If you ask most of the mechanics that are working in Pakistan, they will tell you they prefer working on Diesel engines. They consider Diesel engines to be less of a hassle. To them, its much easier to diagnose, pull apart and put together a diesel engine than a petrol engine. Do you ever wonder why bigger machinery uses these engines? It is agreeable that the sound of a diesel engine does not sit well in a car, so we will not be discussing that.
Today, we only mean to talk about why are diesel engines considered to perform better than petrol ones? Is there something special about them? It also seems to be that these engines outlast most of the petrol engines that were manufactured in the same year. Let us take a look at these reasons.
1. Diesel Fuel Efficiency
These engines burn less fuel over a longer period of time because of the difference of the compression ratio. You can expect a diesel powered vehicle to run longer on the motorway than a petrol powered one. Not only that, but the vehicle will run more stable and have less vibrations in it. This is why trucks and lorries have these engines, because they can run hundreds of kilometers without breaking a sweat.
2. Torque Production
Diesel engines produce more low-end torque, thus making them ideal for hauling heavy weights. Ever wonder how Jeeps are able to pull that much weight or drag cars out of trouble. Its because the diesel engine lets them produce that much power. While these engines are not as fast as petrol ones, they are excellent for off-road driving, and low-speed performance.
3. Diesel Engine Durability
It has often been noted that Diesel engines tend to run for longer periods of time than petrol engines do. A stock standard petrol engine may require an overhaul at 200,000 or 300,000 kilometers. However, a diesel engine may not require one at all until more than 600,000 kilometers. It’s more than double. Additionally, if the air intake of a diesel engine is kept above water, the entire engine can be submerged and keep running underwater.
4. The Absence of Spark Plugs
Due to the absence of spark plugs in diesel engines, they perform better. Using spark plugs means having another component of the vehicle to maintain. Rather than spark-based ignition, diesel engines use the heat produced by air compression to combust the fuel. This is a much more efficient way to combust fuel and these engines also produce less CO2 emissions.
5. Availability
While petrol engine stations might not be present as much in rural areas or in off-road sites, Diesel stations are present in many more places. This is because such areas expect a lot of diesel powered vehicles to move through or cross them. Thus, not only does diesel burn less fuel per liter, it is more readily available when going cross-country.
These are just some of the reasons why diesel engines perform better than petrol engines in specific circumstances. Of course, these engines have their cons too and there are areas where petrol engines take the cake.
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