Engine, Diesel

An internal combustion engine that uses diesel fuel. The fuel is injected into the cylinder near the end of the compression stroke, and compressed to a very high pressure. The diesel automatically ignites (from the heat of the compressed air in the cylinder) and burns, releasing energy to power the vehicle. This is in comparison to a petrol engine that requires a spark plug to start combustion.

Diesel engines can achieve up to 40% higher mileage per gallon in comparison to a petrol car, which leads to reduced carbon dioxide emissions. However, a diesel engine produces more toxic emissions, such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM10).