Cleaning Up Diesels! – The Trainer Video Series
Cleaning Up Diesels! – The Trainer Video Series
How Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) Works
Motor Age — Diesels are a popular choice in Europe, accounting for nearly 50% of the fleet. Yet here in the U.S., market share is still in the single digits. And you may find the reasons why rather interesting. Some sources point to the fact that diesels have a dirty reputation. Consumers think of diesel engines as noisy, cantankerous and smelly. Others point at emissions, as reason diesels haven’t caught on here in the States.
Another major reason is far simpler. Gasoline in the U.S. is cheaper than diesel at the pump. Not so in Europe, where the roles are reversed. Why? Forget the fact that diesel is a less refined product and therefore cheaper to produce than gasoline. That has little to do with it. The main reason is taxation. Taxes on diesel are higher than those levied on gasoline in the U.S., and are the exact opposite overseas. So vehicle choice is as much a matter of economics as it is anything else.
Yes, diesels are more efficient; up to 40% more than their gasoline cousins. But they are typically more expensive in a given model line, too. And to recoup that initial investment through fuel savings alone can take three to four years!
But adding more diesels to the U.S. fleet is paramount to the OEMs ability to meet pressing fuel efficiency requirements mandated by CAFE. And they are going to make diesel passenger cars more attractive by bringing down the cost difference and building them cleaner and quieter than ever.
As techs, we don’t control design or cost. But we do need to understand function and service. And one service that you may not be yet used to is checking and servicing the selective catalyst reduction system. No problem, though, as we show you how in this month’s edition of the Trainer.
For more info on Peak BluDEF diesel exhaust fluid, visit https://www.peakauto.com/products/bluedef/
For more info on the 2014 Chevy Cruze diesel, visit https://www.chevrolet.com/cruze-compact-car.html
Source: Motor Age
