The problem with modern diesels

[Plasnart]

Wow, excellent article. Technology really is cracking on and i agree the end of diesel and even petrol motors could be on the horizon. That extended range EV concept with gas turbine is very very interesting.

[nissannewby]

This is like a full circle. Diesels were considered the same 40 years ago- Expensive lol. The problem I see with modern diesels is the people who make them which ultimately are driven by the consumer. Modern diesels are expected to have good performance while still being affordable to buy. Which do you want? A reliable diesel with performance will be expensive, A cheap diesel that is reliable wont have performance.

[Cuppa]

This is like a full circle. Diesels were considered the same 40 years ago- Expensive lol. The problem I see with modern diesels is the people who make them which ultimately are driven by the consumer. Modern diesels are expected to have good performance while still being affordable to buy. Which do you want? A reliable diesel with performance will be expensive, A cheap diesel that is reliable wont have performance.

I don’t disagree with you Matt, but it appears (from the article) that the nail in the coffin for diesels will not be reliability or performance, but the inability to meet ever tightening emission requirements. It could well be that my strategy of buying an old school diesel for long term ownership & travel was not such a great idea after all. If over the next decade plus we see less & less diesels on the road diesel fuel will become more & more a niche product with a matching increase in price. Not what I want to see, but I also have green beliefs about the need for behaviours to change for the sake of the planet. Difficult world aint it.

[jack]

I don’t wish mechanical calamity on anyone & I believe in karma so if I were being truly nasty I’d probably have a rod out through the bottom of my dinosaur next week.

Never going to happen to your motor Cuppa, you don't put enough K's on it.

[Cuppa]

Never going to happen to your motor Cuppa, you don't put enough K's on it.

Yet, Jack, yet!

[mudnut]

Don't worry, Cuppa, us petrol heads can send you our used oil, if you want.

[Bush Ranger]

I don’t disagree with you Matt, but it appears (from the article) that the nail in the coffin for diesels will not be reliability or performance, but the inability to meet ever tightening emission requirements. It could well be that my strategy of buying an old school diesel for long term ownership & travel was not such a great idea after all. If over the next decade plus we see less & less diesels on the road diesel fuel will become more & more a niche product with a matching increase in price. Not what I want to see, but I also have green beliefs about the need for behaviours to change for the sake of the planet. Difficult world aint it.

Reminds me of what I have heard about 2 stroke motors. They`re trying to phase them out, because of the pollution they create.

[nissannewby]

I don’t disagree with you Matt, but it appears (from the article) that the nail in the coffin for diesels will not be reliability or performance, but the inability to meet ever tightening emission requirements. It could well be that my strategy of buying an old school diesel for long term ownership & travel was not such a great idea after all. If over the next decade plus we see less & less diesels on the road diesel fuel will become more & more a niche product with a matching increase in price. Not what I want to see, but I also have green beliefs about the need for behaviours to change for the sake of the planet. Difficult world aint it.

I cant see that happening in the next 50 years cuppa. There is still a lot of r&d going into the old diesel buy some major automotive manufacturers. I always fail to see the emissions side of the argument. Sure we can all drive electric cars but they still pollute just as much as a petrol or diesel vehicle. Sure nothing comes out of an exhaust but the materials used in the batteries are horrible for the environment, not to mention the vehicle still drives on tyres and has all the other mechanical components in the drive train. Even solar isnt sustainable at this point.

[MB]

Something for us all to strive for:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion
Just might need a whisker of diesel and or Aerostart to get science rocking along:-)

[dom14]

Reminds me of what I have heard about 2 stroke motors. They`re trying to phase them out, because of the pollution they create.

That would be bad news for some of the motor mowers, whipper snippers, chain saws, etc.