How a diesel car engine works. The most reliable diesel engine made in Japan What diesel is for

Each driver has their own considerations as to which powertrain is actually better. Some believe that the small volume brings a big advantage and provides fuel economy. Others believe that it is worth buying only a gasoline engine because of its simplicity and versatility. Still others choose only voluminous diesels with a turbine for immense pleasure from excellent traction. Let's take a look at how to operate a diesel power unit, which has a number of features of use. Correct use can significantly extend the life of the unit and provide many important benefits. If you switch from a gasoline SUV to a diesel one without changing your habits, then your power unit will have a difficult time.

Engine use is a topic that can be discussed endlessly. Based on what features of the trip are violated by the owners of the equipment in comparison with the factory recommendations, it is very easy to find a number of important recommendations. This question concerns refueling of certain fuel and oil filling, service maintenance, as well as repairs. There are certain practical tips for reducing consumption and wear on a diesel engine. You can also remember the winter use of a diesel engine, which should be very careful. Considering all the categories presented, we can form some important tips for diesel powertrain owners. One has only to say that everything said below applies to modern turbocharged diesel engines that are installed on mass passenger cars.

Refueling and maintenance are the two most important points of use

First of all, when buying a diesel power unit, you need to choose a normal refueling place. We are talking not only about the high-quality brand of the filling station, but also about the quality of diesel fuel, which does not always coincide. Use the recommendations of experts and check the quality of diesel fuel using simple tests. The fuel must not freeze, cloudy and must be clean in all conditions. It is also worth following the recommendations for maintenance:

• for a diesel power unit, many manufacturers set a slightly shorter service interval than for gasoline engines, but this is not always the case;
• you need to comply one hundred percent with all the conditions of service that are set by the car manufacturer, use only original materials at the service;
• when buying an unknown oil, you can say goodbye to the engine after 10-20 thousand kilometers, filters are also worth buying original and very high quality;
• special attention should be paid to the equipment diagnostics during the service - this will help to avoid the most unpleasant problems associated with the injection pump and the block head;
• it is necessary to repair the diesel engine immediately after the car has shown a problem, this will help to maintain a certain quality and the desired properties of the installation.

If a gasoline engine is sometimes operated successfully and with malfunctions, then such an idea will not work in diesel power units. It is necessary to use the services of a professional service for servicing the Common Rail, turbine, injection pump and cylinder head. It is these parts that most often fail and cause certain troubles during operation. A breakdown can completely destroy the unit.

How to drive a modern turbine diesel engine?

Current heavy fuel powertrains do not differ too much from gasoline engines. The issue of ride quality can be very serious, as improper operation leads to a number of problems. You need to remember the basic recommendations, as well as read the features and individual tips in the operating instructions for your car. Basic recommendations for such engines are as follows:

• use high torque at low rpm - do not spin the diesel engine to high rpm of the power unit;
• take advantage of the comfortable early gear changes and the excellent traction characteristics of the diesel vehicle, this will help to gain comfort;
• do not overheat the unit, prolonged operation at high speeds or off-road operation in the middle mode will disable the injection pump and other important modules;
• you shouldn't drive a diesel car - you buy a car for comfort and low consumption, so use all the important advantages of transport with such features;
• in the city, it is quite possible to drive at a speed of 60-70 kilometers per hour using the last gear - this is one of the favorite modes of operation of a diesel unit.

You need to understand that diesel has a completely different structure than the gasoline engine we are used to. There are a number of advantages, but there are also disadvantages. Therefore, you should always study the manufacturer's recommendations for using the car, otherwise you can get into an unpleasant situation. Use the highest quality travel solutions and always strive to comply with factory recommendations. This will help keep your machine running.

What are the important advantages of a diesel engine?

The diesel-type power unit is known for eating less fuel than a gasoline counterpart with similar power characteristics. This is true, but the diesel-type power unit is one of the spendthrift budget on the service, it requires more money to complete all the tasks. Therefore, it is worth highlighting such clean and undeniable advantages of a heavy fuel power unit:

• the possibility of early gear shifting, very good torque, which picks up the gearbox in any mode and rides well even in an unsuccessfully selected position;
• very high traction indicators directly during acceleration, that is, at low revs, the highest indicator of the optimal useful power of the unit appears;
• reduced fuel consumption compared to gasoline evens out the cost of operating a power unit on heavy fuel, so it will not cost you much more;
• the service life of the diesel engine, subject to all important recommendations, will be quite high, there are no problems with the device, many drive up to 500,000 km;
• the environmental cleanliness of emissions is much better than that of gasoline options, the absence of carbon monoxide, but there are particulate particles, and they often exceed the norm for a car of this class.

