Our newspaper ran an article about a local
group experimenting with bio-diesel fuel.

It went on to list the advantages of the diesel engine,
how the fuel needed less processing than gasoline,
how the engine wasn't "picky" about fuel source...
and how diesel was a more realistic solution than "electric"..

In spite of the "big three" having the largest market in the world,
and selling the most vehicles in the world..... ( local quotes )
none of them offers an auto-sized diesel engine.
The group had to go to Europe ( I believe Volvo ) for an engine.

Another example of our "forward-looking" auto industry.
I can remember a time when U.S. industry was at the fore-front
of new products, and new science..... What happened ?

Anyone see diesel in the American motorists future ?


<rj>

"<RJ>" <baranick (AT) localnet (DOT) com> wrote

new products, and new science..... What happened ?
I believe it definitely SHOULD be in our future. The Europeans use them in
large numbers
and, when you see the price of gasoline over there, you can understand why.

The new breed of diesel cars are responsive, quiet enough, and well
mannered. They are
very fuel efficient.

At some point the fuel availability and price will shape our automotive
choices moreso than the
chrome, sheet metal, and fad buying habits that we enjoy so much today.

"<RJ>" <baranick (AT) localnet (DOT) com> wrote in message
#1 reason today is emissions. Diesel cannot (until recently) meet the
regulations.

Diesels do have down sides. More frequent oil changes, hard starting in
cold weather, noise, smell, rough idle. Some of this has been overcome.
Now you add in the crappy diesel engines they tried to sell here and you
have customer skepticism at best.

Diesel engines operate at higher compression ratios, thus, the engine block
has to be stronger and more costly. When GM made a gas engine (mid to late
70's) into a diesel, it was a miserable flop and scared off potential diesel
buyers.

I did own an '83 300D and liked it in spite of the downsides. I'd buy
diesel again if they offered a decent one.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

Go and try a BMW 3 litre straight six diesel of 200+ bhp. (eg
330d, 530d) when in Europe.

I had the earlier BMW 2.5 litre one (M51 engine) in a GM Vauxhall
Omega (= Cadillac Catera) Even that was very smooth, with a
wonderful growl and mid range torque and 37 miles per UK gallon
(31 US miles per gallon?) in a 1.75 tonne Estate car which would
do 120 mph.

Not saying better, but light years ahead of the diesels of twenty
years ago.

In fact the ONLY real downside is the more frequent and messy oil
changes.

Easy starting, pretty smooth idle, quiet - and above 10 mph you
would not know it was a diesel.

CW, Luton area, England


On Thu, 17 May 2007 01:42:46 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <esp (AT) snet (DOT) net>
wrote:

SNIP

I owned one diesel Rabbit and never had trouble starting at cold
temperatures.
I mean around minus 25 Celsius, in Eastern Canada.
I used good quality synthetics. Never plugged it.

"Bassplayer12" <perettij (AT) nbnet (DOT) nb.ca> wrote

There are lots of diesels running in my 'home' country (Norway). In
general,
they cause no problems with starting.

I have run both synthetic oils and dino oils in my cars there, and even at
those low temperatures never had a issue with starting. We dont normally
get as cold as -25C (near the coast, at any rate), but -15C is not uncommon.

AS a former GM diesel car owner, I can vouch for their unrelieability during
that time. But, the idea was good to improve fuel mileage and decrease
pollution. My main complaint was poor acceleration and mileage did not meet
expectations, but I would consider diesel power witht he improvements in
technology that have occurred in recent years.
Roy
"C W" <nospam (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote