[rescue] rescue Digest, Vol 58, Issue 27

[Caleb Shay]

On 10/1/07, John Francini <francini at mac.com> wrote:
> They most likely do not meet the current Federal emissions regs for
> diesels.  That's why a number of European companies known for
> exporting diesels to the US -- Volkswagen being primary among them --
> had to stop selling them for a time.  VW will be reintroducing
> reworked diesels that meet the US regs in the 2008 model year.

Close, but exactly the opposite.  US diesel, up until this year, had a
MUCH higher sulfur content than European diesel.  By "much", I mean in
the area of 100x-1000x as many ppm.  Most European diesel engines were
less than happy with the diesel here.  To bring a diesel engine here
they were forced to actually modify their diesel engine (expensive)
and then get it certified here (also expensive), and then face the
problem with in many parts of the US you cannot get diesel at every
gas station, so many people would not buy them.  There is also a long
held belief in the US that diesel engines are loud, smelly, and slow.
As a previous owner of VW turbo-diesel, I can tell you that none of
these are true.  However, US diesel was modified this year so that it
only has about 10x as much sulfur as European diesel, so the engines
can be used unmodified, so the only expense is certification.  I'm
hoping to be able to pick up a diesel Audi TT when my current car
gives up.

Caleb