Diesel or gasoline; which is better for me? With today’s advances in technology and engineering, the decision is not as easy as one may think. There are several considerations to evaluate and weigh before making the decision to buy a diesel or gasoline powered vehicle. The following essay provides a short history of each while providing key facts to inform a prospective buyer which is better for him or her.
History of the diesel and gasoline engine:
The first diesel engine was invented by Rudolf Diesel in 1893 and officially patented in 1895 #542846 (USPTO, 1895). What is abundantly clear with Diesel’s invention, he did not invent something entirely new, but rather improved on earlier inventions. Pinpointing the “first” gasoline engine is harder since there were many variations of fuel fired combustion engines. For this assignment, I am going to use the engine invented by an American, George Brayton. Brayton patented the first four-stroke, spark plug ignited gasoline engine in 1872 # US 125166 A (USPTO, 1872). There were similar engines during the 1800’s; however, Brayton’s engine is closest to the modern-day passenger car engine we know today.
Diesel and gasoline engine uses:
Due to the specific characteristics of each engine, there are certain applications that each are better suited. For example, the diesel engine produces more torque, runs at lower Revolutions per Minute (RPM), while consuming less fuel than a gasoline engine; which makes it better suited for
In this article “Why the Gasoline Engine Isn’t Going Away Any Time Soon,” Joseph B. White states that alternative energy cars could be the start of a revolution in the automaker world, however, complications interfere with the outcome. Although the author suggests different ideas on alternative vehicles, he contradicts himself numerous times while also lacking credibility of any sources.
Have you ever wondered how Detroit Diesel has become what it is today. Detroit Diesel Corporation manufactures diesel and alternative fuel engines for use in trucks, buses, commercial and pleasure marine craft, military and so on. This is how Detroit Diesel has progressed over the years with engines and help of other distributors and dealers.
When it comes to the environmental impact that gas and diesel engines have. It turns out that gasoline is more unstable than diesel, not because of what its base consists of, but because of the additives it contains. In addition, vehicles that use diesel tend to be more fuel-efficient and produce less greenhouse gases. Diesel is more environmentally friendly. The United States has what is considered to be the dirtiest diesel, but as of June 1, 2010 this is going to be different. U.S. diesel fuel has a lower measure of ignition quality. This means that when it is cold outside, ignition performance is poor and can result in higher emissions. This is why you see truck drivers idling their trucks all night long in cold weather rather than risk a troublesome start in the mornings. But, the sulfur in the diesel that is emitted during cold ignitions and long engine idling is still harmful to the environment because the sulfurs prevent the control of diesel particulate emissions through diesel particulate filters. This is changing, though, since new advanced technologies such as nitrogen oxide absorbers are being developed to reduce these emissions. As for gasoline, it is the non-aliphatic hydrocarbons as well as carcinogenic additives
Whenever people think of diesel engines, they imagine black soot pouring out of a big rig on the interstate. While that has been correct in the past, the technology is arriving that changes people’s thoughts to that of a more ecologically friendly. Ever since Rudolf Diesel created the diesel engine, it has been written off as a smelly, inefficient, and dirty way of converting fossil fuels into power. Diesel noticed how the steam engines of the times were wasting 80-90% of the fuel they burn, making them very inefficient. After learning about how inefficient typical gas or steam engines were, he dedicated himself to create a clean burning engine. In the beginning, the stereotypes were completely accurate, but those same adjectives are simply incorrect in today’s times. These constant put downs by environmentalist are often uneducated and generalized by the small number of older, inefficient trucks that are still on the road. The modern diesel engine is an absolute marvel when it comes to the fuel efficiency, power output and societal benefits. While the light duty diesel pickup may be loud and intimidating, the benefits they provide society are vastly underappreciated and need to be more thoroughly recognized.
Engineering: [a] diesel engine is an internal combustion engine in which the chemical energy of fuel is transformed into thermal energy of the cylinder charge, in consequence of the self-ignition and combustion of fuel in the engine cylinder after compression of the air charge in the cylinder (p1
When it comes to gas powered cars, there are some reasons why it’s morely prefered. First of all, the electric car is still relatively new, while gas powered cars have been around since the beginning. The transition to an electric car may not be so easy, as having a gas car is what everyone is used to. The gas powered car can also travel longer distances, due to having more power than an electric car as an electric car can travel about 100 miles in one charge. However there are many other reasons why an electric vehicle is the better choice for transportation purposes.