Today's powertrain designs are becoming more sophisticated and demanding. Therefore, you should carefully follow each update and study the engine, information and reviews about it before buying. One and the same unit in different generations of cars from the manufacturer can have completely different operating options. And in this case, you can get really disappointment when buying.

How to Operate a Diesel Engine in Winter?

The winter operation of a power unit with diesel fuel is somewhat more complicated. If gasoline does not freeze at all, in principle, then the cloud point of diesel fuel is -25 degrees Celsius. The freezing temperature already at -35 degrees excludes the operation of a car in such conditions. However, today there is diesel fuel with additives, which is used without problems in any conditions. There are a number of cautious points:

• in winter, it would be nice to install a turbo timer in a diesel engine, which would continue to slowly reduce the engine temperature after a trip, when you have already left the car;
• you should also choose winter fuel at the gas station, choosing an initially normal gas station, where you will not fill the tank with low-quality liquid;
• you can also use a number of additives to reduce the crystallization temperature of the fuel when the fuel poured into the tank turns into a gelatinous mass;
• after the diesel fuel turns into gel, you will have to take the car to a service, and on a tow truck, in order to clean the fuel elements and hoses for further use.

For these reasons, diesel cars in northern conditions are not the best option. In central Russia, such cars are quite acceptable and can perform their functions perfectly. In the south, there are no problems with their operation at all. Nevertheless, you need to take into account a number of features for the use of fuel and the quality of service for your car. We offer you to watch a short video about the features of a diesel car:

Summing up

Does it make sense to buy a diesel car? In economic terms, this makes little sense. But in terms of travel, your conditions will really change dramatically. You will be introduced to a new technology that completely opens up a new perception of road transport. There are a number of positive and a number of negative factors in the use of such transport. But diesel lovers often argue that the pros far outweigh the cons. Of course, all this is very arbitrary. You can buy a diesel engine and be extremely unhappy with the situation during the first breakdown in winter. But remember that the quality of operation directly depends on you.

You should also remember about the gas station, which can be normal and terrible. If a gasoline unit from a poor refueling simply increases consumption, then diesel fuel can destroy a number of expensive elements in the car. Therefore, in Europe, for example, operating diesel units is not problematic. On the other hand, there are always a number of difficulties in owning a car with such a unit. So if you are afraid of these difficulties, it is better to choose a gasoline car. If you want to try something new, feel free to buy a turbodiesel. Which engine would you prefer for personal use?

Diesel engine is an internal combustion engine invented by Rudolph Diesel in 1897. The device of a diesel engine of those years made it possible to use oil, rapeseed oil, and solid types of combustible substances as fuel. For example, coal dust.

The principle of operation of the diesel engine of our time has not changed. However, motors have become more technological and demanding on fuel quality. Today, only high quality diesel fuel is used in diesel engines.

Diesel-type motors are distinguished by their fuel efficiency and good traction at low crankshaft speeds, therefore they are widely used on trucks, ships and trains.

Since the solution to the problem of high speeds (old diesel engines, with frequent use at high speeds, quickly failed), the engines in question were often installed on passenger cars. Diesels designed for high-speed driving received a turbocharging system.

Diesel engine working principle

The principle of operation of a diesel type motor differs from gasoline engines. There are no spark plugs, and fuel is supplied to the cylinders separately from air.

The cycle of operation of such a power unit can be represented as follows:

• a portion of air is supplied to the combustion chamber of the diesel engine;
• the piston rises, compressing the air;
• from compression, the air heats up to a temperature of about 800˚C;
• fuel is injected into the cylinder;
• Diesel fuel ignites, which leads to the lowering of the piston and the execution of the working stroke;
• combustion products are removed by blowing through the outlet ports.

How a diesel engine works depends on its economy. In a working unit, a lean mixture is used, which saves the amount of fuel in the tank.

