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What Would It Take for YOU to buy a diesel car?
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My boss at Alascom had a Rabbit diesel PU back then. He lived on Upper DeArmoun Rd. That was a hairy drive coming down when the roads were solid ice. He always seemed to make it with that little PU. The gravel part was easier than the lower section that was paved.
Oh man, early in my driving career I was driving a early 930 and I downshifted for a tight corner at what I thought was a low speed. As I let off the clutch, the engine revved, the boost came up, the rear end passed me, and I deflowered some lady
's garden.
Very embarrassing, but no damage to the vehicle, or even the garden really.
Have you guys heard of this? CARB is now going to dictate the color of cars you can buy? They deny banning any color, but I bet they were testing the waters to see how big an outcry they would create
In order to reduce carbon emissions by minimizing air conditioning use, the California Air Resources Board plans to require manufacturers to use only paint that reflects at least 20% of the solar energy hitting it. Dark colors, especially black, are anticipated to have significant difficulty meeting this requirement. All opaque materials are included, whether metal, plastic, or cloth.
In addition, there will be new requirements for glass. For example, windshields will be required to reflect at least 30% of the total solar spectrum, while still transmitting at least 70% of the visible spectrum.
There is some flexibility in the regulations, however. Paint requirements can be reduced by using windows that exceed the glass requirements to compensate. For example, use of a 40% reflective windshield allows the use of 15% reflective paint.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/c...ng-black-cars/
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
What they should FORCE them to do. Make the parts that normally rust... rust resistant to rust proof. I.E., VW galvanizes their steel and slaps a 12 year rust through warranty regardless of mileage. This simple gig is EASILY 2 to 4 times longer than Japanese cars, which are so popular in this market.
So for example , sign me up in protest or for the ability to chose a "BLACK" car. However, no way (well I can think of one exception) I would buy a BLACK car. (I can bore folks with the reasons) Bring on the LONG available off the shelf technology as you mentioned !! Do NOT force folks to buy it.
The real utility is what I call policy yoga. You expose the concept/s. Get folks initial reactions. Back to the drawing boards. You keep repeating the concept/s. You coin mantras for it. Refine them as needed. You keep repeating the mantra/s as you put the dups in the long awaited painful yoga positions (aka slow policy steps) . Pretty soon, the dups will like the pain. After a while they institutionalize the pain.
John Cougar Mellancamp wrote a song about this: Hurts SOOOOO good!!
i.e. brain washing. "We know you are not going to like this (paint rules), but its for your own good. hmmm The name George Orwell and the year, 1984 keep poping into my head.. Why is that?
Question: At about what RPMs does the turbo kick in on the 1.9L TDI. When I leave my driveway I have about a 1/4 mile long hill that I climb. Speed limit 35 but rural, no traffic so I usually do 25mph. I want to make sure the turbo is spinning with out putting too many RPMs on a cold engine.
That is just the way they do it. One freedom at a time. "Oh, that is good for everyone". Before long you are under a regime like the USSR. CA regulators have just about destroyed the economy in our state. Now that many cities and the state is teetering on bankruptcy, they want to tax us to death. CA with agencies like CARB have cost the whole US Billions of dollars in imported oil. Put out way more GHG than is needed. With their Draconian regulations of diesel cars.
The latest is our being forced to use Urea to cut an infinitesimal amount of NoX. I suspect it will be another MTBE debacle. There are better ways and CARB is not helping the environment.
Let me answer it this way. Using our gauges rpms/coolant,
until the coolant gauge needle hits 190 F, keep the rpms under 2,500 rpms (or AT 2,500 rpms)
1750 rpms is when max torque values come on.
..."When the engine is cold (below the first 3 white marks at the base of the temp gage) rev the engine to at least 2,500 rpms.
-When the engine is warmed up (above the first three white marks) Rev the engine to no less than 3,000 rpms.
The reason for this is to keep the turbo on boost, clear the VNT guide vanes and apply firm pressure to the rings for optimal sealing against blow-by gasses. The rings need the boost to seal since its a turbo charged engine, babying the engine is detrimental and will lead to issues with compression if done so for very long."...
