Mikey,

Just wait. Chrysler is just now starting to reap the MB diesel benefit with the appearance of a td in the Liberty. You watch, it will be incredibly popular.

 

Do tractors count

They work in a pinch if you're jones'n for a diesel fix

 

I think diesels will have a hard time gaining any acceptance like in they have in Europe. There are several major hurdles holding diesels back:

1. Tree huggers – Emissions continue to get tighter and tighter. This will only contribute to hurdle #2.

2. Added sticker price for the diesel option.

3. Cost of diesel vs. gasoline going forward. From a marketing and political standpoint, diesel production is sacrificed to produce more gasoline. Since the huge majority of Americans drive gas vehicles, it only makes sense to produce more gas instead of diesel. Also, many people in the Northeast still use heating oil to heat their homes, which now causes a huge spike coming into the winter months. But you cannot simply park your diesel vehicle in the winter. Here are some statistics from the API:
From American Petroleum Institute (API) statistics an average barrel (42 gallons) will produce 46% gasoline, 22% diesel, 10% jet fuel, 5.5% heavy fuel oil, and the remaining 16.5% would be everything else including lubricants, asphalt, petrochemical feedstocks, etc. How much diesel can be refined from a barrel of crude can vary widely and is very dependent on the type of crude, the refinery configuration and the refinery's desired product slate. Some crudes yield a relatively small amount of diesel while others can yield relatively high amounts. Some refineries are capable of producing more diesel from the same crude then another refinery may be able to through more advanced refining processes such as hydrocracking. Finally, a refinery may be capable of extracting a relatively high amount of diesel from a barrel of crude but may choose to further process the diesel material into gasoline and jet fuel.

 

Hehe- we do not only have diesels galore but also good beeeeeeer

I think if there would be more diesels even at the same price per gallon the diesel was a good alternative. A- running bio is easy and B- the higher efficiency means that you just use less gallons.

AlpineRAM

 

Environmentalist's don't exactly have a leg to stand on; CO2, CO and I believe SOx emissions are less from Diesel's burning low sulfur fuel than gasoline engines of the same size. Particulates and NOx is higher, but Diesel's don't cause global warming, and can run off alternate fuels. I swear, try to get that gasoline powered Volkswagon to run off of bong water, and you'll see what I mean about alternate fuels!

 

BigCarl is correct, he only forgot one item. #4 would be the American public's memory of the Oldsmobile diesels of the 1980's.

Begle1, they don't need a leg to stand on. All they have to do is point to a bus or old tractor belching black smoke and they have all they need to make an EMOTIONAL appeal that will end with something about "the children" - logic and reason have no place in that world.

 

"When diesels are outlawed only outlaws will drive diesels"

 

AlpineRAM,
Yesssss.... Yesssss you do. I'm partial to Warsteiner and Spaten. Spaten Oktoberfest is a personal favorite.

 

Well I see there is a lot of people upset with the idea of diesel being highier!

I'm currently paying... Diesel $2.679 Gas $2.299

In my Automotive Wolf Software I've been keeping a full fuel record of both trucks (Mom's - GAS and Mine - DIESEL)

It is costing me $0.07 per mile (or 21 MPG) to run the diesel truck compared to $0.13 (or 12 MPG) for the gasoling truck. Still even with the price of diesel high its still better to run my diesel truck.

DIESEL - 500 miles - 21 MPG - 23.8 Gallons - $63.76
GASOLINE - 250 miles - 12 MPG - 20.8 Gallons - $47.90

Now to catch GASOLINE to DIESEL x2 = $95.79 to run 500 Miles!

I'm still smiling when I see gasoline trucks filling and I know better!!!

 

I read through part of these. Guess not all. But the big reason is. The yhave to redesign some of the fuel systems for our lower quality fuel. Most companys dont see it profitable

 

Reports I have read of the new Caravan with the diesel engine, beats the V6 in acceration and of course better fuel consumption.
Given a choice, I will buy a diesel powered car over a gasser any time - even if I have to pay more for it.