As soon as a "neophyte" motorist hints at the desire to buy a car with a diesel engine, experienced people attack him like kites, intimidating them with stories of diesel fuel nightmares. After all, diesel engines still cause mistrust among many - apparently, numerous horror stories played their role here. And the buyer sometimes does not figure out which ones to believe in, and what to attribute to the category of fairy tales.

Struggle for efficiency

main reason the popularity of the diesel engine is simple - higher efficiency. If the efficiency of gasoline engines rarely reaches 30%, then heavy fuel units give out about 40%, and sometimes even 50%! By the way, it was the lack of efficiency of the engines that existed at the end of the 19th century that prompted Rudolf Diesel to create his own unit.

Basically this design is similar to gasoline internal combustion engine - the same cylinders, pistons, valves. The difference is that a diesel engine does not need an ignition system; the fuel in it ignites spontaneously from the air heated up during compression. But if you dig deeper, there are other differences as well. For example, the pressure in the cylinders of a diesel engine is one and a half to two times higher, so the parts for it are made more durable and, as a result, heavier.

Diesel mythology

Myth one: diesel power is lower than that of gasoline engines... Indeed, with equal engine volume horse power they usually have less. Although the situation is changing: the newest diesel motors according to this indicator, they are almost not inferior to gasoline counterparts, and sometimes even surpass them. Therefore, diesel engines are now even installed on sports models of premium brands, such as the Audi R 10 or BMW M. The reason for this is not only power, but also excellent torque indicators. After all, it is he, and not abstract horses, that provides elasticity and ease of traction control. In addition, diesels deliver peak torque earlier, guaranteeing powerful acceleration from virtually idle.

The second myth: a diesel engine is more expensive than a gasoline engine, both in purchase and in operation. It is true that you will have to overpay at least 50 thousand rubles for a car with such an engine. And it requires more oil and filter changes. However, in response to this claim, one can again recall the effectiveness of structures. In ordinary life, the low efficiency of a gasoline unit turns into a higher fuel consumption (on average, 25-30% more than that of a diesel one). This means that "extra" investments in diesel can gradually return to the owner with saved rubles, and this cannot be prevented even by the fact that the price of diesel fuel is almost equal to the price of 95th gasoline. However, in order to "recoup" additional expenses, the mileage must be about 100 thousand km.

The third myth: diesel is very picky about fuel quality. However, just for a diesel engine, the quality of fuel is not as important as for a gasoline one! The latter is distinguished by its sensitivity to octane number, to the quality of additives, and the presence of lead impurities. For a diesel engine, it is important that the diesel fuel is water-free and clean. And large network gas stations today practically do not allow themselves to "cheat" with fuel. So the recommendations for choosing refueling stations are the same for owners of cars with both gasoline and diesel engines: refuel only at proven stations and do not try to save on questionable fuel.

Fourth myth: cold start difficulties. This opinion is based on real, but outdated facts - nowadays they have learned to cope with many causes of such problems. For example, we have raised the efficiency of glow plugs to a previously unattainable height: they heat up to 1000 ° C in less than two seconds. To combat the formation of paraffin sediment, a variety of heaters (tank, filter and fuel lines), as well as special depressants and antigel additives. By the way, the presence of these additives is one of the reasons for dividing diesel fuel into two types: summer and winter. They differ in density (840 kg / m3 in winter versus 860 in summer) and pour point - "cold" diesel fuel thickens not at -5 ° C, but at -35 (sometimes up to -50 ° C) overboard. But it is important for the car owner to know only that with regular maintenance and use quality fuel Even in a fierce cold, a diesel engine will give you no more trouble than a gasoline engine!

Fifth myth: noise and vibration. Yes, diesel units are not as quiet as gasoline engines, but the situation is changing rapidly, and diesel engines of the latest generations are almost on par with gasoline engines in terms of these indicators. So far, however, this applies mainly to premium-class cars, although in the mass segment there are already diesel-powered engines that do not annoy with either the characteristic rumble or vibration.

