350 HP ICE vs. 350 HP Diesel?
OK, newbie here and aspiring RV'er. What comments can be made about the advantages/disadvantages of a 350 HP internal combustion engine vs. a 350 HP diesel engine in a class A camper (assuming all oth...
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Yikes! I was hoping someone that knows their engines would post the physical difference between engines when used to slow the MH down. So I'll take a stab at it.
The diesel has no throttle plate, so it always has full volumetric capacity of air passing through it. This means at idle power it is still compressing all the air it can process. This is further aided by exhaust brakes and Jake brakes. Both act as a restriction in the exhaust of the engine. This can approach 80% of the HP the engine is capable of producing. This leaves the service brakes with their complete reservoir thermal capacity for an emergency stop, if operated correctly.
Gasoline engines at idle power do not process all the air they are volumetrically capable of. They have a throttle plate and they are tied to the correct fuel to air mixture to enable them to fire. If they do not have ~14 to 1 air to fuel the spark won't ignite them. They develop far less braking HP for that reason.
It is good technique with heavy vehicles to use something other than the service brakes to keep speed under control down hills.
The diesel has no throttle plate, so it always has full volumetric capacity of air passing through it. This means at idle power it is still compressing all the air it can process. This is further aided by exhaust brakes and Jake brakes. Both act as a restriction in the exhaust of the engine. This can approach 80% of the HP the engine is capable of producing. This leaves the service brakes with their complete reservoir thermal capacity for an emergency stop, if operated correctly.
Gasoline engines at idle power do not process all the air they are volumetrically capable of. They have a throttle plate and they are tied to the correct fuel to air mixture to enable them to fire. If they do not have ~14 to 1 air to fuel the spark won't ignite them. They develop far less braking HP for that reason.
It is good technique with heavy vehicles to use something other than the service brakes to keep speed under control down hills.
