in the U.S. is diesel worth it?

[Payman]

Every semi with 1,000,000+ miles has had the top end rebuilt at least once.  If gasoline engines were as overbuilt as OTH semi engines and got top end rebuilds periodically, they'd likely last just as long.

Dad: 1981 Datsun diesel pickup with 570,000 miles (not km)
Brother-in-law: 2001 VW Golf TDi with 450,000 km, traded it in for a 2012 TDi
Uncle: 1994 Dodge Cummins with probably close to a million kms.
Diesel engines are built much more robustly to handle the higher combustion pressures. By design, they usually last longer than gasoline engines. Every piece of equipment we have on the flightline has a diesel engine.

[AltinD]

It's terrible in Japan.

Japanese diesel vehicles SUCK!.

Here in Dubai, the commercial ones are terrible in smelling and noice, while Mercedes, VW delivery vans are neither noicy, nor smelly.

Back home in Albania, my sister has a 2009 m.y. diesel KIA. There is hardly any noice on it, and it's not slow at all, I mean same as a petrol car with the same displacement/power, while having the smoothest transmition I have ever driven. My cousin has a Range Rover Sport 2.5 Diesel. No noise or smell there either, just awsomeness.

Bottom line: Modern diesels are way different then what you know, and the quality of the fuel has also allot to do with how the vehicles sound, drive and small.

[GoCougs]

Dad: 1981 Datsun diesel pickup with 570,000 miles (not km)
Brother-in-law: 2001 VW Go
with 450,000 km, traded it in for a 2012 TDi
Uncle: 1994 Dodge Cummins with probably close to a million kms.
Diesel engines are built much more robustly to handle the higher combustion pressures. By design, they usually last longer than gasoline engines. Every piece of equipment we have on the flightline has a diesel engine.

Combustion pressures however are also harder on the engine (i.e., which comes first, chicken or the egg?)  .

The Cummins I6 is an industrial motor not a retail motor so I do not doubt that it was designed for a longer service life. As to the Datsun and VW motors I doubt they were designed to industrial specs. Many motors run well beyond their defined service life (compression loss, oil usage, bearing wear, etc.) doesn't mean they actually "last" that long.

[Mustangfan2003]

I do know with big trucks these days the DPF systems have horrible reliability. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

I do know with big trucks these days the DPF systems have horrible reliability.

Yea, that's for sure! The Freightliner I drove was annoying as fuck.

[Mustangfan2003]

Yea, that's for sure! The Freightliner I drove was annoying as fuck.

I work for a Kenworth dealer, they tend to last 300k miles. 

[cawimmer430]

Anyone here ever drive or experience the infamous Oldsmobile 350cid V8 Diesel?

[Char]

Yes you are right all diesels are slow as dog shit.



What excuse does the competition have?

I didn't say that at all, but what does a racecar have to do with a production car?

[NomisR]

I have to say, the 335d was fast as fuck with a good mileage.  I wish they brought it over again for this model because I want to get one instead of the POS hybrid.

[Galaxy]

I didn't say that at all, but what does a racecar have to do with a production car?

You used an absolute. There are many powerful diesel engines. The tri-turbo BMW, the Audi V8 (also used by Porsche), and others. King of the diesel hill is the V12 TDI.

[Char]

You used an absolute. There are many powerful diesel engines. The tri-turbo BMW, the Audi V8 (also used by Porsche), and others. King of the diesel hill is the V12 TDI.

But are they better than their gasoline counterparts? Probably not.

[CALL_911]

I have to say, the 335d was fast as fuck with a good mileage.  I wish they brought it over again for this model because I want to get one instead of the POS hybrid.

Used one?

[NomisR]

Used one?

Possibily... used BMW scares me though.

[CALL_911]

Possibily... used BMW scares me though.

Find a CPO one, that warranty should assuage your fears.

[cawimmer430]

Possibily... used BMW scares me though.

Just get a Camry and drive it in reverse all the time to experience the RWD effect. 

[MX793]

But are they better than their gasoline counterparts? Probably not.

