Gas vs. Diesel for International Travel

[Mr. Leary]

So I'm still on the fence about a diesel conversion. If I only traveled in country, the diesel swap would not be in question. The issues arise with my international plans. I have heard rumors speaking to unavailability of diesel in certain regions abroad. I also worry about regulations when entering other countries with a completely non-stock drivetrain. I see that parts for diesels can be hard to find in some countries, and impossible in others. This is worrisome, as I would like to avoid being stuck in a similar fashion to the French folks I heard about in a recent thread.

To those of you who have traveled the world a bit, or live outside the US:

Can you buy diesel everywhere?

What regions only support petrol?

Will I encounter regulation barring me from entry to countries if I have a diesel converted vehicle?

 

[cruiser guy]

A better question is what engine will you use? Engines with electronic controls may have issues with servicing in remote areas. Engines not sold or common in the countries you're visiting may mean long waits for parts.

Diesel or gas is available most everywhere. All countries have heavy trucks and 99% of those are diesel.

For me the choice is simple. A mechanically injected diesel, just like the one I currently drive.

 

[gjackson]

I agree. I've never had a problem finding diesel. Trucks use diesel and trucks operate the world over. Distances between stops may become important as trucks tend to have pretty long range. But either way gas and diesel are usually available apart from local supply issues.

cheers

 

[haven]

I have always found diesel to be available. Sometimes it was sold out of a barrel on the side of the road by an enterprising citizen, but it was available. However, if you plan to drive through an unpopulated area (Sahara, Australian outback, Patagonia on Ruta 40, Mongolia, etc) then you have to carry extra fuel.

There's a difference (in my mind, at least) between fuel being available, and fuel being sold out. In the Fall 2009 Overland Journal, Tom Sheppard writes of coming out of the desert to a small town in Algeria, and having to wait two days for the fuel station to be re-supplied. This could happen with any fuel, gasoline as well as diesel. It's wise to keep your schedule flexible enough to accommodate this sort of unexpected delay.

 

[Mr. Leary]

The engine I would put in would be a Toyota KZ-TE. Electronically controlled diesel.

Any info regarding regulation troubles? I don't want to build a truck that I can't take everywhere.

 

[Christian P.]

The engine I would put in would be a Toyota KZ-TE. Electronically controlled diesel.

Any info regarding regulation troubles? I don't want to build a truck that I can't take everywhere.

I don't think you would have any problem crossing a border with a conversion anywhere in the world.

The only thing you would need to make sure is that the engine number of your new engine matches the one written in your "Carnet de Passage".

If you were doing the swap while the road and already had a carnet, you will need to get a new one with the new engine number. But that's not your case.

So go ahead, don't worry about it if you want to do it.

However personnaly I would never do a conversion to a diesel just on the basis that "diesel is more available worldwide". Gas is also available pretty much everywhere and often times (like it happened to us in Zimbabwe) it was diesel that was hard to find because it's being used by all the buses/trucks.

If you are sceptical, just look at the number of motorcyclists criss-crossing the world every day. None of them are diesel.

And Merry Christmas!!!

 

[I Leak Oil]

What about the quality of the fuel? I think I'd be more concerned with running an engine that is capable of using lower quality or mildly contaminated fuel. Is that a concern for anyone else?

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

A better question is what engine will you use? Engines with electronic controls may have issues with servicing in remote areas. Engines not sold or common in the countries you're visiting may mean long waits for parts.

Diesel or gas is available most everywhere. All countries have heavy trucks and 99% of those are diesel.

For me the choice is simple. A mechanically injected diesel, just like the one I currently drive.

I agree. The perkins has ONE wire that makes it go or stop and I know where that wire is....
Your cooking and heating should be diesel too as LPG may not be available in many places.
The other aspect is that a tank of diesel will take you further than the same tank of petrol ('gas').
Make sure you have first class fuel filtering and water traps and carry spare filters.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[007]

What about extreme cold and diesels?

I see diesels starting to really struggle when it gets below -20 f
and colder.

Obviously it takes way more battery to overcome the compression, and you can use synthetic oil in the crankcase, but what is the limit before diesel just gells up and refuses to work?

Some trucks certainly do better than others I know.

