preview

The I Drove My Friend 's Diesel Station Wagon

Decent Essays

The first time I drove my friend’s diesel station wagon, I was impressed. How it seemingly sipped single droplets of fuel amazed me. In contrast, my father’s pickup truck guzzles gasoline like a drunkard downs alcohol. In our time of expensive petroleum and tight environmental restrictions, an automobile that can travel farther with less fuel means everything. Today, the very word “diesel” is synonymous with efficiency and reliability, and most importantly, savings for the people. But throughout our country’s history, “diesel” has seen storm and calm, rain and shine. To understand its significance to us in the 21st century, we must explore the history of the word, from how it came to be, to how it has defined hope and progress, disdain and disappointment, advancement and recognition. Most of all, we must examine its relevance to people of the times. In the Oxford English Dictionary, “diesel” is defined as “a type of internal-combustion engine invented by Rudolf Diesel. (“Diesel”)” In 1893, Mr. Diesel patented the first working prototype of his concept, created with the goal of overcoming the major drawback of the gasoline engine, high fuel consumption. As Diesel collaborated with manufactures to build upon his designs, the automotive world quickly realized the advantage of such an engine. Diesel’s engines were capable of running on a variety of fuels that were cheaper than gasoline, including tar oil, paraffin oil, and kerosene, and using less of it. They also proved to be

Get Access