An engine block is the main structure that supports all the other engine parts. These are the components that form the core of the working of a diesel engine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Sleeved cylinder liners <\/li>
- Pistons with attached piston rings<\/li>
- Engine Valves \u2014 intake and exhaust valves<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow does a diesel engine work?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Most diesel engines work on a four-stroke cycle. A stroke refers to the full travel of the piston along the cylinder, in either direction and it completes four separate strokes while turning the crankshafts. Air is injected into the chamber of the cylinder at regular intervals through the inlet valve. The piston within the liner moves up and down compressing air above it. When the piston reaches the effective end of its induction stroke, the inlet valve closes. The power from the other pistons and the momentum of the flywheel, helps the piston travel to the top of the cylinder, compressing the air into about a twentieth of its original volume. This compression generates heat that fires the fuel\/air mixture, causing it to burn and expand forcing the piston downwards, turning the crankshaft. As the piston moves up the cylinder, the exhaust valve opens and allows the burned and expanded gases to travel down the exhaust pipe. At the end of the exhaust stroke, the cylinder is ready for a fresh charge of air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This entire process can be categorized into four steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Induction \u2014 <\/strong>As the piston begins to move down the bore, the inlet valve opens and air is injected into the chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compression \u2014 <\/strong>The inlet valve closes at the bottom of the stroke. The piston rises to compress the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ignition \u2014 <\/strong>Fuel is exposed to the heat of the compressed air resulting in combustion and expansion that forces the piston down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exhaust \u2014 <\/strong>On the piston’s upward travel, the exhaust valve opens, and burned gas is expelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEngine construction<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Diesel engine parts have to be made much stronger than their petrol engine equivalents because of the much higher loads involved. The walls of a diesel engine block are much thicker than a petrol engine block and have more bracing webs to provide extra strength and absorb stress. Apart from being stronger, the heavy-duty block can also reduce noise more effectively.
Pistons, connecting rods, crankshafts, and bearing caps have to be made stronger <\/strong>than their petrol engine counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.atracparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/connecting-rod-piston-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDiesel engines are always pitted against petrol engines. Has that conversation on petrol vehicles vs diesel vehicles confounded you? Here is a simple explanation of how the two are different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main advantage of diesel engines over\npetrol engines is their lower running cost. This is because of the typically\nlow price of diesel fuel and its high compression ratio \u2014 the volume of the cylinder when the piston is at the\nbottom of its stroke divided by the volume of the cylinder when the piston is\nat the top. A typical compression ratio for a diesel engine\nis 20:1, compared with 9:1 for a petrol engine. However, the fuel price varies\nfrom one region to another, so the advantage of running a diesel car will be\nslightly reduced if you live in an area with high-priced diesel fuel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t just about deciding between petrol\nand diesel engines, but ensuring that you choose the right parts for your\nengine based on the utility of your vehicle. It is important to verify the\nauthenticity of the engine parts you buy and check if they qualify OEM\nspecifications. This is why major automobile manufacturing brands partner only\nwith those that deploy rigorous quality testing measures. At Atrac, we are\ncommitted to ensuring precision, dimensional accuracy, and quality. For\ndecades, we have been partnering with customers in 60 locations across four\ncontinents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n