Diesel vs gas......................

sacmarata wrote:

Sport45 wrote:

Steakman wrote:

My point my "friend" is this. The more mandated Emissions BS that is added to diesel trucks the lower the mpgs - plainly obvious. As a result you need more fuel to go the same distance.
stk

I hear ya. But you have to understand that's the same argument we (me included) had against emission systems on our gas engines in the 70's. Lost power, used more gas, but you can't argue our air is cleaner as a result. And a gas engine today makes more power from less displacement and gets better mpg to boot. I, for one, don't wish to relive the "good old days".

If the engineers are forced to make the same leaps with diesel technology we will all benefit in the long run. In the mean time, more fuel doesn't equal more emissions. In this case it only means cleaner air.

My 1981 VW Rabbit diesel got 52+/- mpg before all the hippies got ahold of our government. Ive lived in the Ohio Valley Region (Ozone Alley)all my life and don't recall all the smog every talks about from back in the days of those horrible 52mpg diesels, and somehow doubt that the average commuter vehicle, whether it be a VW Rabbit or those beastly 12v Dodge Cummins were responsible for more than a fraction of a percent of the smog that actually was there.

your '81 rabbit diesel only weighed about 1800 lbs and put 75 hp which was considered fine back then but would be laughed at today. These days, cars need to have more luxury features (weight), interior room (weight) and power to sell.

Anyway, I wish it was JUST the "hippies" that got ahold of the government.