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Diesels in the News

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Comments

  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    Actually that is good in that the conversion is 1.1 to 1 gal for an obvious slight loss.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    ..."And I know that if diesel is "alternative fuel" I will eat my hat."...

    And you know eating your hat is beyond hyperbole !!! Even you know that according to the EPA the so called "bio" diesels etc meet the defintion of alternative fuels.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    EXACTLY:

    Biodiesel
    Veggie Oil diesel

    THOSE are alternative fuels.

    Straight out of the Citgo pump, standard refined diesel is NOT.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    While I am glad you agree with me both in current and past posts (in the hybrid diesel threads) where I did mention alternative fuels such as diesel, You really need to stop wasting peoples' time with non productive false scenarios. You set up the false example of diesel at the Citgo pump. NOT me.

    In fact B (whatevers)diesel fuels are a mix of diesel fuels and can be burnt rather seamlessly in diesel engines.

    YOU can not do that with unleaded regular. "Oxygenated" fuels to me are almost a total rip off.
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    this forum? You folks are out of wack.

    John
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    DaimlerChrysler AG plans to sell diesel-powered passenger cars in Japan again and has started accepting orders for the Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI Avantgarde luxury car, powered by the CDI diesel engine, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing the chief executive of the company's Japanese unit.

    The company expects delivery of the cars to start by the end of October.

    DaimlerChrysler stopped selling diesel passenger cars in Japan in 1997, but it believes the advanced fuel efficiency and environmentally friendly features of the CDI engine will make the Avantgarde a success, the paper said.

    Hans Tempel, president and chief executive at DaimlerChrysler Japan Holding Ltd, was quoted as saying that demand for diesel engines will rise in the long term because they give better fuel mileage and emit less carbon dioxide than do gasoline engines.


    http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/08/28/afx2978574.html
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I think the pro hybrid crowd came over to visit. Not much going on over there. Just discussing noisy Camry hybrids and price gouging by Toyota.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    What is being done to clean up the exhaust on dirty old gas burners? A 2000 Camry or Accord is dirtier than a VW TDI.

    August 23, 2006Missoula, Montana -- Environment, government and business representatives gathered in Missoula today to support a clean diesel retrofit donation that will use cutting-edge technology to vastly reduce emissions from existing diesel vehicles and help clean Montana’s air.

    Senator Conrad Burns provided keynote remarks at the luncheon, where Caterpillar Inc.’s donation of retrofit technology for 14 Mountain Line transit buses was announced.

    “Clean diesel retrofit technology can help improve Montana's environmental and air quality,” Burns said.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    What happens is that those dirty old gas burners fail the emissions tests in their states and become illegal to drive.

    And no "passenger car TDIs" will be retrofitted with clean diesel technology.

    Glad to know the buses are getting the treatment however.
  • mercaramercara Member Posts: 291
    Lack of savings, bankrupt social secuity and medicare and extremely high cost of healthcare will probably kill me before diesel does ;-)

    If you plant to improve the world there are a few higher priorities out there than diesel exhause fumes..
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    I just want diesel fuel and diesel car engines to get cleaner, like they apparently are GOING to be in 2008.

    There is no denying the benefit of clean diesel combined with particulate filters.

    I want the first 70+ MPG diesel/electric hybrid 5-passenger car.
  • alp8alp8 Member Posts: 656
    Lack of savings, bankrupt social secuity and medicare and extremely high cost of healthcare will probably kill me before diesel does

    If you plan to improve the world there are a few higher priorities out there than diesel exhaust fumes..


    that's funny - tell that to the kids and the elderly in California's central valley

    I didn't realize we can only work on one priority at a time.

    Frankly, I don't care what fuel you burn in your car. That is your business. I only care what is in the air that comes into my lungs. That is my business. Burn whatever you want, just don't put any of it into my air, eh? That seems fair.

    Oh, you want a free lunch? I get it, now.
  • once_for_allonce_for_all Member Posts: 1,640
    "that's funny - tell that to the kids and the elderly in California's central valley "

    Alright, I was semi-reading your stuff, but since I am in Fresno, and I know that diesel is not a major part of the problem here, you have just lost your credibility.

    Please, this is a forum for intelligent dialogue, let's not go spreading rumors.

