CHATROOM: TURBO ENGINES

[kerrton]

Don't have the nerve to purchase a turbo engine (what are you, scared??!!), how about a supercharged 2.5?! Heck, while you're at it why not add a Lithium-Ion hybrid electric system, but don't go so far as to include plug-in ability (why make the system truly useful when you can just do a half-assed job?). Set to debut this month, the Pathfinder sister JX35 hybrid electric:

http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/08/infin ... r-new-yor/

For a 24% fuel economy savings I just don't think its going to be enough to justify the added cost premium and the risk associated with a new, more complex system. They're going up against limited competitors, basically the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the only one (Chrysler Aspen/Durango hybrid was briefly offered but flopped), and Toyota is tough competition for a very small market share to begin with. I guess they've got to start somewhere. Instead of the immense cost of this system, why not just throw in a 2.0-2.5 turbo like Ford has done in the Explorer.....or do you guys not trust the reliability of a turbo...lol just joking guys.

What do we think about a supercharged 2.5?

[ImStricken06]

Don't have the nerve to purchase a turbo engine (what are you, scared??!!), how about a supercharged 2.5?! Heck, while you're at it why not add a Lithium-Ion hybrid electric system, but don't go so far as to include plug-in ability (why make the system truly useful when you can just do a half-assed job?). Set to debut this month, the Pathfinder sister JX35 hybrid electric:

http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/08/infin ... r-new-yor/

For a 24% fuel economy savings I just don't think its going to be enough to justify the added cost premium and the risk associated with a new, more complex system. They're going up against limited competitors, basically the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the only one (Chrysler Aspen/Durango hybrid was briefly offered but flopped), and Toyota is tough competition for a very small market share to begin with. I guess they've got to start somewhere. Instead of the immense cost of this system, why not just throw in a 2.0-2.5 turbo like Ford has done in the Explorer.....or do you guys not trust the reliability of a turbo...lol just joking guys.

What do we think about a supercharged 2.5?

lololol welcome to the bright-side my friend. now you see why many of the 'insiders' have been and are against daily turbo's, hybrids, CNG, and fully electric cars. the cost savings just isnt there. either the purchase price is to much to see any savings, or the maintenance on these vehicles is going to over-ride any long term cost savings. the true choice is DIESEL. for a tiny engine, it can produce intense torque.
the new VW jetta gets around 42 mpg and 795 miles on a single tank.

and speaking of torque - people have been lied to for generations. Horsepower is a crock of crap. what people should be concentrating on is TORQUE. ever see the numbers on a diesel engine? TQ is always higher then HP. funny isnt it? that new diesel jetta i spoke of earlier? only 140HP yet makes 236ft/lbs TQ!!!!

[kerrton]

Well said, you're bang on! I noticed the new Grand Cherokee will be offering a 3.0L turbo and got excited, then I saw the sticker price was close to $60k CAD which made me choke.

But I know that it is possible to offer the benefits of diesel without compromise: power/torque, efficiency, reliability, affordable up-front cost and long-term maintenance and repair costs. I am surprised VW hasn't offered diesel in their crossovers....I think Mazda is the one to watch in the short-term, their CX-5 is supposedly getting a diesel option next year. The Rogue is available with diesel in Europe, maybe they'll realise that hybrid/electric is too costly and they'll bring the diesel over to NA, but I doubt it.

[ImStricken06]

I am surprised VW hasn't offered diesel in their crossovers.

scroll to the very bottom and see VW's whole line of diesel.
they offer the Touareg in TDi
http://web.vw.com/tdi-clean-diesel/index.php

[kerrton]

You're right, for $55-$60k CAD range you can get the 3.0 L diesel with 8-spd auto in the Taureg, 407 lb/ft of torque!!!

The smaller Tiguan, which looks to be in the same class as the Rogue, offers only one powertrain - 2.0L turbo!! Good for around 200 hp and 200 lb/ft of torque but the fuel economy is not nearly as good as the Rogue.

[ImStricken06]

wow 407 ft/lbs of tq is insane. idk why the hippies refuse to accept diesel. we cant get rid of it since our food gets transported by diesel. why not just make the switch, and start concentrating on biodiesel's created from products we already use (cooking oils, dirt old used oil, poultry fat, etc)

[kerrton]

Exactly, the key is to utilize waste products to produce our fuel like you said. Too many people are close with the idea but not quite - don't use food crops that we need to survice to create fuel, use waste products that are costly to dispose of - save the cost of disposal and actually make money on the byproducts by selling them to refineries that will re-purpose for a high-value fuel commodity. Not sure what the potential total volume would be, but I know there are a hell of a lot of wastes in the majority of agricultural processes, restaurants (there has to be a billion fast food joints producing waste oil in NA), used motor oil (tens of millions of cars on the road in NA, all producing waste oil regularly). In the process you remove these from the waste stream or energy-intensive recycling like with waste motor oil.

If only it were that easy to switch over.

[darylzero]

Relevant
Why 2013 is the year of the Diesel

[ImStricken06]

Relevant
Why 2013 is the year of the Diesel

great reading. thank you for that. i have been championing for diesel, for 10+years lol

[Rogue One]

wow 407 ft/lbs of tq is insane. idk why the hippies refuse to accept diesel. we cant get rid of it since our food gets transported by diesel. why not just make the switch, and start concentrating on biodiesel's created from products we already use (cooking oils, dirt old used oil, poultry fat, etc)

Benefits of BioDiesel
*Cheaper than petroleum-based diesel (current average of $.80-90 per gallon to make)
*Kits are manufactured in the U.S.A.
*Supports farming economy
* Requires NO engine modifications
* Easy and convenient to make in your garage or shop.
* Made from renewable resources
* Helps reduce dependency on foreign oil
* Reliable engine performance
* Increased cetane rating (like octane rating to gasoline; burnability)
* Dramatically increased lubricity
* Safe, non-toxic
* Can be mixed at any ratio with petroleum-based diesel (even 100%)

DIY 40 gallon home brew stations can be had for less than $1500.

I think the only reason the greenies aren't behind this is, deep down they'd like everyone to ditch their personal car/suv, and use public transport only.

[ImStricken06]

I think the only reason the greenies aren't behind this is, deep down they'd like everyone to ditch their personal car/suv, and use public transport only.

BOOM! R1 just hit the nail on the head. the greenies know if people realized the HUGE benefit of diesel engines, they would grow complacent with continuing to use oils, oil by products, all the while creating pollution, which in return would stop people from riding bikes, walking, etc.

plus the uneducated fools think diesel is "dirtier" than anything else. they are just as uneducated in this topic, as they are guns. they think what they know and hear form one another is fact, when in reality its far from the truth.