| Diesel engine principles are pretty straight forward | | | | when the piston reaches the top of the cylinder, |
| for the experienced mechanic but what about | | | | the diesel fuel is then injected into the cylinder at |
| regular everyday people who have never taken | | | | the precise time. |
| the time to find out more about a diesel engine | | | | Power stroke. After injection takes place an |
| and how it works? | | | | explosion occurs in the cylinder because of the |
| I am going to explain in layman terms the basic | | | | combination of heat and atomized diesel fuel. This |
| principles of a diesel engine. | | | | causes the piston to be forced downward which |
| What is the difference between a gasoline engine | | | | produces torque and the horsepower required |
| and a diesel engine? | | | | from a typical diesel engine. |
| The first thing you should know is a gasoline | | | | Exhaust stroke. After the power stroke the |
| engine and a diesel engine are totally different. A | | | | piston moves upward once again while the |
| gasoline engine is constructed much lighter than | | | | exhaust valves open allowing the previously |
| the heavier built diesel engine. The gasoline engine | | | | ignited gases to escape to the atmosphere out |
| runs on a air and fuel mixture combined with a | | | | the exhaust system. |
| high energy spark that is timed to ignite inside | | | | As mentioned before each cylinder goes through |
| each engine cylinder at the precise time creating | | | | this exact sequence over and over in a set firing |
| power and torque turning force which drives your | | | | order. For instance, a 6 cylinder diesel engine has |
| vehicle. | | | | a firing order 1 5 3 6 2 4 This is the order that |
| A diesel engine uses high compression intake air | | | | each cylinder goes by, following the 4 strokes |
| that is compressed into a very small space inside | | | | mentioned above. |
| each cylinder causing extreme heat. This is called | | | | This sequence has been engineered to allow the |
| heat of compression which ignites a very fine high | | | | diesel engine to run smoothly with no imbalance. |
| pressure mist of diesel fuel that is injected into | | | | Here is some diesel engine trivia on high |
| each cylinder at the exact time. | | | | performance diesel engines. Fuel passes through |
| So you now know that a gasoline engine needs a | | | | the injector at speeds of nearly 1500 miles per |
| high energy spark to run while a diesel uses heat | | | | hour, as fast as a jet plane at top speed. Fuel is |
| of compression. The four stroke principle in all | | | | injected into the combustion chamber in less than |
| engines run on four strokes or four cycles, both | | | | 1.5 milliseconds, the same time it takes for a |
| these terms mean the same. | | | | camera flash to go off. |
| Here is how the four stroke diesel engine | | | | The minimum amount of fuel injected into a diesel |
| operates. The four strokes are intake, | | | | engine is one cubic millimeter, about the same |
| compression, power and exhaust. | | | | volume as the head of a pin. Volkswagen has |
| The pistons, valves and injectors work together | | | | developed a one liter diesel powered car that got |
| in each cylinder in a set sequence over and over. | | | | 100 kilometers out of .89 liter of fuel, 60 miles on |
| Intake stroke. Intake valves in the cylinder head | | | | less than one quart of fuel. |
| open allowing pressurized air to enter each | | | | There is much to learn about diesel engines and a |
| cylinder while the piston is traveling downward. | | | | ton of information online. If you have ever |
| The pressurized air supply is made possible by the | | | | considered buying a vehicle with a diesel engine |
| turbocharger which pushes air into the intake | | | | you have my blessing. |
| system giving the diesel engine a boost of air to | | | | The extra cost will be to your benefit, so I |
| keep up with instantaneous injection of fuel. | | | | recommend finding out more about diesel engines |
| Compression stroke. When the piston starts to | | | | before you decide which one to choose. |
| move upward the valves close which traps the | | | | I hope you have found this information on diesel |
| intake air in the cylinder and allows compression to | | | | engines helpful. |
| take place. The heat of compression is reached | | | | |