Well, Peter, it's for the same high compression reasons. A
starter likes a 7:1 compression engine. That is, it is not too much work
to turn over and start. Now consider a 550 cubic inch 21:1 diesel engine
that has not started in four days and the ambient temp is -5 degrees.
Which starter has the harder job? Why would the starter not last as
long? The things can be big enough that one adult male could not pick
one up, by the way.
The run of the mill, garden variety diesel engine usually holds
10 gallons (not quarts), or more, of oil. In addition to the lubricating
factor there is a great deal of cooling to be had as well. The real
reasons that these engines last almost forever is:
There is no planned obsolescence and
The rpm limit is usually 22 or 2,300. These rpms will not
exactly turn the guts out of an engine. If it is done right, these
engines loaf their entire lives. Like my old mother used to say when I
asked how she could drink a case of beer in an evening: "You gotta pace
yourself".
Larry Dickstein
bugide@juno.com
There is no problem that cannot be solved
with either a checkbook or high explosives.
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