How a diesel engine works

The main difference between the design of a diesel engine and gasoline engines is the presence of a high-pressure fuel pump, diesel injectors and the absence of spark plugs.

The general arrangement of these two types of power unit does not differ. Both have a crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons. At the same time, all elements of a diesel engine are reinforced, since the loads on them are higher.

Note: some diesel engines have glow plugs, which are mistaken by motorists for an analogue of spark plugs. In fact, this is not the case. Glow plugs are used to heat the air in cylinders in frosty conditions.

At the same time, the diesel engine is easier to start. Spark plugs in gasoline engines are used to ignite the air-fuel mixture while the engine is running.

The injection system on diesel engines is made direct, when fuel enters the chamber directly, or indirect, when ignition occurs in the pre-chamber (vortex chamber, fore-chamber). This is a small cavity above the combustion chamber, with one or more holes through which air enters there.

Such a system contributes to better mixture formation, a uniform increase in pressure in the cylinders. It is often in the vortex chambers that glow plugs are used to facilitate a cold start. When the ignition switch is turned, the process of heating the spark plugs is automatically started.

Pros and cons of a diesel engine

Like any other type of power unit, a diesel engine has positive and negative features. The "pluses" of a modern diesel engine include:

• profitability;
• good traction in a wide rpm range;
• more resource than that of a gasoline analogue;
• less harmful emissions.

Diesel is not without its drawbacks:

• motors that are not equipped with glow plugs do not start well in frost;
• diesel is more expensive and more difficult to maintain;
• high requirements for the quality and timeliness of service;
• high requirements for the quality of consumables;
• more noise than gasoline engines.

Diesel turbocharged engine

The principle of operation of a turbine on a diesel engine practically does not differ from that on gasoline engines. The bottom line is the injection of additional air into the cylinders, which naturally increases the amount of incoming fuel. Due to this, a serious increase in motor power is noted.

The turbine device of a diesel engine also does not differ significantly from its gasoline counterpart. The device consists of two impellers, rigidly connected to each other, and a body that looks like a snail. There are 2 inlets and 2 outlets on the turbocharger casing. One part of the mechanism is built into the exhaust manifold, the other into the intake.

The scheme of work is simple: the gases coming out of a running motor spin the first impeller, which rotates the second. A second impeller, mounted in the intake manifold, pumps atmospheric air into the cylinders. An increase in air supply leads to an increase in fuel supply and an increase in power. This allows the motor to pick up speed faster even at low revs.

Turboyama

During operation, the turbine can make up to 200 thousand revolutions per minute. It is immediately impossible to spin it up to the required rotation speed. This leads to the appearance of the so-called. turbo lags, when some time passes (1-2 seconds) from the moment you press the gas pedal to the start of intensive acceleration.

The problem is solved by finalizing the turbine mechanism and installing several impellers of different sizes. In this case, small impellers spin up instantly, after which they are overtaken by large elements. This approach allows you to almost completely eliminate the turbo lag.

Turbines with variable geometry, VNT (Variable Nozzle Turbine) are also produced, designed to solve the same problems. At the moment, there are a large number of modifications of this type of turbine. The geometry correction also successfully copes with the reverse situation, when there are too many revolutions and air and it is necessary to slow down the impeller revolutions.

It has been observed that if cold air is used for mixture formation, the efficiency of the engine increases up to 20%. This discovery led to the development of an intercooler, an additional element of turbines that increases efficiency.

The turbine of a modern car must be properly maintained. The mechanism is extremely sensitive to engine oil quality and overheating. Therefore, it is recommended to change the lubricant at least after 5-7 thousand kilometers.

In addition, after stopping the car, the internal combustion engine should be left on for 1-2 minutes. This allows the turbine to cool down (when the oil circulation is abruptly stopped, it overheats). Unfortunately, even with proper operation, the compressor resource rarely exceeds 150 thousand kilometers.

Note: the best solution to the problem of turbine overheating on diesel engines is to install a turbo timer. The device leaves the engine running for the required time after turning off the ignition. After the end of the required period, the electronics itself turns off the power unit.

The structure and principle of operation of the diesel engine make it an indispensable unit for heavy vehicles that require good traction at the bottom. Modern diesel engines work with equal success in passenger cars, the main requirement for which is acceleration and acceleration time.

