On the same order, Does anyone know how many 1983 Diesel Maximas were sold, sedan and wagon, automatic and manual, and how one can go about finding one? Thanks

 

Numbers are probably very few, and it's probably pretty hard to find one.

S

 

Don't I know it:} Thanks. GM's botched attempt at a diesel ruined it for every other car maker offering one at the time. I regret not getting the one on E-bay last year that had 39,000 miles and was a wagon. Thanks again

 

Funny how that works, because the diesel they use now kicks ***.....but that's an Isuzu motor.

 

Lol, See? They (GM) didn't want to be embarrassed again. You notice the ones they do use, they're limited to trucks and SUVs.

 

Yeah, part of that problem is people are making a hard enough push to more efficent motors. Hence why the diesels are as big here compared to Europe. Maybe if gas also was $5/ gallon, it'll give people a wake up call.

S

 

I don't see why diesels aren't as popular here. I just think the nation as a whole isn't too familiar with them. they're more fuel efficient, if nothing else, and they're exempt from emissions laws, at least here in pa they are. the fuel they require doesn't need to be as refined as gasoline engines require, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why diesel is so much more expensive. I guarantee that if the truckers of this country decide to protest and just park their rigs alongside the freeway all at once, the price of diesel would drop in a heartbeat. problem is, correct me if I am wrong, but the only effort I'm seeing to move away from our dependence on gasoline is done by the foreign car companies - honda and toyota, for example, with their hybrid gas/electric vehicles, and the european imports like VW still cranking out diesels. maybe diesel vehicles 20 years ago were smelly and smoky but I've seen them, like the vw TDI jetta, and to be behind it, I'd never guess it was a diesel. if I could get better gas mileage and not have to pay an extra $35 a year for an emissions test consisting of some guy looking at my exhaust system, and the only thing I'd have to deal with is a different type of fuel, I'd spring for it. and on top of it all, I've owned many different vehicles and I can honestly say the foreign ones are a LOT more efficient than the domestic ones.

anyway, that's my piece. I spent the better part of the day discussing gas vs. diesel at work, and this other kid I work with, who is a big VW fan, told me that the new jetta TDIs are designed to operate the glow plugs as soon as you open the drivers side door to get in. it's wonderful, but I don't see the new cavaliers or focuses making any kinda progress. in fact, a mechanic I work with said chrysler is making a new SUV model that has 2 hemi engines... one in front, one in back, and I thought.... is this really necessary???! I thought we were trying to phase gasoline out....

anyway, I'm done rambling.

Dan

 

They aren't exempt from emissions here...and definately not in California. Funny thing how you mention a VW Jetta TDI. I'm thinking of actually getting one. Since I drive at minimum 65 miles a day, getting 38-50mpg will really help. Plus you can't really tell they are diesel unless you look at the badge or watch the guy fuel up. Plus, they got some really decent power. Though only like 90hp, they make about 155tq, and will minor work, can easily make 200+ tq. Also even though diesel is a little more than gas, lets look at it from a different perspective. My car usually gets 300-325 miles a tank. At that rate, I have to fill every 4-5 days. A Jetta TDI, get roughly 750-800 miles a tank. If I was adding the same amount of fuel I do in the Maxima in to the Jetta....I'd go at least 8-10 days between fill up. I believe the miles you get from the better mileage is already enough to offset the price because in a sense, you're filling up only half the time.

Also funny how you mention Chrysler is making an SUV with 2 hemi's. Mercedes already makes an awesome diesel motor as well (CDI). The crappy part is you have to spend 40-45k to get the car that has it.

S

 

hmm, that's kinda funny. two years ago PA adopted these emissions laws. anything 96-up had to have the analyzer done to measure the exhaust gas, cos they're OBDII compliant. anything pre-1996, like my sentra and blazer, simply need a visual. all parts must be there and must appear to be in "working order". they do a gas cap test, and that's about it. in fact, even if your CEL is on, they can't fail you. with the vehicles that require emissions, there's this big machine that measures everything and tells you if the CEL is operational or not, so that you can't just pull the bulb out like I did in the sentra. you put the VIN and registration and everything into this computer, it runs the emissions test, sends the results to penn D.O.T., and if it passes, prints your sticker. I think it's horses**t, and so do most people I know.

