With the constant rise in fuel prices, the installation is becoming more and more popular. No wonder. Having spent several thousand rubles on HBO, you can drive on fuel, the price of which is half that of gasoline. Usually the installation of gas equipment is carried out on gasoline cars. Their engines are more suitable for operation on natural gas or reduced gas. But there are also diesel cars with LPG. Can it be converted to gas? Should you install such equipment? See the answers to these questions in our today's article.
Diesel features
As we said earlier, LPG is installed mainly on gasoline engines. If we consider gas diesel, only the domestic trucks MAZ and KamAZ can serve as an example. On passenger cars such equipment is not found in mobiles. Why is it so rare to install gas on diesel engine? The answer is simple, and it lies in the principle of fuel ignition.
As you know, gasoline engines ignite the mixture using auxiliary devices. They are candles. When the fuel-air mixture is fed into the chamber, they generate a spark, due to which the fuel is ignited. Due to the fact that gasoline ignites from third-party devices, such engines have a low compression ratio. Now it is about ten to twelve units. And if we consider the engines of Soviet trucks, then six at all. The only point is the octane number of gas, which is higher than that of gasoline. If for the latter it reaches 98, then for gas it is at least 102. But in order for the engine to work normally on this mixture, the electronic unit control automatically corrects firing angles and other parameters in real time.
For diesel engines, there are no classic spark plugs. The mixture ignites from a high compression ratio. The air is heated under pressure so that the temperature in the chamber reaches 400 degrees Celsius. As a result, the mixture ignites and the piston makes a working stroke. Someone will say, they say, there are candles in a diesel engine. Yes, some motors have them. But these are completely different - glow plugs. They make it possible to produce without difficulty by preheating the fuel. Such candles have a completely different structure and principle of operation. By the way, the minimum compression ratio for a diesel engine is 20 units. If the indicator is less, the engine simply will not start. Engines modern cars the compression ratio can reach 30 units.
Thus, if the use of LPG on a gasoline engine does not cause difficulties during operation (since the fuel is ignited by candles), then a diesel internal combustion engine is not able to "digest" such a mixture.
Why is it difficult to convert a diesel engine to gas?
There are several factors that complicate the process of installing and operating LPG on such an internal combustion engine:
- Ignition temperature. If the diesel engine fuel spontaneously ignites at 400 degrees, then the gas burns at 700 and above. It doesn't matter if it is methane or propane-butane.
- Lack of candles. Whatever the compression ratio in a diesel engine, it is not enough to heat the gas mixture to autoignition temperature. Therefore, the installation of third-party spark plugs is indispensable.
- Octane number. Diesel fuel has an OCH of 50 units. Gas has at least 102. If such fuel gets into a diesel engine, it will run out (this is uncontrolled engine operation on high revs). There are several ways to solve the problem. This is a correction of the compression ratio, or a decrease in the octane number of the gas mixture.
Installation methods
There are several installation methods:
- With a complete overhaul of the engine.
- With the introduction of the Dual Fuel system.
Which one is better to use? Below we will look at what the features of each technology are.
Complete rework
What is the essence of this method? The bottom line is simple - the diesel engine is completely converted to gas. Moreover, after such an intervention, he will no longer work on his "native" fuel - only on gas.
To prevent the unit from going around, adjust its compression ratio. It is about 12: 1. Only in this way can the engine "digest" fuel with a high octane number... Next, a mixture ignition system is installed. There are no special mechanisms here. For arson, ordinary candles are used, as on gasoline engines.
What is the disadvantage of such a rework? Due to the need to carry out a whole range of works, the cost of reinstallation can reach 200 and more thousand rubles. It is ten times more expensive than translation gasoline car for gas. Therefore, the savings are highly questionable. Moreover, such a motor will have a decrease in power and torque.
Dual Fuel System
It is this scheme that is used on some modifications of MAZ and KamAZ trucks. This is a combined fuel delivery system. At the moment, this is the cheapest, correct and easily implemented option. The cost of rework is about 70-85 thousand rubles. The peculiarity of the system is that there is no need to install spark plugs. The diesel itself is used to ignite the methane (or propane-butane). As for the main components of the system, it is all the same gas reducer, hoses and lines, as well as cylinders for storing fuel.
How it works?
