State-of-the-Art Clean Diesel Technology

[RAM MAN]

from a DC Press Release:

"DaimlerChrysler Highlights State-of-the-Art Clean Diesel Technology

Auburn Hills, Oct 16, 2002
Today's modern diesels are often overlooked by American consumers as a way to reduce the country's dependence on oil or their trips to gas stations, because of lingering negative perceptions about diesel powered cars of the 1980s.

DaimlerChrysler offers a range of diesel passenger vehicles in Europe, where approximately 35 percent of cars are powered by diesel engines. According to a study commissioned by the Diesel Technology Forum, the state of California alone could eliminate 20 million barrels of oil per year if it had Europe's percentage of diesel vehicles.

"Today's clean diesels offer an average 30 percent in fuel economy improvement while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by at least 20 percent," said Bernard Robertson, Senior Vice President of Engineering Technologies and Regulatory Affairs, Chrysler Group. "DaimlerChrysler is committed to increasing the fuel efficiency of its cars and trucks. Diesels may play a role, although consumer acceptance may prove to be as big a challenge as any technical issues."

Diesel engines have reduced NOx and particulate matter emissions an average of 90 percent since 1980 through advanced technologies such as high pressure fuel injection, pilot fuel injection, computer-controlled engine functions, and common rail technology - which supplies constant fuel pressure to electronically controlled injectors.

New diesel engines also demonstrate dramatic improvements in reducing noise, vibration and harshness, and are often more durable than comparable gasoline engines. Introduction of low-sulfur diesel fuel in the future could make it possible for automakers to adapt more sophisticated emissions control technologies that would make diesel emissions comparable to gasoline engines. "

"Just so you know"

[dodge_em]

Nice article, RM!!!
I don't know why Dodge doesn't offer diesels in more of the smaller vehicles. Cummins makes a 3.9L 4 cyl that would be perfect in the Dakota and Durango, and if they didn't want to use that, Benz has diesel engines they can use, both in their truck lines and their car lines. Heck, Volkswagen offers a little tubo diesel in most everything they sell here in the states, not just in Europe. A Jetta, for instance with the TDI engine, gets over 50 mpg, and you have to really listen to hear that it is a diesel. Got a chance to drive one, and it has pretty good pickup as well. Add to the fact that diesels not only go more miles on a gallon of fuel, but that the gallon in general costs a bit less as well. Maintenance is usually lower, as there is no vacuum or spark to worry about, and they are built strong for compression they develop, so they generally last a long time.

Just some thoughts.....

[RAM MAN]

I wonder if the day will come that diesel will be a lot cheaper than gas ...

[HankL]

It is my understanding that Chrysler already builds a turbo-diesel 4 cylinder Dakota in Brazil.

Don't you think a Diesel Dak would sell in the USA?

My guess is that DC could easily sell 20,000-30,000 Diesel Daks.

[dodge_em]

HankL,

I firmly believe diesel Dak's would sell. Talk about cheap transportation. Imagine a quiet little turbo diesel in the Neon, or PTCruiser. Just a little purr, or you wouldn't even know it was a diesel.

But if DC listened to the buying population, they would have a rear wheel drive sports car (haven't had one in over 20 years), they would have a full sized SUV (haven't had one in 10 years), and we would have had 4 door Rams all along (been a long time since there was a Crew Cab Ram - actually even the new ones aren't quite a full crew). They just seem to be holding a little back. It is good to have an ace up your sleeve, but if you never play the ace, it is just a waste.

[christian]

Diesel fuel in my area costs on average just about two cents per gallon less than 93 octane. There are many diesel gas dealers but most people won't consider diesel engines (imho) because of the expected noise and don't want to be labelled a truck driver.
Yes, even in lowly Levittown where I live, people are concerned with what other people think... pshaw.:stk:

I could get really enthused about running CNG or LP and I think so could many others... just a thought.

[Uselessdog]

DC has a whole stable of engines that they could put in smaller
vehicles and in the Ram. They have the deal with Cummins. They
already had the Mercedes engines in the cars and the trucks. The
MB 366 is the same size as the Cummins. The cars have had 4, 5, and
6 cylinder diesels over the years. They bought Detroit Diesel which
had just developed several new lines of engines. One is the very
compact 160 hp 3.9 L inline 6 used in the small Bearing trucks. There
are also two of the lines with V6 and V8 engines in them. These are
not big linehaul engines. They are smaller medium duty engines. DC
also aquired Mitsubishi which they said they bought for the diesel
engines. My 78 W200 was built with a Mitsubishi diesel, so they
have used them before. There were a couple of test mule Plymouth
(remember them) Voyagers running around withDetroit Diesel Turbo
4's. They are reportedly still running them around but in Europe now.
There was supposedly going to be a diesel option for the Voyager
for the '03 but it probably won't happen because resistance to
diesels is mounting amoung evironmentalists. Too bad! How would
you like to have a mini van that got 50 mph. Perhaps a Dakota that
could get 35 or 40 mph. My 84 Mark VII diesel gets as high as 43 mph
and the new engines are more efficient. Tell DC you want 'em!