When looking to have your car serviced for an engine repair, you will need to know which type of engine it has— diesel or regular. Below are five differences between the two, so that you’ll be able to tell the engines apart and know the specifics of your vehicle.

5 Differences Between Diesel and Regular Engines

1. Combustion

Both engines use internal combustion to convert chemical energy into mechanical energy through a series of small explosions. These explosions look different depending on the engine, however.

A regular engine mixes fuel and air, compresses them with pistons, and ignites the explosion from spark plugs. A diesel engine compresses the air first and then injects the fuel into the combustion chamber. The compressed air ignites because of the immense heat it has produced.

2. Price

Fueling your diesel engine with thick diesel gasoline usually costs more than filling up a regular engine. However, diesel fuel contains more energy and uses less fuel to drive a certain distance than a regular engine. With good gas mileage, diesel gasoline is comparable to regular fuel in terms of pricing.

3. Power

You can measure both engines by their horsepower and torque. Diesel engines usually have great torque, or “turning power”, helping bigger trucks pull heavy loads. However, they do not always have good horsepower, hampering them from revving and speeding away quickly.

Diesel engines are also built to last and don’t need a lot of maintenance. Regular engines, however, may not have as good of torque but rank highly in horsepower. They may also require more upkeep and regular engine repairs.

4. Pollution

In the past, regular engines ran cleaner than diesel. However, times are changing. Diesel engines emitted a lot of soot in the exhaust as they would burn sulfur to run the engine, which was harmful to the environment. New diesel engines run clean and no longer need to burn sulfur. Some built-in filtration systems in diesel engines can even exceed the cleanliness of regular engines.

5. Noise

You can usually tell the difference between the two engines from miles away, as diesel engines are much louder. However, diesel engines have gotten quieter. With the help of modern technology, they can purr as smoothly as regular engines. 

If you need regular or diesel engine repair, take your car to Puma’s Auto Care in Brooklyn, NY. For over 17 years, these professionals have been diagnosing and repairing engine issues. Their full range of services includes everything from oil changes to exhaust repairs, all at affordable prices. See their full list of services online or call (718) 272-6306 to schedule your repair.