The engine is started with diesel fuel only. After that, the gas reducer is already used. It feeds the mixture into the combustion chamber through inlet valve... Gas goes along with oxygen. Along with this, a small portion of diesel enters the chamber. When the piston nearly reaches top dead center, the diesel fuel ignites. Its temperature is about 900 degrees, which is already enough for spontaneous combustion of methane or propane. Thus, two types of fuel are burning in the chamber at once. The efficiency of such a motor is unchanged, except that the portion of the diesel engine is reduced by an order of magnitude.
What gas can be supplied to a diesel engine? You can install both a propane system and a methane one. But there are pitfalls here. As the reviews note, the gas installed on a diesel engine shows itself in different ways. If we talk about propane, its percentage in the mixture is relatively small - up to 50 percent. In the case of methane, up to 60 percent of the gas is used. Thus, the portion of the diesel supplied to the chamber is reduced. This has a positive effect on savings. But it is impossible to completely limit the diesel supply. Otherwise, such a mixture simply will not ignite without extraneous sources.
Is it profitable?
Consider the feasibility of converting a diesel engine to gas. Since for the operation of such an engine, a portion of the original fuel is still needed (in our case, diesel fuel), the savings are not so significant. If gasoline engine completely runs on gas, the cost of fuel costs is reduced by exactly two times. But in our case, the savings will be only 25 percent, or one and a half times. And this despite the fact that the price of installing the Dual Fuel system is at least 70 thousand rubles.
It is not difficult to calculate how much mileage this system will pay off. Under favorable conditions, the payback of LPG on a diesel engine will come in 70-100 thousand kilometers. And only after this run will you start saving. That is why gas is put on a diesel engine only in rare cases, and even then - on domestic trucks. Such a system is practically not found on passenger cars.
Summing up
So, we found out if it is possible to install gas on a diesel engine. In view of the different principle of operation, the installation of LPG on such a motor requires major alterations. And as a result, this unit will still require a small amount of diesel, albeit a small one. There are savings from the use of such equipment. But it is so insignificant that no one bothers about the question "is it worth installing gas on a diesel engine." High payback periods and complexity of installation are the main factors that prevent the use of LPG equipment on a diesel engine.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Many major cities suffer from air quality problems, and London is no exception.
The mayors of Athens, Mexico City, Madrid and Paris have pledged to ban diesel cars and trucks on their streets by 2025.
Instead, they promised to encourage the use of alternative Vehicle- electric vehicles, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles.
All four cities suffer from air quality problems. Their mayors cite the experience of Tokyo, where diesel traffic is already prohibited.
Automakers fear that a wider ban on diesel cars is only a matter of time.
Are diesel engines that emit large amounts of nitrogen dioxide and other harmful substances into the atmosphere doomed to extinction?
Host of the "Fifth Floor" program Alexander Baranov talks with automotive expert Vyacheslav Subbotin.
Image copyright Not SpecifiedAlexander Baranov: Hello dear friends! Today with us on" Fifth floor" Vyacheslav Subbotin, automotive expert and race car driver, team pilot" Gas Raid Sport" ... Vyacheslav, hello!
Viacheslav Subbotin: Good evening!
A.B.: We are glad to welcome you here as a guest of our program. Four cities at a conference in Mexico pledged to ban all diesel cars by 2025. By the way, they refer to the experience of Tokyo, where you cannot drive on a diesel engine. What do you think: how important is this decision for the fate of diesel engines in principle, is the diesel engine really doomed, will it die quickly or will it suffer for some time? How do you think?
V.S.: On the one hand, I believe that this is an opportunistic proposal. All this is included in the scheme of the diesel gate, which arose from the Volkswagen group, and the fight against it against this background. Why is it so biased? A diesel engine is actually more efficient than an engine. internal combustion on gasoline.
Moreover, diesel fuel has a greater calorific value, more energy can be obtained from it. Do not look at the fact that diesels are more expensive, more expensive to maintain. In fact, they are close in design, maintenance, complexity to conventional gasoline engines.
But most importantly, they are more effective. Another thing is that there are a lot of old diesel cars. Let's say Paris simply suffocates, especially in winter: this exhaust does not dissipate anywhere.
A.B.: Old cars are another matter. In Paris, as far as I know, cars older than 1997 have been banned. Here, in London, there is also a lot of talk. The new mayor said that he would like to introduce an additional tax on cars that are over 10 years old. In this sense, we are also being taxed.
