TORQUE TALK

Many moons ago, the advantages of owning a dieselpowered vehicle were numerous. Torque Talk

BY BEN SELBY

While it was considered a taboo subject with some members of the automotive community, owning a car powered by an engine which owed its existence to breakthrough German inventor, Rudolf Diesel, certainly had its advantages.

Diesel engines are generally more fuel e cient than regular internal combustion engines and diesel-powered vehicles o er more low-down torque.

With this pulling power more immediate lower in the rev range, diesel vehicles have also proven ideal at towing and hauling heavy loads. You probably have a friend or family member who does just that.

The only snag was you had to pay road user charges to keep your diesel car road legal, but this wasn’t so bad since the price of diesel fuel was so much cheaper than regular unleaded fuel. Or so, it was.

Diesel fuel is now on par and in some cases, even more expensive than 91 Octane at the pump. I have seen diesel fuel costing 10 cents more than 91 in some places. If this trend continues, the diesel engine’s benefi ts will be greatly eclipsed in the minds of many motorists, replaced instead with the foreboding thought of forking out more dough to keep them on the road.

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