subject: Gasoline Vs Diesel Engines [print this page] When it comes to powering a car, boat, generator, semi or RV, you will often find that you have two choices of fuel engines: gasoline and diesel. You may wonder what the difference is, why we have both, which is better, which is cheaper, and which is best for you. Well the truth is that these two engine types have a lot in common and a few differences. The differences set them apart and make them just different enough for there to be room for both on the market. So if you have ever wondered just why both exist and which is better for what reason, read on to learn how gasoline and diesel engines are different.
Fuel Type
The main difference between these two motor types is the fuel that they use. This is how each gets its name, from the fuel it burns. Both of these fuels are known as fossil fuels, which basically means they are made of dead dinosaurs. Literally, fossil fuels are made from petroleum, which is made up of decomposed life forms from millions of years ago. So the next time you take a trip in your car, be sure to thank the nice Stegosaurus that gave his life so that you could make that trip. Anyway, the petroleum is sucked out of the ground and processed to make it more pure and suitable as a fuel. Gasoline takes a bit more refinement and additives to make. The main difference between these two fuels is volatility. Basically, gasoline emits vapors that are flammable so watch out. Diesel does not emit vapors so it will not just catch on fire or evaporate away if you let it sit. Unfortunately, this also means that is gets thick in cold weather, which can be a problem when you are trying to run an engine.
Engine Function
Now that we have the differences between the two fuels out of the way, we can go over how the engines work differently. Both use a cylinder and piston to compress the fuel and mix it with air. The difference is that gasoline must be given a spark to ignite whereas diesel only needs to be compressed until it combusts on its own. Either way, this combustion pushes the piston which is attached to a shaft that rotates as a result of the up and down movement of the piston. The shaft turns and this energy is transferred to the wheels of your car or the motor of the generator or whatever it may be.
Performance Differences
Now we can move on to what really matters, how the performance of these two motor types differs. First, gasoline engines are less finicky, are quieter, lighter, produce less smell, and the fuel is cheaper and easier to find. It is looking pretty good for this type right now. Diesel engines are more expensive but they last longer, are more fuel efficient, have more torque (towing power), and perform better at higher altitudes. Diesel engines are good for generator sets such as Cat generators because the fuel can be stored for long periods of time. For more information about Portable Generators and Power Generation Equipment Repair, there is great information online.
