Diesel has its emissions advantages and Gas has its emissions advantages. Read the article and you'll learn that diesels are much cleaner than you think. The US is far behind Europe with diesel technology, but it exists.

Do you want to see some dirty hardcore diesel action american style?

Diesel Dynamics

Click on videos. (I have no affiliation)

 

Yeah, he is really picky

Horsepower is a measure of Torque. Remember that.

Diesels smell bad, are hard starting in our harsh winters, are very polluting, and there aren't that many gas stations that sell diesel. Plus the ever important factor: American consumers remember the absolutely pathetic and horribly unreliable diesels that they were fed from the Big 3 twenty years ago. They will never come back. Fuel Cells have a far better future than diesels do in the US.

 

the article stated common knowledge. then tell me why diesels are so slow if they got so much low end torque. its because when you shift at 4,000 rpm you arent able to take advatage of the gearing. so they are still slow.

 

98Coupe, you're exactly right. In fact we used to have a diesel Oldmobile wagon. I think these types of raw zero technology diesels tramatized the US. I think GM completely disregarded one of the major advantages of diesel, and just simply engineered an engine to burn the fuel. If you check out those VW TDIs, the only way you can tell its a diesel is from its split second start up clatter. Now with common-rail fuel injection and all sorts of piston technology, diesels are cleaner burning and much quietier.

BTW, I hope you guys don't think I'm some beer belly trucker. In fact, our household includes a Prius. When I drive my MDX, and see those huge F350 Power Stroke diesels run, sometimes I wish I had a loud beast like that. But in all practicality, I have no use for that type of vehicle.

And from my poor memory of 8th grade physics class, horsepower is essentially a measurement of kinetic energy released over a period of time, right?

 

CleanER.


http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/E-V...N-Jetta-03.htm

http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/E-V...EN-Golf-03.htm

http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/cars-rank0-03.htm

 

Yianni,

Why are you so unpleasant in these discussions?

Anway, to be on the safe side I don't think I have the authority to answer that question. But that doesn't mean you're arguement, point, comment or whatever it is, is accurate. From my impression, diesels thrive in low rpm high load situations. That is their nature. Unless you let AMG have a swing at it:

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evo_news_story.php?id=26907

I'm not even sure what kind of diesel you are driving. Maybe if you learned not to shift so high in a diesel, you will appreciate its characteristics.

I hope I did not -offend- you, again.

 

qtiger,

Yeah, diesel is said to produce emissions that cause cancer. But then again, everything does...?

These are also scores of relatively low tech diesel. In Europe they use low-sulfur diesel, a blend not common in the US. Economically speaking, there isn't much demand for diesel in the US until recently. The majority of the non-commercial diesel customers drive trucks - I highly doubt they're interested in emissions numbers.

I think the mentality of americans should be slightly adjusted so that it is maybe not desired, but at least accepted. We are far from that thanks to GM.

 

There's a TDI down the block...whenever it drives by it's obvious that it's a diesel because of that noise. Let's face it...the sound of a gas engine revving up is much nicer than a diesel engine revving up. They also used to have a diesel Cadillac Eldorado, BTW...let me give you a quote. "Totally unreasonable was the optional diesel version of the same engine, which was rated at 125 horsepower and prone to catastrophic failure. The Olds-built diesel V8 was, quite simply, the worst piece of engineering ever foisted upon the Cadillac buying public — the sort of inexcusable lump that could barely outrun its warranty claims." And Honda gets railed for its V6 transmission problem

I didn't think you were, since you seem pretty smart. Tell your household to get a Civic Hybrid instead of that Prius And welcome to HAN

 

I hate it when threads turn into another diesel discussion. :squint:



:fawk:

 

98Coupe,

I think you're the most intelligent person in this thread. (No sarcasim there)

Yeah, with the Oldsmobile, we had done an engine replacement via warranty. What a hunk of junk. No gobs of torque. Only noise and smoke. Junk.

I completely agree, I've never heard a sweet revving diesel. Maybe someday there will be - I hope.

I'm not sure what you mean about your last paragraph. BTW, the Prius is a great car (we bought it before we even heard any rumors about a Civic Hybrid). I drive an MDX and a 3rd Gen RX7. I used to have a Integra, and we used two have two Accords in the family. In fact, not because its a Honda, but I think the Civic Hybrid is a great competitor to the Prius and I'm trying to convince my girl friend to get one.