Diesel dilemma ....

[Drago]

You want to keep costs down and maximise your chances of long term reliability? Steer clear of anything with a turbo, DPF or DMF. These efforts to make cars cleaner, to squeeze higher outputs out of ever smaller engines to protect the environment is ironically screwing the environment for the materials and energy to manufacture these largely consumable items.

Use the car as little a possible, and make it last as long a possible and you're being kinder to the environment than even the supposed greenest of modern eco mobiles.

 

[MrGrumpy]

You want to keep costs down and maximise your chances of long term reliability? Steer clear of anything with a turbo, DPF or DMF. These efforts to make cars cleaner, to squeeze higher outputs out of ever smaller engines to protect the environment is ironically screwing the environment for the materials and energy to manufacture these largely consumable items.

Use the car as little a possible, and make it last as long a possible and you're being kinder to the environment than even the supposed greenest of modern eco mobiles.

That would I think rule out all modern diesel engines, all are now fitted with DPF, pretty sure it was the rule from circa 2009 onwards?? What is the solution for large vehicle with plenty torque if diesels were ruled off the road ?? Petrol engines I believe don't have the longevity of a diesel engine.

 

[User482]

Talking to my son in law who's a garage mechanic about the VW scandal. I wondered how they actually cheated, is it something complex ?...some trickery in the management system...no, he thought it was quite simple. Apparently part of the emissions test requires the tester to rev the engine at high (if not max) revs for a few seconds while the system is reading the exhaust emissions. What they appear to have done is..., while the clutch is not engaged and car not in gear, the engine will not rev beyond 2000 rpm. So, the emissions test isnt getting a real reading. It is controlled by the management system of course, but its not rocket science if he's right.

Your son-in-law is talking about the MOT emissions test, which (for diesel) is a simple check for visible smoke. The Euro emissions standards and (as far as I know) Californian standards are not tested "in-use".

 

[gbb]

Your son-in-law is talking about the MOT emissions test, which (for diesel) is a simple check for visible smoke. The Euro emissions standards and (as far as I know) Californian standards are not tested "in-use".

Aha, perhaps i got the right/wrong end of the stick. You're right, he did mention a visual check for smoke. The 2000rpm thing while out of gear may help as well, less revs, less smoke perhaps ?