    John
  • mercaramercara Member Posts: 291
    Alp8,

    Have you considered moving to Canada?
  • alp8alp8 Member Posts: 656
    Alright, I was semi-reading your stuff, but since I am in Fresno, and I know that diesel is not a major part of the problem here, you have just lost your credibility.

    the diesel sure ain't helping

    I'd be happy to review any pollution data that you have for Fresno that shows that diesel poses no risk to the residents of the area

    This is probably a reasonable place to start - CARB study finalized in May 2006. I haven't read the report. If it says that diesel isn't a problem in Fresno, I will withdraw my comments.

    http://www.arb.ca.gov/ch/communities/studies/fresno/fresnosb25reportfinal.pdf#se- arch=%22fresno%20air%20pollution%20diesel%22
  • alp8alp8 Member Posts: 656
    Alp8,

    Have you considered moving to Canada?


    what the heck does that mean?

    do you need to be reported to a moderator?

    if you can't stick to the issues, then please move on to another forum

    are you trying to infer that in America each of us gets to pollute as much as we please, but that in Canada we can't? I don't get your comment, unles it was intended to be an insult
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    if you can't stick to the issues

    I didn't see any NEWS stories posted about hazardous diesel pollution in the CA central valley. I must have missed that one.
  • alp8alp8 Member Posts: 656
    butt out

    is this YOUR fight?

    the NEWS is the availability of ULSD, which you know about

    There are news stories every day about diesel pollution in the Central Valley

    interesting that you want to suppress this line of discussion
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=15122

    Environment: 'Clean' Mercedes Diesel too Dirty for Five US States
    31 Aug 06 13:17

    Bluetec: not green enough

    Mercedes-Benz's much trumpeted E320 Bluetec diesel has failed to meet the emissions standards required for sale in green-minded California and four other states in the USA. Mercedes had hoped that Bluetec technology would establish the brand as a maker of clean, low-emissions diesels as the US market slowly turns towards higher-economy vehicles, but potential buyers in wealthy Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont, as well as highly pollution-conscious California, won't be able to buy that version of the E-Class.

    The Bluetec system includes injection of the AdBlue fluid, an aqueous urea solution, into the exhaust tract; this reduces nitrogen oxide emissions to hydrogen and water. In combination with an exhaust gas catalyst, a particulate filter, the latest common-rail piezo-injection technology and low-sulphur diesel fuel, the system is claimed to make the E320 CDI 'the cleanest diesel vehicle in the world', according to Mercedes. However, the testing authorities have clearly decided that it is not quite clean enough.


    And the REALLY BAD part:

    It could also delay development of the hybrid diesel-electric powertrains which Mercedes is currently working on.

    You know that's the vehicle I want - a 5-passenger "clean diesel/electric hybrid" capable of 70+ MPG and an EPA Air Pollution score of 9 or 9.5
  • alp8alp8 Member Posts: 656
    that's bad news

    even I am waiting for clean diesels

    please don't make me buy a Camry Hybrid.......
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    If you have followed the BluTec engine and Mercedes attempt to get it approved, you know that it is the requirement that the owner add fluid to the urea tank. It does pass the test with the fluid present. CARB does not want it left up to the individual to keep that fluid level. Another case of Big Brother trying to control our lives. Same people that killed the Electric vehicle.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Why don't they just make it a "scheduled maintenance item" in the manual and let the dealer do it at the oil changes?

    Seems kinda odd.

    Anyway, MB will redesign that part of the system, or get around that with technology we can hope.

    Seat-mounted catheter? ;)
  • dhanleydhanley Member Posts: 1,531
    "What is being done to clean up the exhaust on dirty old gas burners? A 2000 Camry or Accord is dirtier than a VW TDI. "

    This is very interesting! Do you have references for this?
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I sure do. The EPA site has the 2001 Camry V6 rated "one". Same as the VW TDI. The TDI puts out 3 tons less GHG than the Camry making it a cleaner choice.

    There are many new gas cars & SUVs that are polluting as much or more than a new VW TDI. If you look back 2-3 years cars from every maker had cars rated "one" or even zero. It is purely political in CA. One person at CARB wielded a big stick and the whole country is affected. Most manufacturers are not going through the EPA hoops if they know they cannot sell cars in CA.

    Not all at CARB are blind to the facts. It is politics that have blocked the diesel cars not science.

    Detroit -- New cars with diesel particle filters (DPF) can meet or beat new gasoline cars on particulate matter (PM) emissions, California Air Resources Board (CARB) deputy executive director Tom Cackette told the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAB) World Congress here.

