Diesel Youth

Diesel engines have always been considered the better deal when it comes to fuel economy. In this article you will finally know why a diesel engine is more economical than the standard gasoline combustion engine.

Diesel engines are built like the standard gas engine with the exception that its ignition cycle is different. Diesel engines follow a process where it takes air first, then compresses it to a point where its temperature goes up drastically because of the extreme pressure, then it afterwards squirts a small amount of diesel fuel into the chamber which instantly combusts on contact with the heated air.

Gasoline engines on the other hand mix the gasoline and air first, then compress it to a higher temperature together. Once it hits the highest point, a spark plug ignites the mixture, generating energy.

This is the reason why diesel engines are conventionally larger than gasoline engines. They have larger pistons to draw in larger amounts of air. The more air they draw in the more air it can compress, which will generate more heat and burn diesel more efficiently.

Diesel engines used take time to warm up on first startup. This is because it lacks a throttle. Diesel engines regulate combustion by controlling the amount of diesel sprayed into the combustion chamber. Gasoline engines control the amount of air into the engine (throttle). The lack of a throttle allows a larger amount of cold air enter the combustion chamber of a diesel engine. Gasoline engines have the added benefit of using spark plugs to ignite the fuel.

Fortunately, modern diesel address this challenge by using a tandem of glow plug or a heating element that uses the car battery to ignite the fuel and electronic fuel injection (EFI), thus quickly heating the engine.

How Diesel Engines are Fuel Efficient

Advantages:

Diesel Engines can save money alone directly from the price itself. Diesel fuel prices at the pump are usually lower priced than the cost of gasoline. For the US, for light pickups and SUVs that can translate in a saving worth 1500 to 2500 USD every 100,000 miles, depending on load.

Lower fuel consumption. Pound for pound, diesel engines consume less fuel than gasoline engines. It becomes more fuel efficient if it is a turbodiesel.

Fuel efficient even in idle. Diesel engines can be left idle for hours and even days. Its lack of an air throttle attributes to its efficiency compared to idling gasoline engines.

Upgradeable. Diesel engines are mostly overbuilt already and are already designed to withstand higher than usual stresses. It is not unusual to see diesel engines modified with turbochargers or superchargers since they're designed to suck in more air therefore more power to the engine.

Less carbon monoxide. Compared to gasoline engines, diesels produce less carbon monoxide as diesel engines burn.

Disadvantages:

Heavier and bigger. Diesel engines are bigger than gasoline engines partly because it has to have bigger pistons to suck in air from the outside for a more efficient burn.

Diesel burn. Because diesel is spray the moment air is compressed, not all diesel will be able to strike superheated air molecules, resulting in some unburned diesel depending on its quality. This will result in soot out of the exhaust. However, the engine still performs more efficiently than gasoline engines.

Noise. Diesel engines make more noise than gasoline engines, especially on cold startups.

Alternatives:

Diesel engines can be further made more fuel efficient, powerful, silent and environmentally friendlier with the attachment of a hydrogen generator system or similar device.

It has been proven by proponents mostly in the North American region that this technology is feasible and safe. The main hydrogen generator is simple in construction and can be sourced from everyday common parts.

Safety concerns are overcome with the fact that hydrogen is generated from a watery medium. And it is generated only on the moment the engine is turned on.