anyway, yeah diesels are exempt from emissions here. not every county requires emissions (yet), mine around here do. I work with a technician who has his inspection license. yesterday I gave him a check, and tomorrow he's doing the inspection for my blazer - without actually doing the inspection. putting a sticker on at night. but that's the way to do it. I briefly thought that if I was in the market for a new car again, as much as I like nissans, I haven't heard anything bad about VWs, and I remember a news story on how the jetta TDI had exceptional mileage. I mean yeah, it costs a little more, and in the winter you gotta worry about gelling, but I think I could get used to it. I've also been thinking about a hybrid, I heard they run upwards of 65-70 mpg (could be wrong here) but I don't wanna be around when it's time to replace that bank of batteries.

but yeah, to me it seems kinda senseless to have a vehicle with two engines. I guess it's bragging rights or whatever, but who can afford it? that's twice as much gas, twice the tune ups, it just really doesn't seem necessary, or efficient.

do diesel vehicles still need to have 2 batteries?

 

Around my area in Glenville, PA all the gas vehicles have to get an emissions test with your yearly inspection. And the great thing is the diesel vehicles don't. Since you live in New Cumberland, PA you would be able to relate to this and all the gas vehicles will have two inspection stickers on the bottom left side of the windshield. But for the diesel vehicles you will just see one sticker on the windshield. I only get extremely disappointed when I hear about how the US doesn't have more diesels like Europe. The new diesels of today are much more efficient and powerful than the diesels of old. But the VW diesels are about the best out there right now. After modifications you can record 59 mpg in one and go an amazing 1,400 miles to a tank! I know of a VW diesel website that covers all the TDI VW diesels and somebody at that site went 1,400 miles to a tank of fuel. There are still some 80's era small diesel cars that will get in the range of 40-50 mpg. I have just bought a 1984 Chevrolet Chevette diesel with the Isuzu 1.8 liter 4 cylinder diesel engine. It is the 4FB1 Isuzu diesel and produces 51 HP. Not that much horsepower, but with the car being a 5-speed manual I can get 50 mpg in it easy. And believe me when I say this but this little diesel engine is a tough, reliable little beast. It has a cast iron block and head, like most diesels of that decade. The one really bad thing about the Duramax diesels made by Isuzu for the new Chevy trucks is that it has a cast aluminum cylinder head. And cast aluminum cylinder head diesels of the 80's weren't too sucessful. I really think 15-20 years from now people with the Chevy Duramax trucks will be having problems with it, while Dodge Cummins and Ford Powerstokes will most likely still be running strong. But I don't want to change the subject with the full-size truck talk and want to say that more smaller diesel vehicles should be coming to the US more in the next few years. I really hope so because those car/truck manufacturers that do will only make more money with a diesel option. Dan, to answer your question about diesels still using two batteries, they don't anymore with the new diesel vehicles I believe. Back in the 80's I can recall some vehicles using two batteries, but even back then most of the diesels I know about only used one. I know some full-size trucks will use two batteries, but most small vehicles use only one. Hope my information provides some help and opinions.

 

Yup, my uncle has a 82 Volkwagen Dasher Diesel wagon. Gets about 43-44mpg with that thing.

S

 

Duramax's should hold up pretty good. All the little GMC cabover boxvans you see are in fact rebadged Isuzu's. They've been making medium duty trucks for quite some time. And the good old Powerstroke is merely an International medium duty truck engine, used in millions of 2.5 and 5 ton trucks.

 

yeah GM doesn't even make their own products any more... they just make the little emblems that go on em... but don't get me started on that....

Dan

 

corvette

thats it

funny thing is here desel fuels is more than "petrol"

 

How about we get you started to do correct research on this subject.

 

Yeah it is funny....but that doesn't really make that much of a difference if you look at it. Diesel tend to get way better fuel mileage than similar gas-pot. In a lot of cases, you'd fill up the tank half the time you'd fill up a gas-pot. So even if it is more per gallon for diesel....in the long run....you'd still be saving money over a gas pot.

S

 

You answered your question of why diesels aren't as popular here? Many people are interested in 0-60 times or how fast a car/SUV can go. Diesels can't get you to 60 in less than 6 secs yet:} With the cost of cars today, a diesel would add to much to the purchase price, especially if the person is only going to keep the car 5 years or less. Diesels are popular with SUV owners primarily because of fuel economy, even then there is little a diesel can do for economy in a vehicle weighing more than 2 tons. As far as passenger cars, I don't know if diesels ever will be popular here.