Coddington wrote:
>
> I was told it has nothing to do with California. It's that VW is no longer
> going to send them to the U.S. I'd really like to know the reason for this!

        Right, ok a few calls and this is all straightened out.

        The TDI does pass California emissions standards. However,
it is a comparitively dirty engine thru california emissions
criteria. California takes all the vehicles that a manufacturer
offers in a specific vehicle class and "averages" the emissions.
Whoever I talked to at the CARB said VW chose not to register
the TDIs thi year (though I didn't ask whether that was due to
possible higher taxes on a dirtier fleet or whether VW simply
whated to claim that they only sold green cars)...

        Right, they also said that TDIs, while clean for diesels,
were worse in the NOx and particulate matter emissions than gas
engines. So I asked about biodiesel and the CARB guy said that while
biodiesel cut them significantly, they were still higher in
particulate matter than any gas engine (not surprising). Does anyone
know of any studies on biodiesel emissions especially focusing on the
particulate content? I would like to know what about the particulate
matter is most damaging...

        So, right now I am trying to come up with a new engine
for my syncro. All the conversions I have looked at have left
me wanting in the end (due to one reason or another). I am
thinking about a TDI with a subsequent 3rd and 4th gear change
in the future.... Yes, this thread did have revalence to my
van ;)

dave