{"id":2982,"date":"2023-03-15T15:17:17","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T22:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allbaydiesel.com\/?p=2982"},"modified":"2023-03-15T15:22:43","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T22:22:43","slug":"do-diesel-engines-have-spark-plugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allbaydiesel.com\/do-diesel-engines-have-spark-plugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Diesel Engines Have Spark Plugs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Many commercial applications, such as construction, farming, and even logistics, rely on vehicles capable of pulling or pushing high loads. Diesel engines excel at generating high levels of torque for relatively little fuel, making them extremely common as heavy-duty performance vehicles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, while gasoline and diesel vehicles may look the same on the outside, they have many notable differences that affect their maintenance, parts, and longevity. While hopefully, you\u2019ll never need a <\/span>mobile diesel repair service in the San Francisco Bay Area<\/span><\/a>, our team at All Bay Diesel shares the following information, as knowing the key differences between diesel and gas engines can help save you lots of trouble on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diesel vs. Gasoline Engines<\/span><\/h2>\n

All internal combustion engines work on the same principle: fuel and air mix in a chamber and undergo a reaction that releases heat and combustion gases. The gases released during this reaction expand rapidly and push a piston, which rotates the crankshaft and provides power to the wheels through the vehicle\u2019s powertrain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where diesel and gasoline engines differ is how the combustion process starts. Gasoline engines use spark ignition, where an arc of energy to the gas-air mixture is enough to start the combustion process by igniting the gas-air mixture in the chamber.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Diesel engines work slightly differently. Instead of mixing diesel and air in the combustion chamber, the chamber only contains pressurized air. The fuel injector atomizes the diesel before it enters this chamber, while glow plugs heat it up, creating the conditions necessary for ignition. Then, when the diesel combines with the oxygen in the combustion chamber, it reacts and releases gases that push the piston and move the drivetrain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Don\u2019t Spark Plugs Work On Diesel Engines?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The reason gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines have different ignition modes is due to the differences in volatility and ignition points between the two fuels. One of the common measures of volatility is the flash point, the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapors to form an ignitable air\/gas mixture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gasoline is significantly more volatile and has a flash point of -43\u00b0C, while diesel is less volatile and has a flash point of 52\u00b0C. This means that a system that works for igniting gasoline won\u2019t work on diesel, and using gasoline in a diesel engine can be extremely dangerous.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of having a single electrical arc act as an ignition source, diesel engines use a combination of glow plugs that heat the diesel to make it more volatile and atomizing the fuel as it hits the air to result in a consistent combustion reaction. Since glow plugs are only responsible for raising the temperature of the diesel, it\u2019s possible to start a diesel engine without using glow plugs as long as the ambient temperature is high enough and the fuel injector atomizes the diesel correctly. However, having functioning glow plugs speeds up the ignition reaction and allows the engine to run more efficiently.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Phases Of Glow Plug Ignition<\/span><\/h3>\n

Glow plugs consist of heating coils housed in a ceramic or metal casing filled with ceramic powder to act as an electrical insulator. These plugs can heat up to 1000\u00b0C within several seconds, sufficient to assist in the ignition process. Ceramic glow plugs can heat up even faster and retain heat for longer, making them a more efficient and durable option than their traditional metal counterparts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glow plugs go through two separate phases during normal ignition, namely:<\/span><\/p>\n