The change in todays automobile engines are four valves; DOHC; electronic injection and turbocharging - All details that were in use in WW2 aircraft engines!
As propellars directly demands torque rather than horsepower (wich in difference (just) is a figure for ability to accelerate (the cranckshaft)), the remarkably higher torque at low RPM's as delivered by modern Common Rail turbo-diesels for cars, might have caused development in direction of turbo-diesel aviation engines instead. Actual, I wonder when diesel will take the leap to the sector of private airplanes!
Both Germany and the Soviet Union used diesel engines for the purpose of longer range during WW2: Germany, primarely for the use in (patrolling) flying boats and Soviet with the aim of bombers reaching to Berlin.
Two-stroke diesel might be the choise due to higher liability, but I have the impression that the turbocharged fourstroke diesel might produce higher torque with a remarkable better consumption.
Earlier diesel engines worked without any other input than the fuel and should actual be forcely actuated to shut-down and IMO should this incorporated liability have been a heavy argument for the use of dieselengines in aircrafts long time ago :-/
In difference does modern diesel engines work by electric HP dieselpumps; likely eletric actuated inlet-jets and is fully eletronic supervised, but doesn't show signs of lesser liability for that reason.
As argued for the use in tanks, the lesser flammability of diesel would be more comfortable to have aboard the plane than petrol :-/