Inside the Diesel Engine: Diesel Mechanics in Action
Dark Sith
With the skyrocketing gas prices at the pumps, more and more people are looking for alternatives to their gasoline-engine vehicles. The most common alternative is a diesel-engine vehicle. Diesel-engine vehicles are more economical than gasoline-engine vehicles because diesel has better fuel economy compared to gasoline. This means that they can cover more miles with a single tank of fuel compared to gasoline-engine types. Moreover, diesel is generally cheaper than gasoline, except in places where taxes and/or high emissions standards are imposed on diesel.
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 vital parts of any diesel engine system. The injector is the key to the whole internal combustion process because it delivers the diesel fuel accurately while it keepings itself protected against the high temperatures and pressures in the cylinder.
Most diesel engines have a four stroke process. The first stroke is drawing air into the cylinder. The air is then compressed by a piston, which heats it up. The next stroke is the compression stroke, in which the air is pushed all the way to the top of the cylinder, creating immense air compression that heats up the air.
The third stroke is called the power stroke. It starts when fuel is injected and combusts because of the temperature of the compressed air. The piston is then pushed downward because of the burning gases, creating power that is sent to the crankshaft. The final stroke is the exhaust stroke, in which the burnt gases are pushed out of the car through the exhaust port. Once the last stroke is complete, the process begins all over again, making the vehicle move.
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