Government Study On Diesels

[AStrand]

I found this interesting study by the gov. compairing diesel to gas vehicles.

Looks like things could change for the good down the road.







Here is the full report. EIA-Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles: Efficiency and Emissions Attributes and Market Issues

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Lil' late to be moving threads but a good one none the less

 

[Regcabguy]

The eco-nerds here in Ca need to read this.

 

[Ncostello]

Mom's 2005 TDI Golf gets 44mpg interstate... which is all she mainly drives. No batteries, no goofy looking bubble body, no LCD displays with trees growing. Just a normal small car that happens to be a TURBOCHARGED diesel!!! You can hear the whistle a little too! Otherwise its pretty quiet. I has lots of get-up and go and the torque is noticable on hills. It doesn't struggle at all.



But she's all against a 5" exhaust tip!

 

[bheiting]

A recent issue of Diesel Power had an article about the military testing bio based
diesel and jet fuels. Our world is changing.

 

[Adventure Bob]

Problem is that the big three arent so there will be upward pressure on diesle prices to "even out" competition with foreign car makers who have small fuel efficient diesels.

 

[SnowTech]

Mom's 2005 TDI Golf gets 44mpg interstate... which is all she mainly drives. No batteries, no goofy looking bubble body, no LCD displays with trees growing. Just a normal small car that happens to be a TURBOCHARGED diesel!!! You can hear the whistle a little too! Otherwise its pretty quiet. I has lots of get-up and go and the torque is noticable on hills. It doesn't struggle at all.



But she's all against a 5" exhaust tip!

I second that.



We did a system on an 09 TDI. What a great car. It pulls up hills in overdrive no sweat, gets mileage about what a lot of real-world hybrid owners report, and GASP it's actually fun to drive. And it reacts well to our system even in terms of its already good mileage. Wheres the down-side on a 25K car?

 

[BILLVO]

What happened to the Hondas and Toyotata and other cars from the 80s and early 90's that all got 40+++ without being low on fun?



Now the hybrids struggle big time to hit high 30's mpg.

 

[Ncostello]

The VW commercials are great too!! Ever see the one where the two neighbors, one with a Prius and the other with a TDI VW are comparing cars? The Prius owner choked on the water he was drinking when the VW guy told him his MPGs. The the VW owner then expressed his car sounds like "VRRRROOOOOOMMMMMM"!!! Then he asked the Prius owner what his car sounds like. The Prius owner then opened his mouth and exhaled air noises. It was funny!

 

[rscurtis]

Two things happened to your fuel economy. First, advances in engine technology went toward improved horsepower as opposed to increased economy. Everyone has to get to 60 in six seconds or less. Second, and perhaps more significant, cars today are loaded with unnecessary accessories such as navigation systems, entertainment systems, twelve air bags, sound insulation, stability control, and so on. I had a '69 Dodge Dart Custom 2-dr. hardtop that weighed 3200#. It had a cast-iron V8 engine, a cast iron 4 speed transmission (same one used behind a 440), an 8-3/4 inch rear axle (also used in Imperials and pickups) and steel bumpers. It did not have A/C or power steering. That same car today would be a 5000# porker.

 

[Ncostello]

unnecessary accessories such as navigation systems, entertainment systems, twelve air bags, sound insulation, stability control, and so on

How am I supposed to get to work without these? What do you want me to drive? A State DOT equipped car with roll up windows?

 

[SnowTech]

^This is why I want to put a TDi in a Miata, compete in an AutoX, then get 60MPG on the way home

 

[p-Bar]

Europe laughs at us because they say our priorities are screwed up. They say 1. fuel mileage 2. smog devices , U. S. 1. smog 1a fuel mileage

 

[Dieselnut59]

^This is why I want to put a TDi in a Miata, compete in an AutoX, then get 60MPG on the way home

I would LOVE to do that! Excellent fuel economy and CORRECT (rear) wheel drive! I would love a car like that! (with manual transmission, of course!)

 

[steved]

Two things happened to your fuel economy. First, advances in engine technology went toward improved horsepower as opposed to increased economy. Everyone has to get to 60 in six seconds or less. Second, and perhaps more significant, cars today are loaded with unnecessary accessories such as navigation systems, entertainment systems, twelve air bags, sound insulation, stability control, and so on. I had a '69 Dodge Dart Custom 2-dr. hardtop that weighed 3200#. It had a cast-iron V8 engine, a cast iron 4 speed transmission (same one used behind a 440), an 8-3/4 inch rear axle (also used in Imperials and pickups) and steel bumpers. It did not have A/C or power steering. That same car today would be a 5000# porker.

Another point to add to this is the fact that a car of the late 60s (like my grandfather's 68 Chrysler New Yorker) rode nice, had lots of power (your only option was a 440), and got mid-20 mpg... there are small cars that can't get the mileage a 440-powered, 4200# boat could get.

A lot of it has to do with the fuel... it has gotten worse and worse, the same car then would not get that kind of mileage on today's fuel.

 

[Dieselnut59]

Another point to add to this is the fact that a car of the late 60s (like my grandfather's 68 Chrysler New Yorker) rode nice, had lots of power (your only option was a 440), and got mid-20 mpg... there are small cars that can't get the mileage a 440-powered, 4200# boat could get.



A lot of it has to do with the fuel... it has gotten worse and worse, the same car then would not get that kind of mileage on today's fuel.

I don't know bout that... . It is surprising the good fuel economy a LTD/Crown Victoria gets! They can get mid 20s on the interstate with a powerful V-8. The little 4 bangers require you to damn near keep them on the floor to maintain highway speeds and they are out of their efficiency range, whereas the bigger engines (only available in the big vehicles) do not have to work so hard and are in their peak efficiency range at highway speeds. The same is true for a properly geared diesel engine, such as a Volkswagon with a 5 or 6 speed manual or a Cummins with the 3. 54 gears and a manual trans. They do great on the interstates.