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Diesel : Gas Or Diesel?

Good Essays

Gary Monroe
Gas or Diesel?
10/26/14
S. Lee

Gas or Diesel? For many years consumers in the United States have viewed diesel as a non-option for an alternative to traditional gasoline. This is due to a major stigma against diesel fuel and a plethora of myths and outdated 'facts ' about it. While other countries have diesel as a major share of the automotive market, the United States diesel sales make up less than 5% of the market. Although many in the United States are against diesel as an alternative to normal gasoline, it is an option that should be considered. One of the biggest problems Americans have with diesel is that they believe it is smelly and dirty. While this was true at one time, it has not been true for many years. While …show more content…

While most vehicles that ran on diesel in the past were very noisy inside the cabin and out, new diesel vehicles are much quieter in both cases. Diesel engines are known for a knocking sound, and with new technologies developed by Audi and Bosch, this knock has been reduced to a much softer sound, decreasing overall engine sound. This means a quieter and more comfortable ride for the driver and passengers. Another concern which most car buyers share is the cost of diesel over the cost of gasoline. While diesel was much cheaper than gasoline in the past, it has become more expensive in recent years. This leads to many believing that a diesel car is more costly to own than a car which runs on standard low octane gasoline. This is also untrue due to the greater energy potential in diesel fuel. Because of the greater energy in diesel, gas mileage is increased significantly. A good example of this is the new 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The gasoline variant is rated at 25 miles per gallon city and 34 miles per gallon highway. The diesel version of the same car is rated at 31 miles per gallon city and 46 miles per gallon highway. These diesels are also known to be underestimated in their fuel economy. One specific example is Business Insider 's test of three Audi diesel vehicles. Each of these vehicles surpassed th EPA estimate, one by nearly 10 miles per gallon. Diesel is also used in many commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers. This is because

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