Diesel and gasoline engines differ in their combustion process. Gasoline engines use spark plugs to ignite fuel, while diesel engines use compression to ignite fuel. Diesel engines are more fuel-efficient and durable, but require more maintenance due to the less clean fuel they use.
Understanding the difference between diesel and gasoline engines begins with understanding the combustion process used by the two engines. Both are internal combustion engines that use pistons to create mechanical energy. However, what happens inside to move those pistons is key to the differences in operation and efficiency between diesel and gasoline engines.
In gasoline engines, the fuel is mixed with air, then compressed with a piston, where it is then ignited by a spark from a spark plug. The burning fuel releases energy used to push the piston down, which turns the engine’s crankshaft.
Diesel engines use a slightly different process to produce mechanical power. As the piston moves up in the cylinder, the air in the cylinder is compressed. As the pressure increases, the temperature of the air in the cylinder increases dramatically. Combustion occurs when, near the top of the compression stroke, diesel fuel is sprayed through an injector nozzle into the hot air charge in the cylinder. The hot air instantly ignites the fuel, and the combustion gases force the piston back through the cylinder, turning the engine’s crankshaft. No spark is needed because diesel fuel self-composes in the cylinder’s superheated air under compression. Lack of spark represents the biggest difference between diesel and gasoline engines.
For those interested in fuel economy, there can be a big difference between diesel and gasoline engines. When trying to make a decision between diesel and gasoline engines, buyers should consider the fuel efficiency that can be achieved, but there are other factors to consider as well. Diesel engines use a fuel that is not as clean as gasoline. Therefore, it is necessary to provide more maintenance to the engine. However, if care is taken, diesel engines generally last much longer, in part because diesel fuel is not as corrosive as gasoline. It is not uncommon for diesel engines to last 200,000 to 500,000 miles (322,000 to 800,000 km) in non-commercial vehicles. Commercial vehicles, many times, get at least 500,000 miles (800,000 km), but it’s also common for diesel engines to keep going well past that point. This durability can be an important factor when choosing between these motors.
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