What makes a diesel engine different to a regular gas engine, and is one better than the other?

Named after Rudolf Diesel, who invented it in 1893, the diesel engine is often associated with a dirty, smoky exhaust — an admittedly nebulous impression in no small part fueled by the black clouds of ...

Apart from the very curious, not many people ask why diesel engines, compared to gasoline, run higher compression ratios. The argument is reasonably straightforward and starts with fuel ...

These days, heavy-duty pickup trucks powered by diesel engines are a rather common sight. There are numerous reasons for heavy-duty trucks to use a diesel engine, many of which center around the ...

Sergiu is a mechanically minded car enthusiast about to finish his university degree. From attending car meets and expositions to creating automotive content, Sergiu thrives in the presence of cars.

Diesel is not gas. While it comes from the same source as gasoline (crude oil), under no circumstances should diesel-powered vehicles function using gasoline. Gas combusts very differently from diesel ...

Every car engine has quite a few details, ranging from cylinder count to compression ratios. How does changing the compression ratio affect the engine?