A fundamental difference between gasoline and diesel engines is that a gasoline engine uses spark ignition while a diesel engine uses compression ignition. Before we delve deeper, let's understand how ...

In conventional engines, spark plugs send high-voltage electricity sparking across the electrode gaps in a combustion engine: This results in a controlled explosion in the engine, which drives the ...

This animated film "Spark In The Firing Line" provides an in-depth look at the ignition system of modern motor vehicles, focusing on the role of spark plugs in igniting fuel within the combustion ...

At 7,000 rpm, a spark plug ignites the air/fuel mixture nearly 60 times per second. Any one of those 60 sparks going amiss can at best be mildly annoying, and at worst cost you a race or an engine.

Yesterday at the Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda released new info on its highly anticipated compression-ignition Skyactiv-X engine. It's all a bit daunting if you're not an engineer, but helpfully, Mazda put ...

The pollutant emissions and high-energy consumption of combustion engines using conventional spark plugs have long been serious environmental problems. Now, it has been demonstrated that lasers can ...

Heat initiates the internal combustion process. Diesel engines utilize the temperature buildup from extremely high compression (pressure) to ignite the air/fuel mixture, with a little help from glow ...

Learn how to use dielectric grease on spark plug boots to prevent voltage leaks and corrosion. Follow our guide to protect your engine’s ignition system.

IRVINE, Calif.—Despite rumors to the contrary, the internal combustion engine is far from dead. Recently we’ve seen several technological advances that will significantly boost the efficiency of ...

Combustion requires three elements - fuel, air and an ignition source. Air is a no-brainer, being available pretty much wherever drivers are. For most of the history of the automobile we've mainly ...