Poll for Americans: What about Diesel engines?

[guudasitgets]

Nieghbors car fuel jelled up, it started up after plugging it in in a warm garage, it's running now. And if I was wrong on everything I apologize. wasn't trying to highjack threads, just stating what I know.

[hal9999]

I'd like to see someone come out with a very small 2 or 3 cylinder diesel or gas commuter car

It already exist, at least in Europe (small Diesel engines included), see the Smart (Mercedes) website:
www.smart.com

smart USA - open your mind to the car that challenges the status quo

And next February Toyota will sell it’s fantastic iQ car. Read:
Toyota iQ - Smart City Car with Compact Design | Toyota UK

The Smart (Mercedes) is already an usual car in our overcrowded cities. I’m happy that Toyota took the same philosophy and will make competition to the, IMHO too expensive, Smart. I’m excited to see what this Japanese car is able to do !

Badly translated Italian proverb:
“Why take an easy life approach, if you can easily complicate it”

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Anybody here think the Tier II diesels are not more efficient if you lose the DPF?

Overall they surely are, but not just because of back pressure. Every now and then the DPF goes into a regeneration cycle to burn the trapped soot. This uses extra fuel.

Regarding back pressure, on previous generations TDIs, people gutting out everything back of the turbo and replacing it with a straight pipe have not reported increased FE. Probably because the turbo is the biggest restriction in the exhaust system to start with.

[guudasitgets]

hal9999; I read about that, I'm curoius to see what that looks like when they come out with that. The Smarts ok, I'm looking for more of a plain commuter kinda like my Aspire but a smaller engine, Love to see a little turbo diesel like a 2 or 3 cylinder in it. I do cary things in it from time to time, like luggage on a trip so a smart for me needs a little more space in the back. As far as speed, for me all I need is the speed limit. Testing at the speedway comes in March and sometimes a few trips are made there and it's 280 miles one way. A little miliage would help. I don't want or need power steering so I'd like to see some small cars without it, same for the power windows, I don't need them either.

[hal9999]

What I find great about the Toyota iQ is that it has four places, in contrary to the Smart, although the passengers behind need to have very short legs. ;-)

This enables you to fold flat the rear seats to increase your luggage room.

Regarding the power steering and power windows, I suppose that these will be included, as Toyota mostly delivers full optional cars, at least in Europe. So no luck.

[hal9999]

Americans are in LOVE with their vehicles and want more more more. It's all about horsepower, bigger, faster, performance. It's about racing the guy in front of you even though they aren't going to the same place. Until that mindset is changed, I don't think diesels in something besides a large pickup will take off.

Sadly true and it’s the same in Europe. But regarding power: Take, for example, a small BMW Diesel with 150 HP and large gasoline BMW with, lets say 250 HP.
At a red light make full kick-down of both vehicles when the lights pass to green. You will be astonished that the Diesel will be in front for the first 300 meters. This is due to the great torque values of a Diesel.

That is the reason why so many Europeans own a Diesel. From small engines to over-boosted four-liter TDI engines.
And if people absolutely need a lot of HP they can buy a 400 HP Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes etc. Diesel.

VW build a V10 TDI engine for its Tuareg SUV with 313 HP and incredible 750 Nm / 2000 1/min torque.
If this isn’t enough, Porsche will soon launch a Diesel version of its Cayenne.

I personally, tough, would prefer the Toyota iQ. ;-)

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by guudasitgets

Nieghbors car fuel jelled up, it started up after plugging it in in a warm garage, it's running now.

I would complain to the fuel provider and fill elsewhere from now on. If you want to do you neighbors a favor, tell them to buy a white bottle of Power Service (Wal-Mart carries it). That adds a bit to the cost of owning a diesel, but it's cheap insurance for poor fuel in the winter.

And if I was wrong on everything I apologize. wasn't trying to highjack threads, just stating what I know.

A clean discussion is always good. Nothing should be accepted as fact just because someone says so. Ideally you should bring arguments with credible sources to back them up. I am guilty of not always providing sources, but will post them if someone asks, or will gladly retract what I said if proven wrong. We're all here to share an learn after all.

[guudasitgets]

Got the report on the non-starting diesel Jetta. It seems that technically there was nothing wrong with anything. This person travels for a living and apparently had summer fuel still in the tank as this very cold day was the first chance in many to drive this car. Not the cars fault, nor the fuel provider just didn't realize that between seasons you can't use the same fuel and "normally" there is refueling taking place on a constant basis. Not knowing this because of the gasoline powered car she had in the past she never knew she had two different diesel fuels to work with. No-one was wrong, just not informed. The old farmer I lived by when I was a kid always said he threw a half a gallon of gas in his diesel fuel tank in his tractor to help cold starting has some merit. Not scientific but it worked, yes primitive but it worked. And jeez; I never asked the farmer where he came up with this information or if it was documented somewhere. All he knew was it worked for him. But if I would have, most likely he would have told me he heard somebody tryed it. When I get information on something in the future I'll document it if you all need that.

P. S. I was a "kid" a very long time ago, I'm 52

[Big Dave]

There is a readily available prevention for clouding (gelling). Put some kerosene in it. I use about 16% (5 gal per 30 gal tank) and I'm good to 25 below. "Winter blend" around here is a sorry excuse. Rule of thumb: If you cannot smell the kerosene, your winter blend is useless.

That the DPF uses fuel to burn off the trapped graphite (and make CO2) is evidence they are the work of the devil.

[hal9999]

The old farmer I lived by when I was a kid always said he threw a half a gallon of gas in his diesel fuel tank in his tractor to help cold starting...

This trick was widely used in Europe, in older days, when diesel wasn't as good as today.

Usually 10 - 15 % of gasoline will do it.

But remember never fill-up your diesel with gasoline !

A friend of mine destroyed his new engine, by mistake, this way. I suppose it was his most costly refilling.

Gasoline engines are less allergic to diesel.