How come we cant get this one???

[01EB5.0]

That point that diesels are actually cleaner then gas engines hits the nail right on the head. People think ALL diesels have black smoke spewing out, when if fact those truck either have a internal problem or were build before any sort of emmissions were required for diesels. In the near future the emmissions for diesles will get tighter and new technologies are in the works to create exhaust "scrubbing" systems that will eliminate the smaoke almost 100%. i read about this in a magazine. It is a unit that injects a spray of a liquid found in the urine of some animals and it acts as a catalytic converter, making the emmissions very very clean.
i believe that if the AMerican people were as informed about the benefits of diesels as the people overseas, we would see more diesel vehicles on the road then gas powered.
There is also new technology being developed now that will make the diesel as quiet as a normal gas engine. Once that technology is wide spread in light trucks and cars, i believe more and more people will be turning to diesel beause of all it has to offer. My Dad is in the diesel business (thats how i know so much) and they joke around that the diesel engines are just being broken in at 100,000 miles. Those engines seriously last over 300,000 easially. As for the added expense for oil and stuff, it is only a quart or two and the oil only is required to be done every 15,000 miles (on some engines). Thats not much more expense for the added towing and offroading torque.

 

[Kontrol-Trak]

Originally posted by Blue Steel
and people wonder why serious sports car enthusiasts get their stuff from europe, like bmw and mercedes cars. mrecedes even has a pretty nice turbo diesel that keeps up with most regular fuel cars that are only produced for the european market. also those darn governers are not there. you can thank the german autoban for that

Mercedes does turbo diesel engine option here in U.S.

 

[Kontrol-Trak]

The main reason diesel is so popular in Europe is high gas price. They would rather stick with gas engines otherwise.

 

[Kontrol-Trak]

Originally posted by CoryL
206 ft/lbs of TQ is INSANE for a 4-banger (granted it is turboed). The TQ output of a newer 2.3L is 130 ft lbs.

It's not "insane" for F/I engine nowadays. Nissan has a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine, SR20VET pushing 280hp/220ft/lbs now.

 

[jeffdoerr]

#1 With my experiences with diesel engines, although they do cost more, they are lower maintenance, last much longer and get great mileage. So whats to lose ?

#2 You can leave the thing idleing in the severe cold with NO damage to the motor and no danger of carbon monooxide poisioning.

#3 Diesel fuel may cost a little more at the pump, but its not as liable to explode if you get in a severe accident or smoke while you are filling the tank.

I have driven several diesel vehicles, GMC, Ford, Mazda, etc. I think they are all great (expect that lousy 6.2 GM) ad would take a turbo diesel any day over these polluting gas motors. You have fewer oil changes, fewer emissions, great performance, NO SPARKPLUGS to break off or change, NO PLUG WIREs to change (and pull the ends off)

I would kill to own a new diesel ranger or explorer and it's a shame that americans as general don't care for the "noisy, stinky, smelly diesel"

 

[dbarale]

Originally posted by Kontrol-Trak
The main reason diesel is so popular in Europe is high gas price. They would rather stick with gas engines otherwise.

Sorry but it's not true. I'm french and I like diesels for all the reasons already mentioned. More reliables, more torque, cleaner, safer (you can throw a match in a puddle of diesel and it won't catch on fire!)....
Now that I live here I wouldn't mind paying more to have a diesel in my X.

FYI, Peugeot is selling an engine that complies w/ the 2006 California emisions requirements and VW had to come out w/ the Golf VR6 because the "sporty" GTI was slower than the 1.9 TDI!

 

[Kontrol-Trak]

Originally posted by dbarale
VW had to come out w/ the Golf VR6 because the "sporty" GTI was slower than the 1.9 TDI!

GTI was not slower than a Golf with 1.9 TDI even in '01. For '02, 1.8T GTI has more torque and double the HP.

