[Vwdiesel] environmental concerns

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

> Standing at work today, someone said "you can't drive a diesel and claim
>  to be at all environmentally concious".  I didn't know how to respond to
>  this. Can someone help???  :)
>
  Sure biodiesel but you have to have some ammo for petroleum diesel as
well.  :)
  First off, unburned hydrocarbons are nearly nonexistent WITHOUT the
aid of an air pump or catalytic converter.  Carbon monoxide is nearly
nonexistent as well.  There's the two main environmental concerns of
most people.  Then you get to having oxygen left over after combustion
which gas engines don't.  There's more torque so a smaller engine will
propel the same size car with more "pull" especially when turbocharged.
  A diesel uses about a third of the fuel than a comparable gas car.  For
 every 3rd tank of fuel in a diesel  a comparable gas car will be "throwing
away" one tank!  That's environmentally conscious???  :o  Less tune ups
so less "garbage" to throw away.  The exhaust system usually lasts 3 to
4 times as long so more "less waste" and less resources used.  Same goes
 along with the engines lasting longer.  Also  a "tired" diesel engine will
produce less pollution than a tired gas engine will.  No big clouds of
blue smoke following a diesel, (unless there's no timing retard like on
some old trucks).
  THEN you punch him in the nose!
     Loren