# Diesel Engines

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-engines/50674
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 18, 2001, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-engines/50674 "2001-01-18T12:17:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2001, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-engines/50674/1 "2001-01-18T12:17:43Z")

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What advantages do diesel engines have over regular gasoline ones?

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### Author: ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2001, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-engines/50674/2 "2001-01-18T12:35:38Z")

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Efficiency. And torque. And they produce less carbon monoxide.

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### Author: ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2001, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-engines/50674/3 "2001-01-18T12:44:03Z")

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They don’t use sparks to ignite the fuel - fewer parts to break, and you can run the engine without a battery or alternator.

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### Author: ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-engines/50674/4 "2001-01-18T14:05:57Z")

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Psst…look here for some more detailed discussion. Also, try searching too - this topic has been covered a lot.

[Diesel Engine, Gasoline Fuel](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=54138)

And while they may not use sparks to ignite the fuel, they often do use glow plugs. And fuel injection. And IRL you can’t actually run the car without a battery or alternator, since you need to power that direct injection system, the glow plugs, etc.