Diesels

[markjay]

Maybe I have missed this particular point somewhere in this lengthy thread, but diesel cars are bad for the environment and cause particular air polution and, increasingly, health issues due of their particulate emissions. While there has been much in the press about it recently, I suspect little will be done about it by our government and most drivers will ignore it.

This is an issue that has been known about for many years, but is now only being widely reported.

This has been discussed in other threads - and apparently the jury is still out with regards to which kills more people every year - Diesel or Petrol. Both are bad news for the environment and for us...

 

[geraldrobins]

Maybe I have missed this particular point somewhere in this lengthy thread, but diesel cars are bad for the environment and cause particular air polution and, increasingly, health issues due of their particulate emissions. While there has been much in the press about it recently, I suspect little will be done about it by our government and most drivers will ignore it.

This is an issue that has been known about for many years, but is now only being widely reported.

Havent the government introduced DPF's?, to minimize this effect as with catalytic convertors for other harmful emmissions. Also a large petrol engine will emit more CO2 than a medium sized diesel. Most things have a cause and effect not just fuels. We used to see construction workers cutting materials in clouds of dust, but we oughtn anymore as it's outlawed in HSE guidelines and they can prosecute for it. Likewise the sun gives uoi skin cancer.

Maybe we should all stay indoors!!

 

[cb1965]

Ok.. imagine you have a 50 car fantasy garage...how many diesel cars have you and what are they?

I think the argument is even simpler than that. The fact there is the widely accepted made up word 'petrolhead' to describe fans of cars and bikes, but there is no equivalent term 'dieselhead' kind of says it all really!

 

[Simzy]

Hmm dieselhead !! I like it

 

[Dieselman]

Maybe I have missed this particular point somewhere in this lengthy thread, but diesel cars are bad for the environment and cause particular air polution and, increasingly, health issues due of their particulate emissions. While there has been much in the press about it recently, I suspect little will be done about it by our government and most drivers will ignore it.

This is an issue that has been known about for many years, but is now only being widely reported.

The same rubbish being reported now was widely reported 15 years ago...then ten...and 5...

It was researched and discussed ad-nauseam and found to be the same cobblers it still is now.

 

[markjay]

The same rubbish being reported now was widely reported 15 years ago...then ten...and 5...

It was researched and discussed ad-nauseam and found to be the same cobblers it still is now.

I agree, much like the global warming / CO2 issue, most people participating in the debate tend to cherry-pick the 'evidence' supporting their point of view and ignore all others.

Breathing butnt fosil fuel fumes is bad news all around, and discussing which is more harmful is simply splitting hairs.

Those who wish to save the environment and the population's health should either drive all-elecrtic cars powered by electricity from nuclear power plants, or just cycle to work. There is no point trying to convince yourself that you are doing good by driving a diesel car instead of petrol or the other way around.

 

[Dieselman]

I think the argument is even simpler than that. The fact there is the widely accepted made up word 'petrolhead' to describe fans of cars and bikes, but there is no equivalent term 'dieselhead' kind of says it all really!

They are referred to as "Thinkers".

 

[meeeb]

Those who wish to save the environment and the population's health should either drive all-elecrtic cars powered by electricity from nuclear power plants, or just cycle to work.

A mere drop in the ocean.

Some months ago I cut out an article from The Sunday Times which said that the nitrogen oxides emissions from a diesel powered ship of a certain size, were equal to those from 7,000,000 cars, and those of 100 ships equivalent to the emissions from all the cars on the planet.

If that is accurate then reducing harmful emissions would involve a significant alteration of lifestyle for much of the world's population. We wouldn't, in this country, be eating bananas, drinking coffee, using mobile phones, or buying foreign made motor vehicles, for example.

The same newspaper has an article in today's edition about the 'immoral' removal of DPFs. It says that emissions from a vehicle with DPF removed is 10,000 times more polluting than one with one in place. With its record of success, if this newspaper starts a crusade on the subject, you can expect a lot of criminally selfish drivers to be, rightfully, out of pocket.

 

[Dieselman]

The same newspaper has an article in today's edition about the 'immoral' removal of DPFs. It says that emissions from a vehicle with DPF removed is 10,000 times more polluting than one with one in place.

Only with regard to particulates emitted while driving generally. DPF reduce efficiency, which in turn increases Co2 and Nox output.
It must be remembered that a DPF does release the particulates when purging.

Did the erstwhile tomb report that?

 

[markjay]

They are referred to as "Thinkers".

And Petrolheads are... "Tinkers"?

 

[meeeb]

Only with regard to particulates emitted while driving generally. DPF reduce efficiency, which in turn increases Co2 and Nox output.
It must be remembered that a DPF does release the particulates when purging.

Did the erstwhile tomb report that?

Did you perchance mean 'tome'?? 'Tombs' are what some victims of DPF removal end up in.

And it isn't 'erstwhile', it's very much alive and kicking - and still very much a tome!

 

[grahamperrin]

Thanks for thought-provoking discussion

As a rule I don't enjoy discussions that stray too far off-topic from the opening post, but for me this topic as a whole is very timely and useful. Thanks, everyone.

A majority of readers might have their heads in their hands at the idea of me preparing to spend no more than £2,000 on my next Merc – I know, it is laughable (you can count me amongst the people laughing) – just the way it is for me. That budget limitation doesn't prevent me from liking much of this:

… More and more club members are concerned with how many miles per gallon they get out of their cars or how to spend as less possible on maintenance. Mercedes is a premium brand. Our luxury interiors are envy of many. … The world is all about being careful these days. Careful with what you say or do to the environment. Do not succumb to this nonsense …

Care for the environment: improving, but I'll never be as good as I know that I should.

Care with words: on one hand, occasionally being called a muppet never bothered me, but I know that words can be misinterpreted – so I'll banter at a person online only if I'm fairly sure that everyone reading will realise that it is purely banter with no ugly overtone.

On the other hand, just a few days ago I quit forever a private forum where a tiny minority of people went beyond simple carelessness; they became carelessly mean and offensive in ways that crossed a line, so I made clear the effects of their long-term rudeness and in doing so, happily burnt my bridges. More time to spend in pleasant forums such as this

Nearly back on topic, Mercs: if I had made my life too careful, I would never have got such enjoyment from my Merc muppet driver episode in 2010

Closer to the opening post, but a decade or more away from a good comparison: most of my short journeys will be less than four miles, but still I can't shake the idea that I might simply enjoy driving a diesel (nothing more modern than a W211). Side note: I do also have a bicycle, plus there's a well-served bus stop outside my door, I make reasonably good use of these things … a balance.

Pleasure from not just one thing (e.g. economy alone), but from a whole bundle of things. Including possible pleasure in risk-taking (will the inevitable sudden explosion in cost of maintenance/repair occur within one year, within five, within ten?) – I have never gambled for profit, a bit of careless risk-taking with too little disposable income on too luxurious a car makes me squirm with naughtiness. Just a tad.

Now please excuse me whilst I swan off to Portslade to test drive a £1,500 Citroen Berlingo Multispace Forte diesel, which I hope will make me further appreciate the loveliness of a Merc …

 

[cb1965]

Just realised that this forum has one failing, that is if you have someone on your ignore list then you can still see their posts when they are quoted

 

[Sp!ke]

Just realised that this forum has one failing, that is if you have someone on your ignore list then you can still see their posts when they are quoted

Just in case anyone couldnt see your post

 

[cb1965]

just in case anyone couldnt see your post :d

lol