Featured Mazda brings back the diesel war

Back in the 2001-2010 era, VW diesel advocates would frequently come here to 'pick a fight' over their diesels versus our Prius. Then VW's "music" software turned out to be an emission fraud and nearly 500,000 were recalled and sent to large scrap heaps. Well Mazda wants the restart the war of words:

Engineering details missing from this sales (propaganda) piece:

• No regenerative braking - diesels stop by heating brake pads and disks whereas hybrids and EVs stuff that energy back into the battery. That is why they excel in City traffic, +95% of all miles.
• 100 times more moving and wearing out parts - from the engine to the tires, the diesel engine and required transmission have two orders of magnitude more moving parts that only frequent oil changes prevent from melting down.
• Toxic emissions - diesels produce huge amounts of SMOG and lung irritating NOx. Highly reactive, these require a catalytic converter that often requires DEF (Diesel Emissions Fluid) refills to keep them from poisoning us.
• Coal rolling - a favorite diesel "you die hard" stunt, huge clouds of toxic, black smoke that turns everyone off while they snicker down the road.

Now the 6 cylinder engine is good because it brings effectively 3-phase power output instead of the built-in pulses and noise of fewer cylinders. Having 6 or more cylinders works for any piston engine by making sure at least one cylinder is in the power stroke all the time. Smoothness, yes, but that does not address: no regenerative braking; 100 times more moving parts; complex toxic emissions, and; diesel abuse.

Bob Wilson

 

Diesel has a place if done well. But Mazda failed to address the critical, engineering fixes. Fecal engineering always pisses me off!

Bob Wilson