dlp@akgua.UUCP (D.L. Philen [Dan]) (05/24/84)
This recently appeared in "Physician's Assets"
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LEMON diesel
No, it's not a new ice-crean concoction, but a car that won't
work. Can't get satisfaction from your dealer or the manufacturer?
The National Association of Diesel Owners (2001 S St., N.W., Suite 410,
Washington, D.C. 20009) may be able to help. Owners of GM diesels can try
the Disgruntled Diesel Owners' Group, 316 Dominion Rd., Vienna, Va. 22180.
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I think it is amazing that anyone actually thought they could take
a gasoline engine and convert it to a diesel. Diesel engines CAN
be made to be extremely reliable and powerful. Any boubts? Simply
look at the history of Mercedes diesel powered cars. My 300CD is
the finest machine I have ever experienced. To prove my point,
my wife and I took 7 awards in the MB National Meet (Southern Treffin VI)
at Road Atlanta, last weekend. My wife took 1st in acceleration and
fun gymkhana, 2nd in time trials (around track) and 3rd in high speed
gymkhana. I took 3rds. Since this was our first meet, and the first
time we have ever put the MB on the track, I think that speaks quite well
of the performance ability of the car. Moral: Don't write off diesel
powered automobiles simply because of stupid engineering in Detroit.
akgua!dlpwetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler) (05/25/84)
[] GMs biggest mistake was in trying to design a diesel engine from the ground up with no understanding of how to do it. All they had to do was walk over to their truck division and ask, but noone did. The result, engines that won't start when the temperature falls below freezing.
simard@loral.UUCP (Ray Simard) (05/26/84)
GM first sold a diesel engine that was converted from their 5.7 liter gasoline engine. The results were disastrous. They have since abandoned the 5.7 liter abomination (in the trucks and vans, anyway) and are now offering a 6.2 liter Allison (or Detroit diesel, I'm not sure) engine, about which I've heard quite a few good comments. I sure hope they are accurate, since I'm awaiting delivery of a GM van with the 6.2L diesel in July. About the carcinogens in diesel exhaust: it would seem to me (admittedly not a specialist in the field) that diesel exhaust is less damaging to the environment than gasoline exhaust, since most of the emissions are particulates, which rapidly settle out of the air of their own weight, with a lower level of hydrocarbons, which dissolve into the atmosphere and become a more or less permanent part of the air we breathe. We are therefore exposed to particulates only for the relatively short time we are close to the source. Any informed comments on the above? Ray Simard Loral Instrumentation
44735600@sdccsu3.UUCP (Brian Donnelly) (06/01/84)
I also agree that diesels can be made reliable and powerful, but for a
given displacement, they put out less power than a gasoline powered
engine. One other point about diesels that comes to mind every time I
end up behind one is that the soot in diesel exhaust is carcinogenic,
and I think that we could do with as little of such compounds as
possible.
Congrats on your success at the track! But first in acceleration?
Good grief, what were you up against?
Happy Travels!
Brian Donnelly