Diesel trucks move 81 percent of the nations freight tonnage, and nearly all highway freight

trucks are diesel powered. More then 95 percent of all heavy duty trucks are powered by diesel

engines along with the majority of medium duty trucks (Trucking). The history of Diesel engines

has led to the design of Rudolf Diesels design which is the model still used today. Along with the

engine, diesel fuel and oil has changed through time as well by becoming a more efficiently

burning fuel. This lead to new laws and regulations that were put into effect due to pollution.

With the help of farm equipment, farmers have helped grow the economy. It’s important to get a

degree in diesel mechanics so graduates can get a good job.

Before they could have even started making a diesel engine, there had to be other internal

combustion engines created. Before Rudolf Diesel created the first diesel engine, in 1806, the

Niépce brothers built the first internal combustion engine and the first fuel injection system (De-

motor ). With this engine they tested different fuel types but weren’t successful. The first

successful internal combustion engine was created in 1876 by Nikolaus Otto. Otto used the four

stroke cycle, patented in 1862, by engineer Alphonse Beau de Rochas in his engine. After the

creation of this engine more than 30,000 were built in the next 10 years.

From the creation of the internal combustion engine the Brayton constant pressure motor

was built. In 1874, George Brayton developed and patented a 2 stroke oil fed constant pressure

motor, “The Ready Motor” (De-motor). This motor is still used today in motocross races in the

250 division races. This motor runs when oil vaporized by air is burned when entered into the

cylinder. Originally, they used this engine to run mechanical devices like chainsaws and other

tools. Between 1887 and 1890 Brayton developed and patented two 4 stroke oil engines. He died
in 1893 but was still credited for the invention. While George Brayton was creating the constant

pressure Brayton cycle English inventor was trying out oil that is very similar to modern diesels.

From the inventions from this time they came up with the first idea of a Diesel engine.

The first prototype of a diesel engine was called the Hot Bulb Motor. This engine was

produced in 1891 by a manufacturing company called Richard Hornsby and Sons. In this engine

they used a low pressure fuel injection system. Through the next few years, inventors

experimented with different kinds of compression for the combustion. Stuart developed ignition

through heat of combustion and compression but Rudolf Diesel took credit because he had

ignition from compression heat only. With this, Rudolf Diesel created the first diesel engine.

Rudolf Diesel was born on March 18, 1858 in Paris, France. He went to school in Münich

where he went to a technical high school to study engineering. After finishing high school he

went to an Industrial School of Augsburg where he received a merit scholarship (Jääskeläinen).

He learned that his original compression ignition theory would not work and had to

change it to a constant pressure cycle. While he was testing his new theory, he had an accident

with one of his test engines that almost cost him his life. Throughout these experiments he used

fuels and oils, other then gasoline, until he found light oil. This oil worked the best in this engine

at the time. Light oil was mainly used for lighting street lamps. Diesel spent much of his time to

his self imposed task of developing an internal combustion engine that would approach the

theoretical efficiency of the Carnot cycle (Britannica). For a time, he experimented with an

expansion engine using ammonia. In the process of 13 years he patented what is known as the

Diesel Engine today.

 From the invention of Rudolf Diesel, inventors found a fuel that would work the best in

these types of engines. This type of fuel is known as diesel fuel. Petroleum is the main substance

in both diesel and gasoline. When petroleum is being processed, it is broken down into three

groups. These groups are gasoline, middle distillates, and all other substances. Diesel fuel is

similar to gasoline but the difference is diesel fuel comes from the middle distillates. It can be

broken down even further into categories grade 1D and grade 2D. Grade 1 diesel is known as

winter diesel because it has kerosene in it and it lowers the gelling point of diesel fuel. Grade 2

diesel fuel is used more in summer because it gels at a higher temperature than number 1.

Number 2 fuel starts to crystallize and leaves the fuel tank clouded; at 10-15 degrees it will start

to gel and clog the tank (De-motor). During winter months, most pickups use a blend of 60

percent number 2 and 40 percent number 1 and in farm equipment they use half and half.

Crude oil is a naturally occurring liquid that can be refined into many various fuels. The

crude oil refining process starts with heating up the viscous liquid to over 400 degrees Celsius.

