Diesel Engine

Diesel engines are also known as Compression Ignition (CI) engines. A lot of people and businesses in the UK opt for diesel engines because of the perceived benefits such vehicles have over petrol engines, such as low maintenance costs.

If planning on buying a new refrigerator van with a diesel engine for your business, Glacier Vehicles can provide you the perfect vehicle to match your unique specification and needs. We have diesel engine vans from brands such as Nissan, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Ford, and so on.

To find out more about which diesel engine trucks we currently have in stock and which is right for you, contact us today for a free consultation and quote.

What is a Diesel Engine?

A diesel engine is a vehicle that runs on diesel instead of petrol which burns quicker.

A diesel engine is very different from a petrol engine for a variety of reasons. Unlike a petrol engine, diesel engines operate through a process of internal combustion that involves igniting fuel that’s injected into the combustion chamber. This leads to mechanical compression that causes a sudden rise in temperature of air in the cylinder.

The air in the chamber rises to such a high temperature that it atomises the diesel fuel injected into it and results in combustion. This is unlike a petrol/gasoline engine where combustion is achieved via a spark-ignition mechanism.

Compared to petrol engines, diesel engines have the highest engine/thermal efficiency due to its lean burn and high expansion ratio that facilitates heat dissipation by the excess air.

Characteristics of a Diesel Engine

Below are some unique characteristics that differentiate a diesel engine vehicle from other vehicles.

• Compression ignition: Diesel engines do not require spark plugs as the engine ignites fuel through air compression without the aid of any ignition-initiating apparatus.
• Combustion chamber for mixture formation: Unlike other engines that mix air and fuel in the inlet manifold, diesel engines mix air and fuel in the combustion chamber.
• Engine speed is determined by quality of mixture: The amount of torque achieved by a diesel engine is determined solely by amount of injected fuel mixed with as much air as possible. This is unlike petrol engines that achieve increased speed by throttling the air-fuel mixture.
• High air ratio: Diesel engines have a leaner air-fuel ratio. This is due to constantly running on high amounts of air instead of depending on an exact mixture of fuel and air.
• Diffusion flame: The diesel engine achieves combustion by defusing oxygen first into the flame instead of mixing oxygen and fuel before combustion.
• Heterogeneous air-fuel mixture: Amount of air and fuel consumed in the combustion process is uneven.
• High ignition performance fuel: Diesel engines require fuel with high ignition performance for compression ignition to occur

Advantage of Diesel Engines over Petrol Engines

Below are some of the advantages you can expect if you opt for a diesel engine for your new or used refrigerated vehicle:

• Better mileage.

Many UK business owners opt for diesel engines because they know such vehicles deliver greater mileage. This advantage is most enjoyed by companies who offer transportation and logistics services over great distances.

A diesel engine van can offer about 25 to 30% greater fuel efficiency than a petrol powered vehicle. But bear in mind that the level of fuel efficiency of a diesel engine van will depend on the specific brand and model of the vehicle. To discover which diesel engine van will make the ideal refrigerator van for your business, contact us for a free consultation.

• Reduced fire hazard risk

Diesel is combustible, but less so than petrol. Because diesel fuel has a higher flashpoint, the risk of it going up in flames in the event of an accident is reduced.

• Diesel is an efficient and energy dense fuel.

Diesel typically contains more usable energy than petrol and this contributes to the fuel economy of a diesel engine. Diesel engines get 30% better fuel economy than petrol engines. This is a big advantage that can help businesses, large or small, minimise their operational costs. Because of its density, it is also faster to fill up a tank with diesel, and that same tank will go further than a petrol tank of the same size.

• No need for ignition tune-ups.

Diesel engines don’t use spark plugs or distributors. This gives them an advantage over petrol engines which do as they need ignition tune-ups. This means maintenance checks are required less frequently for diesel engines which in turn reduces maintenance costs.

• Can withstand higher compression.

Diesel engines might be slower than petrol engines, but they make up for this with torque. This means that diesel engines are stronger than petrol engines and can power heavy laden vehicles with greater ease. So if you intend on getting a refrigerator van that will frequently be used to haul heavy cargo, a diesel engine van will make a great choice.

But diesel engines aren’t perfect. Some of the disadvantages of diesel engines are diesel vehicles are slower than petrol vehicles, and if you neglect to properly maintain a diesel engine, the cost of repairs can far outweigh that of a petrol engine.

How to Pick the Right Diesel Engine Van

As earlier mentioned, the quality of diesel engines typically vary from vehicle to vehicle. Certain brands offer more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly diesel engines than others, and even then, different models from the same brand can still offer different quality.

To select a diesel engine van to convert to a refrigerator vehicle, it’s important to pay close attention to the following:

• Price

It is very important that you go for a vehicle that you can actually afford. But going for the cheapest option isn’t always the best move. Instead, look out for a vehicle whose price is in line with your budget and whose features will deliver a healthy return on investment. If a brand new freezer van is beyond your means, we can help you with a good condition used freezer van.

• Reviews

Compare diesel engine vehicles online and read reviews so you can develop an idea of which specific brands and models offer the most advantages and the least stress.

• Cargo space

The engine of the vehicle is important, but the ability of the vehicle to carry the size of cargo you typically transport is just as important. Make sure the vehicle as sufficient space in the loading area.

Contact us for a Diesel Engine Refrigerator Van

If uncertain which diesel engine van is right for you, we offer free consultation services. Our experts will provide you all the information you need to get a new or used, large, medium or small diesel engine refrigerator van that best matches your business needs.

If you want to buy a used refrigerated van, a used freezer van, a new refrigerated van or a new freezer van call, Glacier Vehicles on 0208 668 7579.