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What Would It Take for YOU to buy a diesel car?
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Until the next gas crisis at least.
The WSJ version of the story noted:
"In 2011, the Obama administration put forth the lofty goal of putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. Last year, a total of 581,240 electric and hybrid cars were sold in the U.S., said Edmunds.com."
It sounds like only Nissan and Tesla are doing "okay" with EVs.
Now that I'm in the land of $3.20 a gallon gas, maybe I'll just keep driving a minivan. Cheap gas. Even diesel is "cheap" at $3.75, lol.
There is also another WSJ article with the upshot: that the electric utilities support EV cars !! ???
HUGE HUGE HUGE surprise here?
Well I think it is fair to say the "cat is out of the bag" on there has never been/is and there will be a gas crisis !!! This will be even more true as DIFFERENT fuel sources (natural gas, diesel, electric, lithium battery, hydrogen fuel cells, etc) become larger minorities of the passenger vehicle fleet. Wherever natural gas can be sourced or delivered RUG/PUG and diesel can be manufactured for app $1 per gal in equipment not much bigger than a 12 ft x 9 ft concrete foot print. Indeed just a modest 10% each of the PVF (other than gasoline) has the structural ability to decrease "gas" consumption by easily 50%. This is not even counting the better gasoline fuel mileage.
In fact, (for my .02 cents) the true crisis the middle east is going through is the threat of becoming "IRRELEVANT", (foment being the chief EXPORT) or so goes the "squeaky wheel always getting the grease" theory (James Taylor) as the Potus showers the fledgling Caliphate with love, to give rise to a new black masked "bogie man". American foreign policy seems to be mirroring TV/Cable wrestling: one can't even make this stuff UP !!!
In fact, the real crisis seems to be that the governments, despite making even MORE than the oil companies make (and THEY make a LOT) are cutting their own massive revenues with better mpg standards and punishing us consumers for following their direction !!! Rather than adjusting the spending, AND cutting the price of fuel, they are raising both spending & the price of fuel !!! So no good deeds go unpunished !!!
So for example, the diesel 4900 + # VW Touareg TDI gets 30 + mpg over the 4800# TLC's 15 mpg or 100% better !!!
Even CR lauds the RAM 1500 diesel TDI truck as getting the best in class mpg !! I bet no one asks the question why Ford/GM don't make a best in class mpg with a hybrid or battery F-150/Silverado? It is not like they didn't have 10 years + to do it !! ???
Might I dare even suggest that Ford/GM will probably be out with a TDI product before long?
VW must hope Ford/GM don't do that since the next step would be TDI SUVs and maybe crossovers. Different vehicle class so far from what VW sells (just where are their trucks?) but VW's diesel sales seem to be about the only bright spot in otherwise lousy sales results. VW sales were down another 13% this past month. Then again, I haven't seen sales figures broken out by fuel for VW so maybe their TDIs aren't selling?
Oh, a gas crisis these days would probably mean $5 a gallon gas. We're pretty much inured to $4 a gallon gas, so if that becomes the national average, instead of just your average out in CA, no one is going to much blink.
Well no! IF Ford/GM Dodge/RAM could have, would have, should have, but ...they didn't !! PERHAPS they would NOT be, IF they were closer in price to their real reason for existence : GASSERs. While some to most would disagree diesels are really not the gasser hybrid's competition, sans similar fuel mileage. So for example, the Prius real competitor is the Corolla segment. But even VW's gasser/ supercharger/ hybrid entries show how "niche" the gasser hybrid markets really are.
VW has certainly had its growing pains in the US market. But @ app 2.5% (2.2 to 2.6% est) of the PVF market share, perhaps the real pressure is mainly internal. I am not privy to the real % goal of diesels sales, but they might not be entirely disappointed at its current app 25% of diesel, total production.
On the US built market of US market Passats, the new $7 B US $ Chattanooga, TN plant output BARELY moved the market share percentage, even as 117,000+? in 2012 yearly build and sales was/is/remains remarkable. VW also set an 850,000 unit yearly build and sales target for the TN plant. BUT if anyone expects that to be yesterday or early tomorrow morning, that might be TOTALLY unrealistic @ best.
