Diesel engines have certain advantages over petrol engines which make them more suited to tasks that require a lot of power or torque. One of the main differences between a diesel engine and a gas engine is found in the way they start. In a diesel engine the fuel is pumped into the compression chamber after the air is compressed. This causes spontaneous ignition of the fuel, which does away with the need to use spark plugs.
Additionally, these Diesel Engine overhauling engines have larger pistons which mean the combustion is more powerful. This leads to the need for stronger parts to withstand the pressure; and stronger parts usually mean heavier parts. This is why diesel engines are not used for aircraft; the weight is too much.
In a petrol engine the fuel and air are mixed together in the inlet manifold and then sucked into the compression chamber. They then require ignition by spark plugs. While petrol engines may have more speed, especially when it comes to starting off from a stationary position, they do not have the same power. That is why diesel engines are the choice when it comes to towing caravans or boats or driving larger, heavier vehicles such as trucks and buses.
Diesel engines have fewer moving parts and so are not inclined to wear out at the same rate as other kinds of engines. A diesel engine will last a great deal longer than a petrol engine. And they are also easier to maintain for the same reason.
You will get better fuel economy with a diesel engine due to the higher fuel density of diesel. In times when fuel prices seem to be rising on a daily basis, this is an important consideration. Not only do you use less fuel, but the price of that fuel is cheaper – at least so far – so you are saving on two fronts. Many people do not realise that it is possible to tweak the performance of the engine to make it speedier, without harming the fuel economy.
In the past, engines were seen to be worse for leaving behind pollution. But many manufacturers are now using new technology to address that problem and the newer engines are less likely to blow out lots of smoke. In addition, they are also much quieter than they used to be. Another important feature that can be laid at the feet of new technology is that you can now get better acceleration speeds in the newer diesel engines, while at the same time keeping the same good fuel economy.
In some countries the pollution caused by diesel is due the high sulphur content. This kind of diesel is a really cheap grade, and it will take some time for refineries to replace it with the higher grade diesel that contains less sulphur. Until this happens, diesel will probably remain a secondary fuel choice in those countries, especially where pollution concerns are given higher priority. In many European countries diesel cars are far more common than in western countries.