Why is Europe so fond of diesels?

[Scott]

At 14:50 09-02-01 -0600, Jon R Tetzloff wrote:
>Sorry, but I gotta ask.   Why the diesel craze?
>I was brought up in the US and 'taught' that diesels
>make a horrible clattering racket, stink, pollute, get way
>lower power per cubic inch than a gasoline engine,
>and start worth crap in the cold.

The reason the diesels got such a bad rep was that, during the 70's fuel 
crunch, US car manufacturers (GM in particular I believe) put out a bunch 
of diesels that were just modified gas engines. Gas engines tend to run 
8-10:1 compression and diesels 18-24:1 compression, when you try to modify 
a gas engine to run diesel you end up with a way under-built engine that 
soon blows its rings and belches smoke. They didn't hold pressure well 
enough and had inferior glow plugs, so they wouldn't start in cold weather. 
They aren't insulated  (mass-wise and exterior sound insulation) well 
enough, so they are very loud.
Even a properly built Diesel requires more maintenance than a gas engine to 
keep in top shape (2 tune-ups/year), but if they are maintained they will 
run clean and quiet for hundreds of thousands of miles.

I have driven VW & Mercedes diesel engines and have owned a Mecedes diesel, 
I think it is a great technology. I am really considering one of VWs 
eco-diesels for the next commuter/family car.

Scott