Katerina Swanson
Diesel engines are internal combustion engines that use diesel fuel, which is any liquid fuel designed for such engines. They are similar to gasoline engines but differ in their ignition systems. Diesel engines have a compression-ignited injection system, while gasoline engines use spark-ignited systems. In a diesel engine, the amount of fuel injected is throttled, and air simply follows suit. Rudolf Diesel's first functional engine was designed for liquid fuels, with kerosene being the main testing fuel. Diesel fuel is typically standardised and is commonly used in heavy trucks.
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What You'll Learn
How to fuel older diesel engines
Diesel fuel is any liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine, which is a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel is also known as diesel oil or heavy oil.
Older diesel engines typically ran on cheap fuel oils, such as kerosene, rapeseed oil, or lubricating oil. However, with the introduction of motor-vehicle diesel engines in the 1930s, higher-quality fuels with proper ignition characteristics were required.
If your older diesel engine runs out of fuel, do not try to start the engine without fuel as this could damage the injectors and other parts due to a lack of lubrication. Here are the steps to follow:
- Add fuel to the engine.
- Bleed the lines and injectors to remove any air that has been sucked into the system. This can be done using a wrench to loosen the bleeder bolt, a bottle to collect the primed diesel, and rags for cleanup.
- Tighten the bleeder bolt once all the air is out of the fuel system (no more bubbles).
- Attempt to start the engine.
To improve the performance and longevity of older diesel engines, fuel treatments can be used. Fuel treatments help to remove deposits, prevent corrosion, and improve engine performance and fuel economy. It is important to choose high-quality fuel treatments designed for your specific engine.
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How to fuel modern diesel engines
Modern diesel engines are internal combustion engines that use diesel fuel, a liquid fuel specifically designed for diesel engines. Diesel engines are named after German scientist Rudolf Diesel, who, in the 1890s, invented the compression-ignition engine. This type of engine compresses air or air combined with residual combustion gases from the exhaust, increasing the air temperature inside the cylinder so that atomised diesel fuel injected into the combustion chamber ignites.
Diesel fuel is most commonly a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternative types that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL) and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are becoming more common. Diesel engines typically have high fuel pressure and are known for their fuel efficiency. Modern direct injection diesel engines inject fuel at pressures of around 30,000 psi, which provides an efficient burn with little waste heat.
To fuel a modern diesel engine, you must first ensure that the fuel being used is suitable for the engine. Diesel fuel can be identified by different names depending on the region, including diesel oil, heavy oil, distillate, DERV (diesel-engine road vehicle), and simply, diesel. Once the correct fuel has been sourced, the next steps depend on the age of the vehicle. Modern diesel engines, particularly those used in on-highway applications, have common rail direct injection. Older diesel engines may require physical input to get their engines re-fired, whereas newer diesel engines are more self-serving when it comes to the priming process.
If your vehicle runs out of fuel, do not attempt to start the engine as this could damage the injectors and other parts due to a lack of lubrication. Instead, add fuel, and then bleed the lines and injectors. After adding fresh diesel, the fuel system should be primed by turning the ignition on for 30 seconds without starting the engine. This allows the pump to prime the system. Then, turn the ignition off and crank it for 15 seconds. If the engine does not start, repeat the process until it fires up.
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The history of diesel fuel
Initially, Diesel did not specify the type of fuel to be used in his engine, believing that any kind of fuel in any state of matter would work. However, the first diesel engine prototype and the first functional diesel engine were designed for liquid fuels. Diesel experimented with various fuels, including crude oil, petrol, kerosene, lamp oil, and paraffin oil, before settling on kerosene and petrol as the main testing fuels. The first diesel engines built in 1898 in Scotland and France used shale oil as fuel due to the cost of other fuels.
The first diesel engines were built and ignited in 1893, with the first successful results coming in 1897, showing a 26.2% efficiency, 16.2% higher than the steam engines of the time. Following this success, Diesel's engine design faced criticism and patent lawsuits from German entrepreneur Emil Capitaine and Richard Hornsby & Sons of England, who claimed to have created similar engines. Diesel won these lawsuits, as his design was shown to be unique in its compression ratio and lack of need for external heat to start.
