Do Diesel Engines Have Spark Plugs?

When shopping for a new car, truck, or SUV in Youngstown, there are several things to keep in mind to find the vehicle that best matches your needs. One important factor is the type of engine in the vehicle you purchase, with electric, hybrid, gasoline, and diesel engines all providing their own benefit. Although similar to gasoline-burning engines, diesel engines still represent a unique system, with their own needs and benefits.

How Diesel Engines Work

If you’re considering shopping for a new or used diesel engine vehicle, it’ll help to understand how the diesel engine works. The more you know about your vehicle, the more effectively you can maintain it so that it operates at its full potential.

Like a gasoline-burning engine, a diesel engine also has a primary form of propulsion generation that comes from ignition of fuel. But there’s a difference in how the two fuel sources accomplish this task. Unlike a gasoline engine, which relies on a spark plug, the diesel engine ignites fuel entirely based on temperature and pressure. By significantly increasing the pressure within a cylinder, the engine raises its temperature within the cylinder. Injecting diesel fuel into this higher temperature exceeds its flash point, causing the fuel to ignite and power the engine.

Diesel Engines vs. Gasoline Engines

Although similar, diesel and gasoline engines significantly differ in how they work and impact your vehicle. Here are some key differences:

• Compression pressure: One of the biggest differences between a gasoline engine and a diesel engine is the compression generated prior to combustion. Because gasoline engines include a spark ignition, they require lower compression pressure to ignite the fuel and power the car. Most gasoline engines operate between compression levels of six and eight, while diesel engines, which require increased pressure to generate the necessary heat for ignition, operate with compression levels between 10 and 12.
• Fuel injection: Both types of engine use fuel injection to power the motor, but how they do so is not the same. Whereas gasoline engines typically use injection ports in the carburetor, a diesel engine injects fuel directly into the cylinder. This latter operation allows the heat generated by the compression within the cylinder to trigger ignition of the diesel fuel, generating the power your vehicle requires to move.
• Torque and horsepower: While most drivers understand torque and horsepower are important metrics for an engine, not everyone understands the difference between the two. Gasoline engines typically generate higher levels of horsepower, which allows them to transfer power into speed more efficiently, which is why most sports cars burn gasoline. Torque, on the other hand, represents the maximum power an engine can generate, which is often a key consideration when choosing a truck. Diesel-burning engines generally excel at creating higher levels of torque, making them ideally suited to work vehicles that deal with heavy loads.
• Fuel economy: The value your engine provides every time you fill your gas tank is always an important consideration when shopping for a vehicle. Because of the higher compression levels within a diesel engine, each internal combustion can generate a higher level of energy. This makes gasoline consumption in a diesel engine more economical, extending the miles per gallon rating of the vehicle.
• Fuel consistency: Another key difference between the two types of engine is the fuel consistency. Diesel fuel has a thicker consistency than gasoline fuel. That said, because the systems are not designed to run with fuels of similar consistencies, it can cause severe damage if you add and run the wrong fuel through your system.
• Pump prices: While there’s a fluctuation between the relative cost of gasoline and diesel, it’s generally less expensive to fill up a vehicle with gasoline than it is to fill it up with diesel. While this can lead to more expensive trips to the gas pump, the difference is also mitigated by the improved fuel efficiency of the diesel option, which requires fewer stops to refill.
• Servicing Needs: Because a diesel combustion engine does not include a spark plug or an electrical system to power it, it has fewer parts that can potentially malfunction. This reliability means that the average diesel engine often requires professional automotive servicing less frequently than the average gasoline-burning engine. This can help keep your engine working at its best and save you money on repair costs.

What Happens If You Put the Wrong Fuel in Your Vehicle?

Putting the wrong fuel into your vehicle’s gasoline tank can be extremely harmful. Engines are only designed to run on the fuel source intended, so pumping incorrect fuel through a system will not result in the successful ignition of the fuel. It can also damage your engine considerably.

If you believe you have pumped the wrong fuel source into your tank, do not turn your vehicle on. Starting your vehicle in this instance will cause your engine to pull gasoline from the tank through its fuel system, amplifying the potential damage. Instead, call for a tow truck to bring your vehicle to an automotive service center immediately. The professionals at the service center can pump out the incorrect fuel and prevent more serious damage.

Let Cochran Chevrolet Help You Find Your Next Diesel Vehicle

If you’re ready to shop for a diesel car, truck, or SUV in Youngstown, Ohio, then the team at Cochran Chevrolet is just as ready to help you do so. Feel free to fill out our online contact form, or give us a call if you have any questions so one of our staff can answer them for you.

If you’re excited to see what a diesel vehicle can do for you, come down and see us in person. A member of our staff will work with you to find a vehicle that fits your budget and preference. They’ll get you behind the wheel to see how it feels on the road. We can’t wait to show you your next diesel-powered vehicle today!