Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Diesel with short trips lately, is it bad for the car and environment?

Isaac Zachary · 05-22-2021, 12:07 PM

There are advantages a diesel can have over a gasoline engine in short trips. During startup, both diesel and gasoline engines will have more unburned fuel during the combustion and exhaust strokes. In a gasoline engine the extra fuel washes the cylinders of oil and causes premature wear. In a diesel the fuel acts as a lubricant, so less cylinder wear.

But then there's the DPF as others have mentioned. Of course you did mention that you didn't have a DPF, so maybe a diesel car would be the best short trip option.

An engine block heater will help, but a lot only help so much. Most only keep the engine a bit warmer than ambient and are really just there to keep the coolant from freezing in artic conditions. When it's -60⁰F my OEM block heater only keeps the engine at about -30⁰F. A 1,000W or great block heater would be the way to go on either gasoline or diesel, even during the summer.

Diesel emissions equipment also work better if you wrap up the exhaust system with heat tape.

Of course the king of short trips is the BEV, as well as they plugin hybrid. Or a bicycle.

05-22-2021, 12:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
Isaac Zachary High Altitude Hybrid Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Gunnison, CO Posts: 2,108 Avalon - '13 Toyota Avalon HV 90 day: 40.45 mpg (US) Prius - '06 Toyota Prius Thanks: 1,146 Thanked 595 Times in 472 Posts	There are advantages a diesel can have over a gasoline engine in short trips. During startup, both diesel and gasoline engines will have more unburned fuel during the combustion and exhaust strokes. In a gasoline engine the extra fuel washes the cylinders of oil and causes premature wear. In a diesel the fuel acts as a lubricant, so less cylinder wear. But then there's the DPF as others have mentioned. Of course you did mention that you didn't have a DPF, so maybe a diesel car would be the best short trip option. An engine block heater will help, but a lot only help so much. Most only keep the engine a bit warmer than ambient and are really just there to keep the coolant from freezing in artic conditions. When it's -60⁰F my OEM block heater only keeps the engine at about -30⁰F. A 1,000W or great block heater would be the way to go on either gasoline or diesel, even during the summer. Diesel emissions equipment also work better if you wrap up the exhaust system with heat tape. Of course the king of short trips is the BEV, as well as they plugin hybrid. Or a bicycle. __________________ Last edited by Isaac Zachary; 05-22-2021 at 02:54 PM..