I'd say they STILL have a lot of bullets to dodge. They really do not know if TN is indeed VW friendly.
Also VW and VW Corps are one of the BIG THREE in world wide sales. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry
It doesn't hurt they are probably the most profitable (% that is) of ANY oem (large or small). I read an article saying they are jockeying for first place for this 2014 model year. Normally, they are slightly behind Toyota. I have read those Porsches (other brands in the VW line up also) are selling like the euphemistic "hot cakes".
Passat TDI 30% is nothing to sneeze at, maybe total production. Be interesting to see selling days for TDI vs Gas VW/Audi. I got a feeling that VW is limiting the diesels available.
In August the Passat TDI, the only clean diesel in the midsize sedan segment, delivered 2,767 clean diesels or 30.1percent of total Passat sales.
August sales mix for Audi TDI models: Audi A3 TDI at 0.9%; Audi A6 TDI at 11.3%; Audi A7 TDI at 12%; A8 TDI at 11.5%; Audi Q5 TDI at 13.5%, Audi Q7 TDI at 18.6%, with an overall mix of 11.2% on 1,224 total TDI sales for August.
High-mileage, TDI® Clean Diesel models accounted for 8,182 units, representing 23.3 percent of sales in August
Year-to-date TDI sales were 57,384, representing 23.4 percent of sales
Passat TDI sales were 2,767, representing 30.1 percent of sales of the vehicle
Another myth might have bit the dusk a century ago !?
http://online.wsj.com/articles/matt-ridley-whatever-happened-to-global-warming-1409872855?mod=trending_now_1
Whatever Happened to Global Warming?
Now come climate scientists' implausible explanations for why the 'hiatus' has passed the 15-year mark.
By MATT RIDLEY
..."The climate-research establishment has finally admitted openly what skeptic scientists have been saying for nearly a decade: Global warming has stopped since shortly before this century began.
First the climate-research establishment denied that a pause existed, noting that if there was a pause, it would invalidate their theories. Now they say there is a pause (or "hiatus"), but that it doesn't after all invalidate their theories.
Alas, their explanations have made their predicament worse by implying that man-made climate change is so slow and tentative that it can be easily overwhelmed by natural variation in temperature—a possibility that they had previously all but ruled out.
When the climate scientist and geologist Bob Carter of James Cook University in Australia wrote an article in 2006 saying that there had been no global warming since 1998 according to the most widely used measure of average global air temperatures, there was an outcry. A year later, when David Whitehouse of the Global Warming Policy Foundation in London made the same point, the environmentalist and journalist Mark Lynas said in the New Statesman that Mr. Whitehouse was "wrong, completely wrong," and was "deliberately, or otherwise, misleading the public." "...
Surprise surprise !!! ???
Oh, there's probably a link around saying that some recent month was the third warmest on record too.
Everyone seems to have made up their own mind on GW, in spite of any studies that come along. Since we aren't going to shed any light on the subject in here, it's probably best that we stick to diesels. If you can show a connection between GW and diesels, fine.
I think the majority of folks who "believe the mantra of global warming" are mostly the folks who structurally burn MORE ( gasoline) !! Aka app 30% + more and who own the overwhelming majority of gassers (95%) The global "warmacists" (that didn't work out so now its global "climate change") almost all look down their noses upon diesel which polute less and burn less, the two things they say are better !! ?? Disengenuous comes to mind here.
They don't even believe their OWN schtick enough to follow it. IF that isn't bad enough.....
