The 2-stroke diesel engine may be a thing of the past, but it still have some benefits. The main one is that they’re typically lighter than their 4-stroke counterparts. That doesn’t automatically make them a better fit, though, as the 2-stroke design comes with clear downsides as well, including being more prone to wear and tear. Coupled with the emission guidelines, it’s easy to see why these engines were phased out.
There’s nothing wrong with using the 2-stroke diesel engine if you already have one, but there’s not much of a reason to seek one out today outside of novelty. With replacement parts being tougher to track down, it’s just not worth the hassle, especially since you can get better performance out of newer engines anyways. Oil for 2-stroke engines is more expensive, and since they don’t use fuel as efficiently as a 4-stroke engine, you’ll get fewer miles per gallon out of one. While diesel engines are typically more efficient than regular gas motors, the 4-strokes still outclass the 2-strokes. The big issue, and what eventually led to Detroit Diesel ditching the engine altogether, is the pollution caused by the emissions.
