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Automotive News & Views Are gas prices fueling your pain? 
10042 messages, Last post on Jul 12, 2008 at 3:07 PM
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Replying to: altest (Apr 08, 2007 6:04 am) The California Air Resources Board set emission standards for car and light trucks diesels so stringently that no manufacturer in the world could meet them. (Trucks and SUVs over 7500 pounds GVW were exempt, which is why GM, Ford, and Dodge sell heavy-duty diesel pickups.) Other states adopted CARB regulations, with the result that about 40% of the US population was effectively barred from registering new diesel vehicles. With only 60% of the potential market available, most manufacturers elected not to pay the expenses of certifying diesel vehicles for sale in the US. Mercedes-Benz and VW revived their US diesel offerings in the late '90s, apparently deciding that they could make enough per-unit profit to pay for the certification costs. The advent of low-sulfur diesel (which allows the use of catalytic converters), the alignment of US and European diesel emission standards, and the development of new engines, catalysts, and particulate filters to meet those standards means that the tidal wave of European diesel engines (GM, Ford, Toyota, and everyone else you can think of already sell diesels in Europe) can finally make its way to this side of the Atlantic.
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that rattly, anemic sounding diesel engine sound at all points in the U.S. MPG increases sound only plausible, not a "for sure" thing. And don't forget that nice smelly black belch out the back from trucks and buses. Add a few mil automobiles to the mix and...air pollution...it will get...better? 
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Replying to: gagrice (Apr 07, 2007 3:32 pm) I keep hearing how the newer diesels won't stink so I'll reserve judgement unil then. I don't see sales taking off but I could be wrong.
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the one good thing about having a diesel car (especially our 1980 volvo diesel) it would stop tailgaters. If a driver got to close I would downshift and there would be a nice big cloud of smoke. It definately did not have pep. The turbo-diesel volvo and turbo-diesel mercedes were alot better
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Replying to: bumpy (Apr 08, 2007 6:21 am) Ethanol can't offer better mpg, and price of ethanol is going to go up as more and more start using ethanol. Hybrids are good options if you drive a lot on local roads. I don't think hybrids help when you are going at 70 mph on interstates. Bye the way, I also keep hearing about CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) as being one of the options --- do any of you know if CNG can help? |
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Replying to: nj2pa2nc (Apr 08, 2007 1:25 pm)
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Replying to: altest (Apr 08, 2007 5:17 pm) |
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that a turbo-Diesel would give you the power when you need it, along with increased fuel consumption if you're a heavy-footed driver. But if you drive it fairly gently, I imagine that fuel economy would still be close to an equivalent non-turbo Diesel? I've never owned a Diesel, but did have a turbo...a 1988 LeBaron turbo coupe. That sucker was pretty economical for the time, if you didn't drive it too hard. It wasn't too hard to get into the lower 30's on the highway, which was especially commendable since that car only had a 3-speed automatic...no overdrive.
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Replying to: andre1969 (Apr 08, 2007 6:05 pm) |
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In diesels, turbo chargers increase efficiency. A diesel does not throttle air, only fuel. The turbo uses waste heat (energy) from the exhaust to increase the charge of air in the cylinders. More air means greater increase in pressure from burning the same amount of fuel at lower peak temperatures, therefore losing less energy to the cooling system. Turbos on gas engines increase fuel and air, so economy suffers, but power increases. Harry
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