Peugeot's threat to diesel

[tinto]

I was surprised to hear of the rumblings about diesel falling out of favour in parts of Europe.

What's the long term reliability like on the 3cyl 308?
Really impressive numbers all round, so hopefully the engine itself isn't considered a consumable.

[Ryeman]

I was surprised to hear of the rumblings about diesel falling out of favour in parts of Europe.

What's the long term reliability like on the 3cyl 308?
Really impressive numbers all round, so hopefully the engine itself isn't considered a consumable.

Peugeot have done their endurance testing just like all do and there is no reason to expect anything other than a long life span.
Im of the opinion that the stratified charge is the secret to diesel characteristics without preignition problems - a result of the digital age.
Lengthening the burn cycle would be kind on the big end and you don't have to haul around an anchor under the bonnet which reduces the front end loading with all those added benefits to handling plus brake and tyre life.
Then much lower emissions also.
I love wet sleeve engines for the cooling above the compression ring.

ps If Peugeot had a factory in the U.S. I suspect it would have been recognised by winning the SAE's best engine award instead of Fords 3rd year in a row award for its 1L triple.
Americans have no idea what goes on in the world at large (particularly France) unless it's in one of their(?) factories.

[gldgti]

You keep pointing to 'much lower emissions' which is pretty uninformative. Given that a modern DPF equipped diesel produces basically no particulates (99.9% reduction - from puegeot's own latest range of HDI diesels - its on their website) wheras petrols do emit particulates, use 25% less fuel for the same vehicle on average (again from peugeots own new range - the 308 HDI has similar figures to the Golf Bluemotion), and Peugeot are still proudly advertising their well earned industry leading diesel engine range (for economy), I'm not sure where this emissions argument is coming from.

I've got nothing against this new direct injection petrol tech - its impressive indeed, and Peugeot, Citroen and BMW should be commended for spearheading it. They've managed to produce a drivetrain that beats the pants off of Toyota's hybrid in terms of over all impact because its just as efficient while not having a giant lithium battery - and that has to be good.

But, regardless, the modern diesels are still more efficient in terms of brake specific fuel economy (that is the torque produced per unit fuel burned). And, given time and further advances, particularly if the free valve actuator starts appearing, we will no doubt have a range of hybrid air petrol and diesel vehicles with exceptional fuel economy.

You clearly love your 308 - good on ya. I love my diesels... I've had 5 diesel vag group cars ranging in vintage through 1979, 1991, 1994, 2005 and 2007 that all achieved 5l/100km economy, were cheap and easy to maintain and served me for many km. If VAG keep making diesels that are 25% more efficient than their petrol counterparts, I see no real reason why I shouldnt use them.

You can write off 1l/100km difference in fuel economy if you want, but I assure you the engineers that are trying to improve fuel economy of engines would see that step from 4 to 3 as monumental.

[Ryeman]

I've got a 103tdi Yeti and love it as a package but Peugeot and much of Europe are taking steps to eliminate diesels from the big cities.
It's not just diesels under threat, there is talk of BMW regarding their own petrol engines as having a limited life in the face of Tesla's etc influence.
It won't worry me as I live in the country and the Yeti's allroadability makes it a great supplement to the Pug.
I'm not sure if Peugeot intend to bring the diesel version here as I thought they were in the process of reversing their all diesel policy.