1. Have you ever wondered how the things you buy get delivered to the stores? Semis, planes, trains, and sometimes boats. The majority of them run on diesel, because diesel is more efficient than a gasoline engine. With the number of diesels on the road everyday there is a high demand for mechanics that are properly trained to work on them. You have to be able to leave home on a moment’s notice to travel and repair trucks on the road. Being a diesel mechanic is very stressful and you never know what you will be working on day to day.
Gas engines are mainly used by the individual in personal vehicles whereas diesels are very popular in the commercial and industrial fields. Diesel engines are used by the navy in their ships and by the army in their tanks and big trucks. Some of the main reasons for choosing this engine are
Electric vehicles are a huge step towards the future of our planet. They don’t require gas and don’t run on fossil fuel, which is a good benefit to the world because fossil fuel is one of the main causes of climate change and global warming. People need to consider purchasing electric vehicles that run on clean energy and not oil. My awareness is to show people that cars that run on fossil fuel are damaging our planet and it could lead to a very catastrophic future. Electric cars are a great solution for this issue and could prevent climate change. We shouldn’t get rid of all the cars and vehicles that runs on gas because most of the world population wouldn’t approve that. If a big percentage of cars worldwide were electric, it would help solve a lot of issues including climate change. Electric cars need to be under reconsideration for society.
The invention and use of the internal combustion engine was a pivotal point in the history of the automobile. The first attempt at an internal combustion engine was in 1673 by Christian Huygens, using gunpowder as the fuel source, though it was basically worthless as you had to open the engine up and put new gunpowder in it after every single stroke ("The Fuel & Engine"). This lack of a fuel for internal combustion engines sidelined its development for a couple hundred years. In 1860 Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir built the first effective internal combustion engine using natural gas (Bottorff). The ignition of the gas would create a vacuum and the resulting pressure difference between the vacuum and the atmosphere would drive the power stroke (Bottorff). This gas-atmospheric engine, as it is known, was an effective system capable generating 20hp, still it was imperfect. It was further improved with the development
Looking around, you may notice the sudden surge of sustainable engineering all around you. From new LED light bulbs, to many different kinds of robots this epidemic is sweeping the world more and more. While we are slowly shifting towards new technologies, there is one that has gained extreme popularity over the past couple of years. It is electric cars. Going a few years back to 2010 there were a few companies introducing their first models of electric cars, but almost no one was interested in buying them, and some people even hated the idea of driving one. Since then many aspects have changed and electromobility has become one of the most debated topics in car industry. So what are advantages and disadvantages and why are they so popular now?
Through life journey most everybody had a car at one point in time but not too many people had an electric car. In a one on one interview with Marland Patton, who is a mechanic, give his advice on the electric car. His thoughts on the electric car was it has it benefits and loses. He goes on to say that, the maintenance cost yearly greatly exceed the amount of gas car.
Climate change and transportation play a big role and it is important to be concerned for our future generations. The use of gasoline cars is a major producer in carbon dioxide emissions, although they are not entirely responsible for it—they play a role in it. Other form of transportations like buses and taxis also contribute to carbon dioxide emissions. The total amount of carbon dioxide emissions from an average car is seventy six percent which comes from usage of a vehicle containing gasoline. Efficiency has increased by twenty percent in regards to electric motors, especially when it comes to their wheels using no power when the car is at rest. Car ownership will increase and with this, improvements in technology could be a vital
In 1861 a German engineer named Nikolaus August Otto built his first gasoline-powered engine. Three years later he would team up with Eugen Langen to form the Deutz Gas Engine Factory. Otto’s engine was based on the same principles of Lenoir’s. It was also a two-stroke engine with one cylinder but it used the different type of fuel, gasoline rather than coal gas. Otto and Langen learned of a way to gain more efficiency by compressing the gas before combustion in 1867. This led them to production of the first four-stroke
Imagine never being locked out of your disgusting gas-guzzling vehicle in sub-zero temperatures pumping your car full of toxic chemicals and then later emptying your bank account to pay for the environment killer ever again. This reality is near and approaching faster than ever before. Although, it is not completely beneficial. It is evident that at an international level, electric cars are needed. But, this is only one side of the story, despite common belief, electric vehicles are not always good for the environment. It is true that they will benefit bank accounts, however, the only way for electric cars to improve the environment is if they are powered by clean renewable energy.