Why diesel engines have higher compression ratios than gas engines

Diesel engines are different from gas engines in numerous ways, including their use of high compression ratios. Here's why that is and what it means.
Jalopnik

Spark Ignition Vs. Compression Ignition: How Do These Two Engines Differ?

A fundamental difference between gasoline and diesel engines is that a gasoline engine uses spark ignition while a diesel engine uses compression ignition. Before we delve deeper, let's understand how ...
JSTOR Daily

Diesel Fuel Ignition Quality as Determined in a Variable Compression Ratio, Direct-Injection Engine

SAE Transactions, Vol. 96, Section 4: RECIPROCATING ENGINES–SPARK IGNITION AND DIESEL (1987), pp. 614-623 (10 pages) A single-cylinder, variable–compression ratio, direct–injection diesel engine was ...
Hot Rod

Engine Compression Calculation - Compression Connection

Strictly defined, compression ratio is the total volume above the piston at bottom dead center (BDC), divided by the total volume above the piston at top dead center (TDC). First, let's look at the ...