1.8T
Max. torque: 174 lb. ft. @ 1.950 rpm
Max. power output: 180 hp @ 5,500 rpm

VR6
Max. torque: 181 lb. ft. @ 3,200 rpm
Max. power output: 174 hp @ 5,800 rpm

1.9 TDI:
Max. torque: 155 lb. ft. @ 1900 rpm
Max. power output: 90 hp @ 3750 rpm

 

[Kontrol-Trak]

Originally posted by dbarale


Sorry but it's not true. I'm french and I like diesels for all the reasons already mentioned. More reliables, more torque, cleaner, safer (you can throw a match in a puddle of diesel and it won't catch on fire!)....
Now that I live here I wouldn't mind paying more to have a diesel in my X.

Diesel vehicles get better milege and sometimes taxed less than gasoline vehicles in Europe. Gas price may not be much higher than Diesel in some countries, but this is the main reason combined with high gasoline prices in some cases, diesel continues to be popular over there

 

[dbarale]

Kontol Trak, you like to argue even when you don't know the subject don't you?
I said VW HAD to come out...So it was back in '97 or '98. At that time the GTI had 110 HP and the 1.9 TDI also had 110 HP but more torque at lower RPM so it was faster...

 

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by jeffdoerr
I would kill to own a new diesel ranger or explorer and it's a shame that americans as general don't care for the "noisy, stinky, smelly diesel"

If it was really that big a desire to own a diesel Explorer, I bet you could find a way to get one. For example, fly to the Philippines or anywhere else where it's offered, and do one of those like around-0the-world road trips. Buy it in the Philippines, drive it across Asia into Europe, then once you get to Europe, get it imported to the US. It wouldn't be that hard to sneak by customs, I wouldn't think, and once it's in the country, just treat it the way you;d treat a gas Explorer, as far as registration and emissions and stuff. The only problem with that is you'd need to find a friend who owns an emissions control station to pass you off as a gas engine. But all in all, it'd probably be highly possible to get a diesel Explorer.

I don't know, the more I keep typing, the more fun this seems to me

 

[ChaoticRacer]

Originally posted by jeffdoerr
#1 With my experiences with diesel engines, although they do cost more, they are lower maintenance, last much longer and get great mileage. So whats to lose ?

#2 You can leave the thing idleing in the severe cold with NO damage to the motor and no danger of carbon monooxide poisioning.

#3 Diesel fuel may cost a little more at the pump, but its not as liable to explode if you get in a severe accident or smoke while you are filling the tank.

I wouldn't smoke around diesel. Its just as easy to ignite as gas. Only thing is it will burn forever where as gas will eventually burn its self out.

 

[Doug]

You can actually get the ranger equiped with a snorkel!
Pic

 

[BigOne]

Well, if I could get a diesel explorer, I would have one, without doubt.

I currently own a '00 F-350 diesel. 20 mpg empty combined city highway and 15 mpg towing a 10,000lb 5th wheel.

In the past I've owned two diesel VW Rabbits and an '84 Toyota BJ43 Diesel. I never should have sold the Toyota, best 4x4 there is. Makes my X look like mini off road. But at the time, I was only running the one vehicle and needed something with more seating room when my mother gave up her license at 85 and moved into my basement.

The Toyota ran a 3.4l diesel and got 28 mpg on the highway (it had the 5 speed in '84) and 24 around town.

When I got the X as a second vehcile, I was really looking for another diesel. There wasn't anything available other than some really rusty 60 series Toyota's and I wanted something in better condition and newer than the early 80's. So after much looking and no luck finding anything diesel (other than some near new Toyotas and Land Rovers, out of my price range) for a second vehicle I went with the next best and got an X.

I've been very happy with it, but the operating costs do suck big time. I can run my F-350 at less cost per mile than my X, by a long way. If Ford ever offered the diesel option in an X in Canada, I would likely bite the big one and buy a new one, then hang onto it. As long as the running gear was good, the truck should outlast nearly anything else available.

That was the biggest problem with the Toyota. Engine and running gear are bullet proof. The body seems to come from the factory with built in rust.