Posted on 10/27/2006 7:42:43 AM PDT by Red Badger
A drive up the Long Beach Freeway, trapped between a dozen soot-belching big rigs from the port, is a good example of why diesel engines have such a lousy reputation in this country.
Motorists know diesel not only from the tremendous air quality problems caused by big trucks and ships that ply waters off the coast, but from the clanking engines of the 1970s-era Mercedes-Benz cars and the kerosene-like odors that announce their arrival. But a revolution is underway and a key development occurred just last week that will have a major effect on the future of diesel.
Under new federal regulations, all of the nation's gas stations began selling ultra-low-sulfur diesel, which contains 15 parts per million sulfur, down from an allowable 125 ppm in California and 500 ppm in the rest of the nation. The cleaner fuel will immediately reduce the formation of hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions by 30%. Proponents compare the introduction of lower sulfur diesel with the removal of lead from gasoline a generation ago.
The biggest potential benefit, however, lies in the development of future engines that can take full advantage of the lower sulfur.
Diesels already produce fewer greenhouse gases than gasoline engines, owing to their 30% to 40% energy efficiency advantage over gasoline. But they emit so much pollution and soot that they fail to meet air quality regulations for light-duty vehicles — cars.
In 2005, U.S. consumers chose diesel engines for just 3.6% of all vehicles, excluding heavy trucks. By comparison, diesels made up 49.8% of vehicles sold in Europe, said Allen Schaefer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
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...... all of the nation's gas stations began selling ultra-low-sulfur diesel.......
This says "began". Is that true?
Is the fuel currently available at gas stations really low sulphur?
How does it perform in engines that do not meet the 2007 emissions standard?
It would be good news if consumers could actually buy such cars without spending the money for Mercedes Benz.
It works fine. The only real question is lubricity; supposedly, it will be sufficient, but I've been adding some Power Service just in case.
The fact that diesel costs about 20% more than 87 octane will offset some of the fuel mileage advantage. If the US does start selling diesel engine cars expect that cost disadvantage to go up.
Ok, lets try again.
Some stations have a Cetane rating. Does power service increase cetane? is 40 good? is 45 better?
I'm just learing to speak diesel
I'll take a TDI in a heartbeat, glad to see the lower sulfer is FINALLY in the pipeline.
Now I can get some decent deisel cars, and auto industry can stop wasting money on hybrids that are far less green and far more costly and complex than modern proven deisels.
Many of these are older trucks and will have to be replaced by order of the air boards. It will be a huge cost to buy new generation diesel trucks and many smaller companies will go out of business. Right now, some poor sap can go buy a very used diesel tractor for about $25K and start a business hauling sea containers up and down the Long Beach freeway. Most of these guys aren't gonna be able to chunk out $100K+ for a new truck.
We have TDI's up here in Canuckistan. I have a Jetta wagon. I also have a C5 Corvette.
The TDI performance is amazing for such a small engine.
550 miles on a tank.
What about Mexican trucks?.........
In a few places it may cost that much but the average is lower, which also means in some places it is a lot lower.
Sulphur seems to have lubricating properties and older engines may benefit from fuel additives; I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Probably exempt.
Yes...Power Service does increase cetane. By 3 numbers at the lower "dose," 6 at the higher one.
40 is a little low. Regular diesel is around 40-45; "premium" diesel is 45-50.
You can also increase cetane by adding biodiesel, which has a cetane number in the 50-60 range.
Once in a while, more often lately, diesel fumes from the railyard drift over here, 2-3 miles away. It might not be hazardous to health, but it burns eyes and throats.
... but can cause fuel gelling in low temperatures at high concentration.
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