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Comparing and Contrasting Four-Stroke and Two-Stroke Engines Both four-stroke engines and two-stroke engines utilize the combustion of fuel to harness the energy necessary to run their respective engines. If they are accomplishing the same goal through the same process, how different can they be? Let's take a deeper look into how four-stroke and two-stroke engines function. Four-Stroke Engines Inside a four-stroke engine, there is a crankshaft. Piston rods connect the pistons to the crankshaft, causing the pistons to move up and down with each turn...

What You Need to Know About Fuel Contamination If you own anything with an engine, becoming familiar with the dangers, signs, and ways to prevent fuel contamination could save you a lot of money and a lot of trouble. What is Fuel Contamination? If a fuel tank becomes invaded by things other than fuel, it can prevent the engine from performing at its best, and can even cause damage to the engine. Fuel can be infiltrated by different contaminants, and the different contaminants can cause different problems. Types of Fuel Contamination Water...

Debunking 11 Diesel Engine Myths Vehicles with diesel engines have a reputation, and not always for the better. Some of the "facts" circulating about diesel engines are actually myths. Here are the top 11 diesel myths debunked. Myth #1: Diesel engines are slow and sluggish. As long as a vehicle equipped with a diesel engine isn't pulling too much weight, it does not perform slower than any of its gas-powered counterparts. In fact, they typically outperform gas-powered cars because of their torque. They maintain a...

Eleven Uses for Diesel Engines When Rudolph Diesel invented the diesel engine, could he have known how much they would change the world? Diesel engines were a revolutionary invention for their time. They compress the air, which increases the air temperature to such a high degree that the fuel injected into the combustion chamber ignites spontaneously. They run more efficiently than naturally-aspirated engines. Although the designing of the diesel engine got off to a rocky start, multiple engineers worked to create a protot...

7 Signs your Turbocharger is Failing A turbocharger is an integral part of the diesel engine design. It increases the power output of your engine. So how can you tell if your turbocharger needs a little attention? Let's look at the signs. Increased gas consumption. If you start to notice you are heading to the gas station to fill up more often, your turbocharger could be to blame. Your vehicle is not using fuel efficiently and your miles per gallon are decreasing. One possible cause for this is fuel leaking into the exhaus...

From New to Refurbished and Everything In Between Your diesel engine has started to stall and misfire. You notice you aren’t getting the miles per gallon you used to. The exhaust from your engine smells worse than ever, but even over that, you can smell a fuel odor emanating from your vehicle. If these are happening to you, your fuel injector probably needs to be replaced. When it’s time to replace a fuel injector (which happens about every 100,000 miles on a diesel engine) or any of the diesel fuel injection parts, it can be tempting to sav...

Delivery Valves: The Role They Play in Diesel Engines Diesel engines have two types of diesel delivery valves: intake valves and exhaust valves. Delivery valves move gas and fuel mixtures in and out of the cylinders of a diesel engine. Both types have a vital role to play in keeping your engine working at pique performance levels. Let’s examine the differences between the two valves and how they work to create power and energy in a diesel engine. Delivery Valve Overview The intake valve is the diesel fuel valve that opens to allow the fuel and a...

Understanding Cylinder Heads Your diesel engine is comprised of many complex parts, but one of the most complex parts of any diesel engine is the cylinder head. There are more moving parts in the cylinder head than there are in any other part of the engine. Since cylinder heads are in a fixed position and sealed with the head gasket, they are rarely in need of being replaced because they experience much less wear than other parts of the engine. But, because of the complexity of the cylinder head and the intricacy of all ...

Slow and Sluggish? Not These 13 Diesel Sports Cars The words “diesel engine” don’t typically invoke images of sleek and fast cars. But as diesel engine technology advances, car manufacturers are taking advantage of the improvements to design diesel sports cars that don’t disappoint. Here are 13 of the fastest diesel sports cars you can find on the market today. 1. Audi A8 4.2 TDI This car packs a punch and can go from 0 to 62 miles per hour (mph) in just 4.7 seconds. The 4.2-liter TDI engine produces 384 horsepower (hp) while not skimping on ...

A Guide to Diesel Engine Problems Do you know what to do if your diesel engine exhaust is giving off black or white smoke? What about blue smoke? These smoke signals are your vehicle’s way to communicate its needs to you. If your diesel engine is experiencing problems, this guide can help you interpret what it is trying to say. What could be happening when a diesel engine is hard to start or won't start at all? The fuel supply could be low or blocked, and the filters could be to blame. The fuel could be contaminated. The...

How to Prime a Fuel Pump Fuel Injection Replacing the fuel filters is necessary to maintain the optimal performance of your car’s engine. However, after successfully replacing them, it’s crucial to perform priming, i.e., removing any remaining air inside the injection system. To get your diesel engine running smoothly again, you must know how to prime a fuel pump fuel injection. The fuel pump also requires priming after it’s replaced or when the engine runs out of fuel. This ensures that the system is properly filled and there’s no...

How do I troubleshoot the noise coming from my diesel engine? Much like a human body, a vehicle exhibits certain symptoms when it’s sick. Some are cut and dried, like an engine knock alerting you to a low oil level. Other symptoms, however, can indicate far more complex issues. Global diesel aficionados offered several tips on how to understand what your car is telling you by the sounds it makes. Read on to learn more. Vedran Krampelj Vedran Krampelj, Owner of Car Horizon. Check for Loose or Damaged Parts There are a few steps you can take to trou...

What happens when my diesel engine turbocharger fails while driving, and what can I do about it? If your vehicle is not providing the power it typically does, you’re noticing suspicious exhaust, and you hear a whining from the engine, you might be experiencing a turbocharger failure. What other symptoms could warn you that your turbocharger is struggling? Is a failed turbocharger something you can learn to fix on the side of the road while watching a video on the internet? Or is this a problem that should be left to the professionals? Some of our readers have some advice about what to lo...

What happens when you use fuel that’s gone bad? With fuel costs rising, you might wonder what’s the harm in using some slightly old fuel in your vehicle. These car enthusiasts discuss the crucial reasons not to use bad fuel, and why you should make that extra trip to the gas station. Vedran Krampelj Owner of Car Horizon. Clog Fuel Lines, Affect The Efficiency Of The Vehicle, And Poor Fuel Economy Using fuel that has gone bad can have a number of negative consequences for your vehicle. First and foremost, bad fuel can cause engine p...

5 Reasons Rebuilding Your Diesel Engine is Better Than Replacing it We all recognize the signs of something wrong - smoke emanating from the exhaust, obnoxious engine noises, a sudden drop in oil pressure, and bad fuel efficiency. But rarely are we ready for the shock when the repair service tells us our engine is dead and needs to be replaced. Wait! What?! You knew things didn’t look good, but you hoped the issues didn’t rise to the level of ‘dead engine’ bad. You love your truck, and that Cummins 5.9L Turbo Diesel under the hood was built to function about ...

What tools do I need to test fuel injectors for possible damage? Although fuel injectors are designed to last as long as a vehicle does, it is not impossible for one to fail. If you want to test your fuel injectors yourself, you will need to gather some tools first. Keep reading to find out which ones some readers recommend. Cassio Davide Head of Marketing at NC CuttingTools. Earplugs, Battery Gauge, and Multimeter To test for possible damage to the fuel injectors, you'll need a good pair of earplugs, a battery gauge, and a multimeter. Firs...