Petrol Engine or Diesel Engine: Your Choice?

[chevrolet]

Slightly off topic, dont want to start a separate thread for this so asking here,

The only diesel car i had driven( distance of 50 kms) was polo highline . It was difficult to drive in the bumer to bumper traffic but was nice on the highways with turbo kicking.
Couple of days back drove a lancer diesel, i thought i was driving a petrol car, it seemed rev happy like my city zx petrol. But i did not find turbo kicking on the lancer. It was a village road so was not able to go beyond 60kmh. My question , why did the turbo not kick in lancer.

 

[shrid]

Slightly off topic, dont want to start a separate thread for this so asking here,

The only diesel car i had driven( distance of 50 kms) was polo highline . It was difficult to drive in the bumer to bumper traffic but was nice on the highways with turbo kicking.
Couple of days back drove a lancer diesel, i thought i was driving a petrol car, it seemed rev happy like my city zx petrol. But i did not find turbo kicking on the lancer. It was a village road so was not able to go beyond 60kmh. My question , why did the turbo not kick in lancer.

Though not a strong answer, it might be that Lancer's turbo kick is a bit more subtle. Since you mentioned that it was driving almost like a petrol car, it might be that the turbo is smaller - lesser turbo lag and lesser kick - but it works to an extent. You might be aware of Turbo Lag.

In simple words, the turboC is a fan, connected to the exhaust system, and exhaust pressure spins the fan. It delivers air back to the combustion chamber, which helps efficiency and power. The bigger the fan, the harder it is to spin (high RPM is required, to get more pressure to the turbo), but it has a better pressure. The smaller the turbo, the easier it is to spin (Lower exhaust pressure will do), but it is not as effective. Sometimes a VGT (Variable Geometry TurboC) is used, I have no idea how it works so can't say.

 

[pavi]

I prefer Petrol just because of the 'fun to drive when revved' factor. I own a 4th gen Honda City i-vtec. Covered 21000 kms in an year. I don't care if it burns a hole in my pocket. I could stitch it somehow. The liveliness I feel while driving my car make me forget the shortcomings, say the less low end torque. But the gearshifts and clutch are very smooth. So I don't feel it irritating to drive due to the low end torque problem.
Yes, you need to change gears for a sudden movement if you are below 2000 rpm. But the fun that will be unleashed after 4000 rpm is just addictive. Yes, you could counter me saying "Where in Kerala you could drive using that vtec kick in??". It is not possible all the time, but at times when I feel to have some fun I just need to downshift and rev, rev and rev.

Note: The price difference between petrol and diesel in Kerala is ~Rs.20. The rise in EMI if I had bought diesel city would be Rs.2000/month. So it was not a big deal for me. But I opted petrol just because I experienced the real fun with i-vtec.

 

[furious_driver]

........

Note: The price difference between petrol and diesel in Kerala is ~Rs.20. The rise in EMI if I had bought diesel city would be Rs.2000/month. So it was not a big deal for me. But I opted petrol just because I experienced the real fun with i-vtec.

Excellent explanation!!! I love Petrol cars and even if I have to drive diesel car, I just revv hard due to my habit!! How much powerful a diesel car can be, it can't match the revv of a Petrol engine. To be frank, I felt it is more fun to drive a VTEC/TSI that DTEC/TDI!!! Even when I had to choose my car, I preferred Petrol. Not only because my running is around 1000km, but CRDi 1.1 is nothing like 1.2 VTVT!!! And god, I enjoy it everyday now and whenever I need fun, it gives me(Trust me, Hyundai and Fun together is not a myth anymore!!!).

 

[TSIVipul]

I prefer Petrol just because.............. real fun with i-vtec.

Excellent explanation!!! .............Hyundai and Fun together is not a myth anymore!!!).

Saarjis
Both of you go and TD the S cross 1.6 and then I'd like to know your views about it.
I am also a revv happy engine fan like you both but these modern diesels are also simply awesome at times.

I have expressed my thoughts on the S Cross here, awaiting to listen to yours.

