Diesel cars

[Franconicus]

In Europe diesel engines have reached a 50% share of all new passenger cars. They have better fuel economy and better performance. In the US they still do not play an important role. Why do the Amercans not drive diesel cars?

[King of Atlantis]

Dont konw. We do use it for trucks though.

[Al Khalifah]

better performance
If you want all the power to come at once. I would not take a diesel on a track-day unless it was a very good diesel.

[English assassin]

Petrol engines do have a better power curve. OT AFAIK there is only one diesel engined motorbike and I imagine that is why.

While we are musing about diesels, when I had to get a new car about a year ago I looked at the hybrid drive things. To my surprise they seem to have no better emission profile than a diesel. Or, put another way, a diesel was as good as a hybrid drive. So that, and the extra cost, was an end of that idea.

Can anyone shed any light on this and why hybrids are any good?

[Al Khalifah]

Do you mean the hybrids that can use LPG in addition to standard fuel?

[English assassin]

Do you mean the hybrids that can use LPG in addition to standard fuel?

No, the pertol electric ones like the toyota Prius. LPG isn't worth it because I heard the gov are goign to start whacking the tax on LPG up.

[Franconicus]

Petrol engines do have a better power curve. OT AFAIK there is only one diesel engined motorbike and I imagine that is why. ?Gasolines have more power but diesel has much more torque. So they would fit perfectly to SUVs. They are heavier than gasolines. That is the reason you do not use them in cycles or planes usually.


While we are musing about diesels, when I had to get a new car about a year ago I looked at the hybrid drive things. To my surprise they seem to have no better emission profile than a diesel. Or, put another way, a diesel was as good as a hybrid drive. So that, and the extra cost, was an end of that idea.
Can anyone shed any light on this and why hybrids are any good?
Hybrids are very best if you run them in stop-and-go. Diesel are the better long distance runner. That is why Japanese like the Hybrids and the Europeans like the diesels. America should be in between. Hybrids for L.A., diesel for Idaho. ~:cool:

[Beirut]

Doesn't diesel polute more than gas?

God knows it stinks more.

[English assassin]

Gasolines have more power but diesel has much more torque. So they would fit perfectly to SUVs. They are heavier than gasolines. That is the reason you do not use them in cycles or planes usually

So they have no top end power, a bit of torque, and they weigh a ton?

Sounds ideal for Harley Davidson.....

[Franconicus]

Doesn't diesel polute more than gas?

God knows it stinks more.
Depends on the aftertreatment. Gasolines use threeway converters. Diesel can have oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters and NOx aftertreatment. Then you can reach Lev2bin5 (=almost no emissions!)