Diesel engine torque curve? Please read?

Question

All diesel engine torque curves I have ever seen look very similar. There is a dramatic and consistent drop off of torque past the 2xxx rpm range. Is this because diesel burns much more slowly compared to gasoline as I can see no other reason for it. The old theory that diesel engines need to be stronger therefore heavier than their gasoline counterparts is no longer an issue with today's technology. This is proven by modern Saab diesel cars that has the same diesel characteristics as any other but are rev limited in the 6xxx rpm like any other car. We know from F1 in Europe a couple of years ago that gasoline still burns quickly enough to warrant engine rpm past 20k with benefit and the recent onset of diesel cars at Le Mans also do not claim any usable power past 5k rpm. Does anybody know the speed at which diesel burns and the speed at which gasoline burns at atmospheric pressure without taking into account any effect from turbocharging?

Answer 1

This is probably not very helpful -  first I want to point out that gasoline and diesel vapour mixed with air ( sometimes with an added oxidizer like NO ) is what is burnt and that it is burnt at more than atmospheric pressure so you may be looking the wrong way.

Having said that here are some links :

http://engineering.wikia.com/wiki/Four-s... look at output limit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_effect...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_knoc...

it all looks pretty complicated to me. Best of Luck