Diesel or Gas?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Not SylvanFan and Calculoso,
indeed there are stricter regulations comming into play for diesle fuel that will make them less harmful and less smelly.

I beleive it was shell (maybe Imperial, I can't remember) just finished thier diesel refinery upgrades to reduce sulfur to 15 ppm, ahead of schedule (I believe these standards become law in 2008 but it could be as early as this year, I'm not 100% sure on that either and I'm too lazy to look it up). Cleaner and less stinky diesel is comming sooner than you think

[Looger]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

to say that the best diesels get weaker over time is really a misnomer. your average gas engine will go 200-300k before needing a rebuild. if you consider 500k+ average lifespan of a diesel engine 'long' then maybe they do. i dont know about rig injector repair, maybe they do cost 800 a cylinder, but there is no way an injector costs 800 each on a jetta. to replace mine with rebuilt will cost about $200 for all 4 and 15 minutes of my time. they screw out like a spark plug, and are about as complex. maybe they are pricier from the stealership if you price out labour and parts, but cmon, lets compare apples to apples, shall we? maybe you would also like to explain how europeans get new cars faster too? that just doesnt make sense. the diesel engine choices in vehicles all around the world probably outnumber gas 10 to 1 in the rest of the world, but in north america, its the other way around. why? because americans are oil depend fuel consuming hogs, and they never learned to embrace fuel efficient technologies such as diesel because they never had a reason to! they are leaning towards hybrid and stuff now because the demand for foriegn oil is pushing them that way. if it wasnt for that, you wouldnt see it. and another thing, a diesel is totally a 10 year car, because if it wasnt, if not for the longevity, why would people buy them?? diesel engines have to be built stronger than a gas engine because they have to withstand greater temperatures and pressures, therefor, they will last longer than a gas engine, with both engines having the right maitenance. and there is nothing really to 'tune up' on a diesel. the glow plugs, air filter and oil changes are all you even need worry about on a diesel engine. its compression is the key, and with proper maitenance of those things, that will be ok too.

every VW, audi, mercedes, etc. that's even close to a decade old, spews black out the tail pipe. every single one. don't believe me? follow one!

i hadn't ever priced out injectors on car diesels, that's good to hear, because the trucks are maintenance nightmares - though they are north american and based on what's in rigs (cummins, international, etc.) - and not just because of injectors.

the inability to 'tune up' a diesel is exactly what i'm talking aboot. you can't. it starts to smoke black after 100,000 kms or in some cases more, and that is that.

north america holds onto vehicles longer than europe or asia in general, i think asia has the quickest turnover. but europe is definitely faster than us.

one of the big factors behind us shunning diesel, in canada anyway, is weather. the most advanced diesel needs special attention in the winters here, why the US doesn't embrace them, i don't know.

can you imagine california traffic jams with diesels? come to think aboot it, that might solve the problem!

[SaskaBushFire]

Especially if you are doing a lot of highway driveing, go with Diesel.

[Phanuthier]

I believe the Diesal engine cycle is mor efficient, isn't it?

I'm sure living in Alberta, we'd have alot of ChemE's here

[Nabber]

Well I have a silver 04 TDI on hold right now til friday so that leaves me tommorrow to browse for something I like better.

[Indi]

Diesels are a lot more efficient by design, that being the much higher cylinder pressures that they run at. Also, this whole thing of not tuning up a diesel is somewhat of a fallacy......you definitely tune diesels....change fuel filters (very important as water and grit is a diesels worst enemy, you set the injector timing (similar to ignition timing on a gaspot), you replace injectors and glowplugs when required....this is a diesel tuneup. The reason older diesels smoke alot is because A) injector timing is off or B) the injectors are not sealing properly and the metering has gone for heck. You look at the diesels in the highway tractors....1 million miles is not uncommon at all......There are new fuel standards that are mandated for 2007 (I think) that calls for reduced sulfur levels in our diesel. The current high sulfur levels is the numero uno reason why diesels are not more prevalent on north american streets......
I tried to buy a liberty diesel when they hit the streets here, but due to the limited allotment, the stupid dealers wanted $3000 above MSRP....stick that you know where!...I bought an Xterra instead
With todays pilot injection on the newer diesels, cold weather starts are a dream....glow plugs are not even required any more....also, at idle, a diesel consumes such little energy that car manufacturers have to incorporate belt driven coolant heaters so we dont get cold at stop lights....you can let a diesel idle for 24 hrs and barely burn any fuel....very efficient little machines!!!

[Claeren]

Canada is soon switching to ultra-low sulphur fuel (From ultra-high sulphur content)

Good bye bad smells!!


That also explains why Europeans like them. They already use low sulphur fuel and have for some time.



I too am thinking of getting a TDI as my next car. Does anyone know when the 2007 Golf TDI's are supposed to come out? Only the GTI seems out so far... ?


Claeren.

[Cheese]

Diesel Technology

[Claeren]

Sorry but: I too am thinking of getting a TDI as my next car. Does anyone know when the 2007 Golf TDI's are supposed to come out? Only the GTI seems out so far... ?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Claeren

Sorry but: I too am thinking of getting a TDI as my next car. Does anyone know when the 2007 Golf TDI's are supposed to come out? Only the GTI seems out so far... ?

I think the non-GTI models of the Golf are on their way over some time this summer.

[starshunny]

I love the purr of my diesel truck, so diesel for me..

[starshunny]

Originally Posted by NOT Sylvanfan

I can't say that I've had to change lanes to avoid a VW TDI because the smell was terrible. I also ride a bike to work quite often in the summer and take my dogs for nightly walks, and can't say I've ever had a VW TDI go by and leave me holding my breath and looking for some clean air to breathe. That type of thing has occurred with an old bus that's been poorly maintained, or some freak vehichle from the 80's, and the worst offenders in residential area's are fullsize domestic trucks with their monster deisel engines can create some nasty fumes. But I think that the small TDI engine shouldn't neccessarily be grouped with those other engines. I do think that if some stricter regulations were put in place that yes the engines and the fuel would be made cleaner (although there will be a price increase to consumers).

chiefs fan, on a C message board, hmmm