Towing with X5

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Skier1

Well that is your opinion ,Sorry but that is a complete load of piffle , a turbo diesel will s**t over a petrol, you obviously havent driven one. Diesels also have a better retardation due to the higher compresssion ratio. There is no way I would contemplate towing with a petrol unless I was towing a fuel tanker behind me.

Yes, that is my opinion. I have driven many turbo diesels, and a few naturally aspirated diesels. I have had a turbo diesel Passat (red badge, A6 engine) and a diesel LR Discovery. Class 3 driver's license (unlimited GVW on highway, with air brake endorsement, meaning almost exclusively diesel.

I also worked in the diesel engine industry (engineering, sales, service) for 26 years. 15 to 8000 hp.

Diesels inherently have no effective engine retardation other than friction. That is simply because while they have a higher compression ratio, they are not throttled. When the air in the cylinder is compressed, it is then decompressed, for no net work, thus no retardation. If you want to have retardation (which occurs naturally with a throttled gasoline engine) you need to include an exhaust brake of some type, Jake or otherwise. That is why those devices were designed. That device opens an exhaust valve after the compression stroke, releasing the compressed air (and making lots of noise). There are also hydraulic retarders. All designed to overcome the limitation of the diesel engine with respect to lack of engine retardation.

If you want to learn more about diesel engines and their development, and the challenges faces (including lack of engine braking) suggest you read Cruickshank's book on the Cummins engine company and the engineering development of the diesel engine concept over 75 years.

I am glad you like your diesel engine. But please don't spread so much piffle. It makes you look like a w**ker.