View Single Post
  #2  
Old 12-30-2008, 01:50 AM
oldblu65's Avatar
oldblu65 oldblu65 is offline
AF Fanatic
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,127
Thanks: 6
Thanked 58 Times in 57 Posts
Question Re: compression ignition

Gasoline engines run on spark ignition , not compression ignition . Because diesels run such high compression, they have to be built of much stronger materials than gasoline engines . To run a gasoline engine with the compression ratio of a diesel would require a super high octane gasoline and I don't think there exists any such a blend . Also , the gasoline engine would require such extensive strengthening modifications that it would not be economically viable to do so . The diesel engine can be easily modified to not only outperform the gasoline engine , but it also will get better mileage !
Reply With Quote