Advantages v disadvantages of a diesel!!!

I'm not convinced that VVT is purely implemented as a way of artificially achieving a certain peak power output. Moreover, I personally think it's to provide some degree of engine drivability lower down the rev range, with more performance / aggression in cam timing higher in the rev range.

Consider modified cars with performance or aggressive cams, not exactly nice to live with downstream.

My perception is that VVT isn't there purely to artificially make a cars peak power, but allow it to make peak power, without it being difficult when not in it's zone.

And the winner is - Irv Gordon - 2 million miles on a Volvo P1800 - petrol.

In news: snipped-for-privacy@news.individual.net, Conor decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows

So, to sum up.

If you drive a diesel, you're a cheapskate.

The advantages of diesel ownership so far as are follows.

1) It's cheap 2) You can run it on chip fat, which is very cheap. 3) Dervy likes the noise they make 4) They're not bad in bloody big wagons. 5) They're ideal for stationary applications, like generators because of 1+2

Yup, that's confirmed all my suspicions over the years.

If he increased compression so he could put timing as near tdc as poss before detonation occurs he would see much more power due to increased pumping efficiency, too, advancing timing alone is dodgy because you get the pressure rising while the piston rises and it fights the engine so you waste some of the power...

Under some narrow criteria diesel is better than petrol and under other equally narrow criteria the reveres is true.

I thought you didn't like high compression.

Well not quite there yet, but my petrol has 185k miles on the clock and going strong.

But as to why you see more diesels with intergalactic mileage, well normally it's fuel costs, because they tend to be used for business purposes, as opposed to (presumably) being enjoyable to drive.

Because the gearbox exploded twice due to not being up to the extra power of the TDi.

yep, about 40mph higher than UK speeds...

If you enjoy your drive, you should look after your car well enough for it to see high mileage.

3) when was the last time anyone read about a diesel in Max Power?

Only that you're more likely to see a 300k mile old oil burner than you are a petrol.

In the face of all the evidence, you're still sticking to your viewpoint.

I suppose that's commendable in it's own way.

Yup.

Given that you have, in this thread, posted some quite astonishing bullshit, I think you may need to take another read of your books, as you obviously didn't quite get it first time round.

Like I said, none of your business.

Clear enough for you?

[...]

I don't; my smart, adaptive, 5 speed autobox does though...

A

Which generates its power ever so slightly differently, and is in general only suited to the lightest of four wheeled applications.

Oh, and they, bar the ones featured in real heavyweight tourers, tend to last a fraction of the miles a car engine, be it petrol or diesel, will, without major overhaul work, thus negating the point you raised with regards to reliability.

But anyway, 'whatever'... all these manufacturers simply haven't a clue, when they design cars / bikes, eh.

ROTFL

ROTFL... they don't overall, wear out any quicker... as proven by the amount of 200k+ old smokers still circulating out there.

Or funnily enough, (and strangely on topic), cab firms running fleets of them instead of petrol equivalents...

Cab firms the country over tend to buy diesels when they could buy, according to what you've been suggesting, a more reliable petrol equivalent.

HTH