Why do diesiel cars struggle to take off when the traffic light turns green!?

Question

Why do diesiel cars struggle to take off when the traffic light turns green!?

Answer 1

It mat be true that the speed of combustion of a diesel/air mixture is slower than that of petrol/air - but the main reason is that the piston and con-rod assemblies in a diesel engine are much heavier (to withstand the much higher forces) so take longer to accelerate. 'Boosting' by turbochargers  increase combustion pressures but again, the inertia of the rotating impellor has to be overcome (Turbo-Lag)

Answer 2

Because they run on Diesel !!!

That's why.

Much more torque at lower revs , excellent for mid range acceleration.

....... But still sound like a tractor.

Answer 3

My car has a 1.4 diesel engine and it can burn off most things at the lights.  I used to drive big diesels though and they took a while to get going.

Answer 4

I drive a deisel and find no problems at a green light!! lol...

Answer 5

diesels produce great gobs of torque... this is the ability to launch heavy loads from standstill... the energy contained in diesel combustion is lower than that of petrol, BUT, wheras a petrol engine runs around 9-1 compression, a diesel runs at 33-1...

they dont struggle to take off, the struggle to accellerate quickly..but consider your car produces 100hp, and weights 2 tons (volvo) a truck hauls upt 44 tons, and the engines produce around 500hp..5x the power and 22x the weight... which is why lorries have 16 gears... and theyre limited to 55mph... you cant stop 44 tons in a hurry.

Answer 6

The answer is really quite simple. You clearly ask about cars so all the answers about heavy trucks are not answering your question. My diesel will, as others have said, smoke the tyres away from lights if I want to as the initial torque of a diesel far exceeds that of a petrol. However, as many people buy diesels for their economy, it rather defeats the objective to accelerate fast away from lights. So the real answer to your question is that modern diesel cars dont struggle at all but diesel drivers tend to a smoother driving style than petrolhead boy racers.

Answer 7

Because most modern diesel engines employ a turbocharger to augment the aspiration, and to get them spinning you need about 2000 rpm.  It's not the engines fault, it's the drivers for not revving it enough!

Answer 8

Whatever this is please take it to the transportation section. Diesels don't take off due to gravity.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to carve you all up on my push bike

Answer 9

They acceleration slower than petrol cars but dont struggle to take off. Diesel burns slower than petrol and produces lower energy on combustion.

Answer 10

cos it takes longer for the explosion in the chambers to go off, basic thing diesels meant for power, and for distance not speed unless turbo charged but petrol without oil ignites quicker and therefore you go faster quicker