Jessa Mae Valdesco BSIE-4

What is the difference between diesel and fuel engine?

Both diesel and gasoline engines convert chemical energy from fuel into mechanical
energy through a series of explosions. The way these explosions happen is the major
difference between these two engines.

In a gasoline engine, the explosion process is:

1. Intake stroke – fuel is mixed with air
2. Compression stroke – piston goes up, mixture of fuel and air is compressed
3. Ignition stroke – fuel/air is ignited through the use of a spark plug
4. Exhaust stroke – piston goes up, pushes exhaust through the exhaust valve
In a diesel engine, the explosion process is:
1. Intake stroke – intake valve opens, air in, piston goes down
2. Compression stroke – piston goes up, air compressed (heated in excess of 540°C)
3. Combustion stroke – fuel is injected (right time), ignition, piston goes down
Exhaust – piston goes up, pushes exhaust through the exhaust valve

Diesel engines have no spark plug. They need high compression ratios to generate the
high temperatures required for fuel auto ignition (the higher the cetane number, the
better the ignition).

Compression is much higher with a diesel engine (14:1 to 25:1) than a gasoline engine
(8:1 to 12:1). Gasoline engines use lower compression ratios to avoid fuel auto ignition
(engine knock). Higher compression ratios lead to higher thermal efficiencies and better
fuel economies.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Diesel-powered Cars

Advantages of diesel engines

Engine Longevity: Diesel engines are generally built stronger than gasoline
engines and tend to last longer. Heavy-duty truck engines will often run up to a
million miles between overhauls, and diesel cars often go well past 200,000 miles
with no major engine problems. This does come at a cost, though, because
diesel-powered cars are usually a little more expensive to purchase than gas-
powered cars.
 Excellent for towing: Diesels produce lots of torque (pulling power) at low engine
speeds. For example, a four-cylinder diesel can produce as much torque as a six-
cylinder gas engine. Horsepower ratings for diesels tend to be lower, however,
because horsepower is a function of engine speed and diesels have lower
maximum speeds than gasoline engines. In otherwords, they aren’t a good choice
for sports cars.
Great fuel economy: Diesel cars can deliver fantastic gas mileage often
approaching that of hybrid cars. This may be one reason that the Europeans like
diesels so much as fuel costs in Europe can be extremely high.
Can use alternative fuels: Unlike gasoline engines, diesels can run on
renewable fuels such as biodiesel with no major modifications. Many
manufacturers support operation on biodiesel mixes up to BD20 (20%
biodiesel/80% petroleum-based diesel) without voiding the manufacturer’s
warranty.
Mechanical simplicity: Gasoline engines require sophisticated computer-
controlled fuel and spark systems to control engine functions. Diesels use a single
master fuel pump, and there is no spark system. Look under the hood of a diesel
car and you will see a lot less clutter.

Disadvantages of diesel engines

Operating noise: Unlike gasoline engines, which produce most of their noise
from their easily-muffled exhausts, a good deal of the diesel engine’s noise comes
directly from the engine itself. Although manufacturers today are getting pretty
good at using sound-deadening insulation in their cars, diesel engines still have a
bit of that characteristic diesel clatter.
Initial expense: Diesel engines employ much higher compression ratios than
gasoline engines. Therefore, they must be built stronger than standard gasoline
engines. This makes them heavier and a bit more expensive to build.
Engine emissions and maintenance: Though the diesel engine was invented
well over a century ago, little attention was paid to emissions until recently.
Most modern-day diesel cars rely on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) an exhaust
treatment that reduces the diesel engine’s emissions. These cars have a DEF
tank which must be refilled every 15,000 to 30,000 miles per EPA regulations.

References:
https://autowise.com/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-diesel-powered-cars/
https://www.ncheurope.com/en/resolution/engines-gears/65-difference-between-
gasoline-and-diesel-engines