Myth six: diesel exhaust is very harmful to the environment. In fact, this question is much more complicated. Diesel exhaust was initially thought to be cleaner because it contains significantly less carbon monoxide (CO). Over time, the designers of gasoline engines dealt with this problem thanks to the massive introduction of advanced catalytic converters. But diesels have their traditional sin - they emit a considerable amount of soot into the atmosphere. However, engineers also defeated this attack by introducing new technologies, the main of which was the DPF filter. It is similar in design to a catalytic converter: it maintains a high temperature at which the soot particles are oxidized by the residual oxygen in the exhaust gases. Many other tweaks have been applied, thanks to which diesel engines today remain "cleaner" than gasoline ones. And they have a good future - for example, the widespread use of "green" bio diesel fuel... Therefore, it is no coincidence that in Western Europe, which is seriously concerned about the cleanliness of the air, the share of diesel cars clearly exceeds the number of gasoline cars.

What do we have?

Summing up our "trials", we can conclude: there is no need to be afraid of a diesel engine! With proper care and attention, it will not cause unnecessary trouble to the owner, but it will give a great feeling of smooth and powerful traction, accompanied by relatively moderate fuel consumption. However, a car with this engine will cost more.

Thus, the decision in each case remains with the client. If you are willing to pay extra for a more responsive car and, moreover, drive a lot and often, then the diesel becomes excellent option, and all the scary stories about him are most often a relic of the past. Under other conditions, it is quite possible that a gasoline unit is more suitable for you. The point, as they say, is in the nuances.

In some European countries, a fine is imposed for a long warm-up, and no matter how cold it was outside, so most foreign manufacturers do not recommend warming up their cars. The main reason for this is environmental pollution.

Below we will try to figure out whether it is necessary to warm up a diesel engine with a turbine, we will indicate all the advantages and disadvantages of warming up, as well as the nuances of the engine's functioning at different times of the year.

Features of diesel warming up

In the opinion of many, it is better not to warm up the engine with a turbine on the move, just because of the turbine, since it turns on only at the required crankshaft speed, which appears at high speed. A high speed it is forbidden to develop on an unheated engine. Driving with the turbine turned off can lead to overheating of the engine, resulting in overheating of the cylinder heads and their rapid wear.

The diesel engine needs to function on idling at least 5 minutes, this is enough for all the components to be lubricated normally (unless, of course, the glow plugs are in working order). The developers advise to warm up the candles twice. The extinguishing of their indicator on the panel indicates that the voltage in them has turned off, although most people think that this happens if the maximum temperature is reached.

Excessively long heating will lead to the appearance of resin deposits on the valve, because of this, the valves may begin to lock in the future.

Many experts argue that it makes no sense to warm up the engine for a long time if high-quality oil and coolant are filled in. It was found that with a cold engine, the depreciation of the elements is practically absent if the car is driving at low speed. The revolutions, accordingly, also do not exceed two thousand, due to which the required temperature can be reached quickly.

Diesel fuel evaporates much worse when heated. After starting the unit in a cooled engine, the fuel begins to settle on the surface of the cylinders and does not burn completely. As soon as the temperature reaches the norm, the fuel assembly in the chamber burns out evenly and completely.

Remember that the components of the internal combustion engine do not heat up equally, some of them need more time. The heating time also depends on what material the parts of the unit are made of (usually pistons, cylinders, shafts are made of aluminum alloy, everything else is made of metal).

Good lubrication of rubbing elements and optimal setting of clearances are carried out exclusively after the internal combustion engine reaches the required temperature.

Warming up the engine in winter and summer

It is strongly recommended to warm up the engine in summer. The movement should be started only a minute after the engine has started, since it is during this period of time that all elements are lubricated with oil. To reduce the excessive load on the engine, it is better not to make sudden movements and move smoothly until the temperature approaches fifty degrees.

Exploitation diesel engine in winter time year requires full warming up, since the oil in the engine and gearbox begins to thicken at low temperatures. The oil should become liquid and only after that you can gain high speed. The duration of the warm-up depends on the air temperature; the lower it is, the longer it will take to wait.

