Diesel Power Magazine

Diesel Power Magazine

Diesel vs. Unleaded: The Truth About Fuel Economy

Ahh, you remember it, don't you? Sitting in the back of your family's station wagon as a kid, your father pulls up to the gas pump and a station attendant-an occupation about as extinct as the dinosaurs-came running out with a rag in his hand, leaned into the driver's window and said... "Diesel or unleaded?"

Those days are long gone. And I'm not just referring to the attendant. Nowadays, at least in the U.S., you can expect to find three things at a gas pump: self-serve, pay first, and unleaded gasoline only.

Misconceptions about diesel fuel being "dirtier" than unleaded gas several years ago ultimately led to diesel's obsolescence in the more environmentally progressive United States. Car companies began to manufacture cars that, for the most part, ran on traditional gasoline.

In response, however, steps were taken to improve the cleanliness of diesel and now major car companies have begun to sell diesel-powered vehicles to consumers once again.

In the past, especially in the United States, diesel fuel was considerably dirtier than unleaded gasoline. Vehicles in the United States also tended to be built for traditional gasoline, with the exception of large trucks, buses, and semis. In recent years, however, steps have been taken to improve the cleanliness of diesel fuel through regulation, and many companies have begun selling popular consumer cars that run on diesel fuel.

One such company is Isuzu Motors, known for its popular 5-passenger Ascender SUV, and two models of high-performing pick up trucks (the i-290 and i-370). Isuzu's diesel engines have won a laundry list of awards in past years including "Truck of the Year" by Motor Trend Magazine, "Executive Diesel Car of the Year 2002" by Diesel Car Magazine (a publication in the U.K.), "Germany's best small and compact car of the Year 2001" by Mot Magazine (published in Germany), as well as having been named multiple times by Ward's Communications of the U.S. as one of the "10 Best Engines." In addition, Isuzu vehicles were voted the top medium-duty truck brand six times in seven years by truck dealers. Impressive, but not fully convinced that diesel's better? Keep reading...

Diesel fuel actually burns more efficiently than gasoline, thus having a better fuel economy-about 30% more efficient on average. Why?

Diesel is denser than its unleaded competitor. Proponents of gasoline are quick to point out that diesel engines produce more greenhouse emissions, which is true, emissions with diesel are about 15% higher than those of traditional unleaded gas due to higher volumetric energy density. However, the increased fuel efficiency more than offsets the higher percentage, so in the long run, diesels produce less emissions- 15% more per gallon used, but a trip in the good ole family car will use 30% less fuel to get to wherever you're going.

Granted, this wasn't the case with Dad's old wagon. Back then, before the anti-diesel crusade, diesel engines were creating more emissions because they simply weren't efficient. Now, with the modern diesel engine achieving a 20- 40% better fuel economy, it's time to give diesel a second look.

But that's not the only exciting news about diesel. Originally, the diesel engine was created as a way to run vehicles using vegetable oils. While farmers originally couldn't compete with big oil companies, with gas prices soaring, there's been a renewed interest in alternative fuel sources-and food-based diesel fuels can be produced quickly, cheaply, and with the abundance of products grown in our very own country. These "hybrid diesels" also known as "biodiesel" are compatible with existing diesel engines and can also be made from waste oils gathered from restaurants or homes-an alternative that serves several ecological benefits at the same time.

About the Author

Isuzu has an all new truck, the
i370
is a light duty truck that everyone will be driving. Isuzu also has some of the
best suv
's on the market. So visit your local dealer or go online at Isuzu.com!

Diesel Power $19.95 Diesel Power is part of the General family of magazines. It is generally sold to individuals and businesses and quite often can be found in a reception room or waiting room of a company or a professional office like a dentist, doctor, health club, gym, or beauty and hair salon. A full year magazine subscription to Diesel Power includes issues delivered right to your mailbox.

Diesel the Modern Power $14.99 Diesel the Modern Power - Premium Poster

Diesel World $24.95 Diesel World is part of the Automotive family of magazines. It is generally sold to individuals and businesses and quite often can be found in a reception room or waiting room of a company or a professional office like a dentist, doctor, health club, gym, or beauty and hair salon. A full year magazine subscription to Diesel World includes issues delivered right to your mailbox.