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The difference now might be you have knowledge of an "objective" procedure and importantly the reasoning and can now
1. chose to follow it
2. have been following it all along, no real adjustments needed
3. chose not to follow it
4. rebel: do nothing -to thrash the engine
Your question brings up the point for those considering turbo diesels: there are definite difference between turbo diesels, gassers normally aspirated, turbo gassers. Once one understands them, it makes all the sense in the world to adjust accordingly. Perhaps a simplier and less codified way of putting it would be know and understand your particular equipment.
The rest is easy enough now that I know the RPMs. I’m not EVEN going to try and explain it to my wife, I’ll just take the car out when I can and drive it as it should be driven.
When I take the car again, I’ll take note of the gear, speed and RPMs up the hill. The reason I even bother with this is because it seems like good place to get some heat in the engine.
Just a thought and I’ll have to experiment, but driving in “sport “mode might actually be better for the engine in below 50 MPH trips as it would tend to keep the RPMs higher. Economy will take a hit, but not too much.
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From the tender age of 18 when I first started to work on tugs, it was drummed into my head that you ran a cold boat gently until the temps came up. Most of these engines were as big as the Beetle it’s self so this concern is not relevant, even so, old habits die hard.
Most of this seems somewhat anal, but always good to be informed.
And to stay on topic: because I have worked around diesel engines so much, is the reason I would buy a diesel car.
..
... jkinz, turbo spool is more throttle related than RPM related. It is turning even at idle; however very slowly.
kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host
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... On another note, I saw that the earlier zinc compounds might have affected exhaust stream sensors, but no mention of a catalytic concern. Probably O-2 sensors rather than EGT thermocouples.
Perhaps the addition of (V)OA, (U) OA might get you closer to the right pews. (V)OA= (virgin) oil analysis, (U)OA= (used) oil analysis. Best of luck ! You might want to main line it by going to link title . One guy kiddingly asked, why are you pointing people to the "DARK SIDE" of oil changes !!?? link title
In regards to your "another note", I have read in passing, since they have taken out the zinc, Zinc additives aka ZDDP, are ALL the rage !!! ?? :lemon:
By Drew Winter
Ward's AutoWorld, Apr 1, 2009 12:00 PM
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Mercedes is seeing strong demand for diesels in its CUV lineup. Its 50-state Bluetec diesels were not available until last October, but about 25% of M-Class sales are diesel, with the larger GL-Class tracking at 21%.
BMW is seeing about a 20% take rate for the diesel engine option it began offering in the U.S. last December on its X5 CUV.
All three are doing better than any of the Domestics. They seem much better at projecting demand. If I was buying a NEW vehicle today it would be the Sportswagen TDI. I just cannot bring myself to buying into the Urea mess on the V6 diesels. Maybe a year old Mercedes before they buckled to the Emissions Dictators at CARB.
The Sportwagon TDI, from what I can tell, continues the tradition of being VERY popular, sort after and rare. Historically used car prices are higher than the already high diesel car prices. I am told and have seen that Sportwagons specifically TDI's( but might apply to gassers also) are pre sold BEFORE they hit the dealership. They only hit open inventory if a deal falls through and they go through the waiting lists with no results. The Sportwagon TDI's sell both at a premium to and above that premium to Jetta TDI 4 door sedans.
While I find this a tad weird, it is probably even stranger, given this current economic downturn and up to -50% sales for some oem/models. But at the same time,kudo's to VW.
If BMW dropped its base-model 330i and only sold the twin-turbo gas and the diesel in that model, I bet they would sell a WHOLE lot more diesels.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
kirstie_h, "Jeep Liberty Diesel" #10435, 13 Apr 2009 4:58 pm
Set us FREE !!
I mean what would 120,000 miles of trouble free turbo diesel performance really mean to them anyway? :surprise:
BMW should have gone with the 4-cylinder diesel for the 3-series, made it optional in the 1-series as well, and brought the price down a bit, and I bet they would have sold more of them.
In all these stats, I see no mention of Mercedes, the diesel innovator for current 50-state emissions standards. How are the E320 Bluetecs selling? Will MB stick that engine in any other models that aren't SUVs?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I think all the makers aside from VW are missing the mark on smaller diesel engines. I for one do not need a 6 second, 0-60 MPH vehicle such as the 335D. I do think the X5 or the ML/GL series with a 4 cylinder would be under powered. I could see myself buying a pre urea ML320 CDI. They were available for two years outside of the CARB states. Strangely they are legal in CA after 7500 miles on the odo. Maybe their emissions improve magically after that many miles. :shades: They command near new pricing. That would be tough for me to handle.