DAMN, they can't even relax their own regulations in CA enough to create the nirvana they seek in "battery" powered cars, enough to build the battery component in CA !!! I bet they will seek to enjoin lithium mining in NV next. They will probably cite damage to the wandering envirocon's habitat at burning man or some such nonsense. The freakier the notion, dah better? Ah, not that I want to add them in THAT cause. EV, unless one is going to invest 30,000 and more to go off grid (like they are going to let em) is still 40% coal fired !!!! The bad news of course is they no long issue permits for NEW coal fired plants. The good news (depending on your pout of view is they do not issue permits for NEW plants !!!!! ???? This is not to count battery storage banks and emergency generation units !! ?? (diesel/natural gas)
Now I happen to like and like to go see the deserts (weird I know). Truthfully, the last thing I want to see are solar/wind farms (mirror farms) They are about as butt ugly as it gets. This is not even to address the central issue about how INEFFICIENT and INEFFECTIVE solar and wind truly ARE and REMAIN.
So yes, driving diesels that are infinitely more adaptable to US highways and road systems are some pretty solid reasons to ....drive DIESELS (passenger cars) .
Sure, plan to burn more diesel. However, better start moving the refineries to higher ground. (Salon)
I do not expect the gasser to diesel and other alternative fuel %'s to change much from 95% PUG/RUG to 5% "other". Besides environs HATE the areas and the people described in your posted articles. It is not like it will affect an envirocon settlement of say 500 to 50,000 activists eh? If Sara Palin were a democrat, she'd be labeled a hick politician. Because she was a repub she was about as shootable as a 60 M buffalo herd.
They'll really hate it when the higher ground the refineries move to is in their back yard. Have you driven that strip from Port Arthur over toward Galveston? It sort of makes you afraid to dip your toe in the Gulf or even inhale.
Now that I think of it, that could explain Janis Joplin's voice.
Yes, I have driven it, aka, more than once.
Ah no, that was sex, drugs, rock in roll in San Francisco... well,.... lots of bourbon really !! Don't ask me how I know that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Comfort
As a boy, the Haight Asbury was the next neighborhood over.
No kidding - I went out there in '69 to visit a friend when I was still in high school in Mississippi. Talk about culture shock! All these years later I've just stuck to Jim Beam.
Oh, spotted some diesel here for $3.65, so the "best" differential is only forty cents or so.
Those were some truly INTERESTING TIMES !!! Some would say they were historic. The music is going on 50+ years old.
In the land of niche pricing:
ULSD $4.05
PUG $3.93
RUG $3.73
Dare I say @ this snapshot of MB GLK 250 B/T of 40 mpg, against Fuelly.com MB 350 of 21 mpg, PUG, the cost per mile driven (cpm d) is .10125 cents /.18714 cents or ,08589 cents MORE for 84.8% more for PUG gasser. (obviously factoring in the higher diesel price)
Diesels seem to work MUCH better than gassers, gasser hybrids, natural gas @ altitude. I truly do not know about ranges for EV's. Obviously @ altitudes of minus -282 ft to less than 1,000 ft, the effects are less pronounced, albeit only app 30% better mpg. So if fast to fastest naught to 60 mph times are paramount, get gassers with those postings. For me, the (naught to 60 mph) metric is virtually USELESS, and whatever they happen to be, works just fine.
Less gas, more diesel, less GW
I did my part and the planet is cooling.
And for the record, these two guys tested the Jeep GC diesel against the Touareg TDI. The right one won the segment I am interested in.
http://www.autoguide.com/car-comparisons/2014-jeep-grand-cherokee-diesel-vs-2014-volkswagen-touareg-tdi-rline-4057.html
Agreed, the 30 to 60 merge number would have more meaning, but I don't much care about that (or torque) either.
Interesting reminder about elevation (as Tidester would call it). Last trip out the van really liked the "low" octane gas and heights. Haven't looked at the mpg readout lately for our around town crusing. I think I have the best of both worlds now with better mpg and cheaper gas, but I keep forgetting to look, lol. The van's sweet spot seems to be cruising along at 70 with the AC on full blast - go figure.
IF torque is NOT important to you, I certainly respect that and also understand it. Most gasser owners have NO clue when talking about TORQUE !!! So really, that is a no brainer here.
