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Diesel cars are coming back »
Posted by: STONERS 2 years, 6 months agoWith rising gas prices, diesel cars and SUVs are gearing up for a major American comeback after a brief appearance 25 years ago. But if all you remember are the smell and noise, you might not recognize the new leaner, cleaner versions.
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Comments: 51
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STONERS
May 4, 2007, 11:34 a.m.Meanwhile, gas prices have gone back up in the U.S. and new low-sulfur diesel fuel has opened the way for even cleaner-burning diesel engines than the Europeans have. (New exhaust cleaning technologies would have choked on all the sulfur in the old diesel fuel.)
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PINTO
May 4, 2007, 3:24 p.m.in Europe theyve been using dielsal for years, many normal diesal engines get 40 miles per gallon. Meanwhile in the US were championing super expensive technicaly advanced future cars called Hybrids that only get 29-35 miles per gallon on average....what a joke
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PINTO
May 4, 2007, 3:24 p.m.in Europe theyve been using dielsal for years, many normal diesal engines get 40 miles per gallon. Meanwhile in the US were championing super expensive technicaly advanced future cars called Hybrids that only get 29-35 miles per gallon on average....what a joke
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simonsez
May 4, 2007, 3:26 p.m.This is a much better alternative than ethanol from corn or hybrids. Most vehicles in the world bigger than a pickup are already diesel powered. This is important.
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Hawklead
May 4, 2007, 4:21 p.m.From a technical point of view, Diesels produce a lot more H.P. per pound of fuel than Gas engines, but their need for High Compression (generaly long stroke) tends to keep the max RPM a bit lower, thus the neck snapping accceleration us american drivers find so important can never be duplicated. Lets face it, diesles just arn't fun.
In Europe, most diesels are Taxis (at least every taxi I took in Germany was)and for good reason. Economical, and they can idle all day on less fuel than it takes to start up.
Indeed, if we can get used to the lackluster throttle response, clattering rough idleing and the "aroma", these could be a most viable alternitive.
I need a pickup for my proffession, My next one will be Diesl!
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progressive-bum
May 4, 2007, 4:42 p.m.Not to mention that diesels can run on vegetable oils and biodiesel that is being produced in WA state and actively sold in the Seattle area.
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Maisonet
May 4, 2007, 7:41 p.m.Diesel is the best aption we have today so far, my husband uses the used oil from the restaurants, processes it and puts it in the vehicle.
It last longer and it better for the vehicle as well, they run better.
When our vehicle passes by you'll only smell fry chicken, or french fries,
The company he supplies fuel for are very happy with his diesel, and they are also saving money as well as my husband makes money. Is a win-win situation.
For those of you diesel lovers, do some research, you'll find it is easier than you think, and if you have a chinese restaurant near by, you could get their used oil for almost nothing because they have to pay someone else to discard of it, therefore if you take it off their hands, you'll come up winning.I say Chinese because they normally use Canola oil which is the best and cleaner.
And guess what? you won't have to use dangerous chemicals.
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RASSRASS
May 4, 2007, 8:19 p.m.I got excited thinking the article would talk about getting rid of the SUV. So, its called a sports utility vehicle, but most people who drive them are not hauling equipment or even using them for sports. I don't think SUVs were meant for running around town on a daily basis, they are more useful as a second vehicle for those times when you need the space and hauling power. Why are people so facsinated with these trailers, I mean houses on wheels.
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Countryhick
May 4, 2007, 8:52 p.m.Diesel is the same price as premium Gasoline , so the more people use it , the more the price will go up ,right .
Switching from Summer Diesel to Winter or vise a versa , same old game just different Fuel .
No matter what is found as a alternative fuel it will be exploited and taxed just like everything else .
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blksentra2
May 4, 2007, 10:13 p.m.There are a handful of diesel models offered here in the U.S. already. But they are either premium European models or those"Superduty" trucks with a turbo-diesel and gobs of torque.
I hope that the mainstream will be offered more choices other than the hybrids, which are still quite questionable when it comes to long-term ownership.
We all know what happens when diesels age. They just get louder, smellier, and require a lot more stops at your local car wash.
