Diesel and Unleaded Fuel Differences

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.

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
http://www.isuzu.com/i370.jsp i370 is a light duty truck that
everyone will be driving. Isuzu also has some of the
http://www.isuzu.com/ best suv's on the market. So visit your
local dealer or go online at Isuzu.com!


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