@FD: The 'petrol tank' of S Cross diesel will go dry after covering way more distance than that of your 1.2 VTVT and that also with a performance which even Creta can't match with its 1.6 VTVT.

 

[furious_driver]

Saarjis
Both of you go and TD the S cross 1.6 and then I'd like to know your views about it.
I am also a revv happy engine fan like you both but these modern diesels are also simply awesome at times.

I never disagreed that the modern diesels are good! But for me, torquey petrol is much more fun that diesel! Proof! Try GT TSI & TDI and you know.

I have expressed my thoughts on the S Cross here, awaiting to listen to yours.

Sure!!

@FD: The 'petrol tank' of S Cross diesel will go dry after covering way more distance than that of your 1.2 VTVT and that also with a performance which even Creta can't match with its 1.6 VTVT.

Mileage is not my major concern. FYI, my Xcent, if driven sedately can give upto 19 in highways. But if I am in mood for go-kart fun inside city, Xcent won't disappoint me. Not to say diesels are bad, but not as much fun as Petrol IMO!!! You need to listen the revvs to understand what I'm saying!

 

[pavi]

I think before commenting or hitting the like button everyone should think on the fact that "am I completely right?". Now a days we could get the information on each and everything if you Google the stuff you want to know. The below given understanding is completely "Googlish".

Diesel engine does have higher torque but less power (BHP), and for petrol engines (or racing engines) it is vice versa (NA engines). Why?
Ans. Diesel engine has a long stroke. That means that the piston is travelling a relatively long distance up and down in its cylinder on each cycle. A racing engine, on the other hand, has a short stroke. The piston in a racing engine has a large diameter for the engine size, and it goes up and down a relatively short distance on each cycle.This means that a race car engine can run much faster up to 15,000 RPM but has relatively little torque. A large diesel engine usually cannot get above 2,000 RPM, but has huge torque because of the long stroke. The torque is what lets your engine pull a huge load up a hill.
A racing engine can produce relatively low torque, but because it can rev so high it gets a great horsepower rating. A big diesel has huge torque, but gets no respect in terms of horsepower because it cannot ever get above 2,000 RPM. This makes sense if two engines produce the same torque, the one that can do it more times per minute does more work and therefore has more power.

Here comes the next question, Then if petrol engines had a long connecting rod would they produce same torque as from a diesel engine of the same cc?
Ans. Yes.
Torque = Force X Distance (or Arm)

Force is applied by the products of air-fuel combustion on the effective surface area of the piston and distance is determined by the geometry of the engine. Hypothetically, using petrol on a long stroke geometry will increase the torque, calorific value of petrol being marginally higher than that of diesel (and hence higher 'F').

Practically, rate of combustion of petrol is higher than that of diesel. Consequently, combustion with petrol as fuel will not even be long enough to last a full length of stroke of the piston. This is what limits the length of stroke/ compression ratio of petrol engines in the first place. On the other hand, short stroke length in petrol engines allows them to attain higher rpms as compared to diesel engines, increasing the power output at higher rpms.

Now coming back to the question. Is petrol engine or diesel engine the best?
In simple words, petrol engines need to be revved to attain the max torque and power. But the diesel engines have higher torque at lower rpms when compared to petrol engines. So it would be wrong if I say one is better than the other. Both the engines are meant for specific purposes, and are good at their respective fields.

But a high revving engine is the one which excites me more, so I prefer petrol engines for their sheer revving nature.

Note: The above given explanations are as per my understanding. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[furious_driver]

......
Now coming back to the question. Is petrol engine or diesel engine the best?
In simple words, petrol engines need to be revved to attain the max torque and power. But the diesel engines have higher torque at lower rpms when compared to petrol engines. So it would be wrong if I say one is better than the other. Both the engines are meant for specific purposes, and are good at their respective fields.

But a high revving engine is the one which excites me more, so I prefer petrol engines for their sheer revving nature.

Note: The above given explanations are as per my understanding. Correct me if I am wrong.

