Why pick on diesel?

[gavroche]

Manchester and Liverpool city councils are thinking of introducing a tax on diesel cars, why diesel?
A diesel car goes twice as far as a petrol car for the same amount of fuel so more economical. I also believe that a modern diesel engine, well set and maintained is no more polluting than a petrol car.
Isn't it strange than 20 years ago and more, diesels were all the rage, especially on the Continent. I think it is an attack on diesels just for profiteering as an easy target. I, for one, will keep my diesel car and change it to another diesel when the time comes as I like being able to do 70 mpg. A diesel engine will also outlast any petrol engine too.

 

[gavroche]

These two bits might not accord with reality.

Really?

 

[Tin Pot]

Diesel has always been the worst poluter

 

[screenman]

Really?

Plenty of petrol cars doing 50mpg or there about. I am a diesel user but would prefer to be running a petrol engine, if only for the reliabilty, trouble is I need a large estate car and until the more economical petrol engined one's come into my price range I will have to to stay with them.

 

[tyred]

Based purely on my own observations, most modern diesel seems to be just as smoky under hard acceleration as their predecessors. Nothing I like more than being engulfed in diesel smoke when cycling when a driver gives it some welly to overtake.

 

[Drago]

Because they're terrible polluters, particularly with respect to particulates which directly contribute to people snuffing it in a way petrol emissions don't. Its pretty simple.

There is no technical reason why, compared like for like, a diesel engine will have a longer lifespan than a petrol one. indeed, with all the ancillary systems diesels are crammed with to try and - only partially successfully - control those horrendous emissions, there is a whole layer of technology they possess that petrol cars don't which these days tends to render them uneconomical to repair when the base ICE may still be sound. Conversely, a 10 year old petrol engine of the same mileage will never be a financial write off because the DPF system requires major attention, or the DMF dies, simply because they do not have them.

 

[gavroche]

Plenty of petrol cars doing 50mpg or there about. I am a diesel user but would prefer to be running a petrol engine, if only for the reliabilty, trouble is I need a large estate car and until the more economical petrol engined one's come into my price range I will have to to stay with them.

Diesels are more reliable than petrol engines. Less likely to have electrical faults

 

[tyred]

Diesels are more reliable than petrol engines. Less likely to have electrical faults

True if you're dealing with something like a Peugeot 405. Definitely not true of the modern breed of diesels.

 

[Profpointy]

Diesels are more reliable than petrol engines. Less likely to have electrical faults

In the olden days, yes. These days I very much doubt it. Ok doesn't have HT and spark plugs, but full of complicated cumputer controlled electrical stuff - even the injectors are electrical now. My skoda diesel went home on a lorry 2 or 3 times due to electrical problems and its skoda and vw petrol predecessors did not. The damp leads thing of the olden days is really only an olden days thing. Petrol and diesel cars are both susceptible to the warning lights then magic box failure type thing

 

[Drago]

Diesels are more reliable than petrol engines. Less likely to have electrical faults

I've just laughed so much I nearly poo'd. This isn't 1950. The amount of electronic control on a modern diesel engine is staggering. Now go and stand in the corner and think about what you've just said.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Manchester and Liverpool city councils are thinking of introducing a tax on diesel cars, why diesel?
A diesel car goes twice as far as a petrol car for the same amount of fuel so more economical. I also believe that a modern diesel engine, well set and maintained is no more polluting than a petrol car.
Isn't it strange than 20 years ago and more, diesels were all the rage, especially on the Continent. I think it is an attack on diesels just for profiteering as an easy target. I, for one, will keep my diesel car and change it to another diesel when the time comes as I like being able to do 70 mpg. A diesel engine will also outlast any petrol engine too.

You'll notice that the diesel problem is predominantly an urban one. Big city centres are particularly (and particulately?) affected by build ups of health-endangering pollutants, notably nitrous oxide. The smaller amount of pollution in open countryside and small towns does not reach the prohibited levels found daily in big city centres so that's not the highest priority.

 

[vickster]

Diesel cars and especially vans stink, old and new hate being behind them on bike or in car

 

[gavroche]

I've just laughed so much I nearly poo'd. This isn't 1950. The amount of electronic control on a modern diesel engine is staggering. Now go and stand in the corner and think about what you've just said.

And petrol engines don't have the same amount of electronic gadgetry?

 

[Profpointy]

And petrol engines don't have the same amount of electronic gadgetry?

Yes of course they do. The point is modern diesels don't have significantly less electronics than petrols.

Our old 110 landrover diesel had no electronics whatsoever related to actually running. My skoda diesel mentioned above had mor electrocs than the starship enterprise - as did its petrol predecessor

 

[Hacienda71]

They should tax all fossil fuel vehicles in the same way. Diesel isn't perfect but petrol isn't either.