 

[Bugspray]

The engine I would put in would be a Toyota KZ-TE. Electronically controlled diesel.

Any info regarding regulation troubles? I don't want to build a truck that I can't take everywhere.

Is there a way to retrofit a 1kz-te with an earlier mechanical injection pump essentially making it a an 1kz-t? I think early 90's Surfs had this engine? The main thing I like about diesels(older ones) is the simplicity and longer range. K.I.S.S

 

[charlieaarons]

What about extreme cold and diesels?

I see diesels starting to really struggle when it gets below -20 f
and colder.

.

Is that where you really want to be on your RTW trip?
I plan to visit Mongolia in June, not in January.
Just living is a struggle below -20F.

Charlie

 

[cruiser guy]

Is there a way to retrofit a 1kz-te with an earlier mechanical injection pump essentially making it a an 1kz-t? I think early 90's Surfs had this engine? The main thing I like about diesels(older ones) is the simplicity and longer range. K.I.S.S

I agree in principal. Electronics are not well understood in the developing world which is why I like my factory mechanically injected diesel Land Cruiser.

I'd recommend installing a mechanically injected engine rather than converting an electronic injected engine to mechanical injection after the fact.

Every time you customize something you add a layer of confusion to the person who will service the vehicle. I've also done an engine swap (6 cylinder gas to 4 cylinder turbo-diesel) but then I'm the ONLY one I'll let under the hood anyways so it's not an issue.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Merry Christmas everyone...

In my opinion there are a couple errors in this thread... Using a diesel at -20 isn't difficult, starting one is and there are ways around these difficulties.

I also used to have the "mechanically injected only" frame of mind (I also own one of the "coveted" 1-wire engines) but in my opinion this is not the case any more. Also the advantages of the electronically controlled engines (particularly an engine like the 1KZ-E) I think outweigh the simplicity of a 1 wire. I believe this engine operates similarly to OBD-1 where it can flash what code is wrong with it if you lose an 02 sensor. They are almost just as reliable a mechanically injected engine, you just might have to carry a few small electronic parts if you get very rural. A friend also lost the mechanical pump on his JDM spec 1KZ (very neat '92 4 door hilux) in the Caribbean and was never ever able to fully fix it as it is such an obscure pump, let alone the mechanical knowledge of replacing an injection pump also in rural areas...

I will advise though as someone who's also done a few engine swaps that 95% of the time its not worth it, especially on a vehicle like yours (a '99 4 Runner - and especially if it is that wonderful V6 which it probably is). If you are still really into it then I perhaps take a trip to dieseltoyz (www.dieseltoyz.com) and drive one.. Also price it out, it will be more than the entire vehicle is worth currently and will probably never double the value of your truck as well (food for thought) nor will it ever come close to paying for itself...

I'm not against totally against it... I'm planning two myself currently (one on a much cheaper budget on a much cheaper truck) and somehow in the last year we managed to transition back to mostly diesel powered cars and they are OK, but quirky and occasionally a PITA. They are neat but really are seldom worth it.. You could just buy two gas cans for $100 and basically be at the same range and almost in the identical boat...

Hope it helps!

 

[Mr. Leary]

I appreciate the feedback. I have the engine already sitting in my garage, but have it listed for sale right now due to time constraints. At this point I have three options.

1. Sell the diesel engine and take the cash to spend on new gear sets for my runner (or h00{#<$ and b|0w ).

2. Buy a Taco with a blown engine (90-95) and swap it in for a DD.

3. Convert my 99 runner with 5vz-fe to diesel, and see what happens. I have driven big diesel trucks and a 1st gen runner that has been converted, but have never driven a diesel 3rd gen (May see about test driving dieseltoyz, since they are only a few hours down the road).

Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

If you have the engine thought that is great.. Do you have all the stuff that goes with it (computer, harness, sensors etc)?

The engine cost is the biggest part otherwise they will have plenty of small little costs... I'm doing a Mercedes OM617 into a '91 extra cab (which went through 1994, Tacoma in '95) and it should be a fun swap, but I would take that 1KZ in a heartbeat... I have a couple more $thousand to spend on it though and it will add up... But will be a nice truck in the end...