You should start moving when the temperature reaches 60 degrees. In this case, it is recommended not to gain more than two thousand revolutions, and the speed should not exceed twenty km / h until the normal temperature is reached. In addition, it is better not to turn on the salon stove until the engine heats up to sixty degrees, otherwise the air flow coming from it will be cold.

All of the above tips will help the driver save time and avoid further problems with the diesel unit, as well as significantly extend its life.

Pros and cons of warming up

When asked whether or not a diesel engine with a turbine should be warmed up, most manufacturers say that modern units have an injection system that allows them to start moving immediately, since oil from the surface of the liners is not washed off by the fuel due to the correct implementation of fuel spray. But still, when cold, diesel fuel becomes viscous and less fluid and therefore requires warming up.

Domestic manufacturers, on the contrary, advise starting movement only after the engine warms up to forty-five degrees.

Speaking about the disadvantages of warming up a diesel engine, first of all, it is worth noting the following phenomena:

• Emission of harmful substances;
• Too much fuel consumption;
• Rapid wear of the components of the gas exhaust system;
• The glow plugs are under high stress.

The advantages of diesel warming up:

• The oil is distributed optimally, the most important systems of the machine wear less, due to the fact that all the main parts are thoroughly lubricated. For example, myself power unit can work much longer;
• The vehicle moves smoothly and without jerking.

It is necessary to select the correct diesel fuel for a particular season. In addition to winter and summer fuel, there is also arctic fuel, which is needed only for the most low temperatures from -40 degrees Celsius. When using summer fuel in winter, diesel fuel will turn into a kind of jelly, which makes it impossible to warm it up, in addition, this will lead to clogging of the air and fuel filters.

To optimize the temperature in the combustion chamber during extreme cold, you can try switching the ignition three to five times. Then it will be easier and faster to warm up the engine.

In winter, it will take five to ten minutes to warm up a diesel engine with a turbine, and in summer about 2 minutes. No longer needed, as this will lead to overheating of the engine.

In order to warm up, you must first start the engine, during the first two to three minutes it must operate at idle speed and only after that you can get under way. It will not be able to reach the desired temperature during this time and will continue to heat up on the fly.

Why is oil heating necessary

The functioning of the engine is greatly influenced by octane number Fuel assemblies, fuel quality, presence of additional additives. For an easier start, many use prestarting devices, glow plugs, etc. But still, how efficiently diesel injectors will spray fuel depends only on the temperature of the power unit.

If an automatic transmission is installed in the car, then it is imperative to warm up the engine, since the oil in the box must warm up to the required temperature.

In terms of their design, diesel engines differ from gasoline engines, first of all, in that they have not such large gaps between the piston and the cylinder. A diesel engine has an increased compression ratio, which places severe stress on the cylinders and pistons. The rapid wear of these components lowers the oil, which thickens at low air temperatures and requires heating.

Oil for units with a turbine should be supplied even better for lubrication of a turbocharged compressor, since the functioning of the turbine itself depends on it. The oil warms up at idle, do not overload the engine until it is fully warmed up.

Diesel engines for cars are different, and it's not just the volume and number of cylinders, so let's try to briefly review the modern market and find out which of the engines are the most reliable.

To whom did the ratings give the leadership?

Associations with the word "diesel" among a resident of Russia are always unambiguous: the smell of diesel fuel from passenger bus, black fumes from a passing truck, vintage jeans and a watch of the same name. Nevertheless, for the majority of Europeans, the word derived from the surname of the German inventor is synonymous with a reliable, inexpensive and powerful "heart" of the car. In our country, its popularity is not so high, apparently due to weather conditions and knowledge that diesel fuel thickens in the cold.

Reliability ratings, and especially for cars, is a thankless job. How many opinions, so many lists, in which the compiler simply expresses his view of a particular subject. That is why we want to draw your attention to the fact that the rating given below does not pretend to be an indisputable truth, but just an attempt to systematize the data, knowledge and (partially) the personal point of view of the compiler.

In search of an answer to the question of which diesel engine takes the leading place in the configuration passenger cars, you can see that some ratings call the best products of the Mercedes and BMW concerns. However, the situation in the world of the automotive industry today is somewhat different, let's try to figure it out.

