Why don't cars use diesel?

[AdrielLynn]

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.

[OSpencer]

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.

[OFelicity]

I've driven transport trucks for ten years. Diesel engines have great torque for hauling goods, but they're really not suitable for family cars. Diesel vehicles struggle with cold starts – on freezing winter mornings, you have to crank the engine repeatedly, and the neighbors start sticking their heads out to curse. Maintenance is also a hassle; replacing a nozzle in the high-pressure common rail system can cost half a month's fuel expenses. While gasoline cars can fill up with 92 octane anywhere, diesel requires finding proper gas stations, as substandard fuel from shady shops can clog injectors in minutes. Now that the price gap between fuels has narrowed, factoring in urea additive costs means you hardly save anything. For family cars, it's not worth the trouble just to pinch pennies on fuel.

[DeJudah]

During my automotive engineering studies, I conducted comparative experiments. Diesel engines have a compression ratio as high as 18:1, which necessitates particularly robust piston connecting rods. While gasoline vehicles can utilize lightweight designs, diesel vehicles have to increase weight, affecting handling. Household cars prioritize agility and lightness, but the clattering noise from diesel engines' high-pressure fuel pumps transmitting into the cabin is quite annoying. Environmental friendliness is another major drawback. Although new technologies include DPF filters, regeneration requires high-speed driving when clogged, a condition hardly met by urban commuting.

[DiRosalie]

I remember there were diesel-powered Jettas before 2008, but now even taxis have switched to electric vehicles. Policy is the main reason – it's difficult to control nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel vehicles, and the smog control measures in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region directly restrict their registration. Daily costs are also less economical – the engine oil must meet C3 grade standards, making maintenance 30% more expensive than gasoline vehicles. A friend of mine bought a used diesel SUV to save on fuel, but ended up spending 8,000 yuan on DPF repairs, and when selling it, the depreciation was 20,000 yuan more than the same gasoline model.

[LaElla]

From a market perspective, automakers have long crunched the numbers. Diesel passenger vehicle production lines cost 20% more, and China lacks diesel subsidy policies like Europe's. Consumer research also found that 95% of people reject diesel vehicles due to vibration and noise. The critical point is that when hybrids achieved 4L/100km fuel consumption, diesel's 5L advantage vanished completely. Even the Wrangler now offers a 4xe plug-in hybrid version with torque surpassing diesel engines while being quieter. Unless for specialized needs like heavy-duty pickups, diesel passenger cars have essentially exited the historical stage.