{"id":13370,"date":"2020-12-05T08:17:23","date_gmt":"2020-12-05T15:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.emanualonline.com\/blog\/?p=13370"},"modified":"2023-03-28T19:43:55","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T00:43:55","slug":"how-diesel-engines-work-auto-mechanic-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.emanualonline.com\/blog\/how-diesel-engines-work-auto-mechanic-101","title":{"rendered":"How Diesel Engines Work | Auto Mechanic 101"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ah, the dreaded diesel<\/a> engine. After VW’s dieselgate<\/a> scandal, people can’t stop hating them, even though they are an ingenious solution.\u00a0 How is that? Well, for starters, a diesel engine<\/a> is much more efficient than a gasoline engine – there is no comparison there.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, diesel produces much more torque at lower revolutions, making daily driving less stressful. The torque also helps with hauling and towing, which is why most heavy-duty trucks still use diesel engines. If you’ve driven a modern turbodiesel, you’ll know what we’re talking about here.<\/p>\n

But what is the difference between a diesel and a gas engine? You arrived just at the right place to learn everything there is to know about these machines. This article won’t only help you brag to your friends but also learn how to maintain it if you have one.<\/p>\n

Moreover, we will show you the critical components of a diesel engine and how they work, so you can begin to diagnose problems yourself.<\/p>\n

<\/a>The Basics: The Diesel Engine Cycle<\/h2>\n

In a gasoline engine, fuel is injected into the cylinder and is then compressed before being ignited. In a diesel engine, the air is compressed, which raises the temperature. Fuel is then injected near the top of the compression stroke, causing ignition. Specifically, the fuel ignites due to high pressures instead of a spark. There is no need for a spark plug due to the high compression ratio. For that reason, many refer to diesel engines as Compression-Ignition.<\/p>\n

Diesel engines typically have a compression ratio between 15:1 and 25:1. Most production gasoline engines are only capable of producing ratios lower than 11:1. In a gasoline engine, higher compression ratios can lead to pre-ignition, a condition commonly called pinging. The condition can cause the internal engine components to tear apart, leading to catastrophic failure. Diesel engines do not suffer from pre-ignition since the fuel itself resists high pressures better.<\/p>\n