Horse Power and its Effectiveness

[Gary Derian]

My reason for stating that diesels make less torque (atmo to atmo) than a
gas engine is there is always some unused air left over unless you go really
rich like a tractor puller.  Its easy to find high torque turbo diesels
because boost is not limited by detonation.  The only limit is mechanical
and thermal stress.

Diesel fuel has more heat energy per volume but not per weight but this has
no effect on torque.  The amount of fuel is adjusted to use all the air
which can't be practically done in a diesel.  The high expansion ratio in a
diesel does help close the torque gap.

Compare a 350 Olds Diesel to a 350 Olds gas engine.  I don't have the specs
but I will eat my cone shaped hat if the diesel has more torque.  Even
Mercedes diesels have less torque than their equivalent gas engines (atmo to
atmo).

Gary Derian <gderian at oh.verio.com>


> Diesel engines make more torque period.  There are more btu's in a gallon
of
> diesel than a gallon of gas.  Therefore any one can see that more heat\=
> more expansion of gasses = more force.  Energy cannot be created or
> destroyed.. only altered.  Soe if there is more energy in a litre of
diesel,
> then there is more energy converted to mech and heat energy.  Diesels also
> run a lot higher compression so right off the bat they will have more
> torque.  My vw diesel(tubo produced 220ft-lbs at 2200rpm.... 105hp at 5200
> <mailto:105hp at 5200> . A1.9 L.  the 2.0 g60 motor that runs about same
boost,
> produces no where near that amount
> Mike Rolica