Keith E. Loyd <nospam@dagnamit.com> wrote:
> OTOH, if you can see diesel pollutants (like soot) people of a certain type
> (like dirty hippy activists at the Sierra club)will get more frightened and
> confused than if the pollutants were colorless and odorless.

The latest studies are that the diesel particulates, which were allowed for
years in the US because they don't contribute to photo-chemical smog, are
found to be in the same class as other fine particles that can lodge deep
in the lungs and cause long term respiratory problems.

> On top of everything else, oil companies can get a bit more 'value added' $
> from refining gas than diesel. Americans have a bad taste in their mouth
> from GM's trajicomic attempts at diesel cars 25 yrs ago. Diesel is stinky.

The current refinery structure is geared toward producing a certain
percentage of different products from a barrel of crude. That is adjusted
to the historic needs of the consumers. When diesel cars peaked in
poularity, it upset that balance by a few percent, which was at the limits
of the adjustability in the current process. A larger adjustment would be
expensive, but the oil companies never lose money... they just charge more.
Diesel is selling for a higher price than regular unleaded now.

GM's attempts at running gas-designed cars on diesel caused grief for
them, but did not lead to the European manufacturers dropping their diesel
products. Most diesels are stinky. The VW TDI doesn't seem to be.

Diesel in medium duty working trucks is popular in the US.
Some use it because it is higher mileage. Some because of the low speed
work they do, some because they cheat and use "off-road" diesel, and don't
pay road taxes on the fuel.

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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5