As for the diesel engine: the irony is that until recently it was promoted in every possible way as cleaner. The number of diesel-powered cars in England, for example, has grown exponentially. Somewhere in 2011 or 2012, they began to be sold more than gasoline ones - and then suddenly everything turned around.
This is explained by the fact that the emissions that diesel engines produce - nitric oxide, formaldehyde, some particles - soot, in short, flies out - all this is very harmful to health. Harmful than what a gasoline engine emits. Probably, this should really bother you, if this is so?
V.S.: Of course, this is worrisome, but only one parameter is worried here - it is the emission of soot. The rest of the bouquet is equally present in cars with a gasoline engine - equally, and maybe even more. Therefore, there is only soot.
There are special systems for this: particulate filters, gas neutralization systems. All this is in place and is being worked out. Exhaust gas recirculation, exhaust gas afterburning, that is, the mass of everything is invented. The question is, should it work.
The diesel engine is, whatever one may say, more efficient. Why is he so popular? Because it consumes less fuel per 100 kilometers with the same, equal work.
A.B.: Yes, but now gasoline engines have become much more efficient, in principle, they are already approaching a diesel engine. Of course, they are still lagging behind, but the difference is not that big. Much still depends on the price of diesel fuel.
For example, if in Germany diesel fuel is much cheaper than gasoline, then here, in England, diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline. If you look at the economy: you also need to take into account that the diesel engine is more complex, heavier, and so on, so the price of a diesel car is several thousand more expensive.
If you do not drive much - and an ordinary family, in general, does not drive much around the city - then the diesel engine turns out to be not so economical. There is also harmful, they also say that cancer can be earned from all these harmful emissions.
V.S.: Cancer can be earned by visiting, say, Australia or New Zealand. I stayed under the ozone hole - well, that's it, hello, as they say: received radiation. There are actually plenty of places to get cancer.
The diesel engine is actually much more efficient, and the fact that now they say that it is more complicated, that it is heavier is all nonsense. In fact, it has become very technologically advanced in design. The diesel engine is a clear advantage among internal combustion engines.
A gasoline engine will never match a diesel engine in its characteristics, at least in terms of its efficiency. Can not. The calorific value of gasoline is always lower. This is just like the calorific value of gas is always less than that of gasoline.
If we burn one kilogram of gasoline, then we get much less energy than if we burn one kilogram of diesel fuel.
A.B.: Yes, may be. In this case, the automakers themselves are to blame. They say that gasoline engines emit much less CO2, while CO2 has been the main indicator in recent years.
Fighting ozone holes, global warming, and so on - CO2 was the first to pay attention to,generallyonly CO2 was paid attention. In the meantime, gasoline engines have become cleaner, and diesel engines have not become cleaner, although they have become more technological. As you yourself say, they got better.
Moreover, with diesel engines such" parsley" : very often you can hear an owlT -if you have a diesel engine, the first step is to unscrew the filter from it, then it will be even more efficient, even cheaper. And now a lot of diesel cars are driving without filters.
V.S.: Do you know how many gasoline cars drive with a broken catalyst, a collector? Bad fuel was poured or the candles were simply changed at the wrong time, it melts, crumbles, clogs up - that's all. When the muffler is clogged, the engine will not run.
What is done in this case in all countries? They take a scrap, remove this thing and punch it with a crowbar, then reflash the program. There is a huge mass of such cars in any country, even a motorized one. This is a well-known technique, any serviceman and even a garage man knows about it how to do it.
A modern diesel engine today is much more efficient in design, because it ejects more efficiently than a gasoline engine, there is even nothing to prove. The only question is in old cars.
A.B.: They also say that in fact there are new technologies that will make the diesel engine much cleaner, practically cleaner, but automakers do not want to do this, because it will cost about 220 pounds extra per car, experts even calculated. Can you say something about this? Indeed, maybe the automakers themselves are to blame for this?
V.S.: Not that they are to blame. Manufacturers are businessmen. First of all, their souls are warmed by the ruble or the dollar, the pound - whatever. They are interested in selling what they get the most profit from. They get the greatest profit, say, from a gasoline engine: a mass car, cheap, much cheaper to produce - and went into production.
You think they are so concerned about safety the environment? They are worried about the law, which compels them, compels them to do it. Therefore, they make gasoline engines and do not try to do it, say, with diesel fuel. Then everyone understands perfectly well that the future belongs to electric vehicles, so the greatest efforts are directed here.
