Hi,
I was talking today to the owner of my dealership (Bob Jass Chevrolet in Elburn, IL -- fine outfit). It was his view that GM is shelving the small diesel due to the emissions issues that they see coming down the road.
FWIW.
Hi,
I was talking today to the owner of my dealership (Bob Jass Chevrolet in Elburn, IL -- fine outfit). It was his view that GM is shelving the small diesel due to the emissions issues that they see coming down the road.
FWIW.
Rich Phillips
Member #27
2019 K-2500 Crew Cab Z71
Cedar Creek Silverback 33RL Fifth Wheel
In The Past: '82 6.2 Jimmy Blazer, '93 6.5 GMC K-2500, '01 DMAX K-2500, '09 DMAX K-2500
I agree with Jim 100% on this. As I am very, very disappointed to hear of this news, I am not surprised.
I believe the future of diesels in US consumer vehicles are continually going to fade away. There are simply too many strikes against the diesels in the U.S. for the market to survive. Such as premium $$ for hardware to meet emissions (DPT, urea, controllers, sensors, etc etc), decreased mpg, higher cost per gallon at pump, increased maintenance costs, politics, EPA, GM financial status, etc etc). Especially when you stand back and look at the engineering gains that have been made in the gasoline powered engines such as: direct injections, HP gains, MPG gains from partial cylinder cut-out, cheaper fuel, etc etc.
I have been a faithful diesel owner since I began driving. Especially partial to GM, but I forecast the 4.5L cancellation is just the beginning of the end for diesel powered consumer vehicles in the US. Keep in mind that the U.S. emission standard "Bin 5/Tier2" is 6 times tougher to meet that Europe’s "Euro 5." Therefore, I forecast the Europe diesel engine market will remain on target, while we fade away here.
Quoting Bob Lutz, GM VP of Global Development "At best, the diesel engine of the future will be tremendously expensive, lower MPG and unsure with emissions can be met for California and Northern States."
Just my $.02
** ccole **
Past Rides: 1978 Chevy 5.7 Dsl; 1982 C-20 6.2L Dsl; 1984 Chevy 6.2 Dsl; 1986 Suburban 6.2L Dsl; 1989 K2500 6.2L Dsl; 1994 F250 7.3L; (2) 1997 F250 7.3L; 2004 Duramax; 2005 Duramax; 2006 Duramax; 2007 Duramax; 1995 6.5 Non-Turbo; 1994 6.5 Turbo; 2001 F350 7.3L, 2005 GMC Duramax (Current)
todays local paper
03/11/09 10:00 AM
GM delays V-8 diesel production at Tonawanda engine plant
By Matt Glynn
News Business Reporter
General Motors Corp. has made announcements about two products at its Town of Tonawanda engine plant.
The automaker has placed an "indefinite hold" its plan to add a Duramax 4.5-liter V-8 diesel engine in 2010 to its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty trucks. It was to be made at the River Road site. The start of the new engine's production had already been delayed this year.
The plant will regain production of a 3.7-liter, Inline 5-cylinder engine that had been transferred from Tonawanda to a plant in Flint, Mich., in 2007. Production of the I-5 is set to resume at the Tonawanda plant this summer.
Much of the ULSD produced in NA meets a less than 10% PPM standard. As a result it can readily be sold in Europe. The production of diesel is increasing while gas production is falling. For the first time in several years diesel prices are below gas in several NA markets. The fall off in offshore demand is a partial factor for this decline. For those interested in a good summary here is a link:
http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm?aid=1347
2008 2500HD Ext. 4X4
265/75R16
Reese Signature 18k slider
Montana 38.4 ft 5th wheel
A quote from that article that I found interesting...
It is a puzzle why a country that imports most of the petroleum it uses would then export a refined product.... Without the diesel exports, what might the diesel fuel pump price be? Supply & demand would seem to indicate a much lower diesel fuel price.....The U.S. exported 544,000 barrels of distillate a day in November, up from 81,000 in November 2003.
Jim
I've always heard that we swap diesel for gasoline with Europe.
Matt
mattb5150@hotmail.com
1993 K2500 HD ext.cab 4x4 - SOLD
2003 GMC K2500HD SLT EXTRA CAB/SB DMAX/ALLI, Bilsteins, Sulastic Shackles, Pitman & Idler braces, KD Headlight Harness, CAT filtration, Lift pump w/KD harness, Denali Door handles, Yukon exterior mirrors
2003 Yamaha Grizzly 660 Stoopider FAST
1996 VW Passat TDI 48mpg - SOLD
More gasoline results from the refining process than diesel fuel, when refining the lighter crude stocks. I've read that heavy crude produces more diesel than gasoline.
Per the Department of Energy's statistics in 2004, each year the US consumes roughly 60 billion gallons of petroleum diesel and 120 billion gallons of gasoline.
Jim
Last edited by More Power; 03-13-2009 at 13:17.