Why do people want from a diesel Engine?

[Robthebrit]

Better Reliability? More Torque? More Power (or lack of in my case)? Better Range? Lower fuel cost? Better Towing Capacity?

All of the above are reasons why I use diesel, in fact we are an all diesel family and I can no longer see myself ever driving a gas engined vehicle, espeically off road. We decided to not buying any new vehcicle until the whole diesel situation is settled and there are decent used diesels on the market. The difference in drivability if you are not interested in speed is night and day, like going back to driving a 2 stroke bike after a 4 stroke.

However I do have one gripe. Modern diesels although cleaner, more efficient and more powerful than the older generation engines they are, in my opinion, nothing like as reliable. Modern engines are completely computer controlled so you have a lot of the same problems with water as with a modern gas engine, and if the computer packs up in the middle of south america you are equally stuck. This is just one point, there are many other single points of failure on a modern light duty diesel.

The old mechanical diesels like the old rovers or the truly monsterous industrial diesel in my unimog are, I beleive, at the pinnacle of reliability. I cannot speak for the old rover engines but the reliability of the old Ma Benz diesels is legendary. With an OM352, adjust the valves, change the oil, change the fuel filters and you are good for 15000 hours, it has no timing chain, it will burn pretty much anything, it will run at full power while standing without overheating, it will happily run without an alternator and if you can push start it you can get away without a starter as well. If it does break, any truck mechanic in the world knows how to fix it (except Los Angeles Freightliner) .

Unfortunately I don't think an engine this reliable will ever grace the streets of the US again.

Rob

 

[whistler110]

I prefer the diesel for it's low end torgue and lower RPM power delivery, simplicity and especially it's fuel economy/range.

With emission standards becoming stricter, sensors and computers are the only way to go. I just hope the electronics become more user friendly and reliable. I read an article about a Dakar team that was using the newer Land Rover TD6 and had set up the computer so that they could monitor it and reprogram as needed using their cell phone.

 

[Redback]

I have a TD5 in my Disco with 130,000ks/75,000miles and i've driven across deserts, waded deep rivers, climbed long steep hills towing a 1.3ton trailer behind and it's never missed a beat, this is no mums taxi it gets a hard time whether playing on the weekends or travelling the outback, i love this diesel Rover:bowdown: :bowdown:

In my opinion diesels are the only way to travel long distances carrying alot of gear, i would drive anything else.

Baz.

 

[goodtimes]

Better Reliability? More Torque? More Power (or lack of in my case)? Better Range? Lower fuel cost? Better Towing Capacity?. . .

All of the above, except lower fuel cost. Here in AZ, diesel is still $.50/gallon more than unleaded, negating the increased mileage. But you can add fuel availability to the list. The Dodge that I recently sold had the B series Cummins with the old mechanical pump (P-7100 series). It would run on pretty much anything you put in it. That particular engine has proven itself over and over, even with the new (HPCR) fuel system. Yea, it was heavy, but it had the right number of cylinders (6) and they were all in a row (as opposed to the "v" config that GM and Ford uses).