Explorer Diesel

[Rick]

Future Oil burning, and other Explorer Odds n' Ends
Published: 18 April 2001
Posted by: Chris Paukert
Courtesy, Blueovalnews.com


In an odd bit of engineering, Ford has confirmed that the redesigned Explorer will receive a diesel powertrain sourced, curiously enough, from Daimler-Chrysler. This curiosity is the result of DCX's recent purchase of Penske (previously Detroit) Diesel, who manufacturers the engine. No details just yet on what the engine will be, but the model will be built stateside, but for European consumption, the oil-burner is slated to hit foreign shores later this year.

 

[FlyAU]

Whoa, a diesel Exploder would kick royal @$$.

NOW HOW COME WE CAN NEVER GET THE COOL STUFF STATESIDE, FORD? re: Explorer North Face (UK), Falcon XR8 (Australia) Diesel Ex (EU).

 

[Stephen]

Well, theres just no market for a diesel Explorer here. They're purchased by and large just for day to day light use.

 

[Paul Gagnon]

A diesel Explorer would be cool. Too bad it will probably never be sold in north america.

 

[Rick]

Stephen I am a Diesel convert. We have a VW Golf that gets 40mpg city and 50 hwy it also scoots like a go kart. We also have the Dodge Ram which gets 21mpg and 18 towing the Explorer. 18 is about the same I got in my Explorer without towing ANYTHING. On the way across country and back I averaged 13.5 and that was pulling the 7500lb trailer and the 2000lb camper. The camper is like trying to push a brick wall through the air.

New diesels are super efficient and long lasting, they would make a great choice for an everyday US commuter vehicle.

 

[leebo]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=22902

 

[rpenner54]

Sounds cool to me!!! Heck yeah, I am with Rick on this one. I just don't have one to proove it. I love Rick's car, its fast (From what I could tell when I rode in it.) and its not noisy! Not at all. To me you have something there that just should take off but can't. They burn a WHOLE lot cleaner then a gas engine too.

 

[Maduro]

I also agree totally with Rick on the merits of a diesel Explorer. My daily driver for 15 years was a '82 diesel VW Rabbit....never got below 40mpg, never left me stranded, only switched vehicles when a nasty hole developed in the floorboard. (didn't want to do a Flinstone impression) Still sits in my yard waiting for a restoration. Ford, bring on the diesel Explorer !!!

 

[Stephen]

I totally agree with you about the merit Rick, its just the stigma. Theres no mass market for one. To Americans Diesels are still chattery, smoke blowing etc etc.

Given the proper time though that may change.

 

[riffman]

*drool* yum...diesel....they're cool......*drool again*

 

[RFR2212]

Scott.....Get back on the bus, and drain your drool cups if necessary.....
The Bus Driver

 

[drmoore71]

it seems to me that deisels don't really even smoke any more. has anyone else noticed this. they ARE still noisy, though, on the big trucks.

 

[Stephen]

No diesels are actually very clean now, and they have gotten much quieter. Ever driven a Mercedes E300D? You'd never know it was a diesel.

 

[espnfreak]

Diesels are awesome. My friend gave me a ride in a 99 or 2000 chevy 2500 series duramax with a 6.6 liter turbocharged engine. It was fairly loud on the outside, but inside the cabin it was quiet. And when my friend (travis) punched the gas, that car really took off. It was a big truck and i'm sure it got better gas milage than the X. I'm pro diesel, and i think that diesel in the X is just another step they can do to improve sales! People would love to have that.

 

[01EB5.0]

Jason is right. This 2001 GMC Duramax is the quietsest diesel out now. GM redesigned them and totally started from ground up, making this one of the quietest, most powerful diesels in heavy duty pickup trucks today. this truck I had was turbocharged, intercooled, and had an advanced injection system. The truck goes 0-60 in 8.36 seconds...thats for a big supercab fullsize truck! try that in a explorer! When ford comes out with the 6 cyl- version of the Powerstroke in the Explorer, my Dad will be one of the first to own it!

Gas milage was mentioned on diesles, here is real-world proof. My mom has a E150 conversion van witht he 5.8L V-8 (351 Windsor) well, she gets like 13 MPG. The guy behind me owns a extended length E350 Superduty cargovan witht he 7.3L Powerstroke turbo diesel in which he hauls cargo from point A to pinot B...sometimes across country. He says that he hauls 5,000 pounds average and gets 19MPG city, 25 highway. On top of that Diesel is the cheapest automotive fuel around. ($1.94 for regular unleded, $1.45 for diesel)

 

[espnfreak]

i agree with ya T dawg, there's nothing better than a diesel

 

[Stephen]

Still though, theres still the old stigma about them. It might be interesting to see if they could sell enough Explorers to make it profitable though. They'd do well in fleet sales...