- but can save you a significant amount of money in the long run -- is a natural gas-powered engine. While these engines have only been available in Mack trucks for a short time, further improvements are already being made to this efficient and powerful technology. Read on to learn more about these engines, as well as some of the other benefits of purchasing a used late-model Mack truck with a natural gas engine.

What makes a natural gas-powered engine different from a diesel or gasoline engine? 

While most semi trucks need a diesel engine to provide the power necessary to tow heavy loads and navigate steep hills, natural gas-powered engines operate very similarly to gasoline-powered engines. Fuel injectors squirt a small amount of natural gas into the intake air stream, where it is compressed and combusted by the spark plugs to create the force needed to power your vehicle. However, unlike gasoline, natural gas is clean-burning, helping preserve your engine and enjoy increased fuel efficiency. Because natural gas is usually much less expensive than gasoline or diesel fuel, you'll also be able to increase your profit on each run with a natural gas-powered engine.

There are two types of natural gas engines -- compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). For most over-the-road truckers, an LNG engine makes more sense, as it requires only 30 percent of the space utilized by the large CNG compressor, letting you store more fuel on-board and minimizing the number of stops you'll need to make.

Another major difference between natural gas-powered engines and other types of engines becomes apparent when your low fuel light comes on. You'll need to fuel up your CNG or LNG engine at a station specifically designed to dispense natural gas or arrange for a truck to come to your job site and provide fuel on a regular basis. 

Is a natural gas-powered truck a good idea for you? 

Assuming your route allows you sufficient access to natural gas, there are a number of benefits and not many drawbacks to purchasing a natural gas-powered Mack truck. When you own your own truck and set your own schedule, a day in the shop can cost you much more than parts and labor -- you could lose out on a job or even be subject to breach of contract penalties if your shipment is late. But because natural gas-powered engines are clean-burning, they "age" much more slowly than gasoline or diesel engines, helping you drive hundreds of thousands of miles without significant repairs. 

In addition to the advantages posed by the natural gas engine, new and late-model Mack trucks offer a pre-paid maintenance plan that will help you avoid paying most maintenance and minor repair costs for years by bundling these costs with your truck loan. Making scheduled maintenance feel as though it is free can often encourage truck owners to come into the shop in a more timely manner, helping stave off potential problems by diagnosing and correcting them when they are still minor issues. 

However, if natural gas still isn't readily available in your area, you may want to hold off on this purchase for now. Fortunately, by the time natural gas arrives in your area, there will likely be even more of these vehicles on the road (and therefore a more robust used market).

Check out a site like http://www.arrowtruck.com/ for more information on the types of Mack trucks you might want to invest in.