engine has no spark plug, that it intakes air and compresses it, and that it then injects the fuel directly into the combustion chamber (direct injection) . It is the heat of the compressed air that lights the fuel in a
diesel
engine.The injector on
diesel
a
diesel
engine is its most complex component and has been the subject of a great deal of experimentation . Getting the mist circulated in the cylinder so that it is evenly distributed is also a problem, so some
diesel
engines employ special induction valves, pre-combustion chambers or other devices
diesel
to swirl the air in the combustion chamber or otherwise improve the ignition and combustion process. Diesel engines have never really caught on in passenger
car
s. During the late 1970's,
diesel
engines in passenger
car
s did see a surge in sales because of the OPEC oil embargo, but that is
diesel
the only significant penetration that
diesel
engines have made in the marketplace. Even though they are more efficient, there are eight historical problems that have held
diesel
engines back: Diesel engines also tend to be more expensive.The two things working in favor of
diesel
engines are better fuel economy and
diesel
longer engine life. Both of these advantages mean that, over the life of the engine, you will tend to save money with a
diesel
. However, you also have to take the initial high cost of the engine into account. You have to own and operate a
diesel
engine for a
diesel
fairly long time before the fuel economy overcomes the increased purchase price of the engine.
As mentioned, the list above contains historical disadvantages for
diesel
engines. Many of the new
diesel
engine designs using advanced computer control are eliminating many of these disadvantages. In the future, we are likely