You didn't say it EXACTLY, but truly you hit the operative realities on the head ! Who, what, where, why, when, and how is your particular vehicle optimized. It is pretty easy to figure out, IF one is paying attention. MOST either don't or do not care. As it applies to diesels, I like (who, what, where, why, when, and) how they are optimized, even when they are "off axis" so to speak. 30% better mpg is really only the start or ONLY one metric for TDI's.
So for example, in posting 51+ mpg (@altitude) on SOS/DD DOWNGRADE trek on an EPA rated 33 mpg (actually 56% BETTER than H EPA) , all I really did was: 1. use the brakes as little as possible 2. literally roll down off the mountain . 3. I did CARELESSLY leave the A/C...on 4. Let the vehicle @ idle for 10-20 mins with the A/C on , stopped for what appeared to be an horrific accident/should have shut down 5. I did use every 2 lane (one way) passing area.
In theory, that is what everyone else did also, sans leaving the A/C on carelessly.
On the slow news diesel day, I avoided being a road boulder @ 80+ mph by moving out of the way of an approaching CHP. I did happen to notice that he also passed the road boulder that I passed on the right, on the right also.
When I went from the '89 Voyager with 100 HP to the '99 Quest with ~170 footpounds of torque, that peppiness off th line was one of the first things my wife noticed. Don't know what torque the Voyager had without searching, but the lack of it was mildly irritating. But we still managed a lot of fun road trips in it for a decade.
Most people don't drive with a quail egg under their foot like I do though. Part of it must be just driving a minivan. Ask me again when (if?) we downsize to a fun hatch.
Back to diesel news, this is gonna attract the interest of the trial lawyers out there. Shouldn't have much affect on passenger cars unless the news gets some traction and scares buyers away and somehow I don't think that'll happen.
"A recent finding by a workers' compensation judge that a bus mechanic's exposure to diesel exhaust contributed to his death from lung cancer has rattled lawyers who defend big employers.
Dorota Nigro won a judgment for the death of her husband, Anthony. They expect the ruling to spur similar claims even as diesel-related litigation has been hamstrung in U.S. civil courts. It comes at a time when public-health and workplace-safety experts are stepping up warnings about inhaling diesel fumes.
In June 2012, the World Health Organization designated diesel exhaust carcinogenic to humans, placing it on a list that includes radon and asbestos. Lawyers expected a flood of diesel-related litigation in U.S. civil courts, but several factors have limited such lawsuits."
The rest of the story is likely registration only at the WSJ.
I would bet way more mechanics die from Carbon Monoxide than diesel exhaust. I know I could walk into a shop in Prudhoe where they had a Herman Nelson for heat and get a tight chest in a few minutes. I refused to work in a building heated with a gas heater. Many with diesel furnaces did not bother my breathing at all. I blame it on being raised in LA and SD during the Leaded gas days. If we had not pulled our mechanic out from under a truck and got the paramedics to him fast he would have died from CO. Much more deadly than diesel exhaust. I blame the individual. You work around chemicals, smoke, fumes that bother you and not report it, your spouse should have NO right to sue.
Slow news diesel day, but ran a bit past when the low fuel lamp lit . So @ 575 miles took 14.3 gals $4.03 per = 40 mpg +.
It might be WAY narrow, for as you know ANYBODY that has been exposed to diesel trains, boats, airplanes, etc., etc., should also be eligible. As is easy to see, that is anyone in the world who has had lung issues. To be clear... NOT ! As indicated in the article it is all about the money ! (that one can get from deep pockets)
It is also instructive that as a cigarette CHAIN smoker, he (his estate) didn't get a thin dime from the extortion monies the government gets from BIG tobacco for just that very purpose.
That's easy. Science actually knows why it is slowing down. Cyclical change of the ocean currents, along with unusually strong trade winds, is driving the heat down into the ocean, to depth of as much as 1,000 feet measured. Some of the heat has gone down, not up. This has been verified with sensors lowered by the U of Washington research staff. It' getting warm "down there".
This cyclical slowing (not ending) of the warming trend will continue to about 2030, when it should return with a vengeance as the currents once again go back to a more normal course and the ocean will no longer absorb that much heat.
