| l power is popular all over the world, but not for the | | | | then compresses this mixture to 8:1 – 11:1 ratio, |
| same reasons. In America, diesel power is traditionally | | | | where the mixture is then ignited by a spark generated |
| used to power commercial and industrial vehicles and | | | | by a spark plug. That means that it is taking the |
| equipment. In Europe, it is used for the same purposes, | | | | amount of air and fuel in the cylinder and compressing |
| and it is popular for use in regular vehicles as well. | | | | it, so that it is compressed up to 1/11th of the original |
| Why is that? Europe has much higher fuel prices than | | | | volume. Diesel, on the other hand, compresses pure air |
| America does, and diesel is much more economical | | | | up to 25:1 ratio or higher. It then injects the fuel into the |
| than gasoline overall. While gasoline may cost less per | | | | chamber, which is super heated, due to the high |
| gallon – depending on the season, due to heating | | | | compressions, and immediately ignited. Diesel fuel also |
| costs – diesel can deliver more miles per gallon, | | | | contains a higher energy density, about 147,000 BTU, |
| effectively reducing the operating costs of a vehicle. | | | | than gasoline’s 125,000 BTU. BTU stands for |
| For this reason, more diesel cars were sold in Europe | | | | British Thermal Unit. Because of the higher |
| than gasoline cars, according to a survey. | | | | compression ratios and higher energy density, when |
| During the '70s gas shortage, diesel tried to make a | | | | the diesel ignites, it generates more than double the |
| place for itself in the American car market, but that | | | | cranking power than the gasoline engine does. |
| failed, due to the poor engineering of the American car | | | | Energy supplies are getting more and more expensive |
| manufacturers’ attempt to rapidly develop and | | | | every day. Since this concern is growing, so are the |
| produce these cars. The cars produced were loud, | | | | technology advancements for diesel-powered |
| expensive to maintain, produced a foul smelling | | | | passenger cars. As a matter of fact, in 2006, the Audi |
| exhaust, and were less reliable than traditional | | | | R10 took first place in the Le Mans 24-hour endurance |
| gasoline-powered automobiles. This created a stigma | | | | race. Not only did it win, but it was the quietest, |
| that has affected the reputation of diesel-powered | | | | cleanest, most efficient, and obviously fastest car on |
| automobiles, until now. J.D. Power and Associates has | | | | the track. This is just a preview of what is to come in |
| predicted that the number of cars powered by diesel | | | | the future of diesel-powered vehicles. |
| will triple on America’s roads in the next ten | | | | Disadvantages of Diesel |
| years. | | | | All of the great news you have read about diesel so |
| Diesel is much cleaner now than it was 30 years ago | | | | far does come with a few disadvantages as well. |
| as well, not only in terms of exhaust, but in other | | | | Diesel fuel has to be very clean for it to burn properly. |
| aspects, too. Federal requirements dictate that diesel | | | | Contaminants like dirt and especially water will |
| engines must meet standards that limit the odor, noise, | | | | significantly reduce performance and cause your |
| and emissions significantly. They also get up to 40 | | | | exhaust emissions to increase. |
| percent better fuel economy than gasoline engines and | | | | Extremely cold temperatures also cause the diesel to |
| produce enough power to satisfy most needs of the | | | | “gel up,” reducing the fuel |
| American speed demon. | | | | system’s efficiency, and as a result, the amount |
| One way diesel has become a much cleaner fuel is | | | | of fuel injected into the combustion chamber. Also, |
| through the development of ULSD (Ultra-Low Sulfur | | | | since diesel is ignited by the heat of compressed |
| Diesel.) ULSD eliminates 97 percent of sulfur, which is a | | | | gases, cold temperatures may also inhibit the ignition of |
| major cause of pollution. There are still a few states | | | | the fuel during startups. |
| that do not allow the sale of diesel-powered | | | | Also, as mentioned above, diesel-powered vehicles |
| passenger vehicles. Manufacturers are developing | | | | cost more to maintain. Finding a certified technician is |
| ways to use ULSD to meet requirements in all 50 | | | | also more difficult, due to the lack of demand. So even |
| states. | | | | though a diesel engine is built to last longer under more |
| Along with the new ULSD, there are other | | | | extreme conditions, when they do need maintenance, it |
| technologies that can help reduce the emissions of | | | | is not as easy of a fix as a gasoline-powered vehicle. |
| diesel. Daimler Chrysler and GM both are developing | | | | Looking at Diesel From a Lube Point of View. |
| engines that inject a substance into the combustion | | | | A lube shop needs to realize the opportunity created |
| chamber during ignition that help the diesel burn more | | | | by the growing popularity of diesel power. As |
| clean. A new catalytic converter is being introduced by | | | | mentioned earlier, finding qualified diesel technicians is |
| Honda that greatly reduces the levels of nitrogen oxide | | | | no easy feat; and by targeting diesel customers, they |
| that leaves the exhaust system. | | | | can greatly increase profit margins, because of the |
| More Advantages of Diesel-Powered Engines | | | | larger oil capacities and filters. |
| Because larger pickups, agricultural equipment, | | | | Using synthetic oils in a diesel engine will also improve |
| commercial transportation vehicles, and industrial | | | | the performance and life of the engine. These oils |
| equipment do not have the same emission | | | | usually contain detergents that help combat excess |
| requirements as passenger vehicles, the people and | | | | soot and dirty emissions created by the engine. These |
| industries that use these types of vehicles or | | | | oils also help the engine operate more efficiently at |
| equipment rely on diesel power. This is because the | | | | higher temperatures, while reducing wear and tear at |
| engines produce more power and last longer, due to | | | | the same time. Synthetics also improve the engine's |
| less wear and tear and a lower frequency of | | | | cold temperature operation as well, because of the |
| maintenance intervals. | | | | lower pour points that synthetics possess. |
| Diesels have a longer maintenance interval because | | | | Diesel-powered vehicles also have a wide array of |
| they don’t have to work as hard as | | | | fuel additives that can help improve their performance, |
| gasoline-powered engines. Diesels operate at less than | | | | especially under extreme conditions. Besides additives |
| 50 percent of the rpm's that a gasoline engine | | | | that combat dirt, water, and cold temperatures, there |
| operates at. This is because a diesel engine produces | | | | are also additives that boost the cetane rating of the |
| most of its power; whereas a gasoline engine idles. A | | | | fuel. Researching the different manufacturers’ |
| gasoline engine’s peak performance averages | | | | products can help you decide which one is best for |
| at about 4,200 rpm's; whereas a diesel engine’s | | | | the environment a particular vehicle operates in. |
| peak is between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm's. This result is | | | | Conclusion |
| less wear and tear per hour or mile. Diesels also | | | | With the growth of popularity of diesel engines, the |
| produce much greater torque than a gasoline engine | | | | one-time dirty, sluggish, loud, foul-smelling black sheep |
| does, enabling the use of lower gear ratios, resulting in | | | | of passenger vehicles, there are going to be more |
| much better fuel economy. This is all because of the | | | | environmental regulations applied to these types of |
| difference in how the engines utilize their fuel. | | | | vehicles. Oil companies need to be prepared to |
| Gasoline engines inject both air and fuel into the | | | | produce high-quality products to meet these demands. |
| combustion chamber at the same time. The cylinder | | | | |