In 2009

[tomhaney1]

It all depends upon how you measure the pollution, though. While diesels are often lower in noxious gases, they put out a lot more particulates (soot, etc.) than a gasoline engine.

When the new diesel standards (15 ppm sulfur content versus 300 ppm of recent years) are integrated into the market, you will likely see more and more of them - as is the case in Europe. Over there, diesel is taxed at a lower level than gasoline; which makes oil-burners more economical.

It also is an advantage to diesels that it costs less to produce/refine diesel fuel than gasoline, and diesel vehicles typically get 15 to 20 percent more miles on a gallon.

Soot is far more dangerous than plain CO, it has arsenic and heavy metals present along with the average culpruts such as sulfates and ammonium. And that isn't even mentioning NOx, which will kill you faster than about anything else. I don't know how these new regulations will fare when everyone seems to pander to the semi-truck drivers. To know what soot particles do just drive to Riverside, CA, climb a hill and look towards LA.

<----Stepping down from the soap box

 

[*wishlist*]

i am in support of bringing a turbo diesel 4runner to the u.s.

 

[peter78]

The only I-5's I can think of were in the Acura Vigor and a Volvo V70.

And we all remember how great the Acura Vigor was. Actually, the first car I remember being 5 cyl is the Mercedes 300D. They made a 5 cyl mdoel for awhile and then it was dropped.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Originally posted by tomhaney1
Soot is far more dangerous than plain CO, it has arsenic and heavy metals present along with the average culpruts such as sulfates and ammonium. And that isn't even mentioning NOx, which will kill you faster than about anything else. I don't know how these new regulations will fare when everyone seems to pander to the semi-truck drivers. To know what soot particles do just drive to Riverside, CA, climb a hill and look towards LA.

<----Stepping down from the soap box

Pandering to truck drivers? Not quite. I am in the transportation business (being a truck driver is part of my job), and I can tell you that the trucking industry has political clout; but not as much as you might believe.

Tougher emissions standards and higher road use taxes have recently been forced on the industry, along with regulations having to do with hours of service. Most of these are good rules, but are proof that other political entities carry more weight with Congress.

Additionally, we pay between $2.25 and $2.35 per gallon for bulk purchases of on-road diesel (the low-sulfur stuff known as ULSD).......which actually costs much less to produce and refine than does unleaded gasoline. We are paying a lot more tax on each gallon than those who drive gasoline-powered cars; and our trucks typically only get 5.5 to 8.5 miles per gallon, depending on their size.

Likewise, the railroads and construction companies are not required to use the low-sulfur fuel and can run the untaxed, off-road diesel fuel at a significant savings. Try being a trucker and get caught with dyed, untaxed fuel in your tanks!
:bash:

Diesel engines are not the be-all and end-all to our environmental and petroleum imbroglio, but oil-burners are going to be part of the overall solution. In Europe, diesel fuel costs about 30% less than gasoline and is actually taxed at a lower rate. That is why about 1/4 of cars over there burn diesel instead of regular petrol. Also know that diesels get about 20 to 30 percent better fuel economy per gallon and diesel engines can run much longer if properly maintained (in trucks, at least).

As diesel technology improves and they become quieter, smoother, cleaner, faster and more efficient, it is likely that there will be more and more of them on the road in the coming decades.

Regarding the soot and Riverside, I am sorry to hear that. However, I wonder how the folks in California would feel if all those evil truck drivers stopped coming into the state. When all the store shelves were empty and there was not any gasoline at the corner station, many of those "truck haters" might change their tune. Most people asked will always say how they hate those big trucks on the road - while being the first ones to complain if they cannot buy the items hauled inside those same trucks!

I am cautiously optimistic about the future of energy. Free-market entrepreneurship will see to it that someone can make a buck by developing new forms of energy or different ways to extract existing reserves. Whether it is cleaner diesel fuel, solar power, ethanol, wind power or even nuclear energy, supplies will be harvested if a buck can be made by doing so.

As environmental technology improves, it is also quite likely that we are going to get better at cleaning up our messes. Pollution is (or should be) a much larger concern in the third-world countries than it is for us. Just wait until China fires up more and more coal-fired power plants and factories in the coming decades.


Remember that if you bought it, a truck probably brought it.
:bigok:

 

[JungleJim]

There have been mentions in some of the other threads regarding the debut of the 5th Generation 4Runner in 2009. Is this based on documentation by Toyota or the assumption that because the 3rd Generation had a 6 year cycle so will the 4th generation?

It will be in the Fall of 2009 as a 2010 model year.

 

[peter78]

Re: Re: In 2009

It will be in the Fall of 2009 as a 2010 model year.

I wonder how you know that? That will be a 7 year life cycle. I am thinking a 6 year life cycle, so the fall of 2008 as a 2009 model. Of course if you have a inside track on this, let us know.

 

[Falls]

Talking about an inline 5 cyl. Go test drive an H3....kinda cool truck but good god just fricken terrible in the power dept....... worst I've ever drove.