Difficult diesel maintenance is compensated by durability, efficiency and reliability in any situation.

To begin with, the efficiency of a diesel engine is much higher than that of a gasoline counterpart. Simply put, this engine consumes much less fuel. The designers managed to achieve a similar result by creating a unique design.

Important! The principle of operation of a diesel engine is very different from a gasoline engine.

To be sure, modern gasoline engines have many and varied technological innovations. Suffice it to recall direct injection. Despite this, the efficiency of the gasoline engine is about 30 percent. For a diesel engine, the same parameter reaches 40. If we recall the turbocharging, then the figure can reach 50%.

It is not surprising that diesel engines are gradually conquering Europe. Expensive gasoline encourages buyers to buy more fuel-efficient cars. Manufacturers track changes in consumer preferences in real time, introducing appropriate adjustments in the production process.

Unfortunately, the design of the diesel engine is not without its drawbacks. One of the most essential is heavy weight. Of course, the engineers have come a long way in gradually reducing the weight of the motor, but there is a limit to everything.

The fact is that in the design of a diesel engine, all parts must be fitted to each other as accurately as possible. If in gasoline counterparts the possibility of a slight backlash is allowed, then everything is different here. As a result, at the very beginning of the introduction of the technology, diesel units were installed only on large machines. Suffice it to recall the same trucks from the beginning of the last century.

History of creation

It is hard to imagine, but the first workable diesel engine was designed by engineer Rudolf Diesel back in the 19th century. Then ordinary kerosene was used as fuel.

With the development of technology, scientists began to experiment. As a result, what kind of fuels were used to achieve the best results. For example, for some time the engines were fueled with rapeseed oil and even crude oil. Of course, such an approach could not produce truly serious achievements.

Long-term research led scientists to the idea of ​​using fuel oil and diesel fuel. Their low cost and good flammability have made it possible to seriously compete with gasoline counterparts.

Attention! Fuel oil and diesel fuel are made without the use of complex technological processes. This is what guarantees their low prices. In fact, they are a by-product from oil refining.

Initially, the fuel injection systems in the device of diesel engines were extremely imperfect. This did not allow the use of units in machines that worked at high speeds.

The first examples of cars equipped with diesel engines appeared in the 20s of the last century. It was freight and public transport. Prior to this, motors of this class were used only on stationary machines or ships.

It was only 15 years later that the first machines appeared that were powered by a diesel engine. Despite this, for a very long time, a diesel engine, being powerful and immune to detonation, was not widespread in the automotive industry. The fact is that, while there were significant advantages, the unit had a number of disadvantages, such as increased noise during operation and high weight.

Only in the 70s, when oil prices began to rise, everything changed dramatically. Automotive manufacturers and consumers alike have turned their gaze to automobiles in their diesel-powered device. It was then that compact diesels first appeared.

Diesel engine

Diesel engine device

The design of a diesel engine consists of four main elements:

• cylinders,
• pistons,
• fuel injector,
• inlet and outlet valve.

Each structural element performs its own task and has its own design features. In the process of development, this technology has been supplemented with many details that have made it possible to achieve much higher productivity, here are the main ones:

• fuel burner,
• intercooler.

Each of these parts has significantly improved the efficiency of the diesel engine.

Principle of operation

The diesel engine works by compression. Through this process, liquid under pressure enters the combustion chamber. The flow elements are injector nozzles.

Important! Fuel gets inside only when the air has the required compression force and high temperature.

The air must be hot enough for the fuel to ignite... Before getting inside, the liquid passes through a series of filters that trap foreign particles that can harm the system.

To understand the principle of operation of a diesel engine, you need to consider the entire process of supplying and igniting fuel from start to finish. Initially, air is supplied through the intake valve. In this case, the piston moves downward.

Some intake systems are additionally equipped with flaps. Thanks to them, two channels are created in the structure through which air enters. As a result of this process, a swirl of air masses occurs.

Attention! The intake flaps can only be opened at high engine speeds.

When the piston reaches the top, air is compressed 20 times. The ultimate pressure is about 40 kilograms per square centimeter. In this case, the temperature reaches 500 degrees.

