To quote Mark Twain, ‘The report of my death was an exaggeration’. I think the demise of the diesel is a long way off if ever. I know the purist keep saying the new emissions controls will kill it, but I don't see it.
Agreed.
I've never thought that the new, now current, and admittedly complex (compared to decades past) emissions systems would kill the Diesel engine, industry will adapt if possible. The benefits of Diesel engines will have to be compromised much more before gas, or another fuel system, takes over diesel. The world's freight moves on diesel fuel, hence diesel is here to stay until a practical and economical replacement is developed.
Now for the automotive enthusiasts, those that dream of smaller, light-duty diesels in smaller light-trucks and utility vehicles, the situation and future is less clear, though I don't see the heavy-duty pickup diesel market drying up soon. Does it make sense (cents) for the average enthusiast to buy a diesel truck over gasoline-powered when both are offered? Likely not for many, depending on one's point of view, particularly if the decision is primarily based on the cash payback of the upfront cost of choosing the diesel option. Though there are other (performance and personal) metrics that still make Diesel a very clear choice for many. How hard do you use your rigs and how long do you keep them?
One thing we don't yet know is the ultimate life cycle of the more recent emissions systems for light-duty applications. Will these systems add to the maintenance cost and cause additional down-time? Surely at some point they will, but that doesn't mean the juice wasn't worth the squeeze for all the years and miles that came before.
As a guy who has been driving diesels for 28 years, and was skeptical about the newer systems, I'm currently very pleased and not as skeptical as I once was. Our family fleet includes a '13 VW TDI Sportwagen with no urea/DEF injection, and a '14 Ram/Cummins 2500 that uses/needs DEF. I was cautious about adding a DEF-using rig, partially as I still had an old-school 7.3L/T444E F-350. Though at least in this Ram 2500 example, the 6.7L Cummins appears much happier using DEF than extra diesel fuel to help the truck meet the current emissions standards-- fuel economy is up, fuel-dilution of the engine oil is down, and oil change intervals at much higher mileages are a benefit. With only 5k on the Ram, and 22k on the TDI, these are preliminary impressions, thought I don't see the sky falling just yet.
