What car fuel is better for the environment - unleaded petrol or diesel?

Question

What car fuel is better for the environment - unleaded petrol or diesel?

Answer 1

petrol. that is why the government makes diesel more expensive. paul your full of hot air

Answer 2

A small injection petrol engine. (New)

Answer 3

none of the above.

Answer 4

Harness the hot air from the politicians that's the best fuel

Answer 5

NOT SO EASY

Which environment ?

- crowded and populated area where the main concern is dust, soot and NOx emissions?

- or long distances on which mainly the fuel cost, fuel use and CO2 produced will matter (since the soot imission won´t be as bad)

Other question:

- are the considered otto motor cars (regular gasoline) equipped with catalyzator?

- what are the sulfur content of the two fuels (regarding SOx emissions?

- normal diesel or direct injection?

- hybrid car or not?

SOMETHING DOES NOT MAKE SENSE:

We use Diesel in crowded European urban centers (and have high soot and NOx emissions) while the US which has sparsely populated areas and long roads does not use diesel which  is better for higher mileage with low acceleration/deceleration... is it logical ?

Answer 6

Diesel is one of the worst pollutants so obviously unleaded petrol is better.

Answer 7

walking

Answer 8

i've discovered a filipino invented a apparatus that accept water as a alternative fuel. he propose it but the phil,government doesn't support it

Answer 9

Excellent question. I read once that it was a juggling act between using less fuel (diesel) and not producing any sooty emissions (petrol). So, it all depends on your criteria of "better for" really...

Additional to tom a (above):

That's c**p. I remember not so long ago when diesel cars were unheard of (lorries still used it obviously) and it was literally 1/2 the price of petrol. It's all a government tax con.

Answer 10

Thats easy, its diesel, it produces far less CO2. All this cobblers about sooty diesels, well at least you can see the particles which are no where near as bad as petrol particles. With petrol, because the particles are smaller they go deeper into your lungs, not to mention the toxic fumes that come from petrol evaporating into the atmosphere.

With diesel you get also the choice of different fuels to use, or should i say oils.

Answer 11

I would have to say diesel, if you make it yourself. With the kit for about $150. Used & filtered frye grease, perferably from an oriental restaraunt because its cleaner, take 70% grease with 30% kerosene. The kit will hook up to most any ford,GM,or Chrysler.

Answer 12

unleaded fuel

Answer 13

Diesel:

VERY efficient

Gasoline:

More complete combustion

Global warming is Bull!!!! (just thought i'd throw that in there)

Answer 14

Diesels are better but ONLY if they have catalysts and particulates filters like Vauxhalls.

Filthy smoking white vans, buses and elderly lorries and cars are illegal and should be stopped and crushed.

Get with it Dave!

RoyS

Answer 15

Diesel is better ,but only if its made from bio oil. That way the carbon captured by the plants from the atmosphere is reused and recycled. Fuel economy is also way better. The engine also lasts 5-20 times longer, so embodied energy used making the diesel engine is tied up for longer and the vehicle lasts longer before being scrapped. Now thats better for the planet

Answer 16

Modern engines in combination with new "Ultra-low-sulfur" diesel have eliminated most of the environmental drawbacks of diesel. In fact, with a diesel, you'll probably even release less CO2 than a hybrid would.