Comments on: Diesel, hybrid or don’t care – have you made the switch? http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/ Road safety, road rules, fuels, car care and everyday driving - NRMA Motoring & Services Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:30:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chip Tuning http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-4417 Chip Tuning Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:16:45 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-4417 Wow I am so satisfied about my Mercedes cause i bought a fit and right <a href="http://www.bhpplus.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Diesel tuning</a> because i notice that the speed and the smoothness of it is really different as before, hope i can help you with your problems and suggest the a diesel tuning or <a href="http://www.bhpplus.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">chip tuning </a> that will fit to your 2010 Mercedes . Wow I am so satisfied about my Mercedes cause i bought a fit and right Diesel tuning because i notice that the speed and the smoothness of it is really different as before, hope i can help you with your problems and suggest the a diesel tuning or chip tuning that will fit to your 2010 Mercedes .

]]> By: Jesse - Best Motor Oil Review Guy http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-3911 Jesse - Best Motor Oil Review Guy Sat, 07 Aug 2010 15:18:34 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-3911 I have not made the switch. Here in the US the price of diesel fuel has increased eliminating the price differential between gas and diesel (that used to support buying a diesel). Diesel fuel has a higher heating value per gallon does gasoline and hence the percieved improvement in gas mileage. In a lot of cases diesel engines are more expensive than gas because of the higher compression ratios and additional steel needed to support the high loading of pistons relative to gas. You do produce less CO2 per mile traveled using diesel but I'm not sure that justifies an entire economy of cars to switch over. My thoughts anyway. I have not made the switch. Here in the US the price of diesel fuel has increased eliminating the price differential between gas and diesel (that used to support buying a diesel). Diesel fuel has a higher heating value per gallon does gasoline and hence the percieved improvement in gas mileage. In a lot of cases diesel engines are more expensive than gas because of the higher compression ratios and additional steel needed to support the high loading of pistons relative to gas. You do produce less CO2 per mile traveled using diesel but I’m not sure that justifies an entire economy of cars to switch over. My thoughts anyway.

]]> By: Carl http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-2209 Carl Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:15:03 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-2209 I think it really doesn't make sense for the auto manufacturers to come up with diesel hybrids. What good does it do for the environment -- although they're using hybrid technology, yet diesel is more damaging to the environment. I think it really doesn’t make sense for the auto manufacturers to come up with diesel hybrids. What good does it do for the environment — although they’re using hybrid technology, yet diesel is more damaging to the environment.

]]> By: mike lankuts http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-828 mike lankuts Tue, 06 May 2008 01:28:52 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-828 I have just bought a new VW Golf GT Sport 2.0L TDi Diesel 6 speed auto. Utterly fantastic. I drive 60 km to and from work each day on Canberra's roads so I spend a lot of time at over 100 kph. Economy is less than 6 L/100Km all the time with less than 5 L/100Km when I cruise home. The acceleration is 0 100 in 8 seconds. Most of my driving is spent in 6th gear and I don't spend all my time having to change gears continuously. Too many comments have confused old technology trucks and buses with new tech turbo-diesels. You will not see any black smoke coming out of my diesel and compared to my V6 and V8 Commodores I am using up to half the fuel with a still spacious car. Try a diesel Golf and you won't be sorry and diesels consistently leave current hybrids for dead in the fuel economy stakes. Hybrids are best for purely jam-packed Sydney driving. I leave home before 7.30am to miss even Canberra's minor traffic problems and cruise home at 3.30pm with no traffic at all. I have just bought a new VW Golf GT Sport 2.0L TDi Diesel 6 speed auto. Utterly fantastic. I drive 60 km to and from work each day on Canberra’s roads so I spend a lot of time at over 100 kph. Economy is less than 6 L/100Km all the time with less than 5 L/100Km when I cruise home. The acceleration is 0 100 in 8 seconds. Most of my driving is spent in 6th gear and I don’t spend all my time having to change gears continuously. Too many comments have confused old technology trucks and buses with new tech turbo-diesels. You will not see any black smoke coming out of my diesel and compared to my V6 and V8 Commodores I am using up to half the fuel with a still spacious car. Try a diesel Golf and you won’t be sorry and diesels consistently leave current hybrids for dead in the fuel economy stakes. Hybrids are best for purely jam-packed Sydney driving. I leave home before 7.30am to miss even Canberra’s minor traffic problems and cruise home at 3.30pm with no traffic at all.

