Diesel polution-is it worse for cyclists?
- Thread starter night cycler
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Randy Butternubs
Über Member
Aren't diesels better than petrol for global warming? Global warming is about as long term a problem as there is surely?
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
simulated in the lab, for sure. When applied to real road traffic, the difference is smaller and less certain. Definitely not enough of an improvement to be slaughtering people by the tens of thousands for.
Randy Butternubs
Über Member
I'm kind of reluctant to dive into this since it's both an emotive subject and a complex one I'm not really able to do justice. That said: I don't think boiling the issue down to diesel = pollution and petrol = planet friendly is helpful or accurate.
I've tried to wrap my head around the issue of petrol and diesel engine emissions but once you look outside of alarming (or alarmist?) newspaper headlines it's hard to find consensus.
Particulates are often mentioned with regard to diesel but my understanding is that modern petrol cars actually have higher particulate emissions thanks to the filters in modern diesels. I have also seen it mentioned that the particulates from petrol engines are smaller and therefore harder for your body to deal with.
Diesels do emit NOx but is it worse than the CO emitted by petrol engines? What about in a few years time when adblue systems which remove NOx from the exhaust are the norm thanks to Euro6?
I don't mean to present the above as hard fact since, as I said, it's hard to find consensus. Just some food for thought.
Randy Butternubs
Über Member
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
And what happens when AdBlue is determined to be harmful in some way?
The problem is a societal one, the wanton and un-necessary use of cars. Make a ban on c ar journeys under 5 miles for all but the disabled.
The problem is a societal one, the wanton and un-necessary use of cars. Make a ban on c ar journeys under 5 miles for all but the disabled.
Grant Fondo
Guru
- Location
- Cheshire
This whole story smacks of a pre-emptive strike by the government at taxing a new ' baddie' now makers have spent millions reducing CO2...the VED coffers are running low I'm sure, my Golf GTD costs 20 quid a year to tax, this will not last for long!
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Golf GTD leaving the factory...
Grant Fondo
Guru
- Location
- Cheshire
LOL.....yes and 68mpg!!
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
My Wifes 2 tonne Kia manages that without lying to meet worldwide emissions standards.
Randy Butternubs
Über Member
I agree. I've no particular love of diesel and I dislike cars generally though they are extremely useful. I just think people shouldn't let the current demonisation of diesel distract them from the bigger picture.
It's really tempting to believe that the right technology or the right policy can painlessly solve issues like global warming and air pollution. Maybe in some instances they can. But ultimately there are simple and surefire ways to combat the problem that require a little sacrifice: drive less, turn down your thermostat, consume less etc.
Grant Fondo
Guru
- Location
- Cheshire
On a serious note i am binning off the VW in a couple of weeks and will never go back. They hope customers will have short memories and many will!
This is the tailpipe on one of my diesel cars fitted with a DPF, it's cleaner than a clean thing on a clean day
Another diesel I have fitted with a DPF is always covered in black soot
Both vehicles cause problems when being MOT'd as the emissions testing machine cannot find any trace of gasses
Another diesel I have fitted with a DPF is always covered in black soot
Both vehicles cause problems when being MOT'd as the emissions testing machine cannot find any trace of gasses
