Emissions from Diesel Versions of Production Passenger Cars

The advent of diesel-powered versions of production passenger cars signals significant dieselization in the United States. Two vehicles, an experimental Oldsmobile diesel Cutlass and a Volkswagen diesel-powered Rabbit, were evaluated to determine their gaseous, particulate, smoke, odor, and noise emissions. For comparison, a 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass powered by the 260 CID gasoline engine and a 1.6 liter gasoline fuel injected Volkswagen Rabbit (Calfornia version) were similarly evaluated under most emission categories. Three transient driving cycles were employed including those used in emissions certification, sulfate testing, and highway fuel economy.