Talk:Still engine

DYK?

This should be an easy one, really. The very existence of a combined steam-and-diesel engine is probably enough to raise eyebrows for many readers. -- EdJogg (talk) 10:08, 15 December 2009 (UTC)

Hadn't occurred to me, but it's a very good suggestion. However, it may not qualify as it was first created, as a redirect, 25 February 2009. --Old Moonraker (talk) 10:31, 15 December 2009 (UTC)

No, this seems to be allowed. Giving it a try, and thanks for the pointer. --Old Moonraker (talk) 10:49, 15 December 2009 (UTC)

Diesel with a spark plug?!!

The description of the Stills engine is of a diesel engine, yet the illustration clearly shows a spark plug. Can anyone explain this apparent paradox? Was the spark plug meant for starting, only, similar to a glowplug? --Eliyahu S ^Talk 20:22, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

The article lead has "gasoline or diesel". The nomenclature used in the original article accompanying the illustration is "gas engine". I'm not sure if they mean is gasoline or gas, but both need spark plugs.--Old Moonraker (talk) 20:51, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

There is no demand that a diesel engine should be compression ignited, definition is "Fuel is injected when it should burn" usually it is compression ignited since since compression is so high that ignition is automatic, but in case of low compression or difficult to ignite you can add sparkplug (or glowplug) for ignition.

PS: The words "additional power for starting" is technically correct but it is not "additional" that is important, it is that the steam part can start the train moving from standstill engine. A normal train is far to heavy to use slipping on a normal clutch, the heat will be to high. Hydraulic or electric transmission solved that problem, electric best(?).Seniorsag (talk) 13:23, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

tweaked that as suggested. --217.155.32.221 (talk) 14:22, 14 November 2017 (UTC)