]]> By: Denis McGrane http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-373 Denis McGrane Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:02:55 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-373 RE SuperMoosie Says: - Comment August 1st, 2007 at 2:18 pm "As for diesel being less refined than petrol. yes the diesel condenses lower down in the fractionating column when refining, but is refined has just same as petrol. The cost increase is because the refiners had to do a very costly upgrade to their refinerys to develop low sulffer Diesel and the higher prices are just them getting their return on their investment." From Motormouth Motormouth - Which oil company employs you to peddle their nonsense? Oil companies have had to refine diesel to a higher level in Europe and Japan for years - Japanese diesel vehicles sent to Australia have had to be detuned to cope with our antiquated diesel refining methods. The technology has been available to oil companies all that time. Only a complacent and compliant federal government let them get away with it and swallowed the line about the expensive up grade story - it's baloney. On the question of fuel prices - late last week (25/11/07) I paid 149.9 for diesel at a Caltex owned station in Gosford (I checked that they owned it). Just down the road into the city, an independent station was charging 139.9 for diesel and 134.9 for bio-diesel. Unfortunately I was very low on fuel and had to stop at the first station in Gosford - baaddd mistake! Oh, and by the way a very small sign on the Caltex diesel pump mentioned that it was 2% bio-diesel - no discount for that!. Who says the large American and other cartel members aren't ripping off the motorists? Oh for an ACCC with more powers. See also the post of Chris - August 5th, 2007 at 10:31 pm on his comments about prices of diesel in other States. Unlike you motormouth, I have put my name to my comments! RE SuperMoosie Says: – Comment August 1st, 2007 at 2:18 pm
“As for diesel being less refined than petrol. yes the diesel condenses lower down in the fractionating column when refining, but is refined has just same as petrol. The cost increase is because the refiners had to do a very costly upgrade to their refinerys to develop low sulffer Diesel and the higher prices are just them getting their return on their investment.”
From Motormouth

Motormouth – Which oil company employs you to peddle their nonsense? Oil companies have had to refine diesel to a higher level in Europe and Japan for years – Japanese diesel vehicles sent to Australia have had to be detuned to cope with our antiquated diesel refining methods. The technology has been available to oil companies all that time. Only a complacent and compliant federal government let them get away with it and swallowed the line about the expensive up grade story – it’s baloney.

On the question of fuel prices – late last week (25/11/07) I paid 149.9 for diesel at a Caltex owned station in Gosford (I checked that they owned it). Just down the road into the city, an independent station was charging 139.9 for diesel and 134.9 for bio-diesel. Unfortunately I was very low on fuel and had to stop at the first station in Gosford – baaddd mistake! Oh, and by the way a very small sign on the Caltex diesel pump mentioned that it was 2% bio-diesel – no discount for that!. Who says the large American and other cartel members aren’t ripping off the motorists? Oh for an ACCC with more powers.

See also the post of Chris – August 5th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
on his comments about prices of diesel in other States.

Unlike you motormouth, I have put my name to my comments!

]]> By: Robert http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-114 Robert Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:42:27 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-114 Hi Does anyone know of an "expert" at tuning up LPG to get the best out of it? I am not totally happy having to "rev" the engine on starting to switch from petrol to LPG and having to stop the car when switching to petrol if the LPG runs out while I am driving. I live in the St George district in Sydney - any suggestions? Hi
Does anyone know of an “expert” at tuning up LPG to get the best out of it?

I am not totally happy having to “rev” the engine on starting to switch from petrol to LPG and having to stop the car when switching to petrol if the LPG runs out while I am driving.

I live in the St George district in Sydney – any suggestions?

]]> By: Michael http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-66 Michael Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:44:45 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-66 We were thinking of downgrading to a smaller car back in 2000 but we decided we preferred the comfort of the larger car so purchased a Falcon AU and immediately after the 1st service had it converted to LPG. It was the best move ever and we have the convenience of duel fuels, if by chance we are in woop-woop and they don't do gas. The car is now 7 years old and has 210,000km on the clock. There is no power loss and only once we had a problem with switching from petrol to LPG which needed new spark plug leads. We were thinking of downgrading to a smaller car back in 2000 but we decided we preferred the comfort of the larger car so purchased a Falcon AU and immediately after the 1st service had it converted to LPG. It was the best move ever and we have the convenience of duel fuels, if by chance we are in woop-woop and they don’t do gas. The car is now 7 years old and has 210,000km on the clock. There is no power loss and only once we had a problem with switching from petrol to LPG which needed new spark plug leads.