The process turns the liquid into vapor the vapor goes into a distillation tower where it cools

down and turns back into a liquid. The liquid is heated and cooled a couple times making

different things but when it’s between 200 and 350 degrees Celsius the diesel fuel starts to

emerge and the liquid is separated into a diesel holding tank. Another way to make diesel fuel is

to recombine some of the shorter hydrocarbon chain distillates. When they add them together in

specific proportions, the hydrocarbons combined make diesel fuel. The fuel created is ready to

have required additives blended in and then it is ready for sale. This fuel is used in a lot of trucks

on the road. Most people who run these fuels in the cold start and let them warm up for a while.
Strangely enough it is know that diesel engines have more power in colder conditions. Both of

these fuels are used in trucks and farm equipment today.

There are more ways than just fuel that diesel can be used for. For diesel fuel to work

people must have a compression ignition engine. It is also used in the United Kingdom,

Germany, and Russia in their aircrafts. Aside from engines, diesel can be used as a lubricant for

drilling. Other than drilling people use it for wheel bearings and other ball bearings. Doing this is

cheaper and reduces the environmental impact that vegetable and mineral oils have the

environment. Diesel fuel can be used to clean up oil spills from tools, hands and contaminated

shorelines (Clayton). Diesel fuel is a good way to help start fires. Diesel fuel is found to be more

fuel efficient than gasoline.

When buying a truck people decide between diesel and gas trucks. The first thing is fuel

efficiency between the two. Diesel trucks offer from 30% to 35% greater fuel economy than gas

because it has a higher energy density. This is because less fuel is required to make the same

power. Diesel trucks cost more because they are put together better than gas trucks. A negative

side to owning a diesel is they require maintenance more often than gas. A negative side to gas

engines is their life expectancy is only 200,000 but the diesel engine is rated for 310,000. When

comparing diesel pulling to gas trucks, diesels are more suitable. This is because diesel engines

have more torque at lower RPMs and higher compression ratios. Diesel trucks hold value longer

than gas trucks because they have longer life expectancy (Staff). Overall, diesel has improved to

become a better engine than gas engines.

 Diesel engines power two thirds of all farm equipment and 100 percent of the trains and

boats that haul grain and deliver them to markets. Diesel engines dominate the farm industry

because they are more durable and reliable than other engines. These engines are used in many

ways related to farming as in planting, hauling manure, and feeding cattle. Farms have become

more dependent on this equipment to run their farms effectively and efficiently. Farmers need to

work more effective to increase productivity for the growing populations (Agriculture). Today’s

tractors have the technology to help us improve in the future.

The fourth generation diesel engine is the cleanest and most efficient diesel engine today.

These fourth generation engines are called “Tier 4”, this technology has changed farming by

improving productivity, reducing waste emissions and creating more fuel efficient tractors. This

helps with reducing the price of crops and food produced (Agriculture). Around South Dakota

they use this style of tractor more than the older version tractors.

Diesel engines are used in almost all farming equipment today. To complete harvest

farmers use different types of equipment. Starting in the spring with tilling, most farmers use a

cultivator to work ground and they pull it with a four wheel drive tractor or one of their bigger

tractors. After tilling is complete it is time for seeding, sowing, or planting. Some things that

farmers plant are corn, wheat, and beats.

Today the diesel engine is the most efficient power plant with internal combustion.

Almost all busses, trucks, and industrial equipment use a diesel engine. Internal combustion

engines are contributors to air pollution that can be harmful to humans and the environment.

They have made clean diesel technologies with near zero emissions of NOx and PM have been
developed. Some regulations and laws say diesel owners have to have certain requirements that

meet environmental standards. To help reduce environmental problems the Environmental

Protection, Agency (EPA) put programs to reduce pollution. One of these programs is The Clean

Diesel Program. In this program they give people money for ideas to improve air quality from

diesel engines (Clean). Another way they are reducing emissions is by making the Diesel

Emissions Reduction Act. Seventy percent of grants go nationwide and thirty percent to the state

fund. Impacts of diesel emission effects on human exposure to diesel exhaust can lead to health

conditions, like asthma and respiratory illness, and can worsen illnesses in elderly people. Effects

on the environment emissions from a diesel engine contributes to ground level ozone which

damages crops, tress, and other vegetation. It is said that it could also produce acid rain which

pollutes rivers and gets into drinking water. These changes have made diesel engines more

reliable.

Reason why diesel engines last longer than gas engines is because they run less RPMs

less wear they develop there maximum power at lower RPMs this reduces wear because the

faster an engine runs the more wear it has. Gasoline is a solvent so it’s unburned, which means it

breaks down oil from the cylinder walls allowing greater wear. Diesel fuel is a light oil, it may

lessen the lubricating oils viscosity but not to the degree of a gasoline engine (Clayton). Diesel

has a long life ahead, diesel is also a big part in construction equipment and while the industry

grows the demand stays the same.