A.B.: It also seems to me that this is a separate solution. Maybe it is, as you say, some kind of opportunistic, caused by something, maybe not caused, I don’t know.
This is not even the point, but the fact is that this decision of Athens, Mexico City, Madrid and Paris fits very well into the general trend, which is now just gaining momentum - the trend of abandoning traditional engines, both diesel and gasoline engines.
The question is, I think motorists are wondering now: how quickly will this all happen? How long does it take for electric cars to take over the market and become widespread, so that they can really be bought without any hesitation: where are we going to charge them and so on? How fast do you think this can happen?
V.S.: Electric cars are coming and coming like an avalanche. Even in countries with a cold climate, they are, but in countries with a warm climate, where they have not seen snow at all, it goes without saying.
It is clear that in the next few years - I don't know, maybe three, five years - they will occupy a significant share in the city, just a huge share. This will be prompted not only by the economic side.
An electric car is easier to maintain, it is cheaper, only batteries are expensive today. Batteries can be rented. There is such a form: I went, rented, skated for several years, handed over these batteries, they will be disposed of, they will be replaced with new ones.
The most important thing is that the efficiency of an electric car is much higher than a car with a gasoline or diesel engine, with an internal combustion engine, because energy is produced at stationary stations or is generally produced, as they say, free of charge - from the sun, from water, from the tide, from anything.
A.B.: I think that if we switch to electric cars, then the sun and water alone will not be enough. In fact, this is a huge amount of electricity that will need to be generated. In my opinion, when they talk about ecology, that the air will be cleaner, this is a kind of slyness.
What's going on with electric vehicles? The air is purified where they travel, that is, in the city, and begins to get polluted somewhere in the suburbs, where there are power plants that produce this electricity. Dirty air moves from city to country - is this how it works with electric cars?
V.S.: So say those who did not teach physics in the sixth or seventh grade. In fact, stationary power plants are much more efficient than internal combustion engines.
The most important thing is the efficiency from the same gas, if it is a thermal power plant that runs on gas. They get almost 60% of this fuel - this is at the worst station, and so - all 80%. Moreover, 20% just evaporates into the heat.
High efficiency is the first thing. Second: the filter system there is completely different, the filtration there is different. Finally, it is a stable mode, and the internal combustion engine operates in partial load mode - all the time unheated, overheated or broken. It is even impossible to control it.
Finally, the third: the station can be controlled, but how can the car be controlled? No way. Then we all say: "Restrictions on the emission of, say, CO2 - carbon dioxide. There are restrictions: not more than 100 thousand kilometers."
Did anyone take measurements when the car ran 100 thousand kilometers, 150? I can assure you that these norms are no longer observed there, these norms are not there. And at the power plant, as 10 years ago, they produced with certain emissions, small, and will continue to produce with small emissions. A question of control.
A.B.: It is interesting. There is another problem that is not directly related to the environment, but is related to the fact that electric cars consume a large amount of electricity. Already now, this problem is faced in California.
I went there and people told me -" first-hand" , as they say: in advanced California there are already small streets in fairly rich suburbs, where there are twenty houses and five or six electric vehicles that charge at night. Electric networks simply fall, absolutely cannot withstand this load.
To do this, you need to change absolutely everything - the entire power supply system. This is also a lot of money. The current electric grids in England, for sure, and I think that in Russia, too, are simply not ready for electric vehicles.
V.S.: Actually, this is also not the case. All electrical networks are ready. Electric cars are mostly charged at night. They drive during the day. Who charges during the day? No one. I came to the office, whoever has it, plugged the plug into the outlet, and charge. Charging at night, when the power is idle - this is the whole "trick".
It is very beneficial for power engineers. Electricity cannot be poured into the tank, or elsewhere in order to accumulate it. It can be produced and implemented right now. Electric cars are a salvation for power engineers, and they themselves speak about it. What the networks do not withstand - do, guys, so that they can withstand. Copper wires need to be done.
A.B.: Now it's not even about the wires. Now there are companies in the same California that are engaged in" smart" distribution of electricity between different sources.
Indeed, very often it happens that the power plant is not closed, it is idle, this electricity is not used - there is nothing good about it. This electricity distribution system is becoming more computerized, more" smart" and helps to somehow cope with this problem.
In fact, even at night - you say that at night - it all depends on the number of cars. As soon as there are a lot of cars, they will not be able to cope with charging at night. This is still a distant future for our motorists, we still have to live up to it and get there. Now would you buy a car yourself, would you buy a diesel?
