The Diesel Engine
Glow plugs are needed. Diesel engines rely on the heat of compressed air to ignite their fuel. When the engine is cold, compression alone may not produce enough heat for the fuel to burn, so most car and truck diesels use glow plugs, electric elements that heat up the cylinder before a cold engine is started These electric heaters are switched on for anywhere from 5 to 10 seconds to make the engine easier to start. They use about 15 amps each (you have one for each cylinder). This is why you need a high amperage battery. For areas with severe winters, a block heater is a good idea. Many diesels have them as standard or optional equipment.
Torque is a measure of twisting force, and in the automotive world it translates to the ability to get a load moving. This makes a diesel engine good for towing, trucks and buses, but will never be great in the 0 to 60 ranges.
Because of their high compression ratios, diesel engines have to be built with more durable components than gasoline engines. Diesel fuel is a lubricant, and as it is sprayed into the engine during the combustion cycle, it lubricates the cylinder walls. As a result, diesels are subject to less internal wear than gasoline engines, and will usually run many more miles before requiring an overhaul. It can make a car more stable, but will handle and corner differentaly than a gasoline engine. It also makes the steering heavy as well, I would recommend buying a diesel car with power steering.
Diesel engines are nosier than gasoline engines. If you open the hood of a gasoline car with the engine running, you know that gasoline engines are fairly quiet. With diesel engines, there's a great deal of mechanical noise, mostly due to the engine's high compression ratios and the fuel injection systems. They are even nosier when they are cold.
Diesel engines require more frequent routine maintenance than gasoline engines. More frequent oil changes generally required at 3,000 miles and more frequent fuel filter and air filter changes. On the plus side however, normal gasoline engine maintenance such as replacing the spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor and replacing ignition wires are not necessary on a diesel engine. You don't have to worry about an Ignition module or coil going bad. It's simply because a diesel engine has no ignition system.
Is a diesel engine right for you? That is something you have to decide based on your needs and driving habits. A diesel powered vehicle will not handle or be as powerful as a gasoline powered vehicle. They are slow off the line, even with a turbo-charger. Diesel fuel is not as readily available as gasoline. I had more than a few times where I was sweating out finding a gas station with diesel. This, however, is starting to change with the increasing number of diesel powered vehicles now on the road. I know I love my diesel and once I adjusted to it, I can't think of driving anything else.
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 Vincent T. Ciulla All Rights Reserved