As the ratings of major world car showrooms, the times when diesel engines of passenger cars were small copies of units installed on heavy trucks are gone. Particularly successful in the production of such engines is the well-known Volkswagen concern, which developed the 1.9 TDI engine. Today it ranks first and is considered the most balanced in terms of dynamics and power.

Thanks to the latest engineering solutions, in particular, an updated turbine and an increase in pressure in the combustion chambers, it was possible not only to achieve unique environmental characteristics, but also to reduce it. Moreover, the power remained at the same level (90-120 hp). The newest cars in the Passat series are now equipped with the highest performance engine (BlueMotion equipment). Fuel consumption is 3.3 liters per 100 km.

Diesel winners of the car market

The second place is occupied by a modification of the engine with three turbines, owned by the German company BMW. For the first time, this unit was presented a little ago. It has 6 cylinders and, having a volume of 3.0 liters, is capable of developing a capacity of 381 liters. from. Equipped with these engines latest cars 5 and 7 series, as well as heavyweight crossovers with indices X5 and X6. Convertibles with serial number 6 are equipped with a modification. True, it has two turbines, due to which the power is reduced to 313 hp. from.

Not so long ago on trial potential buyers cars were presented, whose engines have four turbines, and with a torque of 800 Nm, the power will be in the range of 390-406 hp. from.

Car with four-turbine engine

The third place in our rating was taken by the American company of industrial diesel engines Cummins, which released a super-powered engine by order famous company Dodge. In fairness, it should be noted that overseas manufacturers did not pay too much attention to diesel engines, preferring to develop gasoline ones. However, the recent increasing demand for cars with units that consume diesel fuel forced them to pay attention to the production of diesel engines.

The model proved to be quite powerful (240-275 hp), but in an attempt to occupy a "diesel" niche in the market, the Americans cheated and passed off the Italian concern Fiat for their development. The model of such an engine was equipped with a Maserati Ghibli, but due to the crisis, production was given to state industrialists.

This engine was recognized not only as the most environmentally friendly, but also the most innovative: in its production, metals used in the space industry and filters for plasma fuel cleaning were used. The fact that the engine took only third place is a "merit" of a narrow focus. It is installed only on sports cars and pickups. Dodge ram... In terms of efficiency, it can give odds to its competitors: the consumption is only 8.5 liters per 100 kilometers.

Who is not far behind the top three?

The Koreans who burst into the world automobile market 20 years ago not only managed to take a worthy place on it, but also "move" in the ranking of Japanese giants. Having come a long way "from electric kettles to mining trucks", they also do not want to miss out on the benefits that the increased demand for cars equipped with diesel engines promises.

As always, Asian manufacturers acted very cunningly: not wanting to overhaul production and compete with Europeans and Americans in the capacity of units, they managed to create a 1.7-liter engine that can produce 110-136 liters. from. Do not rush to wrinkle your nose contemptuously! With such rather modest (in comparison with products of other manufacturers) data, the Hyundai diesel engine has such incredible torque that it is not inferior in dynamics to gasoline units with a capacity of 150-170 hp. from.

I must say that such a unit is equipped hyundai car i40 supplied to the European market. In Korea, diesel engines are also not widely used (or the wave of "fashion" has not yet reached there), and therefore they are still installed only on export machines... Recently, the same unit appeared on the crossover with the ix35 index, and now it is equipped with such popular cars as the Grandeur and Sonata. Fuel consumption, however, is higher than that of competitors, but the Koreans do not seek to surprise anyone. Their task is to supply reliable "workhorses" capable of average fuel consumption, in this case 5.5 liters per 100 km.

Having “squeezed out” a sufficient amount of power from cars and having won its cell in the market, the Japanese concern Toyota now has no point in proving something to someone. The concept on which the manufacturers have thrown all their efforts is ecology and economy while maintaining sufficient power. And they succeeded. When creating the engine for their compact car called Urban Cruiser, they thought that the residents of metropolitan areas were not only convenient to move around the city, but also in their heads would not turn on the "calculator" that calculates fuel costs.