The injector injects fuel into the chamber in a strictly specified amount. Ignition occurs exclusively due to the high temperature. It is this fact that explains the fact that there are no candles in the device of a diesel engine. Moreover, the ignition system is absent as such.

The lack of a throttle valve allows the development of a large torque. But the number of revolutions is at a consistently low level. Several injections of liquid can be carried out in one cycle.

Downward the piston pushes the pressure of the expanding gases. The result of this process is that the crankshaft turns. The connecting link in this microprocess is the connecting rod.

Having reached the bottom point, the piston rises again, thereby pushing out the already exhaust gases. They come out through the outlet valve. This duty cycle is repeated over and over again in a diesel engine.

To reduce the percentage of soot in the gases that go out through the exhaust system, there is a special filter. It can significantly reduce the damage to the environment.

Additional nodes

How the turbine works

The turbine in a diesel engine can greatly increase the overall performance of the system. However, automotive engineers did not come to this decision immediately.

The impetus for the creation of a turbine and its introduction into the general structure of a diesel engine was that the fuel does not have time to completely burn out while the piston moves to dead center.

The principle of operation of a turbine on a diesel engine is that this structural element allows complete combustion of the fuel. As a result, the power of the motor increases significantly.

The turbocharger device consists of the following elements:

• Two casings - one is attached to the turbine, the other to the compressor.
• The bearings support the assembly.
• The protective function is performed by a steel mesh.

The entire cycle of a diesel engine turbine consists of the following stages:

1. Air is sucked in by means of a compressor.
2. The rotor is connected, which is set in motion due to the turbine rotor.
3. An intercooler cools the air.
4. The air passes through several filters and enters through the intake manifold. At the end of this action, the valve closes. Opening occurs at the end of the working stroke.
5. Exhaust gases pass through the turbine of a diesel engine, thereby putting pressure on the rotor.
6. At this stage, the rotational speed of the turbine of a diesel engine can reach about 1500 revolutions per second. This causes the compressor rotor to rotate through the shaft.

This cycle repeats over and over again. Thanks to the use of a turbine, the power of the diesel engine is increased.

Important! Cooling increases the density of the air.

The increase in air density allows a much greater amount of air to be supplied to the inside of the engine. The increased flow ensures that the fuel inside the system is completely burned out.

Intercooler and nozzle

During compression, not only the density of the air increases, but also its temperature. Unfortunately, this greatly affects the longevity of a diesel engine. Therefore, scientists came up with a device such as an intercooler. It effectively reduces the temperature of the air stream.

Important! The intercooler works by cooling the air through heat exchange.

The device can have one or two nozzles. Their job is to atomize and dose the fuel. The principle of operation of a diesel injector is realized by means of a cam that moves away from the camshaft.

Attention! Diesel injectors are pulsed.

Outcomes

Through the use of new technologies and additional components, the diesel engine achieves an amazing efficiency from the combustion of fuel. This figure reaches 40-50 percent. That is almost twice as much as in the gasoline counterpart.

Have you ever wondered, dear motorists, why economical Europeans most often buy cars with diesel engines? After all, the standard of living and per capita income in Europe allows people not to think too much about the cost of fuel. But despite the normal well-being of European citizens, they still continue to most often buy cars with diesel engines. And the reason here, by the way, is not only fuel economy. Because of the economy alone, pedantic Europeans would never buy diesel cars en masse. In fact, in the European Union itself, it is associated with a number of other advantages that these diesel vehicles have when compared to gasoline counterparts. Let us friends with us (you) will find out in detail, and what are the advantages besides fuel economy, diesel engines have.

1. Diesel engines are more economical.

As we all have known for a long time, the most important and significant advantage of any diesel engine in comparison with gasoline counterparts is its smaller one. The low consumption of the diesel unit is associated with its feature of converting this diesel fuel into energy. For example, such a diesel power unit burns fuel (fuel) more efficiently, which allows it to receive about 45-50% of all energy from one volume of burned fuel. The gasoline engine receives about 30% of the energy from the same volume. That is, 70% of gasoline is simply wasted !!!

In addition, diesel engines have a higher compression ratio than gasoline engines. And since the ratio of this compression is influenced by the ignition time of the fuel, it accordingly turns out that the higher the compression ratio, the greater the efficiency of the engine.

