I think that we are on the verge of something big. You know, that in 2006 American Diesel fuel will have to be ultra low sulphur. Our "low sulpher" diesel fuel is considered extremely dirty in the rest of the world, and has more than 10 times the sulphur of European diesel. The technology for ULEV qualifying diesels does exhist, but is incompatable with the dirty fuels. Soon, due to tightening restrictions, we will begin to see a new wave of powerful, ultra efficient, super clean diesels inpassenger cars and light duty trucks (compact trucks, and half tons). I could see it now, the F-150 and the Expedition might be offered with a 4.5L V6 Power Stroke diesel, and the Ranger and Explorer might be offered with a 3.0L I4 Power Stroke Diesel. In addition, to combat the diesel offerings from other companies, the 500 and the Focus, as well as the Crown Victoria even, might be offered with a Duratec Diesel deriviative. Of course, Gasoline engines would still be offered, but with ever rising fuel costs, as well as the means to switch to a carbon neutral fuel (biodiesel, is carbon neutral, because any CO2 produced during combustion is absorbed by the next fuel crop) which could reduce our dependance on foreign oil. Also, where are the alcohol cars? If all cars were flex fuel, we could employ all our farmers again to grow fuel crops for alcohol and diesel and tell the oil companies to shove it! Oh, yeah, that's right, they won't let that happen untill every last drop of petroleum is wringed out of the Earth. BTW, Zombie 0299, God Bless You and your family, and I pray that your tour of duty will be safe. Thank you and all others like you for the job you do.

 

If I "Worried" about gas mileage I'd be posting in some bicycle forum. It's a sacrafice I make for the functionality I get.

By the way, I love steak and my jackets have real fur.

 

Sure it would be nice to get great mileage, but that was not a concern when this truck was purchased. I don't think 16 mpg is to bad. When its empty, I fill it up.

Anyway I believe the automakers already have developed ways to get mucho mpg, but the government is buffering that technology from the general public. We are working our way around that slowly.

As for our military, God Bless and thank-you for our freedom.

 

Argo, didn't Ford pick up Cummins a while back so they could have a smaller diesel for their truck line? What every happened to that deal? Does anyone else remember it? It was ~5 years ago or so ...

 

Not too familiar with that whole deal. Around 5 years ago Ford sold Louisville (now Sterling) to Freightliner which had just been bought my Mercedes Benz who was merging with Chrysler who was using Cummins engines in their Dodge Trucks. Where did Cummins end up? I donno.