One of the smallest diesel units today is a 1.4 liter engine with a capacity of only 90 liters. from. This is the fifth place in our ranking. Such parameters, however, do not interfere with the creation of torque, which makes it easy to "pull" four-wheel drive car... The consumption of diesel fuel, depending on the mode of travel, ranges from 4 to 6 liters per 100 km.

So which one is the most reliable?

This question is a little naive, since this parameter depends on many factors, including the driving style. But if you choose the best from the above list, then the reliability priority will be given to the Americans by Cummins with a Dodge engine.

And it's not about power or fuel consumption per 100 km. Most likely, the materials used in production play a role. The cylinder block is made of high-carbon cast iron, capable of withstanding not only high pressure, but also significant temperature regime... And its pistons are made of a special aluminum alloy, which is used in parts of spacecraft. This means that they are able to withstand both long-term operation under extreme conditions, and a sharp increase in load when changing the speed mode.

The main trump cards of a modern diesel engine are efficiency and dynamics that have increased to the level of gasoline engines.

How to extend the life of a diesel engine in our conditions?

Diesel operation problems

Due to the low quality of domestic diesel fuel, some car manufacturers are still afraid to import diesel versions of cars to Ukraine.

Diesel maintainability.

It is undesirable to start a diesel engine from a tug or "pusher"!

Filter separators.

In one of our materials, we talked about the specifics of the operation of diesel engines in russian conditions.

If you decide that you can be a "diesel operator", you need to find out if it makes economic sense. Any other pros and cons of the diesel are aside. Today we only count money.

Car price

Comparing the cost of ownership of gasoline and diesel versions of the same model begins with a price analysis. There is a common stereotype that diesel modification always costs more. Indeed, diesels are made of more high-strength and expensive materials, and their fuel equipment is very expensive. In addition, all modern diesels are turbocharged and intercooled, and the turbine and intercooler radiator are also expensive.

Therefore, if an alternative to diesel is a naturally aspirated gasoline engine of equal volume and number of cylinders, diesel will be significantly more expensive. For example, for Citroen C4, the surcharge for a 1.6-liter diesel engine compared to a gasoline aspirated engine of the same displacement is 85,000 rubles. With the price of the petrol version in the "over a million" this is a lot.

If, however, a gasoline engine equal in volume and number of cylinders is also stuffed with high technology - direct fuel injection and turbocharging, its price is very close to diesel. For example, a two-liter diesel BMW X3 is only 30,000 rubles. more expensive than its "turbo-petrol" counterpart. Against the background of 3,000,000 rubles. this difference is completely invisible.

And it also happens that an alternative to a gasoline engine is a much smaller diesel engine with fewer cylinders. In this case, it will be cheaper already diesel version... For example, for diesel Land Cruiser prado with a 2.8-liter "four" they ask for 247,000 rubles. less than gasoline with a four-liter V6 in equal configuration.

Although in some cases the difference in price between petrol and diesel modifications has no logical explanation and is the result of marketing games. Depending on the interest in selling a certain motor in Russia, the automaker can set both an attractive and a barrageously high price.

For example, diesel Mitsubishi pajero IV still recently cost 500,000 rubles. more expensive than gasoline. For a diesel "four" to be half a million more expensive than a gasoline V6 of a similar volume, the latest version should be sold without an engine at all ... It is not surprising that the supply of diesel Pajero was stopped due to "lack of demand" ...

Thus, a diesel modification can be both more expensive and cheaper than a gasoline one. It depends on the specific model in question.

Diesel 245 hp Porsche cayenne in dynamics it is significantly inferior to the petrol 420-strong "esque", while it is in demand. Even for buyers of such cars, more low price diesel, plus savings on insurance, taxes and fuel matters.

In compact cars, diesels are much more expensive than gasoline engines. Therefore, it can be economically justified only in a taxi and courier service, where cars have huge annual mileage and can be refueled with cards only at proven gas stations. But even the most "taxer" car - Logan has no diesel modification in Russia ...

At first glance, the diesel Touareg costs significantly more than the gasoline version, but it has much richer basic configuration... Therefore, when you start retrofitting a gasoline car with options, the price difference between them is significantly reduced.