V.S.: I have diesel car, I ride it successfully, however, I ride it successfully over long distances. I have a bus and I travel on it. Throughout the city I move on small car with a gasoline engine. It's just easier to start it, it will warm up faster.
This is true because the diesel engine warms up poorly. It actually works if on idle, at minimum, then it works exclusively in air. Therefore, yes, there are certain difficulties. For example, in Russia, and in any motorized country, the transition from summer diesel to winter diesel is very unimportant for motorists, because diesel fuel can freeze. Frost hit, diesel fuel froze - that's it, hello, the car stopped.
A.B.: In any case, it seems to me that if a person buys a diesel today, if he has a period of 10 years, for example, although he can drive longer, then in any case, probably, it will already be the last diesel of our motorist, and next car surely it will be electric, probably huh? What do you think?
V.S.: I suppose that diesel engines will be produced for a long time and will be improved, because it is not only cars, it is also a commercial vehicle. It is very important. It is profitable for commercial vehicles to use diesel fuel. It really saves, saves a lot, and electric cars - yes, they will come. For people living in megacities, especially in the center, especially where there are restrictions, it is very beneficial, very beneficial.
A.B.: Well, thank you very much, Vyacheslav. It was very interesting to find out and it became a little clearer what kind of car to buy.
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Do you think a diesel car is cheaper than a petrol one? Many motorists answer this question that diesel cars are much cheaper in operation than gasoline ones? But in reality, not everything is so simple. To calculate which car is more profitable in the first three years of operation after purchase, you need to carry out complex calculations and take into account not only the consumption of diesel fuel and its cost at gas stations, but also calculate and take into account the cost of buying a car, its Maintenance and other factors affecting the cost of ownership.
In addition, do not forget that most cars lose over time market value... Moreover, each brand, model and version of the car loses in price in different ways. So to calculate, you also need to take into account the depreciation of the car for three years.
Including, do not forget the indirect costs, such as insurance, transport tax etc.
Are diesel cars more expensive than their gasoline counterparts?
This is generally true. You will pay more when buying a car than if you bought the same model with a gasoline engine.
Here's a live example:
2015 crossover with a 2.4-liter petrol engine producing 175 hp, in the "Comfort" configuration it costs 1,479,000 rubles(price as of 10.02.2015, based on the official Hyundai website). The diesel analogue of this year's SUV costs 1,679,000 rubles("Comfort" equipment with a 2.2 liter diesel engine with 197 hp).
That is, in order to purchase a diesel crossover, you must overpay 200 thousand rubles .
Now let's compare prices for. Let's take the average prices at Moscow gas stations since the beginning of 2015. The cost of AI-92 gasoline was 33.5 rubles. AI-95 costs an average of 35.5 rubles. When the average cost from the beginning of the year was 36 rubles. As you can see, the cost of fuel for a diesel car is more expensive compared to gasoline.
But, as you know, diesel engines are much more economical than their gasoline counterparts. In our example average consumption fuel 2015 Hyundai santa Fe 2.2 CDRi (automatic) is 6.6 l / 100 km. A gasoline SUV with a CVT consumes 8.9 l / 100 km.
Is the purchase of a diesel car justified (for example, an SUV)?
Let's calculate how many kilometers you need to drive to recoup the overpayment when buying diesel version thanks to more low consumption fuel. Let's pretend that average mileage the car is 25,000 kilometers per year. Now let's compare how much owner Santa Fe will spend at this mileage on gasoline for a whole year. We take the average cost of 95 RON gasoline and calculate the final costs based on the average fuel consumption of the car. We get that for a year the owner of the car will spend almost 79,000 rubles (78,987.5 rubles with an average price of gasoline 35.5 per 1 liter). Let's carry out the same calculations when operating a diesel car with the same mileage. Eventually diesel fuel costs will amount to RUB 59,400(taking into account average prices diesel at a gas station in the amount of 36 rubles per 1 liter). As a result, the difference in fuel costs is almost 19,500 rubles..
At first glance, the savings are obvious. But in order to recoup the overpayment for the diesel modification of the SUV, you have to drive the car for more than ten years !!!
Of course, if your mileage is higher each year, it will take much less time to recoup the overpayment. Especially if the average annual mileage of a car is more than 50,000 kilometers. With this mileage, you will recoup the overpayment you made when buying a diesel car in a little over five years. But not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. After all, we only counted fuel costs and did not take into account.
