Should auto makers be selling more diesel cars ??

[fast95pony]

Why don't they sell more diesels ?? In Europe Diesels are very common . Surely putting diesels in SUV's would be a good idea too ?? In Europe just about every car has a diesel engine option.
Instead of hybrids ,why not oil burners ??
Is it a matter of education ??

How much is diesel theses days ?? Is the price the problem ??

[Skylinelover]

Hybrids are for pollution? Correct?

[fast95pony]

Originally posted by Skylinelover
Hybrids are for pollution? Correct?

No ,better mileage. Hybrids use 2 engines : One is electrical,and one is very small gasoline engine. The elecrical one runs on batteries.When the batteries get low , or the driver needs more power,the gas engine starts and adds to the power. It's a good idea,but expensive. They are designed to provide great gas milage.

[Redlyne_mr2]

One of the main reasons why we don't have alot of diesels here in North America is because our diesel fuel sucks. It isnt refined enough and contains too much sulfur making it difficult if not impossible to use in many of the diesel engines around the world

[fast95pony]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
One of the main reasons why we don't have alot of diesels here in North America is because our diesel fuel sucks. It isnt refined enough and contains too much sulfur making it difficult if not impossible to use in many of the diesel engines around the world

Interesting...I didn't know that. Perhaps it's time that changed ??

[benyl]

that goes for our regular fuel as well.

[CKY]

Originally posted by benyl
that goes for our regular fuel as well.

at least we get 94s here, places like cali down in the states don't even have that

[hjr]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
One of the main reasons why we don't have alot of diesels here in North America is because our diesel fuel sucks. It isnt refined enough and contains too much sulfur making it difficult if not impossible to use in many of the diesel engines around the world

sulfur itself isnt inherent to poor fuel. it actually makes the fuel denser and therefore has better combustability. Sulfur though is bad for the enviro, and your right about it not working to well in european diesel motors.

as for regular fuel qualities:
In America the service stations use the Pump Octane Number or PON rather than RON. this is the average of RON and MON and gives a much better grade, and is also why the American gas always seems not as good as our when in fact it is is the same (and has better quality control).
http://www.btinternet.com/~madmole/R...RONMONPON.html

this means that japanese 98 RON spec fuel is equivilant to our 94 octane.

[ryder_23]

Originally posted by CKY


at least we get 94s here, places like cali down in the states don't even have that

some places in the states have 104 at the pumps regularly

or so i've heard / seen a few pictures

[bart]

there will be more diesels here in a couple years, i think in 2006/2007 they will have euro standards. as for now, VW has decided to introduce the new PD engines which they sell in europe, but only on the 100hp level, as opposed to the 90hp ones which were 2003 model years and down. so far, the new engines are having a hard time running correctly, they start terribly in cold weather, smoke alot, the idle is rough, and get worse mileage then the good 'ol ALH engines, such as mine. VW says the new engines get better mileage and run better than the old ones, but until the new fuel arrives, they are wrong.

sulfur has something to do with it, aswell as the cetane rating, (its like octane for gasoline). most modern diesels need a minimum of 49-50, while the average here in canada is low 40ish, so imagine that. if you have a 2004+ tdi vw will reflash your ecu, because it is worse with the fuel then they originally thought.

in about another two years you will see lots of more diesels, and hopefully the trend will catch on. vw already has the v10 tdi in the touareg suv here in canada/US.

hybrid cars aren't pracitical, yes they get good mileage, but they barely beat diesels, and have no performance. granted, how fast can can a 90hp tdi be? lol, at least it "feels" fast. an insight gets about 60mph, i get 54 (4.3L/100km). if you really want to burn no fuel, get a VW Lupo 3L, its a 1.2 tdi engine, that gets what its called, 3L/100km, so 78MPG, take that honda!

diesel is 60 cents or so, its $30 something for me to fill up, and i get 850km/tank of really aggresive driving in the city, can't complain. i use fuel additives though, something which boosts the cetane rating of diesel and lowers the sulfur.

maybe i should give mine up for a day for everyone here to appreciate how fun they are to drive. lol

anyway, to read reviews of all the cool diesel cars in europe, goto www.dieselcar.com after all, honda even has diesels!!!!!!!!!! and they have torque!!!!!!