In the world of consumer goods, a market hierarchy has been established where 1st place products receive the most attention and focus while 10th place products are largely left in the dark. Although Diesel parts may not be a household name, diesel is responsible for powering heavy machinery across the country. They rank 3rd in terms of output despite being introduced to consumers in 1939. In this article we will take a look at what it takes to rank higher than diesel and what sets them apart from the other companies that have higher ranks.
Diesel and the Diesel Part Production Industry
Currently, all diesel engines are equipped with parts that are produced by a few companies. The 10 leading companies produce a significant amount of parts for automobile makers around the world. They represent over 80% of all automotive aftermarket parts production, meaning only OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) can produce more than this. Their market share is spread out among the top ten companies but their brands are well known across the globe. They hold 3rd in terms of market share and as new cars become more track focused, performance oriented vehicles become more common amongst consumers specific to these engines [OEMs have their own commercials].
The Industry
Diesel has been in the public market since the early 1900s, when it was first produced by Rudolf Diesel. The name “diesel” is coined from French meaning “of the bat” and was later adopted as a registered trademark. It refers to a type of fuel oil (petroleum distillate). Diesel engines are classified as internal combustion engines (ICE), specifically as opposed to steam engines, and they are also known as compression ignition engines. These types of engine use spark plugs to ignite a mixture of fuel and air inside the cylinders [and sometimes within the crankcase] causing it to turn over a set number of times per minute and generating power.
Advantages of Diesel
Even though diesel engines may rank higher than automotive parts, there are many advantages to owning a diesel motor that outweigh its disadvantages. The first and biggest is fuel economy. Most diesel vehicles can achieve an impressive 20-30% better fuel economy than their gas counterparts [depending on the model]. This number is not hard to achieve because a large part of it comes down to the type of fuel that is used in a car. A truck uses less fuel because it has heavier loads and needs extra power to pull them, but this isn’t always true. Diesel engines also have the ability to work at higher temperatures when compared to gasoline engines. They are much more efficient and able to produce more power while still generating fewer emissions [because they run at a higher temperature]. When it comes to cost, diesel is much cheaper than gasoline. Diesel fuel is also considered as solid fuel which means that it consists of a higher amount of energy in comparison to other types of liquid fuels. This means that the diesel motor will use less fuel and will be able to carry out a lot more jobs than a gas motor [because it can hold more energy].
Disadvantages of Diesel
On the other hand, diesel has its disadvantages. It might be cheaper, but gas is cheaper per gallon than diesel. Another disadvantage is that since diesel fuel is much thicker than gasoline it requires a higher compression ratio to ignite. This means that diesel motors have smaller pistons and crankshafts with tighter tolerances. This makes them less efficient in comparison to gasoline engines because more energy gets wasted as heat and friction. Diesel also requires more intricate injection systems or injectors, which are harder to make and tend to break more often. Diesel produces a large amount of smoke when it’s used, which makes it difficult for other drivers to see where the vehicle is going [especially at night and during bad weather].