Which car gets cheaper faster during operation?
From the point of view of economy, then of course a diesel car is more profitable than a gasoline one. In addition, as a rule, the average market prices for used diesel cars are kept much higher than their gasoline counterparts. The thing is that gasoline cars lose value faster than their diesel versions. This is due to the fact that diesel cars are more in demand on the market than their gasoline counterparts. Diesel cars and crossovers are not as popular in our country as, for example, in Europe. But, nevertheless, due to the small number of offers on the used market, prices for them are kept at a fairly high level. Therefore, diesel vehicles have a low depreciation rate in the first three years compared to gasoline counterparts.
Which car is more expensive to maintain?
We all know that the total cost of ownership is not just due to the cost of fuel and annual mileage... An important role is played by the monetary costs of owning a car. Typically, the cost of servicing diesel vehicles costs 10-15 percent more than servicing a gasoline vehicle.
This is due to the fact that a diesel engine is much more complex in design than a gasoline power unit. Also the cost of most Supplies for diesel cars is much more expensive than for their gasoline counterparts.
So, consider this when choosing which car to buy.
Diesel or Gasoline Car - Which Drives Better and Faster?
(diesel or gasoline), then before making the final decision, carry out two test drives in the dealership, driving first on a gasoline car, and then on its diesel analogue. Thus, you can compare not only the dynamics of acceleration and cruising speed, but also be able to compare other characteristics of the cars.
It must be admitted that diesels work much louder than their gasoline counterparts. And this despite modern technologies that allowed automakers to create modern diesel powertrains that are much quieter, more efficient and cleaner than their predecessors. But, nevertheless, gasoline engines are still much quieter. In addition, diesel engines give more vibration to the body than gasoline power units. In combination with a turbine, for example, some diesel engines run very loudly.
What is the advantage then of diesel engines in addition to fuel consumption? Of course, traditionally diesel power units are famous for the best. Unlike gasoline engines, diesel engines generally have a higher maximum torque (force). In addition, unlike gasoline analogues, diesel cars achieve maximum torque already at low revs.
Of course, for fast sports driving, gasoline engines are more suitable, which can develop more power than diesel engines. But the latest technology in the auto industry suggests that diesel engines may soon catch up with gasoline engines. sports performance... For example, the new Audi SQ5 is equipped with a 309 hp diesel engine. which allows the power unit to compete on equal terms with gasoline counterparts.
Is it profitable to buy a gasoline car more expensive than a diesel one?
Another most common question asked by car enthusiasts. Of course, when the petrol (usually) diesel version, then many of us make the decision to buy a petrol car.
And as we calculated above, this is the right decision (if the car's mileage is no more than 50,000 km per year). But what if the petrol version is more expensive than the diesel one? This is not often found in the car market, but, nevertheless, it takes place. In this case, everything also depends on the average mileage for the year. If your average mileage will not exceed 40,000-50,000 kilometers, then you can safely purchase the petrol version.
But of course it depends on the overpayment. If the gasoline version costs 200,000-300,000 rubles more, and your mileage does not exceed 15,000 kilometers every year, then of course buying a more expensive gasoline version is not justified. But this situation is very rare in the car market. This is, of course, the exception to the rule.
Perhaps only the lazy has not heard about the diesel engine today. Thanks to a fairly wide advertising campaign, the housewife also knows that most cars can be bought with a diesel engine. In this article we will look at what a diesel is, and how it differs from ...
First, a little history. About a hundred years ago, a certain Rudolf Diesel came up with the idea of building an engine with compression ignition. After all, it is a well-known fact that a gas under strong and sharp compression significantly increases its temperature.
It was this phenomenon that Diesel was going to use. But the engine he built came out quite heavy, complex, and not particularly efficient. Because of which, it did not gain wide popularity, although it was sometimes used in the navy.
Only after the end of World War II, the brainchild of the diesel engine began to be used in vehicles. Mainly in heavy trucks and tractors. The passenger car segment consisted entirely of cars with a gasoline engine.
Why did this happen, you ask? The gasoline engine was more practical. Because the principle of operation of a diesel engine is that the ignition does not occur from a spark, as in a gasoline counterpart, but from compression, moreover, the compression must be very strong.
Approximately 2 times more than in a gasoline engine. And more compression means more load on the parts, as a result, the parts need to be made stronger and larger.
