Should I buy a diesel 'van or not?? (1 Viewer)

[Janine]

We're looking to replace our Shirley!

First and foremost though, as the new 'van will have to last us for a good few years and there appears to be an upcoming backlash against diesel engines, should we buy another diesel or look for one with a petrol engine?

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I wouldn't be worrying about it until the major base vehicle manufacturers start heavily pushing non-diesel versions of their vans.

Diesel is going nowhere until someone comes up with a viable alternative for the hundreds of thousands of vehicles, and also the trains, that deliver the goods and services we expect to be able to buy cheaply every day. Petrol most certainly isn't the answer there.

 

[Viennese]

Electric perhaps??
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ent...-and-its-electric_uk_58765280e4b087dc83e7f6c4

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[Jim]

If you can find exactly what you want, in both Petrol and Diesel then choose petrol, all the large cities and surrounds will be charging fees for diesels soon. But I wouldn't compromise on the van just to get a petrol one. Not yet anyway, let's see where we are in ten years.

 

[Steve N Tracy]

Diesels are just the current target, an easy one because its easy to associate them with the old types belching out black smoke,
modern diesels are actually cleaner then many of the direct injection petrol models have very high particulate counts far in excess of current diesel models, they will be the next target.

 

[treetops1]

Petrol has to be the way to go now , anyone buying new it's a no brainier .lol

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[buttons]

We're looking to replace our Shirley!

First and foremost though, as the new 'van will have to last us for a good few years and there appears to be an upcoming backlash against diesel engines, should we buy another diesel or look one with a petrol engine?

Not sure if you will get a balanced view from 100% financially committed diesel owners....

 

[EX51SSS]

I know petrol mpg has been more efficient over the last few years but I don't think they'll get to diesel mpg.
The charges associated with cities that are introducing zones will be far cheaper than the increase in fuel costs over any given period.

 

[Forestboy]

My advice buy what suits you best and enjoy it while you can.
Whatever you buy the powers that be will screw you.
Only a few years ago we were all encouraged to buy the new modern fuel efficient clean running diesels. Now we've all bought them hey presto they're the spawn of the devil and we're being penalised for being stupid enough buy them.
If we all changed to petrol vehicles tomorrow the powers that be would just invent another pack of lies to tax us to death.
Cynical moi? Never

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[BobtheBass]

I've heard a rumour that the government have plans to tax white vehicles and very soon will be fitting water meters to your tanks and waste tanks to levy water and sewerage charges. Just a rumour.

 

[Paul and Kate]

Is there any main stream converters who offer petrol engines?

 

[jessthedog]

Do you know a major European manufacturer who produce motorhomes with the option of a petrol engine?
If you are looking at 2nd hand,The only one's I've seen are american RV's, with huge petrol engines.
Because of the cost of petrol over here and the MPG, most get them converted to LPG.
As others have said. There isn't an alternative yet, so you have little choice

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[tony_g]

R https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/new-petrol-engines-cause-more-air-pollution-dirty-diesel

Interesting.

Sorry, wrong link. Will look again for the right one.

 

[Steve N Tracy]

Maybe this one https://www.transportenvironment.org/publications/particle-emissions-petrol-cars

 

[Larrynwin]

Buy an American RV, petrol perhaps with LPG conversion, sorted

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[tonyidle]

The problem with Diesel engines isn't particulates - the DPF sees to that. It is Nitrous Oxide that's the bogey man. Nitrous Oxides are produced when the nitrogen in the atmosphere is heated in an engine. The temperatures reached during Diesel combustion are considerably higher than those reached in a petrol engine - hence crude EGR systems attempt to reduce combustion temperatures. Adblue systems work by chemically altering altering the composition of the exhaust gas outside the engine using a catalyst and are the latest attempt to reduce NOx.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Buy a Mercedes Sprinter (Or Dodge / Traveliner) US 3.5 litre Petrol RV. Not sure how well it will convert to an LPG but I do know the V8 5 litres are one of the best engines to convert.

VW have Spent Millions on their Brand New (Non Mercedes Built) Crafter, that is still only available in Diesel Engines.

I cannot think of any large European Built van that is available with a decent petrol Engine.

Yes, Mercedes did build the Sprinter with a Petrol/LNG Engine, not very powerful. But I think that was dropped for 2016.