Jetta TDI is every bit as quick as the 2.5L gas model, doesn't cost that much more similarly equipped, and delivers way better fuel economy.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Jetta TDI is every bit as quick as the 2.5L gas model, doesn't cost that much more similarly equipped, and delivers way better fuel economy.

And an ECU tune and full exhaust system will make gobs of torque.

[Galaxy]

But are they better than their gasoline counterparts? Probably not.

Compare the BMW X5 tri turbo diesel, with the X5 gasoline 4.0 V8.

The v8 has 408hp, the tri turbo diesel 380.

The V8 goes to 62mph in 5.5s, the diesel in 5.4. Both are limited to 155mph.

The V8 has a city consumption of 13.4mpg (US), the diesel gets 26.7(US). Highway consumption is 24.5 gasser, 34.5 diesel, combined 18.8mpg gasser, and 31.3 diesel.


Costs: In Germany the X5 M50d costs € 6,000 more then the X5 XDrive 50i. However these cars are usually "bought" by Doctors, Lawyers etc. who lease to write off the lease rate. Because the value of the V8 will plummet to the ground like Baumgartner (Europe at least) the lease rate for the gasser is € 1,121.88 a month, the diesel can be had for € 1,011.18.


In other words the diesel get the same performance as the gasser, but blows it out of the water when it comes to consumption, and is cheaper when leased which most are.

[Char]

Jetta TDI is every bit as quick as the 2.5L gas model, doesn't cost that much more similarly equipped, and delivers way better fuel economy.

'

It's like 5K more expensive and barely quicker.

[Char]

Compare the BMW X5 tri turbo diesel, with the X5 gasoline 4.0 V8.

The v8 has 408hp, the tri turbo diesel 380.

The V8 goes to 62mph in 5.5s, the diesel in 5.4. Both are limited to 155mph.

The V8 has a city consumption of 13.4mpg (US), the diesel gets 26.7(US). Highway consumption is 24.5 gasser, 34.5 diesel, combined 18.8mpg gasser, and 31.3 diesel.


Costs: In Germany the X5 M50d costs € 6,000 more then the X5 XDrive 50i. However these cars are usually "bought" by Doctors, Lawyers etc. who lease to write off the lease rate. Because the value of the V8 will plummet to the ground like Baumgartner (Europe at least) the lease rate for the gasser is € 1,121.88 a month, the diesel can be had for € 1,011.18.


In other words the diesel get the same performance as the gasser, but blows it out of the water when it comes to consumption, and is cheaper when leased which most are.

I don't live in Germany.

[Galaxy]

I don't live in Germany.

There were vehicles mentioned in this thread which are not available in the USA, long before I made that post. So I interpret that as meaning that you see that I have a point and just wanted to come up with some counter.

[MX793]

'

It's like 5K more expensive and barely quicker.

The TDI comes with more standard equipment than the base SE.  It's like $2700 when similarly equipped.

[Payman]

'

It's like 5K more expensive and barely quicker.

It's the top line car with a lot of standard equipment. The TDi is probably the most popular VW option up here.

[Soup DeVille]

Anyone here ever drive or experience the infamous Oldsmobile 350cid V8 Diesel?

Yes, in several guises, as wellas the 6.2.

[cawimmer430]

Yes, in several guises, as wellas the 6.2.

From what I hear, it was quite more reliable in 6.2-l guise, right?

[Soup DeVille]

From what I hear, it was quite more reliable in 6.2-l guise, right?

Ate starter motors on a regular basis, and was horrible tostart, but yes; much better.

[cawimmer430]

Ate starter motors on a regular basis, and was horrible tostart, but yes; much better.

[Payman]

Friend drove his dad's '80 Cadillac diesel back in the day. What a noisy smelly dog of a car that was.

[Soup DeVille]

That was my dad's Suburban. He kept a spare starter motor in The back and eventually rigged it up for dual batteries.

[cawimmer430]

That was my dad's Suburban. He kept a spare starter motor in The back and eventually rigged it up for dual batteries.

Why dual batteries? Did starting the glow plugs require THAT much juice for this engine?