Yes the Touareg should be here any day and it has a V6 TDI with Urea injection. Again that is a heavy vehicle.
2008 MY MB sales figures seem MIA on searches I have done.
Zetsche sez: (remember him?)
2007 "diesel" baseline
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The policy is still to bring the best fuel guzzlers to the US market, albeit trying to give the appearance mpg is getting better.
..."Zetsche said Mercedes is sticking by its decision not to bring cars smaller than the C class to the United States.
...Referring to the tougher fuel economy standards passed by Congress last year, he said: "Our product portfolio plans for the U.S. have not changed. It is not our intention to turn into a Peugeot or Fiat by making small cars to address the issue but to use technology to make larger cars more fuel-efficient."" ...
To be fair they might already be there. A diesel guru I see every so often, reports getting 39 mpg @ 80 mph on a older CDI MB E320. So in effect, if the new 2012 standard is "35 mpg" , with all its TBD defacto exceptions, then MB just really needs to increase the % of diesels (20%) as per their STATED projections to comply. Can do easy it seems to me, as they have been delinked from THEIR Chysler involvement ( debacle) for a while. They MIGHT (just) still carry HUGE tax credits, incentives, write offs/downs from that involvement (debacle). So in effect , minus the marketing razz really HAVE to do NOTHING about the 2012 35 mpg standard.
But this is probably more telling and more authoritative.
... " "We will have to see what price capabilities we have for the diesel and how much the customer is willing to pay," Zetsche said. "It is an influencing factor because we may see lower margins." "...
..."
2008 diesel sales (teaser)
..."As a leader in diesel innovation and engineering, Mercedes-Benz continued
to increase sales within its diesel portfolio which includes the E320 BLUETEC
sedan which utilizes the cleanest diesel technology available, E320 CDI, and
its diesel SUVs (ML-Class CDI, R-Class CDI and GL-Class CDI). Sales of
vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz diesel portfolio -- both CDI and BLUETEC models
-- grew from 6,941 units in 2006 to 12,580 units in 2007, posting an 81.2
percent increase over 2006. The company plans to expand its BLUETEC range to
bring 50-state diesels to the U.S. market in 2008."...
link title
Up 81.2% and already almost 5% of total MB sales!!! ???
I’m happy with this. This is why I bought a diesel.
So what are your impressions keeping the revs between 1900 and 2,400 RPMS?
As a boundary 2600 to 2800 RPMS in 5th gear is app 90 mph. :shades:
My biggest fear is a ticket. On the freeway I’m going 10mph over without even knowing.
It’s just a sweet ride.
Yes I hear you. These diesels just pull and pull. This might be inappropriate, but app 8-9 mph over (limit of say 65 mph) is almost a sleeper in this neck of the woods. I would not do it in front of a highway patrol in obvious "customer service mode", but the truth is most LEO's, unless under the "quota" gun or you appear to be DUI or driving recklessly are pretty cool about it.
Carbon neutral and we still pass it by !?
I just hope someone sells a diesel SUV I like before the runaway surge for diesel cars hits the USA.
Now I can hold my head high.
Perhaps sooner than later they will specify engines to run BIO diesel; from say, algae. I think you would agree carbon neutral is a heck of an achievement !!! Also no start up will say, but I have posted in the past where 15,000 to 30,000 gals per acre (hydroponically of course) is within reality's realm.
Right now diesel cars have to be adapted to run on bio diesel (certain percentages of ) and the manufacturers do not like to warranty products run on (certain percentages of) biodiesel due to a host of issues, problems and reasons.
Volkswagen Launches Blog To Tell You Why Diesel is Our Savior (Straightline)
Ford Holding Off on Light-Duty Diesel for F-150
It seems we will never have a diesel available in the singlemost logical place to employ one: an American full-size light duty pick-up.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
It seems we will never have a diesel available in the singlemost logical place to employ one: an American full-size light duty pick-up.
Fear not...the full size light duty pick up is part of the CAFE standard I believe (will have to double check but I'm pretty sure). What that means is if everything has to get 100 mpg by 2010 (Yes thats an exaggeration, but I can't remember what the timing and amounts are) you are going to either get 4 cylinder engines or diesels. Ford, GM, Fiat and Toyota are going to have to embrace diesel a bit more to get it done.