Why don't cars use diesel?
2 Answers
Because gasoline engines have better starting performance, lower noise, and superior ride comfort compared to diesel engines, and their combustion products cause less environmental pollution. However, gasoline's power performance is far inferior to diesel, which is why diesel is still used in trucks and heavy machinery industries. Introduction to gasoline: Gasoline is classified based on its octane rating, such as 90# and 97#. The higher the octane rating, the lower the chance of engine knocking, which is better for the engine. Therefore, most high-end cars use gasoline with higher octane ratings. Introduction to diesel: Diesel is classified based on its freezing point. For example, 0# means it will solidify when the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius. Similarly, -10# means it will solidify at -10 degrees Celsius. This is why diesel vehicles in northern regions use lower-grade diesel in winter to prevent the fuel from freezing.
Once, I drove a friend's old diesel sedan to the north and almost couldn't find a diesel pump at the gas station. In China, private cars mostly run on gasoline, primarily because diesel vehicles are noisy and vibrate heavily, making the rumbling sound during traffic jams on the way to work a real headache. They also emit more particulate matter, making them more likely to fail annual inspections. Big cities even impose restrictions on diesel vehicles, making it hard to navigate alleys for late-night snacks. The key issue is that fuel price subsidies favor gasoline, leaving diesel pumps at gas stations scarce, turning every refueling into a blind box experience. Now, with hybrids and electric vehicles competing for market share, diesel cars have even less room to survive, unless you're a truck driver or an off-road enthusiast.
