A Diesel Primer
A Diesel Primer
I admit that I am behind the curve when it comes to diesels. Come check out what I learned!
Motor Age — I’ve worked on gas-powered passenger cars and light trucks for the majority of my 35 years under the hood. There was the occasional large people mover, and I’ve turned a wrench on nearly everything else that runs on gasoline at one time or another, from lawn mowers to airplanes.
But when it comes to diesels, the most I’ve ever done on the powerplant was an oil change or fuel filter replacement.
To say I’m behind the curve here is an understatement. But I have a feeling I’m not the only one out there. With diesels growing in popularity, I guess it’s about time you and I both learn a bit more on how these things do what they do.
A Little History
What do you think of when you hear the word “diesel”? I always picture a large Peterbilt or Kenworth, hauling its heavy load down the highway, black smoke spewing from the exhaust stacks with every gear change.
Diesel engines are also known as compression-ignition engines, or engines that use the heat of compression to ignite the fuel mixture — rather than rely on an external ignition source like a gasoline engine does. The idea for the diesel engine was patented on Feb. 23, 1892, in a patent application titled “Method of and Apparatus for Converting Heat into Work” by Rudolf Diesel. He built his first working prototype in 1893.
Click here to read the complete article at Motor Age Online.
Source: Motor Age
