[alfa] Re: alfa-digest V10 #105

[C M Smith <cmsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Diesel engines noisy? North American Diesel engines, like most commercial 
vehicles over here are extremely noisy. Why? Because there are no noise 
regulations that apply to commercial vehicles as far as I can tell. Why 
anyone in North America would even consider buying a diesel powered 
passenger vehicle is beyond my understanding. Anything a diesel can do can 
be done better by gasoline in a passenger car application. However, 
European designs of diesel engines for passenger cars are amazing 
powerplants. Useless for North America though, our fuel tax and pricing 
regimes do not favour diesel powered passenger cars.

Modern passenger car diesel engines from outside the US market are a 
revelation. However, the advantage of diesel is largely illusory,dependent 
as it is upon lower fuel taxes on diesel to make it attractive.

Fundamentally, a diesel engine has to be heavier to resist the extra 
stresses of compression ignition. Unless the fuel is cheaper, gasoline 
engines make more sense for passenger vehicles. Of course, there is also 
the problem that refining crude produces diesel and gasoline in relatively 
fixed proportions, so it makes sense to reserve diesel for commercial 
applications and gasoline for the more interesting car market.

Cheers


Michael Smith
White 1991 164L
Original owner
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