Why can't we drive these cars?

Ongoing discussion of anything not related to Nissans or diesels.

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dieseldorf
Posts: 192
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Location: Oracle, AZ

Why can't we drive these cars?

#1

Post by dieseldorf »

Thanks to our Tier 2 Bin 5 Emissions Standards, most foreign car makers just gave up on bringing diesel powered cars and trucks to the US. Nissan, Honda and Toyota all announced new diesel powered cars for 2009, 2010 and 2011 and nothing happen. Chevrolet and Ford are selling Diesel powered cars and trucks all over the world except the US. We are condemned to use old polluting technology.

2010 Maxima Diesel DOA

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European Cruze 2.0 TDI 150HP Test

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The New Ford Ranger Diesel

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Volkswagen 102HP Caddy Diesel
Astro Van with LD28 propulsion
'84 Mercedes 190D 2.2L 5-Speed Manual purchased 06/12 SOLD 06/13
'86 Ford Escort Wagon Diesel MT Sold 07-17-08
davehoos
Posts: 525
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Location: Karuah Valley,NSW Australia
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#2

Post by davehoos »

http://www.ford.com.au/commercial/ranger#
new ranger.
up date model very late due to floods.

how about this one.
http://www.ford.com.au/suv/territory
fitted with leftover landrover diesels it cant be exported to countries it was designed for.and it only comes in RHD.
WCJR31 Skyline.3.0 manual.wagon
R31 SKYLINE/Passage GT/PINTARA
LPG Ford Falcon 99-06 93 Disco
Local Shire Southern Zone Mechanic.
plenzen
Posts: 891
Joined: 16 years ago
Location: Cochrane Alberta Canada

#3

Post by plenzen »

Retired Pauly
Problem with being retired is that you never get a day off.
1987 D21-J SD25 KC
KJLGD21FN
davehoos
Posts: 525
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Location: Karuah Valley,NSW Australia
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#4

Post by davehoos »

diesel cars started to be marketed here but are no longer in fashion.

LPG/LNG is tthe cheepest greenest fuel.recently it been made difficult to buy new vehicles due to conversions must be complied by the kit installer to meet emisions--overseas manufactures pulling the plug of promissed vehicles[sounds familiar] due to over comitments.with limited LPG markets.a local LNG plant is in planning to cash in on carbon reduction schemes-if they sell to real public and not export diesel will be returned to being rare.

one of the better products is hyundia I30 1.6T.sold as a family hatch.
very polular with women travelling long dstance.It is a lot cheeper than a VW.I have several neighbours with these.
ADR government fuel consumption figures for the 1.6 litre turbo are 4.7 litres per 100km. It's been reported that highway consumption can get as low as 3.7 litres per 100km
but on test we didn't get near that recording 6.6 litres per 100 km
NRMA.


http://www.mynrma.com.au/motoring/revie ... motion.htm
just a cheep golf-or you could buy 2 Ford Fiesta diesel at 4.4l.100

or 3/4 of a jetta at
http://www.mynrma.com.au/motoring/revie ... 103tdi.htm

or 4 LPG XT falcon wagons.
WCJR31 Skyline.3.0 manual.wagon
R31 SKYLINE/Passage GT/PINTARA
LPG Ford Falcon 99-06 93 Disco
Local Shire Southern Zone Mechanic.
plenzen
Posts: 891
Joined: 16 years ago
Location: Cochrane Alberta Canada

#5

Post by plenzen »

LPG was quite popular here for a number of years back in the late 70's /80's and a lot of taxi and pick up trucks had the conversions done. ( myself included)
It has fallen out of favor since then mostly because of the price and size of the tanks.
LNG was trying to make a go of it but the price of those tanks was considerably more than the LPG tanks and the filling stations were hard to find. There was a rumor of a home re-filling option but becasue of the pressures involved for LNG and the fear of mishap it was scrapped.
CNG was used on some fleet vehicles but also fell out of favor and of course once out of fuel you were on the tow truck.
I still have a LPG tank in my old Ford and still use it ( not dual fuel but 100% propane) and I have to drive 30Kms to get it. The last of the propane filling stations in the town where I live has shut down.
Price of propane here is $0.55/L and diesel is $1.04L while gas is at $1.12L now. I don't see LNG/CNG/LPG making a comeback anytime soon.

