Possible Dakota, Durango and Liberty Diesels in U.S

[RamThatStroker]

Check out this article Future Diesels. It looks like DailmerChysler is considering more diesels in its lineup. Hopefully they realize that diesel sport utilities and small trucks would be viable alternatives to thier gasoline cousins. I personally think that the demand is there especially after hanging around here for awhile .



Joe

 

[Hammer]

Joe. .

The diesel Durango/Dakota is no surprise. They are or were currently available for the overseas market and most get shipped into South America. There was a gentleman 2 years ago at the Carlisle Chrysler show who had a Durango diesel and a Grand Cherokee Limited stick diesel there. Durango had a smaller Cummins in it and the Jeep,which was a few years older had a Renault turbo diesel in it. Both were bought by him in Argentina and shipped home. Now the Liberty I have not heard about,but,as small as they are I'd never fit into one anyway,LOL... ... ... Andy

 

[dezrat]

Liberty Diesel

The 03 Liberty service manual make reference to a 2. 5 liter diesel

available for export only. I love the car and the performance with the 3. 7 liter V6 is nice. MPG is 16-19 on highway. The 16 is at 80MPH. A 2. 5 liter diesel would be way cool!

 

[Doc Tinker]

Mrs Doc and I saw several diesel Liberty Jeeps at a fuel stop in Mackinac City, on our way to the GLTDR Yooper campout, in September. A group of engineers were test driving them out of Detroit. I calculated the number of miles they must have driven and looked at one of the pumps, and figured they were getting about 20 mpg. I thought it was kind of low for such a little vehicle, but since they'd told me they were doing 90 most of the way, I guessed it wasn't too bad.



I noticed, the other day, that the Liberty gassers get 14-15 mpg. Why is that figure so low?



Doc

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

read the current issue # 38 in regards to smaller diesels and the way emissions are shaping up. It seems as though the EPA is gonna keep us from having diesels in smaller cars and SUVs. The EPA is so worried about oxides of nitrates they are putting heavy restrictions on the smaller diesel market. typically Diesels have much lower CO2 levels than gas engines and some people especially europeans feel this is more important measure of how well an engine is performing in regards to emissions. The EPA and the tree huggers feel that oxides of nitrates are where the pollution problem is. I laugh how everyone is so worried about gas/electric hybrid cars, That aint no biggie VW already has small diesels that have more power and get better fuel mileage. Now why can't I get a durango with a 4b in it. put a C on the fender and they would sell like hot cakes.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by Doc Tinker

I noticed, the other day, that the Liberty gassers get 14-15 mpg. Why is that figure so low?Doc

My work supplied V6 Liberty gets 21 @ 75mph on Montana's "little" hills. Maybe the low figure is the town mileage?

 

[wxman]

Originally posted by cummins cowboy

... The EPA is so worried about oxides of nitrates they are putting heavy restrictions on the smaller diesel market...

Don't know how many here are aware of this, but the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) has funded recent studies that conclude that limiting NOx emissions may actually EXACERBATE the ozone problem:



"However, recent OHVT-sponsored research has shown that ozone is present in higher concentrations during weekends than on weekdays in California and other urban U. S. locations, even though ozone precursors are present in lower concentrations on weekends. This is especially true of heavy-duty vehicles - they contribute about 50% less of ozone precursor emissions on weekends than they do on weekdays. The data are beginning to suggest that in urban locations, NMOCs are more important than NOx in determining ozone concentrations. These findings, if demonstrated to be correct, would suggest that reducing NOx emission reductions actually increase ozone concentrations in urban locations. "



Source:



U. S. Department of Energy

September 2001



http://www.trucks.doe.gov/plain-talk/nox.html





"…pointing the finger at diesel technology is rather like jumping to the conclusion "The butler did it!" in a mystery novel".



http://www.trucks.doe.gov/research/environment/ozone.html





"NOx controls in Southern California (and other urban U. S. locations) are counterproductive for reducing ambient ozone, and they actually increase ambient ozone levels. Were it not for large concurrent HC emission reductions on weekends, weekend ozone would be even higher than it is, and the weekend/ weekday ozone difference would be even larger.



Source:



DOE’s Studies of Weekday/Weekend Ozone Pollution in Southern California



Douglas R. Lawson

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

DEER Conference

August 2002



http://www.orau.gov/deer2002/Session5/lawson.pdf





Kind of makes you wonder why we're going through this painful process to virtually eliminate NOx! Maybe EPA will consider these studies?

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

nice post WX, my question is what are ozone precursors?? I think the government really dosen't know what they are doing, look at what they did with freon, I don't think a little freon going into the air made a rats behind. Diesel is at least 30% more efficient than gas, Doesn't gas require much more refinement at the refinery, Wouldn't it stand to reason that this added refining cause more pollution also?? once again EPA stands for Eliminate Petrolem Alltogether

 

[wxman]

NOx and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs, also known as VOCs, ROGs, HCs, NMOGs) are the two main ozone precursors. However, I would argue, and I think the DOE study supports, that NOx plays a relatively minor role in O3 formation. Of these two precursors, NMHCs are the photo-reactive species. According to the DOE presentation at the DEER Conference in August, nitric oxide (NO - one of many NOx species, e. g. , N2O, NO2) may actually SUPPRESS O3 formation.



You're right, on a gallon for gallon basis, diesel fuel requires about 5% less energy to refine than gasoline (according to what I've read).

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

not only is there a 5% energy savings in refining diesel what is happening to all the extra stuff that is being refined out of gasoline is it being dumpped somewhere??

 

[wxman]

Looks like the decision has been made on the Liberty!

JEEP ADDING DIESEL JEEP



Acknowledging it will be an uphill battle to bring the diesel back to the U. S. , Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche nonetheless announced plans to launch a version in the Jeep Liberty. A modified version of what Chrysler is already selling in Europe, the 2. 8-liter turbodiesel-powered sport-ute will reach the American market in the second half of 2004 and carry a 2005 model year designation. The move carries some risk, Zetsche conceded, because it is unclear that the automaker will have the necessary technology in place to meet tough new emissions standards going into effect in 2007. Meanwhile, Chrysler’s technology chief, Bernard Robertson, admitted that at least initially, “We’ll end up subsidizing the diesel. ” Delivering about 25 percent better fuel economy than gasoline engines, diesels now account for 30 percent of the European passenger vehicle market, and up to 80 percent in some countries, such as Austria. But Americans are reluctant to embrace the high-mileage technology, Chrysler officials acknowledged, because they remember the problem-plagued diesels of the 1980s. New systems, such as common rail turbodiesels have resolved such problems as smoke and noise, Zetsche insisted, but it will take some effort to make consumers feel comfortable with diesels. And he called on government regulators to take steps—such as offering tax credits—to encourage the sale of diesels in an effort to reduce American dependence on foreign oil. Chrysler expects to sell about 5000 Liberty diesels annually. Zetsche said if demand proves strong, the automaker will look at adding other models. Meanwhile, DaimlerChrysler’s other big brand, Mercedes-Benz, intends to bring a diesel version of the new E-Class to the U. S. next year. —Paul Eisenstein

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=5547