[carboy]

I could never understand how something that was less refined, diesel, meaning that it had more unnecessary “stuff” could produce less emissions. Diesel always did, and always will, as far as I’m concerned he snake oil when it comes to emissions.

[benj111]

Its less refined in the sense of less cracking.

It contains more energy for a given volume, so you get better fuel economy than with petrol. It might not be better for the particulates and NOx that we are now optimising for, but its better for CO2, that we were optimising for. So I don't think the snake oil label is warranted.

[lscotte]

Diesel engines are also significantly more efficient at converting that energy into usable torque. That's why an idling diesel consumes almost no fuel - it isn't doing any work.