In the following decades, diesel engines gained popularity, finding use in submarines and ships in the 1910s, and later in locomotives, buses, trucks, and electricity generation plants. The introduction of motor-vehicle diesel engines in the 1930s led to the development of higher-quality diesel fuels, and after World War II, the first modern high-quality diesel fuels were standardised. Today, diesel fuel is derived from refining crude oil and other biomass materials, and it continues to be a popular fuel choice for modern diesel engines, with a focus on improving emissions and efficiency.
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The transportation of diesel fuel
Regulatory Landscape
The transportation of hazardous materials, including diesel fuel, is governed by regulations such as the Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 in the US. These regulations outline specific requirements for the safe handling, storage, and transportation of diesel fuel. For example, diesel fuel transportation units must have tanks with a total capacity of no greater than 500 gallons of diesel fuel.
Packaging and Placarding
The type of packaging used for transporting diesel fuel is crucial. In most cases, diesel fuel is classified as a combustible liquid, and its regulation depends on the packaging type. When transported in non-bulk packaging, diesel fuel is generally exempt from hazardous materials regulations and does not require placards. However, when transported in bulk packaging, it is subject to regulations and typically requires placarding to indicate its hazardous nature.
Transportation Exemptions
There are specific exemptions from hazardous materials regulations for farmers transporting diesel fuel. If a farmer is transporting diesel fuel over local roads between fields of the same farm, they are typically exempt from these regulations, provided the containers are smaller than 502 gallons. However, if the transportation extends beyond the immediate farm area or involves larger containers, the farmer may need to register with relevant authorities and comply with additional safety measures.
Storage and Handling
Diesel fuel must be stored and handled in accordance with specific regulations. For example, diesel fuel transportation units must be parked in designated underground diesel fuel storage facilities or temporary storage areas when not in use. Additionally, safety measures, such as fire suppression devices and fire extinguishers, are mandated to mitigate the risks associated with flammable liquids.
Regional Variations
It is important to note that diesel fuel specifications and regulations can vary regionally. For example, in California, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has implemented specific diesel fuel specifications to limit sulfur and aromatics content, with additional requirements for lubricity. These regulations apply to both highway and off-road vehicles, stationary sources, and, as of 2007, intrastate locomotives and marine engines within specific districts.
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The ignition process of diesel fuel
In a diesel engine, the ignition process begins with the induction of air into the chamber during the intake stroke. This air is then compressed during the compression stroke, leading to an increase in temperature and pressure inside the cylinder. Unlike traditional spark-ignition engines, diesel engines do not use spark plugs. Instead, the heat generated by compressing the air causes the ignition of the fuel. This process is known as compression ignition.
As the piston moves closer to the top dead centre, the temperature of the compressed air reaches the fuel's ignition temperature. At this point, diesel fuel is injected directly into the cylinder through a mechanical injector system. The fuel is atomised, creating a fine mist that ensures even distribution throughout the cylinder. This atomised fuel then mixes with the hot compressed air, resulting in ignition and combustion.
The combustion process in diesel engines is primarily mixing-controlled, with some premixed combustion occurring due to the mixing of fuel and air prior to ignition. This mixture preparation is crucial, as it determines factors such as evaporation rate, spray penetration, and combustion efficiency. The overall A/F (air-fuel) ratio in diesel engines is lean, meaning there is excess air present in the cylinder after combustion. This excess air helps reduce harmful exhaust emissions by oxidising gaseous hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.
Additionally, diesel engines have higher compression ratios compared to gasoline engines, which contributes to their increased fuel efficiency. The higher compression ratio allows for a greater volume of air to enter the engine, and the torque output is regulated by controlling the amount of injected fuel. This unique design and combustion process give diesel engines their characteristic power and efficiency.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is any liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine.
A diesel engine is a type of internal combustion engine in which fuel ignition takes place without a spark as a result of the compression of inlet air and then the injection of fuel.
A gasoline engine is dependent on airflow, whereas a diesel engine is dependent on the throttling of the amount of fuel being injected.
Do not try to start the engine without fuel, as injectors and other parts could be damaged due to a lack of lubrication. Add fuel, bleed the lines and injectors, and then attempt to start the engine.
Diesel fuel is usually a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternatives that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are becoming more common.
