| The days of the diesel car seemed long gone, but | | | | as "clean diesel" technology and here is how it works. |
| now they are making a comeback. Why? The new | | | | The magic all happens in the catalytic converter. Well, |
| diesel cars get tremendous mileage, which makes a | | | | for the most part. The converter is different than a |
| gas pump wary public very interested in the new | | | | gasoline version because diesel does not burn as |
| diesel car concept. | | | | much. The remnant of the combustion explosion is filled |
| Hate paying high prices at the pump? Well, you've | | | | with particles, unburned diesel and other particulates. |
| been given some relief since demand has plummeted | | | | The diesel oxide catalytic converter cleans these like a |
| with the recession. When demand drops, so do prices. | | | | normal converter. The device, however, also has a |
| Unfortunately, low prices are going to be a thing of the | | | | particulate filter. The filter catches unburned |
| past when the economy gets moving again. In fact, | | | | particulates. Superheated gasses are then passed |
| you've probably already noticed prices inching up as | | | | through the filter and the particulates are incinerated. |
| we head towards summer. | | | | Between these two approaches, most pollutants are |
| There are a host of new "clean diesel" cars hitting the | | | | taken car of. Some car companies go further. |
| market you might want to take a look at. The miles | | | | An additional system that is occasionally used with |
| per gallon figures are staggering. How about the | | | | diesel engines is an ammonia system. A small tank of |
| Volkswagen TDI Golf that gets 42 mpg in the city and | | | | ammonia stores the liquid. It is then sprayed as a mist |
| 49 on freeways? How about the 35 mpg BMW | | | | into the system. The ammonia spray bonds with |
| 335D? These are just a few of the diesel vehicles | | | | nitrogen gasses and breaks them down into non-toxic, |
| coming onto the market as a non-hybrid method for | | | | odorless and biodegradable elements. They are then |
| dealing with high fuel costs. To increase performance, | | | | burned away much as particulate are and the |
| each is fuel injected and highly tuned. | | | | rendered exhaust is that much cleaner. |
| If diesel is so great, how come we haven't seen these | | | | Diesel cars have come a very long way. The diesels |
| cars before? The problem was found in emissions. | | | | you see in showroom are not your grandparent's |
| The diesel engines burned dirty. If you've driven behind | | | | diesels. The have excellent performance parameters |
| an old Mercedes, you've probably noticed the cloud of | | | | and no blooming clouds of smoke. With mileage figures |
| exhaust! Regardless, the new cars have improved | | | | coming in regularly in the 30s and 40s, they are |
| emission systems to deal with this issue. This is known | | | | definitely worth taking a look at. |