A fundamental difference between gasoline and diesel engines is that a gasoline engine uses spark ignition while a diesel engine uses compression ignition. Before we delve deeper, let's understand how ...

A.Here's a pressure-volume diagram for a combustion engine. Although rough, it is an approximation of the so-called air-standard cycle. '' Point (a) is at atmospheric pressure, after which the air is ...

SAE Transactions, Vol. 96, Section 4: RECIPROCATING ENGINES–SPARK IGNITION AND DIESEL (1987), pp. 614-623 (10 pages) A single-cylinder, variable–compression ratio, direct–injection diesel engine was ...

As Mazda and Infiniti have proved, there's a lot of innovation left in the internal-combustion engine. One of the more wild concepts we've seen is called Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition ...

Any certified gearhead knows that diesel engines do not use spark plugs. But why not? If power in an engine is created by combustion or explosion of flammable liquids, won't a spark plug in a diesel ...

Dim’s fascination with cars began when he was just six. Born into a family of car enthusiasts and racing drivers, he started learning basic mechanics and driving from an early age. While he loves ...

IRVINE, Calif.—Despite rumors to the contrary, the internal combustion engine is far from dead. Recently we’ve seen several technological advances that will significantly boost the efficiency of ...

Let's get one thing straight: Rudolf Diesel is not Vin Diesel's great-grandfather. Vin's real name is Mark Sinclair, but that sounds a bit too boy-next-door for a tough-guy actor. What better way to ...

What many consider the Holy Grail of combustion technology is one step closer to prime time. In the race to field energy-efficient vehicles, don’t count out internal combustion technology just yet. GM ...