Before leaving the diesel Grand cherokee from Russia, the difference in price between it and the 3.6-liter gasoline engine was significantly greater than in Europe. Apparently, the Chrysler dealership did not really want it to be sold ...

Unexpected expenses

In another article, we found out that diesels are extremely demanding on the quality of fuel, and their repair is very expensive. However, this does not mean that the petrol version will be more reliable. For example, many European car manufacturers have diesel engines even on our fuel that are quite tenacious, and high-tech gasoline engines are repaired and replaced in batches during the warranty period ...

But if there is a serious problem behind the gasoline engine, the automaker usually fixes it for free during the warranty period, without trying to nod on the quality of the fuel. If a diesel engine fails, the first thing to do for examination is a sample of fuel from the tank. And if at least one parameter does not meet the requirements of the automaker (most often this is the case), repairs, even during the warranty period, are made at the expense of the client.

Moreover, it is good if the guarantee for the diesel fuel equipment generally there. Some car manufacturers, not trusting the quality of Russian diesel fuel, refer it to the section of the warranty book "What the factory warranty does not cover". How correct and legal it is is a separate question. But the likelihood of spending 100,000-200,000 rubles out of your pocket. for diesel repairs is incomparably higher than for repairs gasoline engine.

Optional equipment

As we have already said, some diesel engines do not warm up the interior well in the cold. If the car from the factory is not equipped with a pre-heater for the air entering the passenger compartment, it may be necessary to install an "autonomous" system, supplemented by a post-start mode.

In principle, it can also be installed on the petrol version. But if there are still few "cold" gasoline engines (although recently they have also begun to appear), then for diesel engines "autonomous" is often a necessity than a whim of the owner. Therefore, to the cost diesel car you must be ready to add another 70,000-90,000 rubles.

In addition, in Russian conditions it is very useful to install a heated fuel separator on a diesel engine. This is about 15,000 rubles more.

CASCO

As you know, the CASCO tariff is calculated as a percentage of the cost of the car. Accordingly, if the diesel modification is more expensive than the gasoline one, you will have to pay more for the policy annually, if cheaper - less.

True, sometimes the tariff for diesel and gasoline modifications is different. For example, the hijacking Prado is only of interest to attackers with a diesel engine, so some insurers have lower rates for the gasoline version. But this is rather an exception to the rule.

Transport tax

Currently the value transport tax depends on engine power. Most often, the power of a diesel engine is comparable to or slightly less than that of an alternative gasoline engine. Accordingly, you need to pay for a diesel about the same or slightly less. Although, for example, for Land cruiser Prado is not "a few" at all. If for a 282-horsepower "gasoline engine" the state annually needs to "enter" 42,300 rubles, then for a 177-horsepower diesel engine - only 8,850 rubles. Feel the difference…

Maintenance

A common myth about high cost diesel engine maintenance is encouraged by people confusing routine maintenance with repairs.

Yes, diesel repair is really expensive. But this is a lottery in which losing is possible, but not at all necessary. Some drive a diesel engine for 150,000-200,000 km and manage to sell the car without investing a dime in the repair of the engine.

In addition, it is not at all a fact that an alternative gasoline engine will be more reliable. For example, many German car manufacturers have diesel engines even on our fuel that are quite tenacious, but "gasoline engines" are repaired en masse even during the warranty period. As for the cost of scheduled maintenance, it is comparable for diesel and gasoline engines. Replacement fuel filter on the first, it is balanced by replacing the spark plugs with the second, but otherwise the volume of service is almost the same.

Diesel can be more expensive to maintain only if service interval it has less than a gasoline engine, or the owner voluntarily reduces it (which is very useful in our conditions). But if three additional oil changes and two additional filter changes are made for 100,000 km, the overpayment will amount to an uncritical 20,000-30,000 rubles.

So, we have destroyed many stereotypes about the diesel economy. You will soon find out with what coin they definitely beat their gasoline counterparts, and which ones are more profitable in the end.

Alexander Konov, expert in car selection