I heard there is supposed to be a 4.5L "baby Powerstroke" in the 2003 F-150 and I personally am all for it but it made me think: How does the everyone else feel about diesles in light duty trucks? I personally love the idea of a 1/2 ton w/ a diesel engine. They make great torque, good HP, burn cleaner than a reg. gas engine, and get beter gas mileage. W/ all the feul mileage and emmissions regulations getting stricter and stricter I can see diesles becoming alot more than just heavy truck engines. I don't mean like the lame attepts to put diesles in passenger cars like in the early 80's but I can see more technilogicaly advanced, quieter, more powerful small diesles in small trucks as well. I know alot of people see them as noisy "oil burners" and hate the idea of diesles in anything other than big rigs but, I see alot of potential for effecient "clean" engines. What's your guys' views?

"Like a Rock"; on the sides of roads everywhere.

 

I would love to see a small diesel for some things, if it were powerful enough. I don't think a 4.5 would be enough for a 1/2 ton however. Might be nice in a Ranger or an explorer though. I have a 2 litre diesel (mazda) in an escort that gets 50 miles a gallon. It drives like no other diesel I have ever seen, you can shift at 5K if you want. I think the reason that we have not seen diesels more often in light trucks is because of GMs failure when they first tried. Those cars and trucks had very poor power and acceleration, and put the idea in most peoples minds that diesels weren't suited for that kind of use. Ford did an excellent job on their small diesel in the escorts, but there seem so few of them that most folks don't know they exist. If I could get a 5.8 to 6.6 diesel for my half tonner I would be very interested. Not a baby PSD, but rather PSD's little brother. DF

 

Navistar is planning to use the new 6.0L Powerstroke2 for the 2003 series trucks, possibly even the late 2002's. The 4.5L is supposed to ve the 6.0L with 2 missing cylinders. I myself, don't want a V6, I would rather have a I6 or a smaller v-8, but I'm sure money is a factor.

I think you will see more and more diesel trucks, mpg wars have begun and if this motor can prove itself in mileage, the new 3 valve triton's may have allready found a compedetor.

Gm used their worthless 6.5L in 1/2ton trucks from 1994-1998, and did NOT sell ver many, so they may rethink using a Duramax in their Silverado series. Ford may have the sales there.

 

Diesels don't burn anywhere near as "clean" as gasoline engines and don't even bother to buy one without a turbo if you don't enjoy becoming a speed bump going up hills. Other than that I'd like to see more engine options including diesels in light duty trucks.

 

bill beyer: shrewd but true

 

I test drove a little Izusu pickup about 20 years ago and couldn't get over the response that little diesel had. It was a lot more than a 4 cyl. gas engine. You are correct in the turbo adding a lot.

John
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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

I haven't heard anything about the half-tons, but the explorer is getting it. http://www.blueovalnews.com./explorer_notes041701.htm

BFM

 

Well i would like to put a diesel or a 4.0V-6 in my Bronco II 2.8L V-6 with a clogged cataletic gets 10mpg im about ready to just put diesel in it and see if it runs considering i was at the gas station today and he had his radio on they said "its memorial weekend and gas prices are going up fast" he just laughed i paid 1.93 a gallon for 87, my 2 cents.


Curtis
85 Bronco II XLT 2.8L V-6 4x4 auto

 

I love the idea of diesels in light duty trucks. I thought about taking a Perkins diesel out of a Massey Ferguson combine and transplanting it into my '90 F-150 but i decided it might be too much work and frustration to make it work. If diesels are used in light duty trucks it would be smart to put turbochargers on them. Personally i wouldn't mind having a diesel truck and diesel car. Imagine a diesel powered Crown Vic? That would be ok. Diesel - clean and cheap to burn!

 

If you want a diesel car buy a early eighties cadillac these had the 350 diesel and were real real nice, If i were gonna swap a diesel into my truck it would probably be a Duetz Fan cooled turbo diesel, they used these in Gleaner combines and many other pieces of industrial equipment, and diesel may be "cheap" if your burning reefer or ag diesel but diesel with the road tax aint that much cheaper and it is damn dirty unless your burning ADM's soy diesel and that hasnt proven itself to be clean yet either, dont get me wrong I love diesel engines to death but, saying they are clean and cheap to operate just isnt true

 

The projected numbers I've seen for the 4.5L are something like 235 HP and 400 lb/ft of torque. Not enough for a half-ton? You decide.

 

The 350 diesel was more of a piece of junk than the 350 gas! They were weak, and for a diesel, not durable at all.
I also love the idea of diesels in 1/2 ton trucks. I really don't see a downside to it.
As for how they're making diesels quieter, WHY? I wanna hear it! Hell, one of the good things about having a diesel is roaring away. A quiet diesel? Sounds Japanese.

 

hey crazy don't forget "gotta love the smell of diesel exhaust"

 

A farmer in the Carolinas claims he installed a Perkins three cylinder from a farm tractor into an old Granada, loaded five of his friends into it and drove to Phoenix and back. He says he averaged 87 miles per gallon. If I find an old farm tractor I'm gonna try it out myself, just for fun.

 

Sorry but the 350 gas never was and never will be considered junk this is probably the best motors of all time for power and reliability all in a factory package, IMO of course !