The A to Z of Diesel VS Gasoline vehicles

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Why People Use Diesel
By John McGuigan

With diesel engines, the compression ratio is higher and there is more power. From a technical point, the compression ratio of an engine is the comparison of the total volume of the cylinder at the bottom of the piston's stroke divided by the volume of the cylinder remaining at the top of the stroke.

Gasoline ratios
Serious damage to gas engines can occur if you attempt to run a high compression ratio with a low octane type of fuel. Detonation is the ignition of the fuel due to the high temperature caused by a high compression ratio that is developed by design. The fuel is ignited prior to the spark of the plugs that result in a rapid, yet uncontrolled burning.

Diesel ratios
Keep in mind, the diesel is a heat engine, using heat developed from the compression of air. High compression ratios are possible since the air is compressed. The hot compressed air is sufficient to ignite the diesel fuel when it's finally injected near the top of the compression stroke.

Diesel engines
Fuel and air in the design of diesel engines are not premixed outside of the cylinder. Air is taken into the cylinder through the intake valve and then compressed to make heat. The diesel fuel is injected near the top of the piston's stroke in an amount or ratio that corresponds to the load on the engine.

Heavy duty
The higher compression ratio causes engineers to design, and test the block, heads, head bolts, crackshaft, connecting rods, rod bolts, pistons, piston pins, etc., with a greater range of structural capacity. To put it in other terms, diesels are heavier than gasoline engines.

Gasoline
Deciding on gas and diesel can be tough, although there are several reasons why you should use diesel.
1. Diesel engines produce twice the power per gallon of fuel than gasoline.
2. A gallon of diesel is normally cheaper than a gallon of gas.
3. Diesel fuel doesn't blow up. The fact is, its hard to get diesel to burn at all.
4. Diesel engines will last four times longer than gasoline engines.
5. Diesel fuel that is untreated will last longer in storage than untreated gasoline.
6. Treated diesel fuel will last longer in storage than treated gasoline.
7. Diesel fuel treatment will cost less than gas treatment.
8. Spoiled diesel can be reconditioned to refinery specifications, as spoiled gas can't.
9. Unmodified diesel engines can be ran on vegetable oil.

About the Author
John McGuigan writes for various sites across the internet contributing to article directory sites and those about vehicles, with an interest in spots cars and and all things "auto".

Source: The A-Z of Auto

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