Another disadvantage is the course of the combustion process itself. Unlike gasoline, which burns quite gently, burning in a diesel engine is like an explosion. From this and the characteristic diesel "rumble" of the engine.
The next item is fuel equipment... It is quite complex both in production and in customization. Very high requirements for the precision of the high pressure fuel pump (high pressure fuel pump) manufacturing, adjustment only with the help of special stands, the need to use a turbine to improve the boost, and much more, does not make diesel cheap at all.
And here the question naturally arises, why is such an engine needed at all?
All the same, you need it. The high pressure during the combustion of the mixture gives a very impressive output torque from the lowest rpm. Which is just perfect for trucks.
However, the pluses of a diesel engine are still more pluses for trucks than for cars. For them, they are rather disadvantages. After all, the torque from the bottom is of course a significant plus, but what to do with the upper rev range.
How to ensure a sufficient level of speed and dynamics if the operating range of a diesel engine is 2-3 thousand rpm? We need to increase the speed. This is where the problems begin.
To burn more fuel, you need more air. In a gasoline engine, mixing occurs at the intake stroke, therefore there are no problems here. However, in a diesel engine, everything is a little different.
First, only clean air enters the cylinder, then it is compressed, and only after that diesel fuel is sprayed through the nozzle, burning immediately during the spraying process. It turns out that the atomization of fuel, and its mixing with air, and combustion occur almost simultaneously.
Should you buy a diesel engine?
At low revs, this does not create any discomfort. There is enough time for all processes. However, with their increase, the situation changes. At some point, some of the fuel simply does not have time to get the required amount of air and burn. As a result, there is a drop in power, and part of the fuel escapes into the pipe.
To cope with this unpleasant feature, the engines began to be equipped with a turbine, which additionally pumps air. Also, to use it, you have to change the shape of the combustion chamber to provide turbulence and improve mixing of the mixture, plus additional nozzles are added. All this makes the engine heavier, and is by no means cheap.
So if the use of a diesel engine is more than justified on heavy trucks and SUVs, as well as on everyday delivery vehicles, then for most passenger cars on which it is offered to be installed, diesel is just a marketing ploy.
The conclusion is obvious. If you need a car that needs to carry loads, travel to unknown places, or just for a leisurely economical drive - diesel will suit you. But if you like to “press down on the pedal”, start from a traffic light, and “lay down the arrow”, then the diesel engine will greatly upset you ...
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04.12.2017, 22:49 93597 1 Assembly of Motorists
One of the most discussed topics among motorists is necessity. This question is relevant for power plants with turbine and "aspirated" equally. Almost all drivers are divided into two camps - those who warm up the car, and those who consider it a waste of fuel and time.
To the question whether it is necessary to warm up the diesel engine in winter manufacturers today give an unambiguous answer - "heating the internal combustion engine is not required." It is worth understanding what this statement is based on. Why earlier the same manufacturers advised to warm up the motors, but now they have dramatically changed their point of view.
Many manufacturers car engines claim that their products are so perfect that they work flawlessly even without warming up. They begin to explain that earlier both engines were primitive and mineral oil, that scientific and technological progress does not stand still. Well, they don't say about the water that it was wetter.
Where is the dog actually buried? First, it is not profitable for manufacturers that the engine runs longer than the warranty period. How faster car becomes unusable, the faster the owner will buy new car... Sale of spare parts and repairs - additional sources income for corporations. Why miss this profit? Therefore, it is profitable for manufacturers to tell fables that "ultra-reliable" modern diesel engines do not require warming up.
The second reason why experts from large companies do not recommend warming up engines is environmental concerns. During the time while the diesel is warming up, a large amount of exhaust gases... In cities, it is not uncommon for the owner to warm up the car for 30 minutes to drive 10 minutes to work. In Europe, environmental safety issues are ahead of economic feasibility. We have the opposite. We are not saying this is good or bad, we are just presenting the facts.
Interestingly, the same experts confirm that the main wear of engine parts (about 75%) occurs at the time of cold start. That is, they know that it is not useful for the motor to work while it is cold, but they do not advise to heat it either. Wonderful and incomprehensible.
The theory of warming up a diesel engine in winter
Engines are made of metal. Pistons are usually made of light aluminum alloys, cylinders are made of steel or cast iron. When heated and cooled, these parts expand or contract, respectively. All engine components are precision-crafted to maintain a minimum piston-to-cylinder clearance. This is the key to efficient use of fuel energy.
