MBTRAC
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2012
- Messages
- 391
- Location
- NSW Australia
- Tractor
- Tractors16-600hp Farm & Earthmoving Equip, Trucks etc.
Hmmm. I wonder if a closer comparison might come from Europe where the proportion of diesel automobiles is very high. The uses of these vehicles would be very similar, so a comparison of maintenance and/or lifespan would be closer to an apples-to-apples comparison.
Now the question is, "does anybody have these data for Europe?"
BOB
Unfortunately we're increasingly comparing "apples with oranges", IMO any European maintenance/lifespan statistics are not relative to US, Canadian, Australian ..etc markets for many varied reason's, including:-
- Most European passenger vehicles/SUV engines are under 2.5litres (c.153CI) for historical reasons of capacity linked road taxes & rarely exceed much beyond 3litres *c.183CI)
- Geography/Population density means than annual European mileage is much less, with a predominance of short hauls often where the engine does not reach/sustain operating temperatures with consequential effects on wear/durability
- Still the preference for manual gearboxes in Europe, in unskilled hands an auto is more sympathetic to the narrow lower RPM/high torque ideal operating characteristics of a diesel engine
-..etc...
I'd suggest most likely "apples to apples" would be the same vehicle, similar engine capacity/output/performance characteristics - maybe a global comparison of say the 2006 model year on BMW X5 3litre inline 6 petrol (272hp) & diesel (265hp) as they shares some common engine components, similar weights, technical architecture & performance characteristics, albiet torque/gearing differs..
Maybe over to those high mileage X5's owners for input/experiences.....:anyone:.
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