Off Topic, Diesel Jeep Petition

[MoparNorm]

Update

As of today there are over 1700 signatures. Way fewer than I expected. I'm thinking the Petition needs 5-10,000 signers to even get on Chrysler's radar...
If you haven't signed and would like Chrysler to offer more diesels in the US and Canada, please sign. These engines would also be available for Dodge trucks and eventually the aftermarket.

http://jeepdieselpetition.com/press-release

[Charles Talbert]

Other issues

Hey Norm,
I would expect a major driver with so few signatures is the current cost of diesel fuel being higher than gas. People feel they are shooting themselves in the foot to purchase any vehicle that it will cost more to fill the tank than their current gas burner does; then there is the higher initial cost of the diesel powered vehicle. While diesel power is obviously not the best choice for some consumers; there are also many consumers that would reap huge benefits from owning diesel, but are simply not well enough informed on the subject to realize it. Some sort of campaign to educate the masses on the benefits and that would help those that would benefit to become more aware would be of some help, HOWEVER.

Then there is the factor of the very uncertain times we are living in right now; and don't forget there are those like Al Gore and his cronies who think the world should be powered by cow manure, and have millions of tax payer $$$ to push that agenda. Do you have suggestions to counter act all that? I wish someone did, but I'm pretty much drawing a blank with all current issues considered.

Suggestions anyone??

[MoparNorm]

Hi Charles!
Yeah, unfortunately we are a victim of the school system's inability to teach math and or common sense.

With gasoline fuel economy at 16 mpg and diesel fuel economy at 32 mpg, in the same vehicle, diesel would have to be priced at $8.00 per gallon to be equal with $4.00 gasoline. Seems easy for me to figure out that a 15 cent per gallon premium for diesel is still a $4.85 bargain.

To really answer your question, just as the Cummins powered Dodge truck became popular by word of mouth and now has an 85% take rate, it's going to take a few owners enthusiastically telling their friend that they have more power, fewer repairs and double the fuel economy of gasoline engines, before the average consumer "gets it".

[Charles Talbert]

Hi Charles!
Yeah, unfortunately we are a victim of the school system's inability to teach math and or common sense.

With gasoline fuel economy at 16 mpg and diesel fuel economy at 32 mpg, in the same vehicle, diesel would have to be priced at $8.00 per gallon to be equal with $4.00 gasoline. Seems easy for me to figure out that a 15 cent per gallon premium for diesel is still a $4.85 bargain.

To really answer your question, just as the Cummins powered Dodge truck became popular by word of mouth and now has an 85% take rate, it's going to take a few owners enthusiastically telling their friend that they have more power, fewer repairs and double the fuel economy of gasoline engines, before the average consumer "gets it".

You're right, hope Jeep will make it happen. I fully believe it would take off if the environmentalist could keep their mouth off of it for a while; at least long enough for a few to realize what they had.

[MoparNorm]

You're right, hope Jeep will make it happen. I fully believe it would take off if the environmentalist could keep their mouth off of it for a while; at least long enough for a few to realize what they had.

The problem with the greens is that they are woefully behind the learning curve when it comes to diesels.

Lambasting diesels because they are dirty, smelly, noisy, etc., is 20 year old thinking.
Modern Diesels, those designed in the last 5-6 years, are quiet, clean and in fact are cleaner than gasoline engines when it comes to every emission except NOX and they emit less CO2 than gasoline engines, produce more energy per gallon and therefore less pollutants per mile per gallon.
The coming 2016 CAFE standards cannot be met by gasoline engines without forcing all of us into skateboards.
Diesel is the major solution to mpg AND clean emissions and because of that, the many greens who want to kill private transportation are fighting to kill diesel and thus the automobile.

[Chewie]

The problem with the greens is that they are woefully behind the learning curve when it comes to diesels.

The coming 2016 CAFE standards cannot be met by gasoline engines without forcing all of us into skateboards.
Diesel is the major solution to mpg AND clean emissions and because of that, the many greens who want to kill private transportation are fighting to kill diesel and thus the automobile.

Out here in the midwest, we don't hear that kind of talk much. I imagine they must talk up a storm in SoCal...
I've passed on the petition to a few guys at work, who are involved with other online communities; maybe they will help. I remember reading somewhere that the number is 1:100. Every signature seen represents about another 99 not seen. Let's hope that applies here. I would love to see some small diesels offered in Jeeps and 1/2 ton trucks both...

[The Other Ross]

Cummins and the DOE have a joint research project of putting a cummins 4banger in a Nisson Titan.I'm not real big on the Titan but it's a start.

[MoparNorm]

Cummins and the DOE have a joint research project of putting a cummins 4banger in a Nisson Titan.I'm not real big on the Titan but it's a start.

That DOE project was started by Dodge and Cummins. Dodge dropped out after the BK and Nissan just came in as the client. Nice to know that our tax dollars are going to Japan... ;)
It's a pilot project with no production date anticipated, testing and feasibility only, but like you say, a start.