Unlike petrol engines, which use a spark plug to ignite fuel, diesel engines typically ignite their fuel through which method?

Explanation

Diesel engines typically ignite their fuel through compression ignition, meaning air within the engine’s cylinder is compressed to a very high pressure, which generates enough heat on its own to ignite the injected diesel fuel without the need for a spark plug. This differs fundamentally from petrol engines, which rely on a precisely timed spark from a spark plug to ignite a pre-mixed fuel and air mixture. This difference in ignition method contributes to some of the distinct performance and efficiency characteristics typically associated with diesel engines compared to petrol engines. Explore more Everyday Science MCQs on mcqstutor to keep practicing.