Long,

While I agree with your premise (and really enjoy the oil humor ), I want to comment on your analogy.

Diesels may visibly blow smoke and smell, but they are much, much cleaner burners than the normal gas burning vehicle you drive. Its not what you see, but what you don't with gas! Combine that with the fact that pound for pound, a deisel will get far superior fuel mileage, and the engine runs three times as long, they become so much of the lessor evil to the environment its ridiculous.

2 cycles, now thats a whole different ballgame. They are good for leaving a nice oil path so you know where you've been....

Steve