[OneWingedShark]

I have a 1982 Oldsmobile Diesel car. It gets in excess of 35 mpg, and it’s a HEAVY car, all steel and such.... why is it that this car which is heaver, bigger, less aerodynamic, and over a quarter-century old gets BETTER MILLAGE than today’s autos?

Partly because Diesels are that much more effective, and the engine it uses is not a “native diesel” engine, but was rather a v8 that they retrofitted to run diesel. Now, I imagine that a “native diesel” engine would be even better, being designed “from the floor up” with Diesel in mind; however, that is completely disregarding the advances in technologies that could be applied to the engine.

(Just to give you an idea; HCCI, which is a rather new Gasoline effectiveness-booster, is pretty much the same technology/physical-device as Diesel fuel-injectors.)

[dr huer]

What is HCCI?

[mvpel]

Now, I imagine that a “native diesel” engine would be even better, being designed “from the floor up” with Diesel in mind; however, that is completely disregarding the advances in technologies that could be applied to the engine.

Honda has done just that, with the iCTDI, which can achieve 55-60mpg highway in a Honda Accord.

The problem with diesels is that the EPA-driven emissions standards make most high-MPG new diesel passenger cars, long available in Europe, illegal in almost the entire US.

We could have had 40-50mpg passenger cars years ago, if it weren't for the federal government.