]]> By: Tony http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-65 Tony Sat, 11 Aug 2007 08:21:44 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-65 I converted my Falcon van to LPG 15 years ago. Since then I have travelled 620,000 Km on all types of city and country roads without any problems with the gas system apart from a hose that cost $40 to replace. The current engine has done 325,000 Km wthout any head or valve problems and still runs as well as it did the day it was built, the only parts requiring replacement have been the timing chain and two oil seals.which I put down to a combination of LPG and synthetic oil. The van loaded, weighs 2200 Kg and uses an av. of 20 litres per 100 Km. I estimate that over the 15 years I have saved at least $40,000 using LPG I think that if you are driving more than thirty or forty thousand Km per year LPG is hard to beat. I converted my Falcon van to LPG 15 years ago. Since then I have travelled 620,000 Km on all types of city and country roads without any problems with the gas system apart from a hose that cost $40 to replace. The current engine has done 325,000 Km wthout any head or valve problems and still runs as well as it did the day it was built, the only parts requiring replacement have been the timing chain and two oil seals.which I put down to a combination of LPG and synthetic oil. The van loaded, weighs 2200 Kg and uses an av. of 20 litres per 100 Km. I estimate that over the 15 years I have saved at least $40,000 using LPG I think that if you are driving more than thirty or forty thousand Km per year LPG is hard to beat.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-64 Andrew Sat, 11 Aug 2007 02:42:15 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-64 About 7 years ago, I bought a 1981 Peugeot diesel. Yes, it is old diesel technology, and so probably a bit dirty smog wise, but the fuel economy is still unbelievable. On a recent trip from Melbourne to Wagga Wagga with a 2 day stop over in the Victorian highlands, I used about 7.7 litres/100km. That was with three children and a FULLY loaded boot! I am still amazed. Claire, yes, things will go wrong but they will with any mechanical device. My experience is that diesel engines just need to be treated differently to petrol engines. Don't let them overheat! (Bad experience :( ) The new Renault Megane diesel looks like the way to go if you want a medium sized car. Better performance, economy, features than the Golf (by a mile, country or otherwise!). Cheers About 7 years ago, I bought a 1981 Peugeot diesel. Yes, it is old diesel technology, and so probably a bit dirty smog wise, but the fuel economy is still unbelievable.

On a recent trip from Melbourne to Wagga Wagga with a 2 day stop over in the Victorian highlands, I used about 7.7 litres/100km. That was with three children and a FULLY loaded boot! I am still amazed.

Claire, yes, things will go wrong but they will with any mechanical device. My experience is that diesel engines just need to be treated differently to petrol engines. Don’t let them overheat! (Bad experience :( )

The new Renault Megane diesel looks like the way to go if you want a medium sized car. Better performance, economy, features than the Golf (by a mile, country or otherwise!).

Cheers

]]> By: Tim Hoskins http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-63 Tim Hoskins Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:38:40 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2007/07/16/diesel-hybrid-or-don%e2%80%99t-care-%e2%80%93-have-you-made-the-switch/#comment-63 Diesel vehicle have improved a lot in the past few years, compared to the dirty and gutless one tonners of the '80s. Like Chris, I drive a 3 litre diesel Rodeo ute, and would not go back to petrol. Economical and flexible, they are good to drive. The only downside is the greedy pricing policies of oil companies & governments. I cannot understand why the local car manufacturers have not been more forward thinking about their power plants, if they made a diesel Falcon I would buy one tomorrow! The VW Golf is great, but just too small to suit all the needs of a single car family. Diesel vehicle have improved a lot in the past few years, compared to the dirty and gutless one tonners of the ’80s. Like Chris, I drive a 3 litre diesel Rodeo ute, and would not go back to petrol. Economical and flexible, they are good to drive. The only downside is the greedy pricing policies of oil companies & governments. I cannot understand why the local car manufacturers have not been more forward thinking about their power plants, if they made a diesel Falcon I would buy one tomorrow! The VW Golf is great, but just too small to suit all the needs of a single car family.

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