Average global temps have risen .12 degrees Celsius every decade for the last 60 years (average). Beginning in 1998, this slowed to .05 deg. Celsius per decade.
Over 90% of Earth's heat is absorbed by oceans.
These ocean current cycles usually last 25-30 years.
13 of the last 14 years since year 2000 have been the warmest ever recorded.
source: NationalGeographic.com
Yes, fairy tales like that are very easy to come up with. Somebody's nose is growing !
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Evidently they are out of sync, nice theory however.
The scientific search for understanding the massive complexities of global climate goes on. We're making a lot of progress in this area. Resistance to the evidence of global warming seems to be crumbling fast all around the world . Most scientifically literate people take it very seriously.
We'll just have to agree to disagree on that. The push back against the GW agenda has never been greater IMO. Mostly politics and not enough real science to commit any long term funding to. The whole AGW thing is on life support and hopefully the plug will be pulled soon.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Actually if a scientist is not a "global warm a cist" he/she commits the career equivalent of HARI KIRI !!
Or to use a current analogy, that is like an Ebola infected person going to a NYC cocktail party.
Well, they DO take it VERY seriously, but in totally the opposite way, or not to achieve the same results !
Defacto the PVF consumes way more fuel (barrels of oil) than it would IF diesels were 40%+ of the PVF. The fact that the majority of the food chain can not see or acknowledge that or more importantly, willing to pay the extra premiums is really proof positive the scam REALLY works !!
http://www.sanjosegasprices.com/crude_products.aspx
GIVEN 265.647 M US PVF and the above (95% +) % rug/pug and diesel, almost NO ONE can see that 40% + diesel PVF would actually MASSIVELY DECREASE fuel consumption (barrels of oil). Or if they do, either can not change it or wisely, ... BENEFIT from it.
The truth is they are having a hard time dealing with the DECREASE in revenues, due to the greater mpg efficiency (RUG/PUG). NEXT with the less than 5% who do use diesel, instead of RUG/PUG puts even MORE downward pressure. They are also having a hard time dealing with the decrease in overall MILES driven !!!!!
That is not even taking into consideration the 30 % + diesel fuel mpg advantage nor decreases in miles. Defacto a 40% + diesel PVF would be GAME changing !!!!
The difference in numbers are not semantic, but HUGE HUGE HUGE !!!! It (the old standards) do raise MASSIVE revenues for governments however !!
So it is totally true. Talk about using less, while actually using more. Then, bump the prices UP, when they experience ANY lessening of demand !!
This is simple to see in Europe !! The diesel PVF is 50%+. They are injecting fear and doubt about diesel, so they can raise diesel consumers costs !!! THAT is the bad news. The good news? IF they are successful in changing the %, THEN they can easily bump the price of RUG/PUG UP !!!!!!
Here is a GERMAN "price fix" Sept 8, 2014
SUPER $9.24 (US per gal, 128 oz)
Super E10 $8.80,
ULSD $7.59.
http://gasoline-germany.com/statistik.phtml?waehrung=USD&einheit=Gallon
SO on the retail price face of it, ULSD enjoys a 13.75% discount.
What also might be an interesting comparison is the European, 9,000 miles/American 12,000 to 15,000 miles average yearly mileage.
This past week the BMW Championship golf tournament was held in Denver. I spent the week as a volunteer on the VIP Player Transportation committee, which meant shuttling folks to and from the airport.
Available to the players were BMW 750iL's and X5 diesels. I probably spent several hundred miles behind the wheel of the X5 and have a few thoughts to share.
(note that my only prior experience with diesels was with my folks 1972 MB 220D that I drove while in high school 30+ years ago)
I was supremely impressed with how the X5 drove - it didn't feel at all like the diesels I was used to. No clatter, no waiting to start the engine - it truly felt like I was driving a gasoline engined car.
Except when I pressed the go pedal on the highway - the torque shoved me back into the seat and I would go from 55 to 75 in the blink of an eye.