TM

 

[Minxy]

The only coachbuilt maker that I can recall that kept making them with a petrol engine in recent times was Pioneer Motorhomes who I recall stuck with the petrol versions much later than any other maker, up to 2004 I think:

Broken Link Removed

Autocruise did some too but a bit older:

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Other than that you're looking at something like an Autosleeper but a bit older still:

Broken Link Removed

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[cliffanger]

Surely your first concern should be storage.....

Petrol -v- diesel is definitely of secondary importance .....

 

[Janine]

Surely your first concern should be storage.....

Petrol -v- diesel is definitely of secondary importance .....

Haha - you have seen my new uke, haven't you?

 

[cliffanger]

Haha - you have seen my new uke, haven't you?

Yes, another little beauty......

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[hilldweller]

or look for one with a petrol engine?

Have you ever seen a petrol one ? Hens teeth comes to mind.

 

[EX51SSS]

Buy an American RV, petrol perhaps with LPG conversion, sorted

Last one I came across did around 20mpg on LPG and that was double when they had to use petrol

 

[Spriddler]

The problem with Diesel engines isn't particulates - the DPF sees to that. It is Nitrous Oxide that's the bogey man. Nitrous Oxides are produced when the nitrogen in the atmosphere is heated in an engine. The temperatures reached during Diesel combustion are considerably higher than those reached in a petrol engine - hence crude EGR systems attempt to reduce combustion temperatures. Adblue systems work by chemically altering altering the composition of the exhaust gas outside the engine using a catalyst and are the latest attempt to reduce NOx.

The Gov't and Brussels rarely legislate based upon techy details or common sense but prefer to spend time on whatever enables them to set up committees and carry out green 'fact-finding' tours. I once spent an hour in the private 'frequent traveller' departure lounge at Brussels airport in the company of 3 chaps and overheard them expressing their disappointment that their 3 years of beanos in a group of 8 Civil Service or MEP 'experts' reviewing the marking of potato sacks was about to end.
In any case, our Gov't is due to be severely fined for failing to meet emission standards in our major cities, but at least the Treasury will be able to pay them by using the funds from Environmental taxes and levies collected from us.
I cannot see all diesel taxis, lorries, buses, trains etc being banned from cities any time soon although Paris now requires vehicles entering the city to display emission certificates and I believe Bordeaux, Rouen and others are soon to follow. Even electric vehicles require power derived from coal, gas or nuclear power..............

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[eddie]

We're looking to replace our Shirley!

First and foremost though, as the new 'van will have to last us for a good few years and there appears to be an upcoming backlash against diesel engines, should we buy another diesel or look for one with a petrol engine?

I went petrol and with my LPG conversion I am paying about 50p per litre

Very happy bunny

 

[Steve N Tracy]

Forward thinking is the answer.

 

[Forestboy]

Forward thinking is the answer.
View attachment 148425

You can hear the official line already.
Nah can't have that too much methane gas and crap everywhere we'll have to levy a very high pollution tax as it's bad for the atmosphere, and those nasty hooves marking the pristine roads and the awful noise they make.
Oh no no no

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[tony_g]

https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/new-petrol-engines-cause-more-air-pollution-dirty-diesels

The problem with Diesel engines isn't particulates - the DPF sees to that. It is Nitrous Oxide that's the bogey man. Nitrous Oxides are produced when the nitrogen in the atmosphere is heated in an engine. The temperatures reached during Diesel combustion are considerably higher than those reached in a petrol engine - hence crude EGR systems attempt to reduce combustion temperatures. Adblue systems work by chemically altering altering the composition of the exhaust gas outside the engine using a catalyst and are the latest attempt to reduce NOx.

I wouldn't disagree about NOX but micro particulates are pretty nasty, too. They are able to penetrate deeply into lungs and are very bad news for asthmatics, other respiratory conditions and people suffering from cardio vascular problems. Apparently, car manufacturers could it particulate filters for around £50 but don't.

https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/new-petrol-engines-cause-more-air-pollution-dirty-diesels

 

[Larrynwin]

Last one I came across did around 20mpg on LPG and that was double when they had to use petrol

Our last RV we had converted to LPG from new and it returned the equivalent of 18 to 20 mpg and no problem in the LEZ.

 

[eddie]

Our last RV we had converted to LPG from new and it returned the equivalent of 18 to 20 mpg and no problem in the LEZ.

In abject luxury, with no payload issues?

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