Also, all modern diesel engines, due to the lack of a throttle valve on the intake manifold, are more efficient, which, as a rule, was used and is still used today in all gasoline cars. This allows diesels (motors) to avoid the loss of precious energy associated with the intake of air, which is necessary to ignite fuel in gasoline engines.

2. Diesel engines are more reliable than gasoline engines.

Over the past 50 years, diesel engines have proven themselves to be more reliable than their gasoline counterparts. The main feature of this diesel unit is the absence of a high-voltage ignition system in the car itself. As a result, it turns out that in a car with a diesel engine there is no radio frequency interference from the high voltage line, which often become the culprits of problems with the car's electronics.

It is also believed that most of the internal components of a diesel engine have a longer service life, and this is indeed the case. And all because of the higher compression ratio, where the components of such a diesel power unit are already more durable from the beginning.

It is for this important reason that there are a lot of diesel cars in the world with a mileage of about and not so many with the same mileage of gasoline cars.

There is, however, one significant disadvantage of diesel engines, which previously haunted all fans of powerful cars. The point is that the old generation diesel engines had very little power per liter of engine volume. But fortunately for us, engineers have solved this problem with the advent of cars with turbines on the car market. As a result, almost all modern diesel engines today are equipped with turbines, which allow them to be equal in power (and sometimes even surpass) with gasoline counterparts. In particular, with the development of new technologies in modern diesel engines, engineers have managed to minimize almost all of its shortcomings, which have been pursuing these diesel engines for a long time.

3. The diesel engine burns fuel automatically by itself.

Another main advantage of all diesel engines is that diesel cars, as it were, automatically by themselves, burn fuel inside themselves without actually spending any extra energy for this. Let us remind our readers the following, in spite of the fact that a diesel engine uses a four-stroke cycle (intake, compression, combustion and exhaust) for itself, diesel fuel combustion occurs as if spontaneously right inside the engine from a high compression ratio. for the same combustion of fuel, spark plugs are needed (are needed), which are constantly under high voltage and give out a spark, which ignites the gasoline in the combustion chamber.

In diesel engines, there is no need for spark plugs, and it also does not need high-voltage wires, etc. components. For this reason, the cost of maintaining vehicles with diesel units is significantly reduced when compared to the same gasoline vehicles, in which periodically it is necessary to replace spark plugs, high-voltage wires and related other components.

4. The cost of diesel fuel is comparable to the cost of the same gasoline, or even lower.

Despite the fact that in Russia the cost of diesel fuel is at almost the same level as the price of gasoline, it should be noted that the cost of diesel fuel in many countries of the world, including in European countries, is noticeably lower than in our country. than the same gasoline. That is, it turns out that, in addition to lower fuel consumption, the owners of these diesel vehicles in other countries of the world spend much less money on diesel fuel than other owners of gasoline vehicles.

But even with the condition that in our country diesel fuel costs the same as gasoline (or even more expensive), the advantage of the same efficiency of these diesel cars is obvious to many. After all, the power reserve of a car on a full filled tank of diesel fuel turns out to be much more than on the same car equipped with a gasoline power unit.

5. Lower cost of ownership.

Of course, it is difficult to argue with such an advantage (owning a car with a gasoline engine), since in certain cases the very cost of maintenance and repair of diesel cars can significantly exceed the cost of MOT (maintenance) of gasoline cars. And this is indeed an indisputable and proven fact. But on the other hand, if we take the total costs, then the cost of owning a diesel car in the aggregate turns out to be much less than that of the same gasoline analogue. Especially in those world car markets where there is an increased demand for diesel vehicles. Let us explain to our readers, the fact is that in the cost of owning a car, it is always necessary to take into account in the used market the specific loss of the market price of the car and the natural wear and tear of all auto parts during the operation of the vehicle (vehicle). As a rule, diesel cars lose in price much less (and more slowly) than the same gasoline counterparts. Also, due to the higher durability of diesel engine parts, these cars have a longer service life, which naturally allows you to spend significantly less money on.

Thus, we can say that in the long term (from 5 years and more), owning a diesel car is more profitable than a car with a gasoline unit. True, here friends, it should be noted that the cost of diesel car models is usually much higher than gasoline ones. But, if in the future you will own such a diesel car for a long time and drive it 20,000 - 30,000 thousand km per year, then such an overpayment will pay off for you due to the same fuel economy.

