Article Advise

submitted: May 6th 2008 | by: DarkSith | Total views: 3 | Word Count: 360 | |

With gas prices increasing on a regular basis, more and more people are looking for alternatives to their gasoline-engine cars. One great option is a diesel-engine car. Cars that run on diesel are more economical than gasoline-engine cars because diesel has better fuel economy compared to gasoline. This means that cars running on diesel go longer distances with a single tank of fuel compared to cars that run on gasoline. In addition, diesel is generally less expensive than gasoline, except in places where high emissions standards as well as taxes are imposed on diesel fuel.

Have you ever wondered how exactly a diesel engine works? A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that takes in air and compresses it. Inside the engine, compressed air is injected with fuel. The fuel then lights up and burns because of the compressed air's heat. Unlike gasoline engines, which usually use carburetion or port fuel injection, diesel engines use direct fuel injection. Diesel fuel is directly injected into the cylinder.

Direct fuel injection is one of the most important components of any diesel engine system. The injector is the key to the whole process because it delivers the diesel fuel accurately while it keeps itself protected against the high pressure and temperature within the cylinder.

Most diesel engines operate through a four-stroke process. The first stroke involves drawing air into the cylinder. The air is then compressed by a piston, which heats it up. The next stroke is called the compression stroke, in which the air is pushed all the way to the top of the cylinder, creating an immense compression that heats up the air.

The third stroke is the power stroke. This stroke starts when fuel is injected and combusts due to the temperature of the compressed air. The piston is then pushed downward as a result of the burning gases, creating power that is sent to the crankshaft. The fourth stroke is the exhaust stroke, in which the burnt gases are pushed out of the car through the exhaust port. Once this has been done, the process begins all over again, as the engine repeats the cycle that gives vehicles the ability to move.

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Learn the basics of diesel mechanics with this online guide.

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