Diesel V. Gasoline Engines

1. Different Types of Ignitions
2. Diesel Fuel Is More Energy Efficient
3. Diesel Engines Typically Last Longer & Require Less Maintenance

Diesel engines are quite popular in Europe and have been for a while, but recently many U.S. manufacturers have started to offer diesel options in increasing numbers, which leads many consumers to ask what the difference is. Though both engine types operate using internal combustion, there are some differences in how each type of fuel is used and the efficiency with which it can be transferred into usable energy. To shed some light on this topic for the uninitiated, we’ll attempt to explain and clarify some of the key points in the paragraphs below.

Different Types of Ignitions

Though both types of engines make use of internal combustion to operate, they rely on a different mechanism to create combustion. With a standard gasoline engine, air is mixed in with the gasoline before being delivered to the cylinder, which is then compressed as a mixture. Once compressed by the piston, a spark plug ignites the mixture, which moves the piston up and down, powering the crankshaft, and by extension, the driveshaft to power the vehicle.

Diesel engines, by contrast, do not have spark plugs since a spark is not required to start the reaction. Instead, diesel engines rely on compression alone, causing enough heat for ignition to take place and convert the chemical engine into mechanical energy through a process known as “spontaneous ignition”. Once the energy is produced through the ignition process, both engines operate more or less the same in regard to the pistons and cylinders.

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Diesel Fuel Is More Energy Efficient

Diesel engines are more efficient than gas engines, too, mainly because of the difference in the fuel itself, as well as their relative ability to be converted into energy. Diesel fuel is more viscous, which means it is thicker and therefore denser, allowing it to be converted into more energy per gallon. As you would expect, this results in greater fuel efficiency with diesel engines, which translates to roughly 20% more efficiency in terms of fuel economy. Diesel engines are also capable of producing more power and torque, which is part of the reason, along with fuel economy, that many large trucks that carry heavy cargo and equipment that handles large amounts of weight tend to have diesel engines.

Diesel Engines Typically Last Longer & Require Less Maintenance

Another factor that makes diesel engines ideal for hauling and heavy equipment is that the engines tend to last longer due to less wear and tear over time. Diesel engines, being more efficient than gas engines, operate at a lower RPM, which doesn’t cause as much stress on the cylinders. Gasoline cars, by contrast, operate at a higher RPM (roughly double) which causes them to degrade quicker and cuts into the life of the engine. Diesel engines are also bult sturdier to maximize their longevity, allowing them to outlast gasoline engines, as well as having components that can be replaced during maintenance that doesn’t require rebuilding or replacing the entire engine.