[V8] Americans and Diesels

[Dave Saad]

Ford has come to the conclusion that americans don't want diesel, and turbo gas engines are the way to go.
Can't say I agree, but either way, increasing demand on oil reserves is the wrong way to go.  I think the sooner we start moving toward hydrogen the better - for lots of reasons.

First off, it is inevitable long term.  The earth simply can't take the oil burning much longer.
Second, think of all the jobs that can be created.  We have everything we need but public pressure.  As far as govt policy goes, if they stop picking oil as the winner and instead spend a fraction of the military/oil industry protection budget on development of new technology we all would win.
Third, oil has too many valuable uses to just burn it for fuel.

Just for fun here is one of many possibilities that I think should be investigated:
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2007a/070515WoodallHydrogen.html

This guy was on NPR science friday a while back and was very interesting to listen to.  He has a vision for a complete fuel cycle that seems to make sense (and cents).
There are lots of other hydrogen ideas out there too ranging from algae to nuclear.  All clever and potentially workable but most of those suffer from the storage problem.  Using raw aluminum as the storage medium is a genius move.  It is almost as reactive as pure sodium in water, and the best part is they worked out how to do this process with dirty or even sea water. Ponder that for a moment.  This fuel can work in existing engines now.  If the aluminum is formed with renewables, there is almost no pollution, and if the source water is seawater or dirty water, it comes out the tailpipe purified.  I don't see a down side.  

Dave



On Jun 8, 2012, at 8:39 AM, S_Matus wrote:

> I have to comment on this post.
>  
> Diesels have been in my stable for over 14 years from Ford and VW.
> Ford F350 7.3L Turbo
> Touareg V10 TDI
> Jetta TDI Cup
>  
> I know a little about Diesels.
>  
> Way back in the late 1990s diesel was priced correctly about 5-10 cents under regular unleaded fuel.  That was the main reason I purchased the Ford.  Ever since the price of diesel has risen to a differential observed at 80 cents over regular unleaded.  Only recently has the price of diesel has come back to parity with gasoline prices.  This will be SIGNIFICANT for the prospective Diesel buyer.
>  
> Taxes on Fuels vary by state, but federal taxes will stay, which is a premium we all must pay.  You llike your interstate highways without Potholes?  Energy Policy should be Open up all methods of extraction and the oil will flow lowering prices.  According to the epa.gov, USA has the most untapped oil reserves in the world.  Yes, Energy Policy will be critial for the American economy to recover from this depression.
>  
> Manufacurers with a Diesel offering of SUV/Automobiles:
> Audi / VW
> Mercedes benz
> BMW
> Chrysler
>  
> Americans will come to appreciate Diesel Tech as more of their neighbors drive them home and talk.
> There are so many times that someone ask me about my TDI at the Fuel pumps.  It usually is a look of surprise when I tell them that my Jetta gets 51 MPG (With correct habits).
>  
> Where is FORD ad GM with  the passenger and SUV vehicles with Diesel Tech?  
>  
> ---------- Original message --------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2012 10:39:21 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Scott Justusson <qshipq at aol.com>
> To: toml99 at todomundo.com, v8 at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: [V8] diesel tech
> Message-ID: <8CF12D276165B32-1AF8-169B at webmail-d141.sysops.aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> 
> The late 70's GM tried going diesel, and it was a disaster.  My old man's '79 Toronado the pinnacle of failure, as it spent more time in the shop than it ever did belching black smoke.  Such a stain on diesel application for automobiles, it still holds a bad flavor for US Automakers and consumers alike.  Hopefully Jeep stepping up with a diesel in the sport ute market this year will help change that.  BMW, Mercedes and VAG are chomping at the bit, because they only need a major perception change, and the war on fuel consumption will start at the consumer.  A couple of obstacles still remain....  Tax policy and energy policy.
> 
> Only recently has diesel been lower than premium, which when doing basic math, shows that owning a diesel yields better mpg, but not better $/mile by the consumer.  Which points to tax policy.  If taxes collected on gasoline is per gallon sold, tax revenue would decrease.  If taxes collected on gasoline are also price based, higher price = more tax revenue.  Over to energy policy, it's really hard to comprehend how one of the first skims of the refining pyramid (diesel) is more expensive than one of the last (premium).  Alas, the bottom line becomes the swell of consumer support in spite of regulations/taxation.
> 
> In the SUV light truck market, diesel has enjoyed a resurgence, and some good engines have come from Ford, GM and Dodge turbodiesels.  Alas, a bit of a cycle in durability vs the bean counters, as Ford demonstrated going from the 7.3 to 6.2....  In the end though, diesel technology (IMO) will eclipse Hybrid and electric technologies for the near term...  And I applaud VAG for being at the forefront of demonstrating that, with a winning formula of tdi in street and racing.
> 
> ...  In the meantime, I'll just keep slaying dynosaurs with my v8s and Landcruiser for now.  And look forward to the day when 'diesel swaps' are the common theme on MG.
> 
> Rant off
> 
> Scott J
> 92 v8
> 91 v8
> 94 Landcruiser
> 
> 
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