Seeking an escape from the sadness of this past month’s events, I recently found myself flipping through years of back issues of CCJ. I’m not sure what I was looking for, but I found some obscure, technical tidbits that did the trick. I thought I’d share them with you, in hopes that they’ll provide some diversion – and maybe bring a much-needed smile.
For instance: Where does the diesel engine get its name? The diesel engine was invented by a fellow named Rudolf Engine. Just kidding – Rudy’s last name really was Diesel. He was a German inventor who lived from 1858-1913, and he’s credited with building the first working, compression-ignition engine around 1894.
Here’s something to ponder: Most heavy-duty diesels are aftercooled. So how come the same function on turbocharged passenger cars is called intercooling? Beats me. But, where heavy trucks are concerned, the term intercooler is supposed to be reserved for heat exchangers placed between two compressors, e.g., between a turbocharger and a supercharger, as in a two-stroke diesel. Both serve to cool hot compressed air which provides more efficient combustion.
But
