ianmiller999

What is the reason that they cannot rev as high as a petrol engine?

[Edited by ianmiller999 - 1/13/2004 8:36:53 PM]

UFO

Diesel engines produce a shed load of torque low down the engine (revs).

I believe and don't quote me here that it's something to do with the high compression rate used in a diesel engine. i.e. if they revved any higher they would blow.

I'm no Wankel though

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I've seen diesels go up to 6000rpm.

Most diesels have a longer stroke.

Also "old school" diesels had pumps that didn't like to be spun very fast - you end up with equivelant of valve float - i.e the pump floats and you end up getting no fuel....Use stronger springs and you wear out the pump's camshaft quicker!

I may be right in saying that diesel fuel burns slower than petrol, so at high rpm you end up with the fuel not burning fast enough (I maybe worng on this)

ianmiller999

makes sense

doctor CLIFFORD

Is,nt it because of the high compresion ratio ?

ajm

Generally they are not designed to run at higher speeds because after a certain point the power required to compress the fuel increases with rpm's at a faster rate than the useful power generated by the "power stroke". Hence they hit a peak and after which power starts to tail off. Because of the higher compression required to release enough energy to ignote the diesel that peak occurs earlier in the rev range than a petrol engine.

[Edited by ajm - 1/13/2004 11:02:41 PM]