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ZenAgain
May 5, 2007, 4:26 a.m.When at home I drive a Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 direct injection turbo diesel. This car is great, pulls strongly to 100kph (60mph) and can tick along all day at 1500rpm. I have to be careful not to speed in it as the engine is (for a diesel) relatively quiet. And I save bucket loads of fuel over my previous Pajero which was a 3.5lt V6 petrol (gas).
My cars from now on will be diesel. And before you have a go at me driving an SUV, a Toyota or Honda hybrid won't tow my boat. (and it's not even a big boat) Diesel all the way!!
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gregor80
May 5, 2007, 7:21 a.m.I can not understands why America does not use Diesel for cars. I have a diesel car here in Europe for the last 2 years and it is the best thing ever. It uses so much less than my previous gasoline cars, runs in lower RPM and is much quieter. Of course its turbo diesel and the torque and acceleration is just incredible. It's a Renault 2,2 litre and 150HP.
I will never buy gasoline car again. Not that the consumption is a big problem for me, its just that diesel engines run much quieter when you drive in higher speeds.
The price is almost the same now (gasoline about 3-5% more expensive), but I can make almost 1000km (615 miles) on one tank!
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flyrodder
May 5, 2007, 7:44 a.m.I bought a new 3/4 T Chevy diesel in 2002. I get 22 mpg on the highway driving at sensible speeds (65-70). Pulling I get less. Diesel in Wyoming is running close to $3 and in some places more. Unless you have the equipment, time and a place to make your own bio-diesel, you're still at the mercy of the oil companies and their greed.
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Nowalive
May 5, 2007, 9:18 a.m.To address the myth of burning cooking oil in diesels. Diesel (unblended) already has a problem in the winter known as "gelling". Most highway use trucks have block and tank heaters to combat this. That is why you plug your truck in on a cold night. Anyway, to my point, refined cooking oil gells even faster. It may be fine in southern states, but here in the north it'll just solidify in the tank. Fuel additives help with this but not when it gets down to 15 degrees or lower. To produce your own biodiesel is a long process, taking up to 12 hours to produce a 5 gallon batch of fuel.
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Nowalive
May 5, 2007, 9:27 a.m.Now to address the reliability of diesels. A true diesel will outlast a gasoline engine roughly 10 to 1. This is why a diesel will routinely make 1 million miles. I know of several trucks on the road right now with over 2 million miles. This is because a diesel engine has 1/3 fewer moving parts. However, and this is important, a diesel MUST be run regularly or the seals will shrink and it will leak like a sieve. You CAN NOT park your diesel for weeks and not have this happen.
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Nowalive
May 5, 2007, 9:37 a.m.One other advantage to a diesel is if you ever find yourself low on fuel, you can use home heating oil (kerosene).
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gregor80
May 5, 2007, 10:03 a.m.Af or problems with diesel and cold: diesel has special aditives added in winter. Sometimes there were -20 celsious here and I have never had any problems with diesel geling or car not starting. Also my diesel was in a garage for 2 months, nobody started it and one year and 50.000km later it still works great.
I think that most Americans when they think of diesel engines they think of old noisy and polluting diesel. Todays diesel is something completly different.
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raymond72
May 5, 2007, 11:20 a.m.I just hope a European car company would soon release vehicles run by water. I first heard this discovery from an Asian TV (GMA News in the Philippines)saying that an engineer in Philippines had made his car run by water for a couple of years. As the Philippine government failed to support his invention, he sold the right to a certain European car manufacturer.
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Harbeas
May 5, 2007, 11:35 a.m.Excuse me, but the last time I looked diesel fuel costs more than regular gas. I hope the mpg is higher!
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Nowalive
May 5, 2007, 9:53 p.m.The cost of diesel is the same as premium gasoline. The better fuel economy of a diesel makes it attractive.
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Searchbeam
May 5, 2007, 11:09 p.m.Can' wait to try the newer diesels. I understand they are direct injected, so this may reduce the typical diesel clatter and slower response. I think they are controlled by computers like regular gasoline cars, making them more responsive and fuel efficient. The newer electronic fuel injectors would do a lot better job than the old mechanical variety.
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NoWayMan
May 6, 2007, 2:56 p.m.in california, people are trying to get their hands on diesels so they can convert them to biodiesel, which is being sold at more and more places every day it seems.
the engine conversion is pretty easy.
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