The market still demands a rugged piece of equipment that can still meet customers

expectations in more than one way. The diesel engine has the power and torque needed for off
road vehicle use that gas engines are unable to match. Today’s diesel engines are designed for

durability and performance while still meeting environmental standards today. Another thing

farmers do to help crops is fertilize their fields. They do this with a machine called a fertilizer

spreader. Along with this, farmers spray chemicals down to stop bugs and keep down weeds.

During growing farmers cut ditches for grass bales for cattle; they also cut alfalfa fields for hay

bales. They can use round balers that put hay in a circle and put rap around it to hold it. Another

form of bailing is square baling some farmers use square Bales for bedding for calves in the

winter or summer.

During harvest farmers use combine harvesters most farmers have grain carts pulled with

a tractor that goes along the combine so they don’t have to stop. There are two types of heads for

a combine they have a bean head and a corn head the bean head can also be used for wheat.

Some farmers even bale bean stubble for cattle feed they might bale a few cornstalk bales for

bedding in the sheds for cattle. After baling, farmers need to have a way to move the bails.

Farmers usually haul grain or bales using semis or pick up trucks semis pull long grain

trailers for grain and long flat bed trailers for bales. Pickups can pull gravity wagons to haul

grain and goose neck trailers that hook to a ball in bed of truck to haul hay. All of these types of

equipment help run our economy. Process on getting diesel fuels diesel fuel is another product

made from crude oil the oil goes through a refining process that turns the dark thick oil into a

lighter diesel fuel. To be able to work on this equipment people have to got through school to get

their degree in diesel mechanics.

 There are two schools in South Dakota that have Diesel Mechanics. These schools are

Lake Area Tech in Watertown and Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls. To get accepted

students need a High School diploma or a GED. After they get a degree in Mechanics, jobs will

be in a high demand. Without a degree in mechanics they will struggle to find jobs because

employers sometimes won’t even interview them if they don’t have schooling. Some students

choose to get an associate degree and some choose a bachelors degree. Surprisingly, South

Dakota dose not require any special certification for mechanics to legally work in the state

(Diesel). Some students from school plan on attending Lake Area Tech for school.

The history of the diesel engine lead it to where it is today from the idea of Rudolf Diesel

who created the first diesel engine. Use of oils and fuels have changed to be better for the

environment. When comparing diesel motors versus gas motors it is shown that diesel engines

have more life expectancy and more power. Along with this diesel emission acts are put in place

to better the environment. Diesel engines power a lot of farm equipment today and have made

farming efficient. Diesel engines are becoming more known in Motorsports most people use

Diesel engines for truck pulling, they pull a sled with weight down track and see how far they

can pull it. Diesel engines are also getting into drag racing they put more power into the motor of

there truck so it takes off faster from the line so they can beat the other person. Getting a degree

requires two years of schooling in order to get a good job. Technicians are still designing better

engines for the future.

Work cited

“Agriculture | Diesel Technology Forum.” Dieselforum.org, www.dieselforum.org/about-

clean-diesel/agriculture.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. “Rudolf Diesel.” Encyclopedia Britannica,

Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 25 Sept. 2018.

Clayton, et al. “Top 15 Unexpected Uses For Biodiesel.” Gas 2, Gas 2, 26 Mar. 2008,
gas2.org/2008/03/26/top-15-unexpected-uses-for-biodiesel/.

“Clean Diesel and DERA Funding.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 24 Sept.
2018, www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.

De-motor . “History of the Diesel Engine.” Motor, 2017, en.demotor.net/heat-engine/

diesel-engine/history.

“Diesel Mechanic Schools In South Dakota.” Diesel Mechanic Guide, 7 Feb. 2016,
www.dieselmechanicguide.com/diesel-mechanic-schools-south-dakota/.

Jääskeläinen, Hannu. “Early History of the Diesel Engine.” Diesel Net, 2013,
www.dieselnet.com/tech/diesel_history.php.

Staff. “Pros & Cons: Diesel vs. Gas in Class 3-4 Trucks.” Green Fleet - Work Truck
Online, 2011, www.worktruckonline.com/147984/pros-and-cons-of-gas-vs-diesel-
in-class-3-4-trucks.

“Trucking | Diesel Technology Forum.” Dieselforum.org, www.dieselforum.org/about-

clean-diesel/trucking.