What makes a diesel engine different to a regular gas engine, and is one better than the other?

There have been many reliable diesel engines over the years. Some are easy to work on, while others are a bit more challenging. The Ford 6.4-liter Power Stroke falls into the latter category, while ...

The original concept of combustion engines as we understand them dates as far back as the late 1800s. And while they are more or less a solved science today, they definitely didn't start that way.

Any certified gearhead knows that diesel engines do not use spark plugs. But why not? If power in an engine is created by combustion or explosion of flammable liquids, won't a spark plug in a diesel ...