Did you know? Both diesel engines, as well as gasoline engines, are internal combustion engines. That said, there are numerous minute and significant differences in their operations which is why when it comes to industrial use, diesel engines are often preferred. But you don’t need to take our word for it! Let us spill the beans on various aspects of these engines, and once you read through them, you can make the final call!
Table of Contents
Thermal Efficiency
Thermal efficiency can be loosely defined as the expected production of work by a fuel. Diesel engines are known to be 20% more thermally efficient than their gasoline counterparts, thereby ensuring a 20% better fuel efficiency. Moreover, as thermal efficiency increases, the power and torque also witness a subsequent increase. As you may have guessed, the greater torque application leads to increased capacity for carrying heavy loads. This directly implies that using a diesel engine offers greater value for money.
Operating Costs
The revolutions per minute in a diesel engine are much lesser than that in gasoline engines, which is precisely why diesel engines are subject to lesser wear and tear. Not only does this help in enhancing the overall longevity of the engine, but also ensures relatively lower operational costs. This aspect when combined with higher fuel efficiency makes diesel engines ideal for use in power generators, and heavy vehicles such as trucks, bulldozers, graders, and even cruise ships!
Combustion Type: Gas and Diesel Engines
Gasoline intrinsically has a high volatility point, but a lower flashpoint. Hence, the combustion of a gas is the result of a spark igniting the fuel compressed with fresh air, which eventually leads to the running of the engines. Diesel engines, on the other hand, do not make use of a spark. Instead, in a diesel engine, the fuel is suddenly exposed to a high temperature, as well as compressed atmospheric air containing oxygen which leads to the ignition of the engine. Simply put, a Gasoline Engine is a Spark-Fired Combustion Engine, while a Diesel Engine is a Compression Combustion Engine.
The low volatility of diesel engines, which is essentially the reason behind the compression ignition, is what makes diesel engines safer when used in remote locations or under extreme conditions such as that in the case of mining.
Fuel Costs and Efficiency
As a result of increased air compression, diesel engines operate at a relatively higher temperature which leads to the more efficient conversion of thermal energy to mechanical energy. As is evident, this phenomenon makes diesel engines much more efficient than gas engines, sometimes by as high as 40%. Hence, regardless of the difference between the price of diesel and gasoline, diesel engines always prove to be more cost-effective.
Torque (Horsepower)
Owing to their high compression ratio, diesel engines enjoy the ability to generate a higher torque at relatively lower engine speeds. Moreover, diesel is more energy-rich than gasoline by at least 12%. Both these factors combined, make diesel engines ideal for applications with heavier loads.
Maintenance costs
Since diesel engines are devoid of spark plugs, and diesel happens to be a superior lubricant than gasoline, it produces relatively fewer pollutants and corrosive agents. Moreover, diesel generators suffer lesser wear and tear due to their inherently low RPM. All of these factors ensure that the maintenance cost of diesel engines is much lower than that of gasoline-powered engines.
Gas vs. Diesel Engine – Which Lasts Longer?
Life Expectancy is yet another aspect where Diesel Engines ace the scoring board! Gasoline engines are known to show signs of wear and tear and experience reduced fuel efficiency once they hit the 120K to 150K mile mark. Contrastingly, diesel engines work flawlessly until they reach the 200K to 300K mile mark. Even after they reach this threshold, all that needs to be done is the replacement of the removable liner and not the entire engine. Clearly, diesel engines enjoy a much longer life span than gas engines. But, there’s more. Diesel engine compression is 20:1, while that of gas engines is 10:1. This implies that the compression of air is almost double in diesel engines which is why parts therein such as block and cylinder heads, crankshafts, pistons, and valves are designed to be more resilient. Moreover, the higher compression ensures complete combustion of the fuel, thereby ensuring that the exhaust of diesel engines is comparatively less corrosive thus contributing to the long service life for the components of the engine as well as the engine on the whole.
A Word from Swift Equipment
All of the above-mentioned aspects combined, prove that diesel engines are more than just suitable for industrial equipment as well as heavy-duty vehicles including trains and ships, along with power generators. Needless to say, the higher energy density of diesel fuel diesel as a fuel adds to the list of advantages.
If you too are on the lookout for a new or used diesel engine for your industrial setup, then get in touch with our experts at Swift Equipment and we will help you pick the most promising make and model that best suits your needs, preferences and most importantly your budget!
Frequently Asked Questions by Business Owners
What are some of the limitations of diesel engines?
Some of the most prominent drawbacks of diesel engines include –
- Overt noisiness
- Difficulty in starting the vehicle
- Oil oxidation
- Improper weight viscosity
- Faulty lead/acid storage battery
What is the difference between diesel and gasoline as fuels?
There are some critical differences between diesel and gasoline as fuels. To begin with, diesel evaporates relatively gradually than gasoline owing to its heavier and oilier consistency. Diesel is also known to have a higher boiling point than gasoline, which enables it to produce more power, and in turn, be more efficient than gasoline as a fuel.
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