SERVICE DIESEL FUEL SYSTEM

I. INTRODUCTION
1. COMPARISON BETWEEN GASOLINE AND DIESEL ENGINES

 The gasoline engine uses a carburetor to create a mixture of air and

gasoline, which is drawn into the cylinder where the mixture is
compressed. An electric spark is used to ignite and burn the mixture
of fuel and air. The expansion pressure of the gas that is created
during combustion pushes the piston, thus generating useful work.
 specific gravity is 0.72-0.78
 diesel engine, only air is drawn into the cylinder during the air
intake process, and the air is highly compressed during the
compression process. Fuel is then injected into the high-
temperature, high-pressure air.
 specific gravity is 0.82 to 0.86
 An appropriate amount of fuel at sufficient pressure and atomized
form inject in to cylinder in case of diesel.
 OTTO – Engine/gasoline engine Diesel – Engine
Inventor Nicholas August OTTO Rudolf DIESEL
Fuels Gasoline (petrol), Diesel oil or fuel
-self ignition 450 – 500oC 350 – 380oC
points
Formation of fuel Mixture compressing Air compressing
air mixture
External Internal Internal mixture formation
a) carburetor Fuel injection Injection of diesel fuel in to
during the intake the cylinder towards the
b) Fuel injection or compression stroke end of compression stroke
in to intake
manifold
Control of energy a) by adjusting the position of the throttle valve By changing the quantity of
supply b) by the amount of fuel injected diesel fuel injected

Compression
values: 6—12 14---22
-Comp. ratio 8 bar---18 bar 30 bar---55 bar
-Comp. press. 400°c---600°c 700°c---900°c
-comp. temp.

Combustion:
-Comb. press. P (max)=30 bar---60 bar P(max)=65 bar---90 bar
-Efficiency 22%---30% 32%--40%
Exhaust gas 750°c---850°c (measured after exhaust valve) 500°c---750°c
temperature
Using a poor or improper grade of fuel can cause hard
starting, incomplete combustion, a smoky exhaust,
and engine knocks.
 IGNITABILITY OF DIESEL FUEL

• Ignitability quality is fuel's property to self-ignite

when its temperature is increased, even if an
externally sourced fire is not placed next to it.
• When drops of diesel fuel and gasoline are placed
on a heated steel plate, the diesel fuel burns into
a flame after a while, but gasoline immediately
evaporates without burning.
• This indicates that the diesel fuel has better
ignitability.
 Conti...
• The temperature at which the fuel ignites is called its
flash point. The lower the flash point, the better is the
fuel's ignitability.
• Because the diesel engine relies on the combustion of
fuel prompted by the compression heat of air, the
ignitability of fuel is an important property in the
operation of the diesel engine.
• Ignitability thus greatly influences the ignition delay
time, which is the time between when fuel is introduced
into the combustion chamber and when it starts to burn.
 VISCOSITY OF DIESEL FUEL
• Viscosity is an important property of the fuel that is used
in a diesel engine
• If the viscosity is too high, the fuel becomes injected into
the combustion chamber in large particles, with poorer
dissipation qualities, thus resulting in poorer combustion.
• Because diesel fuel has an additional function to lubricate
the fuel system, including injection pump and nozzles,
those parts will not receive enough lubrication if the
viscosity of the fuel is too low, and they might even seize
as a result.
 VOLATILITY OF DIESEL FUEL

• Diesel fuel has a high boiling point and is practically

not volatile at room temperature. However, during the
combustion process in a diesel engine, diesel fuel
gasifies first before mixing with air.
• Combustion occurs when the density of this mixture
comes within the combustion range. Thus, it is
preferable that the diesel fuel provides some level of
volatility.
• The readiness with which a liquid changes to a vapor
is known as the volatility of the liquid.
 Conti...
• Fuel volatility requirements depend on the same
factors as cetane number.
• The more volatile fuels are best for engines where
rapidly changing loads and speeds are come across.
• Low volatile fuels tend to give better fuel economy
where their characteristics are needed for complete
combustion, and will produce less smoke, deposits,
crankcase dilution(strength), and engine wear.
 Cleanliness and Stability(strength)

Cleanliness is an important characteristic of diesel fuel. Fuel should not contain more than a


trace of foreign substances; otherwise, fuel pump and injector difficulties will develop,

leading to poor performance or seizure.

Because it is heavier and more viscous, diesel fuel will hold dirt particles in suspension for

a longer period than gasoline. Moisture in the fuel can also damage or cause seizure of

injector parts when corrosion occurs.


Fuel stability is its capacity to resist chemical change caused by oxidation and heat. Good

oxidation stability means that the fuel can be stored for extended periods of time without the

formation of gum or sludge.


Good thermal stability prevents the formation of carbon in hot parts such as fuel injectors or

turbine nozzles. Carbon deposits disrupt the spray patterns and cause inefficient combustion.