Semi-Truck Engine vs. Car Engine?

Question

Generally speaking, because obviously lots of details differ, what are some of the major differences between the engine in an 18-wheeler and the engine in a family station wagon?

Answer 1

semi engines are many times larger than car engines, size and weight wise. semi engines are much more powerful than car engines. an average semi engine is 400-600 horse power and a couple thousand pound feet of torque. the displacement is many times greater. semi engines are diesel powered and the family sedan is gasoline powered. the semi engine is designed to go 1,000,000 miles before an overhual or rebuild. the sedan engine is good for 150k maybe 200k if your lucky. semi engines are designed to run nonstop 24/7 the only time you shut them down is to change the oil and service the engine. cars cant run like that. those are the key differences. hope that helps.

added: car engines hold 4-6 quarts of oil, semi truck diesel engines hold 15 + gallons.

Answer 2

The engines in todays family cars are designed to be small, light, and are usually sized just big enough to handle the car without struggling so as to get the best fuel mileage. They operate on gasoline.

The semi engine will definitely be a Diesel engine. (In Europe, many family cars have diesel engines but they are light duty engines for economy. Some can be found in Mercedes and recently in Volkswagen)

The semi is designed to pull huge, heavy loads as great as 80,000 pounds. That is the almost equivalent to the weight of 25 family cars. It is a big, heavy, ruggedly built engine that can produce a tremendous amount of pulling power. Many have a turbocharger that helps to force air into the engine under pressure to produce extra power for hills and accelerating. The turbo is most important at high elevations where the air is thin. The turbocharger normally does not operate while cruising. The turbocharger allows the engine to be a bit smaller for fuel mileage and yet provide the power when needed. Without the turbo, the engine would have to be much larger to make the same amount of power and would use a good deal more fuel.

Semi diesel engines spin much slower than the family cars' gas engine but that helps them to last much longer which is good because the engine alone costs more than the average family car.

Research is underway to clean up the black smoke that some semis pour out and there are some fuels being made from soybeans and other crops that can be grown right here in the US to run the diesels on. In a few years, the diesels will burn so clean you won't know they are diesel unless you can hear them run.

Answer 3

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RE:
Semi-Truck Engine vs. Car Engine?
Generally speaking, because obviously lots of details differ, what are some of the major differences between the engine in an 18-wheeler and the engine in a family station wagon?

Answer 4

1.The Semi will run on Diesel VS. a typical station wagon will run on unleaded gas.

2. SIZE

3. The Semi engine will probably have 12+ gears, the station wagon probably 4 to 5 .

4. SIZE

5. Also, the semi will have a turbo charger.

6. SIZE

7. The semi engine will be equipped with a Jake breaking system.

8. And lets not forget about SIZE

Answer 5

well, first and foremost is that most 18-wheelers are powered by big deisel engines... most family wagons have a gas powered motor....

truck engines are designed to offer a lot of low end power - torque mostly - to be able to get a heavy load moving.... they're also geared lower - which is why many of them have a lot of gears to go through - some are 10 and higher "speed" transmissions.... most cars are 3, 4 or 5 speed transmisions...

These kinds of diesel motors are also different from the ones under the hoods of a diesel car.... again, they're designed to move A LOT OF WEIGHT....

Answer 6

Semi truck engine is much bigger and more pwerful than a regular car engine.

Answer 7

bigger, more rugged. Most likely it is a diesel and has cylinder liners to make requilding faster and cheaper. Most all are turbo charged too. Quite a few differences.