6. Diesel vehicles are safer.

Over the years, it has been proven that diesel fuel is significantly safer than the same gasoline for several reasons. Firstly, diesel fuel is less susceptible to quick and easy ignition (fire) in comparison with gasoline. For example, the same diesel fuel does not usually ignite when exposed to a high heat source.

Secondly, diesel fuel does not emit dangerous vapors, as does gasoline. As a result, the likelihood of ignition of salyarka vapors, which can cause a car fire, in diesel vehicles is much lower than in the same gasoline ones.

All these factors make diesel cars on the roads around the world much safer than gasoline cars. For example, in the event of an accident.

7. The exhaust of a diesel car is less carbon monoxide than gasoline.

From the very beginning of the appearance of these turbines, engineers were faced with a certain problem that was associated with the power supply of these turbochargers. As a rule, the turbine impeller itself rotates due to the energy obtained from the exhaust gases of the car. If we compare gasoline and diesel cars with each other, then turbines in diesel engines work much more efficiently, since in a diesel car the amount of exhaust gases per generated volume is much greater than in a gasoline unit. It is for this reason that the turbocharger (s) of a diesel engine deliver (s) maximum power much faster and earlier than gasoline vehicles. That is, already at low revs, they begin to feel the maximum power of the car and its torque.

9. Diesel engines can run on synthetic fuel without additional modifications.

Another major advantage of diesel engines is their ability to run on synthetic fuel without any significant changes in the design of the power unit. Gasoline engines, on the other hand, can essentially run on alternative fuels. But for this they need significant changes in the very design of the power unit. Otherwise, a gasoline engine running on an alternative fuel will simply fail quickly.

He is currently experimenting with biobutanol (fuel), which is an excellent synthetic biofuel for all gasoline vehicles. This type of fuel will probably not cause any significant harm to gasoline cars without making any changes to the engine design.

An article about the main pros and cons of a diesel engine. Important features of operation. At the end of the article - a video about which engine is cooler, gasoline or diesel!

What are the nuances of a diesel engine

The main disadvantages were the increased noise level, strong vibration load and low acceleration dynamics.

With such a ratio of factors, the choice is no longer limited to measured, economical driving or dynamic, but slightly more consumable. The very fact of the expediency of purchasing a car on diesel fuel is questionable, because despite the tremendous work aimed at eliminating its weaknesses, some of the shortcomings still could not be eliminated.

We will not consider in this article commercial vehicles, for which the most important indicator is traction under high load, as well as efficiency, since most of the commercial vehicle fleet does not offer gasoline versions at all. This is due to the fact that a large-volume diesel engine at high loads is much preferable to its gasoline counterpart in terms of economy. After all, when it comes to fuel consumption of tens of liters per hundred kilometers, even small savings look impressive in monetary terms.

In addition, for such cars, driving at high speeds is not necessary at all. A gasoline engine is prone to a significant increase in fuel consumption at maximum load, a diesel in this situation is more stable.

Diesel engine design features

First of all, a diesel engine is made from much more durable alloys, and its parts, such as a cylinder block, pistons, connecting rods, and a crankshaft, are designed for much higher loads. This is due to the fact that the compression ratio of the diesel engine is 19-24 units, while the gasoline engine has only 9-12 units. This leads to an increase in the weight and dimensions of the unit.

The key difference lies in the power supply and ignition systems. In a gasoline engine, mixture formation occurs in the intake system, that is, a ready-made mixture of fuel and air enters the cylinder, which is ignited by a spark plug. In diesel, everything is somewhat more complicated - first, air enters the combustion chamber, which heats up to 800 degrees Celsius, after which fuel is injected there under enormous pressure, and the resulting mixture is ignited by a glow plug.

During the combustion process, a huge pressure is created, which provides a huge torque, but at the same time leads to increased noise. This principle of operation ensures stable operation of the lean-burn motor, which gives good efficiency indicators.

This engine power system is now the most widespread, but there are also more exotic options with unit injectors, in which the functions of supplying and spraying fuel are combined, which allows replacing only one element when it fails, but makes the diesel engine even more demanding. In addition, such units are not repairable.