    Speaking at a panel discussion on whether future diesel cars can survive and thrive in the U.S. despite extremely tough U.S. EPA/GARB emissions regulations, Cackette pointed out that the new PSA/Peugeot cars in Europe equipped with DPFs produce about one-fourth the PM emissions of advanced gasoline cars in the U.S.

    These PSA cars emit about 0.5 milligrams/mile of PM, versus about 2 mg/mile PM from advanced gasoline cars, he said.

    That means this PSA diesel car is four times cleaner than gasoline cars on PM emissions. If such diesel cars could meet all CARB emissions standards for LEV-2 - and stay very close to gasoline on ultra-low PM -- then diesels likely could become environmentally acceptable even in super-strict California.
  • jimlockeyjimlockey Member Posts: 265
    The land of movie stars speaks again. That is the place that poisons our kids brains.

    They never have gotten over the fact that they lost the Rose bowl.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Sadly it is not just our kids that they corrupt. It is the whole fiber of our country. They see nothing wrong with driving their Prius to the airport for the media to see. Then climbing into a Gulfstream and flying to lunch in the Tetons. One trip in the Gulfstream will dump more pollution than hundreds of diesel cars.

    According to Gulfstream fact sheet. The Gulfstream dumps 311.1 lbs of NoX in one flight. Let's say they flew the maximum range of 5504 miles. That is 25.4 grams per mile of NoX. The VW TDI puts out a maximum of .052 GM/mile. That means the Hollywood star flying his Gulfstream puts out 488 times more NoX per mile than Ruking in his Jetta TDI. Multiply that times the rows of Gulfstream aircraft at all the airports in the LA Basin. Oh, and Gulfstream is one of the cleanest jets in the world. So # 1 diesel which is the fuel used in all those private jets is not banned in CA. Only cars for the little people that want to use less fossil fuel and save a few bucks at the pump.

    Emissions: taxi,t/o climb cruise descent app,taxi total
    (lb.NOx) 4.9 34.3 269.5 0.9 1.5 311.0
    (lb.HC) 0.23 0.07 3.36 0.38 0.13 4.18
    (lb.CO) 6.7 4.0 260.0 9.5 3.8 284.1
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    So what are you saying Gary - outlaw Gulfstreams? And private jets are new, all of a sudden? Are we to not allow rich people to fly in them? Private planes for rich people have been around 40 years.

    Let's not get goofy here, OK?

    Most commerical airliners and NASCAR still use leaded fuel.

    There are tons of areas which need addressing, but the point is that anyone who choses a low-polluting car is DOING THEIR PART, no matter how small it is.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    What is goofy is the the almost TOTALLY incongruous standards!!! Or on a real level that is why the standards ARE that way!! First of all, it is a commonly known measurement that the A/C emissions at 40,000 ft (or whatever the jets normally fly at) is many many many times more injurious than (my) diesel at sea level. (or there abouts) As you can see by Gary's quoted figures many many many more times of emissions is emitted at heights that injury the environment faster, better and more widely than a diesel at sea level.While the Gulfstream is one of the cleanest, (i.e., fuel efficient) its operation at crusing altitude is totally unabated. Unlike (my) passenger diesel which IS. !!!

    Indeed if one stops all unmitigated emissions such as air flights and sea travel, the environment will benefit immensely. Indeed there are scientific community segments that have gone on record indicating that (even if we could wave the magic wand and totally shut off "harmful" emissions) doing so would have literally no long term effect on the so called downward spiral. Also this issue is NOT a good case for the globalization policy. So if we apply Larsh's thought of stopping all air travel and sea travel (due to emissions issues) until they can scientifically test and solve the issues. We would have succeeded in moving the world into global bankruptcy with the associated consequences.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Hold on Ruking1: I never said stop all air and sea travel.

    I proposed that Gary must want private jets to be grounded, since he was complaining about Hollywood stars taking private flights.

    States can only control certain things. What they can easily control is which cars get registered in the state. If they can stop dirty diesel registrations as a part of a clean air plan, that's an easy thing to do. Thus is why the five clean air states have banned dirty diesel cars as new for sale.

    There is work to do in every area. Until a flaming liberal tree hugger attains the White House, nothing major will
    happen, because life as we know it must go on.

    PS Kudos to California for passing the Green Air act this week. Way to GO GOVERNATOR !!!!
  • hwyhobohwyhobo Member Posts: 265
    States can only control certain things. What they can easily control is which cars get registered in the state.

