[RayChuang88]

What's interesting is that with the coming of low-sulfur fuels in September 2006, it could make it really viable for vehicles to switch to clean-burning turbodiesel engines, since we now can apply the in fuel delivery technology (common-rail pressurized direct fuel injection) and emissions control technology (catalytic converters that double as diesel particulate traps).

The result is that automobiles, light trucks, SUV's and minivans with these new turbodiesel engines will get 35-45% better fuel efficiency than their gasoline-fuelled counterparts. And thanks to today's engine designs, the clattering sounds and smoky exhausts of past diesel engines are effectively banished with no loss of power, either!

Also, unlike gasoline-fuelled engines, diesel engines can also run off non-petroleum based diesel fuel quite easily; after all, the first engine Rudolf Diesel built ran off peanut oil, for gosh sakes! That means any crop that has a high carbohydrate count could be refined into diesel fuel--corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, peanuts, sugar beet and cane, and on and on. They've even discovered that certain types of algae could be refined into diesel fuel, which could make it possible to create gigantic ponds of algae that could create enough biomass to make enough diesel fuel for every vehicle in the USA rather easily!

[Lewite]

I have a wonderful 1981 Mercedes Diesel 300 Turbo. It gets over thirty miles per gallon. It has 273,000+ miles on it, so it will only last me another 200 thou or so. I put on less thand 3,000 per year, so I guess at nearly 63, I don't have a lot to worry about. I say drill here. bring the ragheads to their knees!!!