Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 21:17:00 -0700
Reply-To: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject: Re: Turbo Diesel Power and Economy - global efficiency Q?
In-Reply-To: <KDEFIMDKMLDACJCKCOGIIEDECHAA.jp0815@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I have been doing some reading on this very subject for quite a while as the
Diesel bug has bitten me very hard this year. I have a 1.6TD Golf and a
1.9TD Syncro 16 Multivan - both have given me a lot of trouble free and
inexpensive operation.
I live in a town where they cut down trees to make a living and every third
vehicle on the road is a heavy truck of some sort that has a BIG turbo
Diesel motor that belches out the black smoke when they are under load.
Local air pollution in Quesnel is quite high and since I have moved here in
1992 my breathing health is not as good as it used to be.
Seeing how Canada has signed the Kyoto Accord (and the USA didn't) we are
supposed to reduce our green house gas emissions by x% by such and such a
date (still learning about this stuff). I'm doing my part by switching to
Diesel powered vehicles and getting set up for Bio-Diesel production (more
on that later). Based on the EPAs findings the TD / TDI is a great solution
to reducing our GHGs by producing almost 50% as compared to an equivalent
gasoline engine. As you pointed out the particulate (soot) levels of a
Diesel motor (not JUST the TDI as most other gas engined car manufactures
want you to think) is almost 6 times of that of an equivalent gasoline motor
(1.9 Turbo Diesel vs 2.0 Gasoline) - These figures are true *IF* you use
petroleum based Diesel fuel. If you use Bio-Diesel (canola or soya based)
the levels of soot drop considerably and the particles that are released are
not not toxic and will biodegrade in about 30 days. Why are we still
subsidising our western farmers to grow wheat that mostly gets shipped to
another country where it usually goes to waste? Why not put that same money
into developing canola production and bio-Diesel production instead? This
way we keep our population employed, mobile and healthy. At the same time
we keeping our environment cleaner and healthier too. We also lessen our
dependency on oil from the Middle East and keep our money locally to benefit
everyone.
Just a thought!
1985 Golf 1.6TD soon to be intercooled
1986 Syncro 16 Multivan 1.9TD
1988 Syncro Double Cab 2.0 Gasoline - soon to be TDI
David Marshall
Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
- Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
- Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation
- European Lighting for most Volkswagen models
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Joachim Preiss
Sent: October 16, 2002 7:53 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Turbo Diesel Power and Economy - global efficiency Q?
EPA ratings may be arbitrary. TDI engines are among the worst in EPA's
statistics, even worse than any 10mpg guzzler, although their low fuel
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are matched only by ultralight cars
and hybrids. In Europe reducing greenhouse gas emissions is considered very
important, besides the fact that expensive fuel calls for better gasmileage.
TDI engines however emit particles which can cause smog. Technology is
available today to filter those diesel particles which are also considered
carcinogenic from the exhaust, but car manufacturers (VW!) refuse to install
them in their cars.
Greenhouse gas emissions hurt globally, particles locally.
In your 2 ton Westy you can probably achieve 20-25mpg with a clean burning
modern I4 gasoline engine, or 35mpg with a TDI. Your choice.
Joachim
'85 Westfalia 1.9WBX 18mpg
'00 golf 1.9 TDI 45mpg over 45k miles
|> -----Original Message-----
|> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
|> Of Wade Shen
|> Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 22:29
|> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|> Subject: Re: Turbo Diesel Power and Economy - global eficiency Q?
|>
|>
|> Check out www.fueleconomy.gov This site has information about EPA fuel
|> efficiencies and relative polution as gauged by the EPA.
|>
|> Just taking a quick look, the Jetta 1.9 TDI vs Jetta 1.8 T, The TDI
|> emmits 3.4 tons less greenhouse gas (in co2 equiv.) per year, for the
|> same body and transmission. However, the smog forming emissions are
|> much worse for the TDI (and generally for diesels).
|>
|> wade
|>
|> -----Original Message-----
|> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
|> Of Damon Campbell
|> Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:38 PM
|> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|> Subject: Re: Turbo Diesel Power and Economy - global eficiency Q?
|>
|>
|> I am trying to debate the merits between several different engine
|> conversions (although i don't really know why... my 1.9 is running like
|> a champ). My main criteria is not a moderate HP increase (although an
|> extra 15 or so would be great), but rather the reduction of pollution to
|> the world. So this question transcends (a bit) frank's lengthy
|> analysis, although inspired by it.
|>
|> What combinations of fuel and engine produce the least amount of
|> pollutants? In this question, i am including the impacts of actually
|> producing/transporting/etc. the fuel, as well. (i remember someone
|> mentioning this a while back, but can't find it in the archives). How
|> does natural gas, or possibly even fuel cells weigh in to the
|> global-efficiency calc compared to your standard gas and diesel? It
|> sounds like a simple TDi is a viable option for these criteria, but i
|> want to see even *more* numbers! :-)
|>
|> Thanks,
|> -Damon
|>
|> Frank Grunthaner <FrankGRUN@AOL.COM> wrote:
|> And frankly, the highly efficient TDi is probably the most effective
|> engine for the Vanagon. Turbo diesels are impressive, and the TDi
|> technology even more so.
|>
|> Sorry for the soapbox,
|>
|> Frank Grunthaner
|>
|> '84 Westy
|>
|>
|> ---------------------------------
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