Diesel VS Gas engine

[Chris Tharpe]

What are the benefits if any of running a diesel engine vs. a gasoline engine. I have looked at a couple of diesel engines and they put out more torque then the gasoline engines and are rated at lower HP levels. Can you get by with a 10hp diesel vs a 13 hp gasoline engine

 

[bears]

the diesel should last longer. But considering how long the Honda motors last I can't see paying the hefty price for a diesel. Unless you are going with somthing larger than 24 hp

 

[tomtucson]

Mobilewashpro - you don't like hondas right?

Here's a post I came across when looking up diesel http://www.propowerwash.com/board/upload/showpost.php?p=11387&postcount=11

Says diesel will outlast gas 4 to 1 at least and a 14 hp diesel = 20 hp gas.

I would like to collect restaurant grease and run all equipment on it, not bio diesel but the preheat straight grease method. http://www.frybrid.com/forum/index.php

I was thinking with a diesel engine correctly sized you could just throttle the engine down to whatever flow you want from the pump.

Surpluscenter.com usually has some diesels for a good price

 

[Christopher]

Even though the torque will be more on the diesel engine, you might need the same hp for the pump or you will lose the pressure. Russ J. will have the answer.

You would get a lot more life out of the diesel but to justify the cost, I don't know unless you were rigging up 2 or more pumps to a larger size diesel engine and use clutches or clutch-levers to engage/disengage the pumps as needed.

It would be nice to run one type of fuel and have a large tank and plumb everything to that one tank.

 

[Jim@Garagecleaning]

the diesel should last longer. But considering how long the Honda motors last I can't see paying the hefty price for a diesel. Unless you are going with something larger than 24 hp

Diesel is a different animal than gasoline motors. There is a formula that will explain the difference what Torque will do for you in a pressure pump situation. You may be able to use less HP from a diesel than Gasoline engine. Plus the diesels are heavier built. They have to be due to all of the compression ratios and huge amount of torque.

Look, its like a Ford vs Dodge. Ford has the same torque more or less as the Dodge, however the dodge is at 90% max torque at idle. Fords 90% torque is at 2500+ RPMS.

If I am facing up hill with a trailer at 15,000 lbs, The torque at 900 RPM's will engage the drive without ridding the clutch to get going. The Ford will need to race the engine to the max Torque to gain momentum. This will damage the clutch or the torque converter. The Ford ACTS like a gasoline engine.

On a smaller scale, your Honda will put stress on the engine when ever you start it up with a load. Belt drive you will have no choice. You will also burn two to Four times as much fuel. On our 90+hp turbo Diesel, with under a full load, twin pumps and 4k generator going, we burn 1 .2 gallons per hour. If we use only 1 pump, we use even less, about 7/10 of a gallon per hour. The diesel is also at a lower pitch and is quieter than a 24hp Honda. Even our 90+ hp is quieter than the 18 to 24 hp Honda's.

Another note, we have a Kubota diesel 28HP ? ( I think it is 26 to 30 HP )

This engine have 3,000 or so hours and was bought in 1992. It is on our filter. Still running strong with NO maintenance issues..... EVER. Not so much as a oil leak. Thats 17 years same motor. Can a Honda under a load last 17 years with no maintenance issues. Just change the oil ever six months.

Its like this.... pay now twice as much or pay in a few years for maintenance issues.

 

[Christopher]

Great info Jim, Thanks.