Diesel demonised? &Vs petrol?

little_green

I've only ever had petrol cars however have sootted a car in looking at getting and it's a diesel (actually a diesel mhev) just wondering if there is anything I should be aware of before making the switch? Will it feel significantly different to drive? 
I was talking to someone who said that diesel cars were going to be banned in the future... 😮 Now I'm worried it would be a silly idea to buy a diesel car as a long term choice. 
I do mainly do shorter journeys which I think isnts great for diesel cars though to keep everything ticking over I could take it a longer drive if necessary every one in a while but realistically how often would it need this and how far would it be (I'm guessing it's more about time at an actual speed more than distance) I live in a city so although I can drive a distance it's a lot of sitting in traffic. 
Thanks in advance sorry for yet another thread

ontheroad1970

Both diesel and petrols are scheduled to be banned from new production in 9 years.  The difference is in NOx.  This causes smog and some councils are starting congestion charges that mean you ahem to have a newer car with a newer Euro rating.

Keep_pedalling

It does not sound like your mileage / journey distance is a good match for diesel. 

BOWFER

Petrols are no better for short journeys these days.
Diesels have DPF which get clogged.
Petrols now have GPF which get clogged.
Your driving style is not really suited to either any more, it's really most suited to electric, but you've already stated you won't get one of those.
If you're anti electric and don't want any low mileage DPF/GPF issues, you really need to look at an older non-GPF petrol.
GPF are relatively new and maybe going back a year or two will get a petrol without one.

little_green

BOWFER said:

Petrols are no better for short journeys these days.
Diesels have DPF which get clogged.
Petrols now have GPF which get clogged.
Your driving style is not really suited to either any more, it's really most suited to electric, but you've already stated you won't get one of those.
If you're anti electric and don't want any low mileage DPF/GPF issues, you really need to look at an older non-GPF petrol.
GPF are relatively new and maybe going back a year or two will get a petrol without one.

Thank you I've made a note of this. 
I can't be the only person who does these type of journey typically so how are people in new cars managing lol

BOWFER

little_green said:

BOWFER said:

Petrols are no better for short journeys these days.
Diesels have DPF which get clogged.
Petrols now have GPF which get clogged.
Your driving style is not really suited to either any more, it's really most suited to electric, but you've already stated you won't get one of those.
If you're anti electric and don't want any low mileage DPF/GPF issues, you really need to look at an older non-GPF petrol.
GPF are relatively new and maybe going back a year or two will get a petrol without one.

Thank you I've made a note of this. 
I can't be the only person who does these type of journey typically so how are people in new cars managing lol

The stats suggest they're turning their back on diesel for starters, new electric car sales now surpass diesel.
I think most are buying petrol unaware they have GPF and then moaning about horrible MPG.
For example, my Polo GTi would give around 20% worse MPG if the GPF started getting blocked.
A longer run would get the MPG back up as the GPF burnt off the crap, but then you're spending unnecessary money on petrol just to unblock the GPF!!
There's no win/win situation with new ICE engines in a low mileage/town scenario.

Grumpy_chap

little_green said:

I've only ever had petrol cars however have sootted a car in looking at getting and it's a diesel (actually a diesel mhev) just wondering if there is anything I should be aware of before making the switch? Will it feel significantly different to drive? 
I was talking to someone who said that diesel cars were going to be banned in the future... 😮 Now I'm worried it would be a silly idea to buy a diesel car as a long term choice. 
I do mainly do shorter journeys which I think isnts great for diesel cars though to keep everything ticking over I could take it a longer drive if necessary every one in a while but realistically how often would it need this and how far would it be (I'm guessing it's more about time at an actual speed more than distance) I live in a city so although I can drive a distance it's a lot of sitting in traffic. 
Thanks in advance sorry for yet another thread

Diesel and petrol cars will not be banned for new car sales until at least 2030.  Hybrid cars will still be allowed after that.
So, if you buy a diesel or petrol car now, then it will have 15 years (longer than the scrapping age of the average car) before you need to worry about fuel not being available.

For shorter city journeys, petrol is better than diesel.
That is also likely a win-win as the new car cost of petrol is usually a bit lower.
I think you mentioned in another thread that the diesel you were looking at was because of the availability of the car you liked (used, nearly new) but if you went new, you'd have configured the petrol.  Maybe using a broker, that could be something you could make happen?

BOWFER

Grumpy_chap said:

For shorter city journeys, petrol is better than diesel.

Old thinking.
I've already explained new petrols are fitted with GPF and they are just as problematic as DPF in diesels over short journeys.
Pre-GPF petrol, no argument there, they're better for short journeys than diesels.
DPFs have been fitted to diesels for donkeys years now. GPF in petrol are really only the last year or so.

 

peter3hg

BOWFER said:

Grumpy_chap said:

For shorter city journeys, petrol is better than diesel.

Old thinking.
I've already explained new petrols are fitted with GPF and they are just as problematic as DPF in diesels over short journeys.
Pre-GPF petrol, no argument there, they're better for short journeys than diesels.
DPFs have been fitted to diesels for donkeys years now. GPF in petrol are really only the last year or so.

 

An OPF shouldn't be as problematic as a DPF.
Petrols produce less particulates, warm up faster and have higher exhaust temperatures, all of which helps.

Some manufacturers appear to have implemented them poorly (VW, Ford and Honda) but I certainly never noticed the slightest issue in my BMW with an OPF when I was only doing short journeys during COVID.

AdrianC

Diesel isn't "demonised", except in the view of people who don't understand the facts, and can't cope with anything more than sensationalised soundbites...

Diesel emits lower CO2 and uses less fuel than petrol.
CO2 is a global cause of climate change.

Diesels have emitted far higher NOx than petrol, but the Euro6 emission standard (2014-on) brings levels down to near the same.
NOx is a localised pollutant in high concentrations - especially in large cities.

Modern diesels (anything with a particulate filter, so roughly 2004-on, Euro4 emissions) do not like a diet of short journeys. The filter will clog unless it gets hot enough to regenerate.

Internal combustion engines of all types have a limited production future, but are unlikely to be banned outright in the foreseeable.

BOWFER

peter3hg said:

BOWFER said:

Grumpy_chap said:

For shorter city journeys, petrol is better than diesel.

Old thinking.
I've already explained new petrols are fitted with GPF and they are just as problematic as DPF in diesels over short journeys.
Pre-GPF petrol, no argument there, they're better for short journeys than diesels.
DPFs have been fitted to diesels for donkeys years now. GPF in petrol are really only the last year or so.

 

An OPF shouldn't be as problematic as a DPF.
Petrols produce less particulates, warm up faster and have higher exhaust temperatures, all of which helps.

Some manufacturers appear to have implemented them poorly (VW, Ford and Honda) but I certainly never noticed the slightest issue in my BMW with an OPF when I was only doing short journeys during COVID.

I didn't notice any DPF issues in my diesel BMW on short journeys, doesn't mean I'd recommend it.
The 'burning rubber' smell of a DPF regen was quite common though, along with the fan staying on when the car was switched off.
And you say "when you were doing short journeys during COVID", which suggests it was only a limited time and you're not doing that now.
The OP has said they are exclusively doing short journeys, there's every chance a GPF will cause issues like constant regen and poor MPG.