In message , Grunff
writes
Michael McNeil wrote:

A diesel requires as much maintenance as a petrol machine but can run
forever without it as it is not running a caustic fuel.

I've never heard the term 'caustic' used in relation to organic
solvents before - what exactly do you mean?


The reason for
pollution from a diesel is lack of maintenance not poor design. If you
see a diesel belching smoke, inform the driver and if you see it doing
so again, inform the police, there is a phone number for such reports;
I believe it goes to your local council.

That would involve stopping just about every diesel driver on the road,
including those in brand new diesel BMWs (supposedly one of the most
refined diesel engines around).


It is an offence under the clean air act to pollute the atmosphere
with a badly maintained engine of any sort. That's what the MoT
emissions test is set up for.

It isn't about them being badly maintained - diesel engines will all
(ok I haven't tested them all, but the vast majority at any rate)
beltch out black smoke *under high load*.


I don't agree. It happens that YOU notice the small proportion of
diesels that are smoky, but the reality is they are quite rare now.
At full power the exhaust should be no more than very slightly coloured,
certainly no were near "belch out black smoke".
Open your eyes, look at some of the lorries as you pass them on the
motorway. All you'll see from the majority is heat-haze from the
exhaust.


--
Steve