Are Diesel powertrains a good choice today?
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Both the fuel efficiency and durability advantages are gone today for Automotive (not Heavy-Duty Commercial). While the base Diesel engine is usually very durable, the required emissions systems for almost all markets is very complex and expensive. This includes Oxidation and NOx catalysts and Urea injection systems (Diesel Emissions Fluid). The after-treatment system now makes the whole powertrain less durable than a similar-power gasoline or gasoline-hybrid system. As others have pointed out, current gasoline engines are easily capable of a quarter-million miles of trouble-free service if maintained by the book.
The best efficiency Diesel engines are running at about 45%, while the best gasoline engines are hitting 42%.
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