What is a Diesel Engine?
Diesel vehicles operate by compression ignition. This means the diesel fuel is injected into the combustion chamber containing compressed air causing the fuel to self ignite. Diesel engines run solely on diesel fuels, including biodiesel, and ultra low sulfur diesel. With the major auto manufacturers producing more than 230 different diesel capable models in the last three decades, consumers have numerous options to choose from when interested in diesels. The first diesel engine was patented by Rudolf Diesel in 1898. Oddly enough, the engine was powered by peanut oil, a very early form of biodiesel. Rudolf Diesel was eager to utilize vegetable oils as a form of fuel in the hopes of supporting agriculture in the countries that would rely heavily on the use of the diesel engine.