Mr.Google-r, no is arguing that Diesel engine is bad. In fact, they are getting better every passing day. But it is all about what one personally likes.

I like Petrol for it's high revving nature, and the way it behaves!!!

 

[pavi]

Mr.Google-r, no is arguing that Diesel engine is bad. In fact, they are getting better every passing day. But it is all about what one personally likes.

I like Petrol for it's high revving nature, and the way it behaves!!!

Did I mention anywhere in my comments that people are criticizing diesel engines????

 

[furious_driver]

Did I mention anywhere in my comments that people are criticizing diesel engines????

Misinterpretation from my part , when I read "Both the engines are meant for specific purposes, and are good at their respective fields."

It looks like you were trying to stop the fight between two people!! Anyways, good to know you aren't!

 

[roman]

Some of you really bash petrols here. It's only because of the price difference between the fuels we get tuned down petrols. Ideally diesels are best suited for heavy vehicles like suvs and muvs due to their torque. A good petrol engine will simply blow away a diesel in a straight drag race.

The petrol engines here are down tuned for economy,there is a reason why blue blooded sports cars come only in petrols,it's a more powerful design.

Production cars in the U.S have 350+ horses, that's the power of petrols. No matter how advanced diesels become they are a few steps behind well developed petrols.

Diesels are for soccer moms and delivery vans in Western countries. Simply because companies are not selling powerful petrols here don't have a prejudice against petrols

 

[krishnavamshi24]

Diesel is my choice simply based on Indian requirements and based on Indian market conditions.

 

[furious_driver]

Diesel is my choice simply based on Indian requirements and based on Indian market conditions.

I too pick Diesel at certain scenarious based on mileage and yada-yada, but what do you personally like/prefer to drive? Even today, for any long trips(>300km one way) with 5 adults, I prefer to use Xylo/SX4 diesel than my Xcent! That is economical thinking. But if I were to travel alone or with my wife+kid, I choose Xcent over anything. Because it is much more fun to revv!!

Now, this is what we are talking. Not based on the weather condition or stock market values.

 

[roadrunner]

Diesel or petrol, choice depends on a person's average running per day for the majority as well as need for power to suit the kind of drive. My average daily run for the past four years has been some 35 km round trip to work in medium traffic and tight parking in Alto 800. So petrol has been my favourite. For long journeys I beg, borrow, steal my bro's EcoSport diesel. Petrol is going to stay with me for a couple of years more until I feel the need to buy a compact SUV. Perhaps then I might get a chance to appreciate diesel.

 

[roman]

Since people are assuming Diesels are driver friendly let me make some points clear. I drive a Tata safari and have no prejudice against diesel cars.

Diesels are usually short geared. That's one reason why they perform slightly better on inclines ,of course torque is also a reason. For spirited drivers power is on tap only in a narrow band.

Diesels as a thumb rule have a heavier clutch than their petrol equivalents.

Petrols have long legs on highways. My old zen could manage something like 30-80 in fourth gear comfortably. Do something like that to a diesel and the engine will disappoint the driver.

Petrols can have good low end power. The best off roaders like Land Rover,Land cruiser, even our Raid De Himalayas champion Gypsy are proofs of it.

All this "surge of power", "leaving petrols behind at traffic lights" blah-blah is because we compare turbo charged diesels to normal petrols.

If diesels are so superior as some have argued in this thread why motorsports like F1 rely on petrols ?

Diesels in short are like mules quite economical, pulls a lot of load but true petrols are like stallions bursting with energy,eager to gallop but will dent the master's pocket. Petrols in short are blue blooded aristocrats of the industry while diesels are the commoners.

P.S- The last stanza does not apply to India. Where the govt sells two fuels with same refining costs at two different prices. I hope govt lifts subsidy on diesel, as an economic principle the cost of a commodity should be extracted from it's users not from the public coffers. It is daft for the govt to subsidize diesel used in a Pajero or Fortuner with the tax payed by millions of Indians who can't even afford a bicycle. This is not my idea, This issue was raised by the former U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan in an interview to a leading Newspaper.