Paul
Retired Pauly
Problem with being retired is that you never get a day off.
1987 D21-J SD25 KC
KJLGD21FN
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asavage
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#6

Post by asavage »

I have two large boxes of Impco LPG stuff I'm going to eBay out of here soon. I was keen on doing up a truck like you have, Paul, but at this stage of my life I figure it's not going to happen anytime soon, and the bits aren't rare, and I do not need several 425 carbies in a box anymore ;)

One 425, one VFF30, and maybe one feedback controller; the rest are going to find new homes soon.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
plenzen
Posts: 891
Joined: 16 years ago
Location: Cochrane Alberta Canada

#7

Post by plenzen »

Thanks Al. I just re-plumbed my HP hoses from the tank to the bulk head fitting and from there to the lock off. I cannot see me doing anything more this this guy as it's nearly rusted off the frame. It still starts and runs well and I use it about 100 miles max a year. I have to drive 30 miles now to get fuel for it, and I am not all that certain how much longer they will even be there. It needs new bushings in the leaf springs and I have been avoiding that nightmare at every turn. I got the new bushings, just not wanting all the drama that comes with getting the old ones out. But, sooner or later it will have to be done,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I guess.

From the last number of posts you will soon have room in your garage for a Class A motor home ! :wink: :wink:
Retired Pauly
Problem with being retired is that you never get a day off.
1987 D21-J SD25 KC
KJLGD21FN
User avatar
dieseldorf
Posts: 192
Joined: 17 years ago
Location: Oracle, AZ

Update

#8

Post by dieseldorf »

It looks like the Chevy Cruze Diesel will be available in the US:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/201 ... -reviewsel

:shock:
Astro Van with LD28 propulsion
'84 Mercedes 190D 2.2L 5-Speed Manual purchased 06/12 SOLD 06/13
'86 Ford Escort Wagon Diesel MT Sold 07-17-08
plenzen
Posts: 891
Joined: 16 years ago
Location: Cochrane Alberta Canada

#9

Post by plenzen »

Actually they are already available. Drove one on a test drive last week. I was quite impressed with it and it is a definite possibility to purchase one. If I had one complaint about it is that how they have the gas pedal ( diesel pedal to be more accurate ) set up. It's hard to describe but it's quite sensitive in that a little pressure on it and you just seem to crawl away ( too slow for me ) but a very slight increase and it then takes off too quickly.
You'll have to test drive one to see, although I think one could get used to it.
A bit noisier than the Jetta TDI at start up and at idle as it seems that VW has done a nice job of cabin insulation, but around 40kph and up it's fine. Lot's of torque like the jetta. I would like to take it on the highway and try it there and I will with another one. ( This was the only one they had and there was a lot of interest in it, mountains are approx 100kms away ) I want to see how it will handle hills in the mountains ( there are lots of them here ) and see how it does. It's nearly 4700 feet here so ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, The Gas N/A Cruze was shifting a lot, however the Cruze turbo was much much better. I am sure that the diesel will be fine but I want to try it anyway.
No spare tire as the Urea tank is in that spot. You get an inflator kit in the trunk with a can of that sealant that the tire shops hate to deal with.
No block heater available however they do have an oil pan heater.
No manual trans either. A better cabin than the Jetta too ( IMO ).
Retired Pauly
Problem with being retired is that you never get a day off.
1987 D21-J SD25 KC
KJLGD21FN
User avatar
asavage
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#10

Post by asavage »

plenzen wrote: . . . a little pressure on it and you just seem to crawl away ( too slow for me ) but a very slight increase and it then takes off too quickly.
Damned electric throttles. Seems all new cars are drive-by-wire.

My '97 Aero is still mechanical, but Marc's 2006 Infiniti M35 crapped a accelerator pedal assy. last summer. Pretty much left him stranded, could barely limp home four miles. It's basically two potentiometers connected to the foot pedal. Only available as an assembly, $250.

Fortunately (?) the local (one hour away in Denver) had it in stock. Replacing it was not quite as straightforward as replacing a broken throttle cable :( The tale is here.

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The actual part that breaks and leaves you stranded:

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They have two DVD players in this car in 2006; they couldn't afford a real optical encoder setup instead of sliding contacts that didn't work in our 1973 Volvo 145's TPS either? Just shows what $45k (2006 dollars) won't buy you!

I will say that my laptop OBDII scanner setup did give me a reasonably accurate MIL code: it pretty much had to be this part, or the little motor on the throttle body that actually moves the butterfly.

It's weirdly calibrated too, like the Cruze. Mash the pedal and there's a massive delay while the ECM tries to decide if you really meant it, and then has to decide what gear to shift to. Not a lot of fun if you're in a hurry that way. Works a lot better if you put the AT in manual mode.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
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