i stand by my first guess.

 

I keep reading that maintenance is higher on diesels, but I've driven 4 cylinder turbo diesels for 30 years in Japan, and I never had any engine maintenance issues at all in that time with those engines - 4 Toyotas, 1 Mazda, 1 Isuzu all diesels. What is this maintenance problems?

 

Did you're diesels have EGR systems, EGR coolers, DPF's on them?

Did they use new piezoelectric injectors now required to meet emissions, or old school mechanical injectors that are cheap and last forever?

 

park, they had GFM, RGE, and IBAIIC. Being in Japan, the emissions controls are very strict, and they have plenty of controls for sure. Technologically leading engines. Mine did not have the new fluid (forgot what it's called - yeah, that's it, paleontologist injectors!) injectors that pump into the exhaust is it? Great engines!

 

Well I think part of the problem, is that everyone in US & Canada seems to think they need massive power to drive around. All of the little fuel efficient diesel sold overseas, are sub-par when it comes to power.

90 HP diesel escort? Great idea, but not many people here would buy it, or so they think.

As they crank more and more power out of the engines, we say "so long" to reliability, at the cost of raw power and ability. Diesel engines built 10 - 20 years ago, could easily save the consumer money, but the cost of diesel fuel is now higher, not lower, and the engines have become much more complex. The fuel economy is worse, the repairs cost more, and generally the engines don't last as long.

So basically, what I'm getting at, is that because people NOT living in north america, tend to accept the fact that 90 hp IS enough power to get from point "A" to point "B", they have generally lower rated engines, and because the engines are rated lower, by nature they will tend to run longer and with less issue.

This is my opinion anyways, I am curious too.

 

Lots of diesels ready to export from japan:

Japanese used cars sale. Import Japanese vehicles. Used car dealer. AUTOREC ENTERPRISE,LTD

Problem is, you get it to north america no problem, you can't get plates.
You know, a lot of guys complain you can't import vehicles, but the truth is that you can;
you just can't register them or use them on public roads.

It would be interesting enough to buy a tiny 4x4 diesel truck, put big offroad tires on it, and use it as a offroad buggy !

 

There is still a large market in the USA for a Ranger. Ford killed it here because the 4.0L didn't get any better mileage than an F150 4.6 (cafe) and there is a larger profit margin on F150's. A diesel won't sell here for all the economic reasons mentioned as well as the American public has been brainwashed into thinking that diesels are dirty. And the EPA requirements put on diesels do hurt the mileage. A 2006 VW TDI was rated at 42-45 mpg and a 2013 TDI is only rated at 38 mpg. The EPA has hurt diesel fuel economy hard. And the premium paid at entry for a diesel also contributes to the diesel losing favor in the USA.

 

You do realize that in 2008 the EPA changed the way they rate fuel economy, right? The standards became became tougher, which decreased the rated numbers. Under the new rating system the old Jetta TDI is rated at 37 hwy, vs the new Jetta TDI being rated at 42 highway.

 

The ratings the Govt does are wacked out big time.

They should give you 2 numbers:

-Steady fuel use at 60 MPH,
-and fuel use to drive 4 blocks, hit 30 MPH (at a rate tested to be REAL LIFE acceleration, what people really drive like) stop, and drive another 4 blocks, in MPG.

Tricking people into buying a new vehicle is a dirty trick.
I hope the EPA and the people that designed that system lose something personal of theirs for all the money they wasted of the average person.

When we bought our chevy equinox, it was a decision between it, and a truck. The equinox came home, ONLY for the reason that with a 36 MPG rating highway, we thought we might see 24-28.

Real world is about 20 MPG highway, and if we would have known, we would have bought something else because the equinox is the biggest pile of poop I've ever had the pleasure of owning, and interestingly enough, also the most expensive.

 

I thought I had read somewhere (cannot find the article) that there was talk of a mini powerstroke motor as well. I would think that would be a better option in the F150's.

 

Not a single Equinox has ever been rated at 36 MPG highway. The 2.4L FWD model tops out at 32 highway, 26 combined. The V6 AWD model is rated at 23 highway, 19 combined.

The current EPA estimates are typically very close to real-world now.

 

The Ford Transit in Mexico uses the 2.2 diesel 4-cylinder motor. it's a Puma TDCi which is the same as the European version. 120-hp or 125-hp, not sure, but torque is over 230.

 

My bad, I meant imperial gallons. (Canada)
It actually said 37 MPG on the sticker, and gets 21 MPG on a good day highway.
In any case, thats just over half.
Probably works out to 18 MPG US, which is do-able with many pickup trucks.


My point of the story, was that the mileage figures they boast are about as laughable as the quality that the vehicles are built with. No more GM's here, EVER.

My 6.4 could be assumed by some to be a high expense vehicle, and so far kicks the equinox's butt in every department.
Absolutely no comparison.

 

Diesel Power talks about it this month.

I'd be first on the list for a diesel in an F150, but the payload runs out well before the power. An F150 will never take care of a 10k trailer and a family within specs.

 

You say you'd be first on the list, but I'm curious what expectations you have?
What would the truck have to do for you, to be considered viable?
What MPG would make you decide it was a "go" deal? for EG...