Diesel DZ7215 $112.6 Beginning as a company focused on making quality clothing; Diesel has become part of the youth culture worldwide. Diesel is a leader in pioneering new styles; fabrics; manufacturing methods and quality control to guarantee an outstanding product. A new generation of watches has emerged from the innovative design that the Diesel brand exudes. The company is a leading provider of chic; fabulous clothing; and now watches have become a part of the brand's success. Whether you are looking for modern styled mens watches or ladies watches Diesel has something to offer you. Purchase Diesel women and mens watches that offer you the latest in fashion and ground breaking performance.Diesel is a lifestyle fashion brand rooted in denim and casual wear. Welcome to the Diesel Timeframes Collection. Diesel has long been synonymous with quality and cutting edge style. With the perfect fusion of intelligent and brave styling; Diesel Timeframes have secured their place in the fashion world. The Diesel Timeframes Collection exud Size/Dimensions: Medium Movement: Quartz Display: Quartz Date: Date Chronograph: No Chronograph Alarm: No Power: Battery Color: Black

Diesel #DZ1123 $99.95 Diesel Mens Signature DZ1123 Watch Style: Sports Material: Stainless Steel Band Material: Leather Dial Color: Blue Movement: Quartz Band Length: 8 Water-Resistant: 50m Power: Battery

Modern Diesel Power (Paperback) $27.79 The 1960s onward witnessed unprecedented technological and horsepower developments in the field of diesel-electric locomotives. Spurred by market demands, EMD and GE have developed locomotives of ever-greater speeds and tractive effort, allowing the railroads to bring resources to market more quickly and cheaply. This collection of more than 200 photos features the most significant of these high-horsepower diesels, from EMD SDs and GPs to GE Dash 9s and the “green” initiative Evolution, at work across the United States and Canada. The photography is accompanied by detailed captions discussing development, function, history, and locations depicted.

Vintage Diesel Power (Paperback) $34.59 This formative period of diesel locomotive evolution is examined with the help of more than 250 modern and period photos depicting passenger, freight, and switching locomotives. Author Brian Solomon covers every prominent manufacturer of the period—including Electro-Motive, Alco, Baldwin, and GE—as well as iconic models like Geeps, E and F units, PAs and FAs, sharknoses, U-boats, and more. The photographs take in the grand geographic and technological breadth of North American railroading and are accompanied by detailed captions identifying the locomotives pictured and explaining their roles in this crucial era of American railroading.

Diesel Locomotive $79.66 A Diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a Diesel engine. Several types have been developed, the principal distinction being in the means by which the prime movers mechanical power is conveyed to the driving wheels (drivers). Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 124 Publication Date: 2010/07/26 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.29 inches

X-Power Module by BD Diesel Performance for Jeep $413.99 2005-06 Liberty CRD;2.8L Diesel engines only;Up to 20 hp increase;Plug-in design;One-year warranty; in. Legal in California only for racing vehicles which may never be used upon  a highway in. JEEP LIBERTY (KJ) LIMITED SPORT 2005 2006 2.8L Turbocharge Diesel (171) DIESEL with Selectable on the fly X-Power Module by BD Diesel Performance for Jeep

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers - More Power $14.99 Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers - More Power

Diesel Rotary Uninterruptible Power Supply $71.7 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Most forms of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) are batterypowered. These are ready for immediate use at the instant that the mains electricity fails, but the small amount of stored energy they contain makes them suitable for a few minutes of use only. To get uninterruptible and continiuous power supply they need a dieselgenerator backup system. Diesel rotary UPS devices (DRUPS), combine functionality of a batterypowered UPS and dieselgenerator. When mains electricity supply is within specification, an electrical generator functions as motor to store kinetic energy in an electromechanical flywheel. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 76 Publication Date: 2010/12/03 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.18 inches

BD Diesel X-Power Plus Module $736.99 X-Power Plus Module; Up To 180HP At Rear Wheels; X2 LCD Digital Monitor-Controller;For California residents (diesel applications): Legal in California only for racing vehicles which may never be used upon  a highway;€œLegal in California only for racing v

Edelbrock Diesel Power Package $674.99 Incl. 4 in. Inlet/Outlet Exhaust System w/Chambered Muffler; Airaid Air Intake/Filter System; Superchips Programmer Module;