Is a diesel ok for small journeys and low mileage

[kees2k]

I have a petrol vw which has failed the last 2 MOT\'s on emissions. I don\'t do many miles, and have had 2 air mass meters fitted and on third (at high expense). If I get a diesel, are these any better or worse for low mileage expense and reliability - wise? (never had one before).

[Buenchico]

For a petrol engine to work efficiently (and therefore give you good fuel economy) it needs to be warmed up and driving the car at around 50mph. A diesel engine gives consistent fuel economy under nearly all conditions. (i.e. you'll get roughly the same mpg for short journeys around town as you will for long motorway journeys at 70mph).

So a diesel engine is far better for short hops around town. (I currently drive a petrol car because, through unemployment, I had to buy the cheapest reliable secondhand car I could find. But I love diesel cars. I used to drive a 1700cc diesel car, which consistently achieved 56mpg under all conditions. The only exception was on really long runs, in hot weather when the fuel compressed more easily, when I usually got around 64mpg).

The main criticisms of diesel-engined cars used to be related to noise and to sluggish acceleration. Modern diesel-engined cars are no noisier than their petrol-driven equivalents and can be incredibly 'nippy' under acceleration.

Chris

[Electrochem]

I have two diesel cars - one does around 20 000 per year; the other about 12 000 per year.

I would not touch a diesel car unless I was doing at the 12000. They don't like short journeys and using them for to pop into town and back won't do them any good at all.

Other tahn that, they are brilliant. My Rover has done 200 000 miles and gives me no problems.

[Seafarer1966]

Try putting a bottle of Wynns low smoke addititive into half a tank of fuel before you take it in for your MOT. Rev the engine till it gets hot and take the car round a few bends to mix the additive and fuel up really well. IIdeally put the additive in your petrol tank just as you're filling up at the pterol station. Make sure you get the additive for petrol as there is one available for diesel engines. Both give great results. I use it every year at MOT time and it gets my crate through the ticket no problem. Available from Halfords etc. for about £5.99 a bottle.