The high cost of such a motor is also due to the fact that it is often equipped with a number of important auxiliary systems, such as heating the fuel tank and return line, particle filters and reinforced damping cushions.

In addition, most modern diesel engines are equipped with turbocharging, which can significantly improve dynamic performance and accelerate reaching maximum revs, while efficiency also slightly improves. The main negative factor is the price of both the turbocharger itself and its replacement. This unit is designed for a shorter service life than the motor, in addition, it is very sensitive to the quality of working fluids and consumables. In some cases, its repair is not provided, the entire compressor is changed.

Contrary to popular belief, diesel engines, like gasoline engines, can undergo major overhauls, the technologies of which are very similar. The only thing to consider if you are buying a used car or are going to operate it for many years is the design of the cylinder block.

There are diesel engines in which the cylinder block and its head are combined into a single non-separable element, which leads to the need to search for specialized workshops that could carry out a groove of a similar design. Most services simply do not have such equipment.

How to properly operate a diesel engine

This is important to remember for those who rarely use a car, because after refueling in the warm season, it will no longer be possible to leave in winter. To do this, you will have to purchase additives and add them to the tank yourself. The old technology of adding a small amount of kerosene to a summer grade of solarium can be detrimental to a modern engine.

Winter operation of a diesel engine is also associated with the fact that its extremely slow warming up does not allow you to quickly achieve interior heating from the standard heating system. For cars with a large interior, as well as for SUVs and station wagons, this leads to the need to install an auxiliary heater.

Do not forget about the fact that it is necessary to closely monitor the fuel level, because if the gasoline runs out, it is enough to just add it to the tank, but in the case of a diesel engine, air enters the system, which will not allow the engine to start without special pumping.

Against this background, the most insignificant drawback of a diesel engine is a rather narrow operating range, which actually translates into the need to change gears more often. Of course, in the case of the “automatic”, this fact becomes imperceptible, but the need for more gears is obvious.

A modern diesel engine is literally packed with various electronic systems, so maintenance should be carried out only at an authorized center. In addition, for these motors, the replacement of working fluids should be done almost twice as often.

For many car owners, safety is an important factor. Diesel fuel is extremely difficult to ignite and is not prone to spontaneous combustion or explosion, therefore, in the event of a fuel tank leak as a result of a serious accident, the risk of fire is extremely small.

Fighting Diesel Disadvantages

For example, increased vibration is associated with a sharp increase in pressure in the combustion chamber in the middle of the working cycle, therefore, the fight against this phenomenon is carried out in two directions - reducing the consequences, that is, the use of engine cushions that effectively damp vibrations and adjusting the operating mode. As for the latter, modern diesel engines are distinguished by a reduced compression ratio, this somewhat stabilizes the process, but gradually deprives the diesel of its advantages - torque and economy.

Reducing the compression ratio has a positive effect on reducing noise, but, as already mentioned, there are plenty of negative factors for such a solution. The only rational way out so far is the use of effective sound insulation.

More expensive solutions in the form of torsional vibration dampers also reduce the disadvantages of this type of engine, but, in addition to increasing costs, lead to an even greater complication of the maintenance process.

Serious work is underway to improve the combustion chamber to ensure high-quality mixture formation by creating turbulent vortices in it. To stabilize the ignition process and reduce detonation, motors with two nozzles per cylinder have been developed, which, however, leads to a significant increase in the cost of the structure.

Advantages of a diesel unit in a car

• profitability;
• greater resource;
• thrust-to-weight ratio and huge torque at low revs.

The only negative factor that was completely eliminated is the possibility of self-destruction of the diesel engine. This phenomenon was called "peddling" and consisted in the uncontrolled set of revolutions by the motor up to failure. The modern power supply system and electronics exclude the possibility of such a situation.

Diesel engine conclusion

Thus, a diesel engine is a justified solution when driving intensively, carrying a large amount of cargo or fully loaded with passengers, when towing a trailer or driving off-road.

In the case of sedate driving on good roads, the efficiency of this type of motor simply does not have time to compensate for its price, as well as the complexity and cost of maintenance. It is worth remembering that the shortcomings of a diesel engine at the modern technical level were only minimized, but not eliminated.

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