When the engine is cold, the clearances between the pistons and cylinders do not match the design parameters. Until the temperature rises to the operating level, the motor does not operate in the mode provided by the manufacturer. If full load is applied, wear on the parts will increase, resulting in a shorter working life or an accident.
In addition to the thermal expansion factor, there is another problem. Oil viscosity. This parameter greatly affects the operation of the engine. If the grease thickens in the cold, it cannot fully lubricate the parts, which leads to an increase in the friction force in all pairs. Wear increases dramatically if the engine is running under load.
Obviously, driving with a cold diesel engine is not best idea... Another question arises:. Can this be done at idle? What is the optimal duration? Let's figure it out together.
How long does a diesel engine need to warm up in winter
There is no consensus among the "diesel breeders" on this score. In this camp, they argue about how much to warm up a diesel engine in winter as well as among the owners of cars with gasoline engines.
Warm up to victory
Some car owners are sure that diesel engine necessary warm up at idle speed until the coolant temperature rises to 70 ° C. Another option is until the rpm drops to idle. The feasibility of this approach seems questionable. Let's figure it out.
Because of design features a diesel engine heats up less at idle than a gasoline engine, the whole car warms up worse. To achieve a noticeable rise in temperature in winter have to do warming up the diesel engine within 30 - 40 minutes. During this time, a noticeable amount of fuel is consumed. For example: a three-liter diesel engine will “burn” about 200 ml of fuel in 20 minutes of warming up at idle speed.
Noticeable rise in temperature power plant occurs in the first two minutes after launch. Further progress is quite insignificant. Should you waste fuel and time for a small improvement in performance? Doubtful.
Warm up, but without fanaticism
Other drivers to the question “ how to warm up a diesel engine in winter", Answer briefly and clearly:" wisely. " In their opinion, it is enough to let the engine run for a couple of minutes to warm up the oil in the crankcase, and then start moving. The main thing is not to give the engine full load until its temperature rises to the optimum level. This indicator can be monitored by the coolant sensor.
Supporters of this method warming up the diesel engine in winter believe that in motion the engine warms up faster. Also, when the car is moving, the transmission heats up more actively and chassis... Everything looks reasonable.
Objectively: how to properly warm up a diesel engine in winter
From a technical point of view, warming up the diesel engine in winter vital. Considering technical features and the mechanics of the car's systems, you can figure out how to warm up diesel engines.
The engine should be started at subzero temperatures with full fuel supply. The clutch is depressed. The started engine warms up for two to three minutes. The crankshaft speed rises gradually to average. When the device shows that the coolant has heated up to 40 ° C, it means that the motor is ready for loads.
To make it easier to start the diesel engine, you need to turn on the glow plugs several times. These devices are built into the design of modern diesel power units... They help heat the air entering the combustion chamber. In a diesel engine, ignition occurs as a result of heating a fuel-air mixture that is highly compressed in the cylinder. Preheating the air will make starting easier.
What do we get when performing such an algorithm for warming up a diesel engine? In the first two minutes after starting the engine, the oil in the crankcase heats up enough to fully lubricate the cylinder-piston group. Smooth start of movement helps to warm up the transmission lubricant, "develop" the suspension. The diesel warms up faster on the go. Fuel consumption is reduced. After 5 minutes of movement, you can turn on the cabin heater, which will accelerate the heating of the engine.
From the point of view of engine operation, "hodovka" and other systems of the car, this method is the most logical. Practical observations show the effectiveness of this method. The Gentle Start Mode helps protect the diesel engine from damage in freezing weather.
How to warm up a diesel engine with a turbine in winter
Recommendations for turbocharged diesels are no different from those for atmospheric counterparts. In the same way, you should start the engine, warm it up for a few minutes, and start driving at low rpm in first gear. Warm-up time on the move - about 5 minutes, during this time, use no higher than third gear. Control the diesel engine warming up by the coolant temperature.
A good result is obtained by the use of special preheaters... Also, it will not be superfluous to make life easier for your engine by using special additives - antigels. They don't allow diesel fuel thicken in the cold. Many car owners have difficulty starting diesel engines precisely because of the thickened fuel. It is especially difficult in winter if the car is filled with summer diesel fuel.
We tried to give a complete answer to the questions why and how to warm up a diesel engine in winter... We hope you can draw the right conclusions to protect the "heart" of your car from breakdowns on frosty days.