    And that is the key behind all liberal touchy feely regulations: not what is truly effective, but what is easy to do, whether it accomplishes much or not. Let's all sing kumbaya.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    Not to pick on you personally, but you do not even see the total incongruous nature of is happening in the REAL WORLD, let alone acknowledge what is really going on. The true problem is the easy and politcal window dressing way has been taken time after time, etc etc.

    So let me use an off topic analogy to focus awareness. It is a bit like watching the water flow of Niagra Falls and getting all wigged out when someone doesn't fix a water drip due to say a worn washer in a household.

    More on topic the regulatory agencies took the position that the "new ULTRA low sulfur" fuel would save xxxx lifes.(CA has been using LOW SULFUR fuel for a long time. Now of course this sounds PC and is a real no brainer. But if it is true why didn't they TAKE that position in the 1970's when they made the decision to switch to unleaded regular from leaded regular???? so xxxx saved per year times 30-40 years is a whole lot of lives that were NOT saved if their projections are true. Simply mind boggling!!
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    OK, so what is your idea about something "truly effective" that the states can do that they are not doing?

    What would YOU DO if you were the Governator for a week?
  • moparbadmoparbad Member Posts: 3,870
    Cleaner Diesel Fuel in CA

    Unfortunate the cleanest diesel cars and light trucks ever are not sold in CA.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    Now how oxymoronic is that!!?? Now they can ALSO say ULSD doesn't sell well on the diesel passenger vehicle market!!! :) ;(
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    I just filled up (days ago) with the "old" #2 diesel. I suspect however during this time, the actual product was the new USLD or 15 ppm #2 diesel.

    Practical procedures indicates it takes several full (dealer) tank "purges" to see their stores get down to 15 ppm. So indeed there was/is probably a "GRACE" period in the process of cycling through and out from the 140 ppm LOW SULFUR diesel to what will be known as USLD.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    You know I wonder why they make a big deal about separating church from STATE; in that the republican grubinator was the answer to the LONG democratic controlled power structures PRAYERS!! They now have someone to BLAME !!! Hard to blame those dammed repubs when a democratic governor (such as in a prior Gray Davis Demo governer, aka pay to play) is working with a democratically controlled power structure!! And of course vice versa on the FED front. !! All they now have to do (with that repub upstart is ) to get em in line is to send him once or twice through the gauntlet and beat him up to within one inch of his political life!! When it comes time for the VOTE (net, scissors, rock) and he doesn't have the majority vote, which is by definition is almost ALWAYS).... Done deal.
  • mercaramercara Member Posts: 291
    Yoga has been known to calm severely frayed nerves.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I proposed that Gary must want private jets to be grounded, since he was complaining about Hollywood stars taking private flights.

    You are saying ground the airplanes and diesel cars. I did not suggest any kind of ban. Just a reality check on what is and isn't serious pollution. And by the way. Jet airliners burn # 1 diesel/kerosene/JetA. Same exact fuel that we ran in our diesel trucks year round in the Arctic.

    I am pointing out to the suckers that fell for the Hollywood hybrid rhetoric, just how phony they are. Your reasoning that they are rich people is hilarious. Does that give them the right to pollute? The truth is it is easier as you have said to crap on the little guy that just wants a vehicle that will get decent mileage. Don't step on any BIG Toes or you may find yourself out of office.

    I would not buy a Toyota hybrid for the very reason it is the "IN" thing in Hollywood. Toyota pulled off a beautiful scam on the car buying public with the Prius giveaways in tinsel town. The ONLY way I would EVER buy a Toyota is if they bring a small diesel to our shores.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Gary, Gary, Gary. (long head shaking sigh)

    Let's move this to the Prius forum. MEET YA THERE....
  • alp8alp8 Member Posts: 656
    I would not buy a Toyota hybrid for the very reason it is the "IN" thing in Hollywood.

    so, if GM made a hybrid, that performed exactly as the Prius, and no Hollywood types were champpioning it, would you buy it??
  • eliaselias Member Posts: 2,209
    coontie57, why should any manufacturer warranty their diesel engines more than the gassers? 50k is pretty standard nowadays.
    speaking of hybrids too, i've recently been cross-shopping a saturn vue hybrid vs one of the just-arriving-at-dealers special edition 06 jetta VW TDI. TDI wins. a dealbreaker for VUE is that it has no yaw/rollover control.
    also you seem to be misinformed about VW not selling TDIs "right now". there are dealers with both beetle TDIs and jetta 'special edition' TDIs during september & october and maybe beyond, until they sell out.

    gagrice, gulfstream shmulfstream! look up the stats on the 707 - i think that is what Travolta flies that wild commercial-pilot man!
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    If it fit all my needs and desires in an vehicle, I may. As it stands right now none of the hybrids have what I want in a vehicle. I would not have this GMC hybrid PU truck if it did not have what I wanted in it. Am I thrilled with it? Not overall. Out of the last 5 GM vehicles it is the one I like the least. Except for the XM radio.

