differences between diesel and gasoline fuel

[534BC]

My two observations are spark ignited low compression oil burners are real dogs for power and mileage. Very high compression self-ignition gasoline engines are far higher in power and mileage than either the original gas or oil engine.

It can also be stated like this : The diesel engine itself is far superior and the gasoline fuel is superior. Convert diesel engines to gas and "try not to use spark plugs"

[KiwiBacon]

Originally Posted by 534BC

My two observations are spark ignited low compression oil burners are real dogs for power and mileage. Very high compression self-ignition gasoline engines are far higher in power and mileage than either the original gas or oil engine.

It can also be stated like this : The diesel engine itself is far superior and the gasoline fuel is superior. Convert diesel engines to gas and "try not to use spark plugs"

Scania have created what could be IMO the perfect engine. It's a high compression (28:1 static plus boost) diesel engine which runs on ethanol. The high compression numbers are needed to cause the high octane ethanol to self-ignite but they also result in very high efficiency. Scania report around 50% which has previously only been acheived in very large and low revving ship engines.

A VW 1.9tdi is one of the most efficient road going engines, it works out around 42% efficient at best point.

[curtis73]

Diesel fuel has a higher BTU content than gasoline, so I'm not sure that using gasoline in a diesel compression ignition engine is the way to go. About its only benefit would be that it burns faster and would allow for higher revs. Ethanol (although nicer to the environment) has only about 2/3 the BTUs of gasoline, so all of the benefits might be more than lost with mileage and energy consumption.

I like diesel how it is. If we can find decent and sustainable ways to keep diesel emissions in check, I think its a better fuel. Not to mention its a much safer fuel from a flammability standpoint. Its less damaging in a spill, and is less likely to ignite if spilled.

[KiwiBacon]

The primary benefits of ethanol is the ease of production (distll anything) and the complete lack of soot.
Basically it's the first compression ignition engine to run on a traditional spark ignition fuel.

Brewing biodiesel or running plant oils is a much easier option for the rest of the diesel vehicles out there.

[72chevelleOhio]

Originally Posted by curtis73

If we can find decent and sustainable ways to keep diesel emissions in check..

2007 U.S. emissions for on-highway trucks (18 wheelers) state "no black smoke." If the truck meets '07 emissions, it should have NO soot in the stack. (tailpipe you car guys) 2010 emissions are to have cleaner air out the exhaust then being ingested, makeing the engine an air cleaner, literally. Detroit Diesel and Cummins are going to inject a solution (urea? you-ree-uh) to achive this. check out thier sites curtis, I know you'll like it, intresting stuff!

[curtis73]

Yup, urea injection. It does wonders, and the new diesels will exhaust cleaner air than they ingest... but I think it will take a while until we find the optimal setup. Urea injection works well, but there are better ways to accomplish it without that complication.

Biofuels are a great way to eliminate those requirements, but there is no way to support even 1/10th of our country's energy demands on biofuel at our current consumption.

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by KiwiBacon

I know several people who've had their diesel vehicles filled with petrol. The above did not happen. The engine simply either ran very badly on the diesel/petrol mix in the lines or didn't run at all.

In very cold climates petrol is often mixed in with diesel to prevent the diesel turning into wax.

Perhaps that's not a definite, but I know for a fact it has happened.

[2.2 Straight six]

some Paccar trucks (DAF LFs and CFs) arleady run with urea injection. called AdBlue, i believe.

[2.2 Straight six]

i think people in the US will at some point come to the realisation that Diesels are the way forward, like Europe has. we have loads of diesels, and not just light commercials and shopping trolleys. for example, the guy who lives next to me has an '07 BMW 735 diesel. and diesels are everywhere in Europe, mostly because they're so economical ad many are as clean as their petrol counterparts.

two things are holding the US back in terms of getting more diesels on the road, the first being the memories of 80s diesels, which were slow/noisy/pollutant and left clouds of black smoke in their wake.

the second is that there aren't many diesel techs over there and there aren't enough people who know enough about diesels. so advancement is being held back by the market more than the manufacturers.

[72chevelleOhio]

Originally Posted by 2.2 Straight six

the second is that there aren't many diesel techs over there and there aren't enough people who know enough about diesels. so advancement is being held back by the market more than the manufacturers.

By 2010 they are predicting a shortage of over 9 thousand diesel engine techs in the U.S. Thats according to the Detriot Diesel class I went to this past December. I believe it! Kids now want to work with computers and make 100k a year. I work nights, my shift is was down to me, a foreman/service writer, and another tech. Now we have a trainee, who I believe can screw up ANYTHING. So, not only finding techs, but finding good techs.

[curtis73]

Originally Posted by 72chevelleOhio

By 2010 they are predicting a shortage of over 9 thousand diesel engine techs in the U.S. Thats according to the Detriot Diesel class I went to this past December. I believe it! Kids now want to work with computers and make 100k a year. I work nights, my shift is was down to me, a foreman/service writer, and another tech. Now we have a trainee, who I believe can screw up ANYTHING. So, not only finding techs, but finding good techs.

I'd come work for you if I didn't kinda burn myself out on it. I worked 60-70 hour weeks and was still horrifically behind. I was noticing health effects from all the chemicals, and my back and knees were complaining. When the week was done, there was so much work left that I didn't feel like I accomplished anything.

The money is there for the right person. Just wasn't me.

[2.2 Straight six]

i've done the 60-70 hour weeks and enjoyed it because i was doing nearly what i wanted to do. (i was running a tyre shop)

ready to do it all over again with diesels this time.