31 MPG highway, according to the sticker.
If only it wasn't so darn expensive, I'd try to talk my wife into one as her next car.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Among other factors, I think the switch to the 8 speed A/T really jumped the H EPA to 31 mpg ! (from what it was before, I am not sure). The I-6 TDI almost begs to be optimized for max torque (413 # ft) at a LOW 1,500 rpm. I think max hp is still @ 4,000 rpm. Since the 15 X5 35D is still pretty rare and new,there are not a lot of examples on some of the mpg sites. So for example Fuelly.com list 2 for an average total of 24 mpg for the 13 MY.
You got me curious as that is a big jump in overall mileage claims on the EPA site. My BMW dealer has 3 listed. From $66k to $81k. I tried to find $15k in options and could not. The price was one reason I did not get excited about the early X5 35D. That and the seats just do not feel comfortable like the Mercedes and Touareg seats. Another thing is the X5 has a lot wider turning radius than the competition. And BMW loves those over priced run flat tires.
In comparing I see Edmunds has listed the ML250 BlueTec coming out in the 2015 MY. One dealer in the USA has one. That would be on my list when I am ready to change, which may be a good while. By then you will have 100k miles on your 250 BlueTec and give us the G,B&U.
I think diesel owners have a natural tendency to compare diesels with diesels. Edmunds.com lists 29 TDI 14 models. So in that sense, there is always an apples to oranges comparisons component.
However for the greater audience, it is fair to say most to all diesels outperform there like model gasser models in most parameters, sans the ZERO to 60 times. MPG seems to be one that is looked at, by most.
I also think you and Michael hit the nail on the head with the BMW prices observations.
As for the 2.1 L Twin Turbo DI mated to the 7 speed A/T, I am REALLY liking it ! I also anticipate the mpg getting better (if that is possible?) than it already is (@ app 11,000 miles) .
All the current drivers like the CUV's more upright driving position. Since it is a compact CUV, it is a tad tight for 4 folks and the luggage. We have had up to 2 simultaneous meetings while in transit in the CUV. The GOOGLE bus has a lot more room, but folks in other areas get a kick out of knowing we are on the road.
While one does pay a penalty for the AWD (MB calls it 4 matic), for us it is to be able to meet all but EXTREME CA Trans interstate mountain chain control requirements. " Extreme" is normally defined as when the snow plows (GPS and installed road sensor guide) have staying on the ROAD issues. When that happens, you normally don't want to be on the road anyway !!!
For folks ok with TMI, here is the 411 on one of the major interstates to the North Lake Tahoe, CA side area.
http://www.auburnjournal.com/article/hard-work-short-day-i-80-chain-installers
As an anecdotal data point, for as short as a 2.5 hour trip, it has taken as long as 10 hours to get down off or on the mountain.
I didn't catch your drift the other day when you talked zero - to - 60 times. With all the torque available, I'm a bit surprised that the gassers do better in this category.
But again, most of us just need the oomph for passing and that's where 30 - to - 60 is the better parameter to look at.
The one time we got stuck by chain restrictions, we decided it was almost as cheap (and more fun) to skip buying a set of chains and go get a motel room. Back in my snow country days, I'd buy chains at the thrift, test them one time in my driveway, and work like the devil never to have to actually use them. Miserable job.
? From your post, it appears that you did get the drift.
Yes, for me the 30 to 60 mph or 40 through 80 mph, etc is WAY more important.
TOTAL agreement on the miserable job take, putting on chains !!! The other down side is the POTENTIAL $$$ damage, if a component gets away or the chains are not installed correctly.
THIS IRKED ME: Just when diesels are on a comeback in California, I get behind a VW Golf TWI, and whenever this car accelerates, plumes of black smoke burst onto the freeway. Talk about bad PR!
What's the issue with this car? Bad injectors? Obviously, bad maintenance. Young guys driving--that might explain everything. (Here, Timmy, you take dad's old Golf).
You think they set it up to "roll coal" like the big diesel duallys?
