Diesel engine

A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine which operates using the Diesel cycle; it was based on the hot bulb engine design and patented on February 23, 1893.

Diesel engines use compression ignition, a process by which fuel is injected after the air is compressed in the combustion chamber causing the fuel to self ignite. By contrast, a gasoline engine utilizes the Otto cycle, in which fuel and air are mixed before ignition is initiated by a spark plug. Most diesel engines have large pistons, therefore drawing more air and fuel which results in a bigger and more powerful combustion. This was originally implemented in very large vehicles such as trucks, locomotives and ships, (and also as a stationary engine), as more efficient replacement for the steam engine. Starting in the 1930s and initially developing slowly they have been used in a few cars. Since the 1970s diesel engines have developed dramatically and have been used in many more cars, starting with larger on road and off road vehicles (especially SUV's in the USA). As they have been refined they have been used in smaller and smaller cars. Today the smallest cars on the European market have a super efficient diesel engine option and forty percent of all new car sales in Europe are diesel.