Drivers may be familiar with the existence of diesel engines simply from seeing diesel fuel as an option at the gas pump. You may also have heard that many heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and tractors tend to favor diesel engines. But how does a diesel engine work, and why is it so well-suited for those big jobs?
Cars that run on diesel and cars that run on gasoline are both examples of cars that have an internal combustion engine (ICE). This refers to an engine that generates power through the controlled combustion of a fuel and air mixture. As such, it may help to first understand the components of an ICE before diving into the specifics of diesel engines. Let’s identify and define a few key components of an ICE:
Now that you know the basics of an ICE, let’s examine the difference between diesel and gas engines.
One of the most obvious differences between diesel and gas engines is the fuel they run on. Gasoline and diesel are both refined from petroleum, but they’re quite distinct in chemical composition and even physical viscosity. The two fuels shouldn’t be used interchangeably — the engines that use them are designed differently and using the wrong fuel could result in potentially serious engine damage.
Another difference between diesel and gas engines is the compression ratio used on either fuel. Gasoline engines utilize a fuel-air mixture that’s compressed and ignited by a spark. In diesel engines, diesel fuel is injected into highly compressed air. This extreme, much greater compression creates enough heat to ignite the fuel without requiring any external spark.
Gasoline engines and diesel engines have a similar look to them, but diesel engines tend to be significantly bulkier and larger. The higher compression rates of diesel fuel and the increased force of the combustion reaction need a sturdier build.
Diesel engines come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s examine some of these pros and cons:
So, how does a diesel engine work? As you now know, it’s not that radically different from a standard gasoline engine. Both are internal combustion engines that utilize fuel to create a combustion reaction that powers the pistons and, ultimately, the vehicle. The major difference is that diesel fuel is distinctly different from gasoline and requires a much higher compression. That extra compression force, in turn, requires diesel engines to have a bulkier and sturdier design. It also creates a lot of extra torque, which makes diesel engines especially well-suited for heavy-duty work.
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