    I would rather have a 1/2 ton PU with a small diesel.
  • alp8alp8 Member Posts: 656
    so the only reason you won't buy a Prius is because Hollywood folks are championing it?

    that is so lame

    I agree that there are times that the messenger is more important than the message, but I prefer to make up my own mind on the message, first, rather than just ignore a good idea because of who is telling me about it

    but back to our topic, what do you think the earliest prospect is for new diesels in California? Is last week's CARB failure by DC a major setback, or just a bump in the road? Do you think California's prospective Global Warming legislation will help promote diesels? I think there is a provision in it along the lines of "if California's air laws re emissions are overturned, that the state is to eneact regulations aimed at global warming." I see that as a huge window for diesels, but I don't know if California has a chance of winning the pending emissions lawsuit.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    If you have followed my posts you would know I feel the Prius and HSD system in particular is way too complex and will be problematic over the long haul. Whether I keep a vehicle a year or 15 years is irrelevant. I don't want one that will likely cause me grief after a few years. I think the hybrids fit in that category. Mine included. I will not keep this GMC hybrid past the warranty.

    Diesels in CA is a crap shoot. Anyone that lives here know that we have a legislature and state government that cannot make a decent decision. What that means for the citizens is higher taxes and more regulation. About the only freedom left in CA is being able to say I don't like the direction CARB has taken on diesel cars. If you look at the Hollywood influence in some of the latest legislation (the Meathead bill) you will understand my detesting anything that comes out of tinsel town. San Diego county rarely votes with the rest of the state.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    "so the only reason you won't buy a Prius is because Hollywood folks are championing it?

    that is so lame "

    I think you would be WAY off point, IF after reading some of Gagrice's past posts, you came to the above quoted conclusion. So I can only reasonably conclude that either you are not familar with some of the things he said in past posts, or are using the above quote as a sort of hypergolic (chemical) flash point of departture for discussion.

    As byzantine as the policies toward diesel/s are in CA, (BUT follow the money (fees generated ) registration of so called used diesels (>than 7,500 miles) is actually just as easy to easier than like gasser vehicles.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    >than 7,500 miles) is actually just as easy to easier than like gasser vehicles.

    I might add, you are not subject to the ignorance of the emissions tests, that have proven to be of little value. They are just another way to squeeze money from the citizens. What good are emissions tests when you are exempt if you cannot afford to fix your smog belching car? It is just an extra expense for those of us who maintain their cars properly.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    Right, that is the good news, i.e., registering (specifically) a USED VW Jetta TDI costs app 100 (cost for smog test) LESS than a VW Jetta (gasser). The BAD news is if you declare (probably on some state form) that you can not afford to fix a smog belching (GASSER) it is EXEMPT. This is a byzantine exemption to already byzantine policies.

    This is particularly unjust in that the FED and of course the state have specific regulations forcing oems to guarantee emissions for later model vehicles for up to 10 years. Of course this is for the 50 state types to the Ca and the other 49 state categories. So in theory and practice, you are paying for redundant, unneeded smog checks by virtual of the requirement for emissions guarantee.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    Cummins To Produce High Performance, Light Diesel Engines For Automaker, 26 July 2006.

    http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/07/cummins_to_prod.html#more
  • alp8alp8 Member Posts: 656

    "so the only reason you won't buy a Prius is because Hollywood folks are championing it?

    that is so lame "

    I think you would be WAY off point, IF after reading some of Gagrice's past posts, you came to the above quoted conclusion.


    well, maybe you should have read his most recent post where he said what I repeated, but used different words

    I wasn't trying to be hyperbolic. I was trying to clarify his absurd position.

    Not liking the Prius is fine. It's a free country. But not liking the Prius because Hollywood likes it and ONLY because Hollywood likes it is juvenile.

    If Mel Gibson says he believes in gravity, do we all have to start questioning gravity? Of course not.
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