Diesel Fuel System

(See also Carburetor, Diesel Fuel, Fuel Injection) Diesel engines are internal combustion engines that burn diesel oil rather than gasoline. Injectors are used to spray droplets of diesel oil into the combustion chambers, at or near the top of the compression stroke. Ignition follows due to the very high temperature of the compressed in-take air, or to the use of "glow plugs," which retain heat from previous ignitions (spark plugs are not used). Diesel engines are generally more fuel efficient than gasoline engines, but must be stronger and heavier due to high compression ratios. (DOE4)