The Passenger Car Direct Injection Diesel - A Performance and Emissions Update

The paper presents the current development status of direct injection diesel engines for passenger cars. Besides a description of the essential features of the injection and combustion system, reference is made to the performance and exhaust emissions potential of direct injection diesel engines in the light of legal requirements of both European Community countries and the U.S.A. Combustion noise and noise control are also discussed. The conclusion reached is that properly developed direct injection diesels will present a viable alternative to conventional passenger car power plants with the advantage of a substantially improved fuel economy.