a-(not)-dia(two)-batic(tempurature) or little or no change in temperature.

No internal combustion engine runs on explosions! Fuel is BURNED in a controlled way to produce heat and expanding gas. Explosions in a cylinder are DETONATION -- on gas engines this results in broken spark plugs, melted and blown out pistons, blown head gaskets. On diesels, started with too much ether or propane or acetylene, the head bolts usually fail in addition to severe piston melting/fracture. Not pretty.


Believe me, if you actually hear detonation in an engine, you will never mistake it for anything else!

Fuel burns in a Otto cycle engine all at once. In a Carnot cycle engine (diesel), at full throttle it should burn all the way down the power stroke. Too much fuel or too long an injection, and the exhaust valve opens or the oxygen runs out, and excessive soot is produced. Extra long injection will increase torque some, but horsepower usually drops fast as the soot increases.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!