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Nah, because there was really nobody around for them to torment. It's just bad form, because now a few hundred people on the road are going to badmouth diesels.
I got stuck behind a smoking gasser in the Smokies a few weeks back. That was unusual. I see a smoking diesel every other day here (but they are always pickups).
Well the older diesel pickups are cruder systems, and I think people are more forgiving of a big truck belching out crap into the air--but on a German car, this is inexcusable.
It is a bit surprising in that ULSD (15 ppm delivered nominally @ 5 to 10 ppm) is app 95% to 99% less pollutive than LSD (@ 140 ppm sulfur to 500 ppm sulfur sulfur being ONE of the main components of pollution).
I would guess there is either (shot) rings or head gasket issue, i.e., other than ULSD is being burnt (engine oil, etc.) .
Just filled up with Shell ULSD. Price was $3.89 on CC. Most Chevron charge a dime a gallon for CC use. My last two tanks I used Mobil. They are also the worst mileage I have gotten since the TDI was new. With over a 1000 total miles one tank was 22.65 MPG the one today was 22.96 MPG. No more Mobil diesel for me. I will stick with Shell or Chevron. Worst tank on Shell was 25.81 MPG. My two best at 30.68 and 32.17 were with Shell. There is a reason all the records are set using Shell. I am a believer. Worst on Chevron 24.83 MPG. Even no name discount diesel is better than Mobil.
Definite possibility. Engine oil dumps bluish smoke, though. Last weekend, while driving my old '69 C20, I am waiting at a light to turn left. When the cars to my left get their green, they all take off. In front is a Jeep GC and a late 90s lifted Ford quad-cab diesel. As they pass by, the air literally fills with blue smoke. The usual suspect at fault, right? Nope... the JGC is just rolling the oil out the exhaust.
I know it doesn't take a whole lot to create the smoke, but that guy must have been running without rings or something. It was absolutely atrocious!
The exhaust I saw on the Golf was pure jet black--definitely unburned fuel, not oil. Something amiss with the injection I would suppose, or possibly low compression.
I am not sure ULSD is good for old diesel engines. Something to do with lubrication. Or maybe it is a garage mechanic making his own fuel or using cheap heating oil. Probably as you said a worn out part. Should get caught unless it is pre 1976 on the diesel inspections.
My mpg postings are with Shell, Chevron, a local Indy, grocery store station (hidden Chevron brand?). Defacto, some tanks are MIXED "brands". Once in a while I will hit the Valero brand. The grocery store gives up to MINUS .50 cents per gal discount and the CC gives minus- 1.5% to 5% (minus- .06 cent to -.20 cents.)
Mobil (diesel) up here is not very available, so thanks for the heads up.
I thought it may be the new Michelin tires as they are slightly taller. Calculator says when the speedo says 70 MPH I am actually going 71.428 MPH. Looking at a calculator it says I will be at 10,000 miles when the Odometer reads 9797. So I may have to figure that into my MPG calculations as I actually will be covering more miles than indicated. Better set up my Excel spreadsheet to make that correction.
Did you get the Latitudes? Were they the oem size?
Brand new tires almost always zap mpg when they are new. The additional penalty is if break in periods are rushed, they tend not last as long as when they are broken in more gently.
The owners manual "highway" recommendation seems to work well @ 3 PSI higher.
They are a bit taller than OEM P255/55R19. They are the Latitude Tour HP 111V 30 inches tall. The OEM P265/50r19 are 29.4 inches tall. They are listed as LRR GreenX tires. Currently I have them at the listed 33Fr 39Rear. When running on a hot day the go up to 35Fr and 41rear. They are much better riding and quieter than the Goodyear OEMs. I will know after our trip in October if the tires or fuel was the reason for lower mileage. And the last tank of 569 miles was over a month and a half of short city trips. A good run to Oregon and back should give me a better picture.
If I have done the right calculation, when the Odometer shows 569 miles traveled we actually went 581 mile on the larger tires. Which would change the MPG from 22.96 to 23.45. That tank fill was 24.778. Computer said I have 60 miles left.