Is the diesel going to end up going the way of the dinosaur?

Diesel has about 12% more energy, by volume, than gasoline. By unit weight gasoline actually contains more energy than diesel does. When you consider the lost diesel fuel burnt in the DPF and the cost of eurea the diesel is loosing its advantage. Gasoline engines, on the other hand, are gaining efficiency with technology such as DI and higher cylinder pressures.

Got new for you. In 1937 HP for HP diesels got about 30% better fuel economy than a gasoline engine. In 2017 HP for HP, diesels get about 30% better fuel economy. Those are facts.

The 1969 gas truck my dad towed with got 9 to 10 MPG. Towing the exact same trailer I get 12 to 13 MPG with my 93 diesel. Would you look at that! 30% difference! My neighbor tows a TT about the same size and weight as I have with his new Ford EB gas truck. He gets 9 to 10 MPG towing. When I tow with my 06 diesel truck I get 12 to 13 MPG. There's that magic 30% number again! :B

That's why the EB people hearts sank after they got their mileage figures back after towing their trailers for the first time.

Here are some BSFC numbers for the two:

Diesel engine= .28- .36

injected gas= .40- .48

Carb gas= .48- .60

Here is a really good article. Diesel vs gasoline. Please note the power differences between gas and diesel even if the BSFC figures were the same.

More than half of the cars in Europe are diesel.
Diesel is going to be around for a long time.

BTW, look at the happen to the Feds climate change web page hours after the new admin took office. :E

Durb wrote:
Didn't the dinosaur end up as diesel?

Great play on wording of the thread's title!

Didn't the dinosaur end up as diesel?

For heavy haul and OTR trucking I think diesel will continue to be a major player for decades. However I think GVWR's of 10,000 pounds and under, (read most pick ups) battery electric vehicles will be main stream within 10 years including all SUV's and passenger cars. Otherwise the export market will be smaller and smaller as most of europe won't even allow gas or diesel personal vehicle past 2026.

Lynnmor wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
Torque has little to do with it. Gears or electric motors can produce torque. Diesel engines power big equipment because they have traditionally been more fuel efficient than gasoline engines.

People like to talk about their large torque numbers, but horsepower is the measure of work that an engine can do.

Yep, that is why 235 hp and 410# 2001 diesels are all rated to pull 12,000#+ but it takes a 365 Hp EcoBoost to to the same.

Environmental regulations have had something to do with the reluctance of US manufacturers to embrace diesel tech like the rest of the world. The technology is still new to the US and rapidly improving.

The EPA came first and promulgated responsibility for compliance to the States. CARB came after EPA in the early 1970s. I used to be in the consulting business.

Diesel engines have some inherent advantages like hp/torque, efficiency, longevity, and higher mpg. A diesel engine at 175k miles is not even half way done, when most gas engines are near the end of their lives.

Diesels can run on all sorts of unrefined fuels and those made from bio waste. We will be seeing more diesels in the future, not less. Ford will soon have a diesel 1/2 ton pu like the Dodge version that is already on the market.

billyray50 wrote:
No....Got nothing to do with whatever Administration is in place.

Time will tell!

Until towing mpg come up quite a bit I won't be moving to a gas engine.
Fords ecoboost with a normal 7-9000 pound TT are getting 6.5-10mpg and I'm not sure of long term durability for those that would keep a truck for 10 years as I would.

wildtoad wrote:

gbopp wrote:
I can't see a solar powered locomotive pulling a 6000 ton+ train being practical anytime soon.

Aren't most diesel locomotives just large versions of an electric train that provides its own power plant? If true, one only has to replace the diesel powered generator with another one.

Yes. Only trouble is running the train at night. Once batteries take care of the main grid overnight these trains should not be a huge leap.
Pulling the overhead wire may prove just as difficult.

If Lincoln can build a transcontinental railroad during the civil war this should be a slam dunk in our modern age.

OP, you got to look at he HP/Torque numbers at LOW rpms, which is where diesel produces a lot. Gasers usually have the HP/Torque in the higher rpm ranges and thus may not be able to compete. Another apples/oranges comparison. Diesels also can produce large amounts of HP/Torques in the higher rpm ranges and much of the stuff seen advertised for aftermarket is in that arena. BUT, who drives a diesel in the 3000+ ranges constantly? I drive at around 2350 at 80mph indicated and get 19mpg unloaded but the truck weights 7500lbs. My hyundai get 36 mpg at same speed but is not rated to tow anything and yes it is a DI none turbo etc.

Loco engines are diesel electrics, that is how they get to advertise only using 1 gallon of fuel per ton/mile. just think if they could get a small efficient generator in a car to make it gas-electric! But then the battery manufacturers would have a hissy fit because it would impact them and their product. So it not likely to happen to them or the diesel vehicles. Too many diesel engines out now with comparable mpg results, and remember it is actually cheaper and easier to manuf diesel than gasoline, just that they now say the usage rates require the higher per gallon costs since there are more gas vehicles buying fuel than diesel.