Oil: The Creator of Many Fuels

It may not be very surprising that Volvo’s V60 Plug-in Hybrid was originally set to target the European market. North Americans as a whole strongly prefer gasoline powered vehicles over diesel (equipped with diesel fuel pumps and diesel injectors). They also usually prefer SUVs over wagons. But what is the difference between diesel and gasoline, and why do we prefer gas?

There are chemical differences between the two as they are both derived from oil at very different temperatures, but I won’t bore you with that. The main reason that American’s tend to prefer gasoline over diesel, although diesel engines get better gas mileage, is because gasoline burns much cleaner. Diesel engines are also known to be much louder. Because gasoline engines have a low compression ratio they require spark plugs to ignite the fuel. In addition to a spark plug they need electrical support from an electric coil, a distributor, and an alternator. A diesel engine has a much higher compression ratio and creates enough heat to ignite the fuel at injection, therefore eliminating the need of a spark plug and additional electrical support.  Both engines create energy in a four stage process (although differently): the intake stroke, the compression stroke, the combustion stroke, and the exhaust stroke.

In the past years there have been many improvements in diesel technology and it is being used more commonly than it has before. In regards to Volvo’s diesel wagon, they have recently announced the XC60 plug-in hybrid as the gasoline alternative and it will be headed to US markets soon. This vehicle can travel up to 35 miles running on just electricity and is said to get about 100mph in Hybrid mode. What’s more important to you, better gas mileage or lower emissions?

The Mannesmann-Sachs Nivomat! Say What?

A friend of mine told me that his Volvo had a Mannesman-Sachs Nivomat shock.  Now, I know a lot about car parts. I know an ABS Control Module like the back of my hand, which my friend knows nothing about. After I made sure that he just didn’t get back from the dentist and was slurring his words, I decided to look into exactly what this strangely worded shock assembly is all about.  I am assuming my friend is doing the same thing in regards to an ABS Control Module.

The word Nivomat is actually a contraction of two French words, niveau and automatique.  In English, this translates to “level automatic.” Finally! Some words I actually understand.  Basically, the Nivomat does exactly what its English translation says it does.  It is a compact device that automatically levels out the vehicle.  So, when the back of your Volvo station wagon is full of all your kids’ really heavy soccer gear, your car will not sag in the back.  This will give you a smoother ride, keep your eyes on the road instead of the skies, and avoid looking like a low-rider.

The Nivomat shock assembly combines all the common components of a shock assembly; springs, struts, and shock absorber into one small housing.  The energy required to adjust the height comes from relative movements between the axle and the vehicle body while driving.  No electric engine or motor is required. After a few miles of driving the car will rise to optimum height. If the road is bumpy then the Nivomat adjusts to a higher level, for greater ground clearance.  That’s one clever Nivomat.

This type of suspension can be found mostly in European vehicles, cars that carry heavy loads, and trailer hauling vehicles.  So, the next time you’re in your friends Volvo, Saab, or Jaguar and their car is sagging in the rear you can be helpful. Instead of making a crude joke about them having “too much junk in their trunk,” you can politely tell them to have their Mannesman-Sachs Nivomat checked out.