So with the recent increases in gas prices... i was bored and started to look at Diesels... i am not familiar with how they last but i seem to remember that normally diesel engines can go a whole lot more miles than a gas engine in its life... should the normal 12k miles per year on a diesel engine apply??? or should i give me leeway???

i found a 2000 Passat TDI with 176k miles for 8k... i wasn't sure if that was okay or not... oh yeah, it i go through with the purchase i will def turn it into a greasecar...

 

http://www.nowpublic.com/diesel_engi...y_interest_you

 

Not sure I would get a car with that many miles unless it was quite a bit less. Especially just to save gas. You realize that $8000 can buy you about 2500 gallons of gas.

 

I'm waiting for the diesel TSX and other Honda diesels to come out. I'm really curious to test drive one.

 

But diesel is past $4/gallon. Why would you buy something that will cost more to fill up?
I'm not up on diesel, but does it get better MPG?

 

^ Yes without sacrificing power.

I wanted a diesel so bad but right now the prices for them are really inflated. Seems like people are catching on their worth.

 

 

if you only drive 12,000 miles per year it's hard for it to pay for itself.

lets say an normal gas car gets 25 combined city and highway mpg.

a diesel will get about 33 mpg combined city and highway mpg,

HOWEVER diesel about 60-75 cents per gallon more than unleaded gas.


so based on 100,000 miles just fuel consumed.
with gas stay at where it is at 3.50 per gallon of gas and the car consistantly gets 25 miles per gallon your looking at $14,000 for gas
for diesel it currently at 4.15 per gallon(on road diesel) to stay at that for the whole time for 100000 mile for getting 33 mpg combined.
its 12,579 which you only save 1500 dollars in 100000 miles

 

Diesel engines have evolved tremendously over the past few years. As I'm sure you're aware, in North America they have been for the most part basically suited to trucks and buses. In Europe, and finally in North America, they are becoming more mainstream and finding they're way into regular automobiles.

For the most part, diesel engines do last significantly longer than gasoline engines. A diesel ignites it's fuel via compression, necessitating a much stouter block and reciprocating mass. And although many of today's modern diesels are electronically controlled, they lack an electrical ignition system as it is obviously not required. It's not unheard of for a diesel engine in various applications lasting for hundreds of thousand of miles. Unfortunately, their inherent strengths also generally means a more expensive rebuild if ever required. Injector pumps and the like are also very expensive.

Drivability is somewhat different between gasoline and diesel engines as well. Remember that for the most part, gasoline engines produce horsepower, while diesel engines produce torque. Once you get used to the grunt of a diesel engine, it's hard to walk away from. I'm not sure where you live, but make sure that diesel is readily available in your area.

As far as fuel mileage is concerned, diesels certainly have the advantage. If I can recall correctly, a gallon of diesel fuel has about 150 000 BTUs as compared to 125 000 BTUs for a gallon of gasoline, making it much more efficient. I notice that my diesel powered pickups tend to get 6-8 miles per gallon more than the gasoline powered variants. The problem in a pickup, however, is that it is not uncommon to be charged a 6-8 thousand dollar premium for a diesel engine. In cars, however, the savings are much more apparent. In some instances the fuel economy can be upwards of fifty percent compared to a gasoline model. And diesel powered cars, for whatever reason, are in many cases only slightly more expensive than a comparable gas powered model. Even if the price of gasoline and diesel remains relatively comparable, the maintenance and fuel costs of a diesel powered car are inherently less.

If you buy a used diesel powered car, have a competent mechanic check it out. One familiar with diesel engines. Make sure the injectors and pump is in good working order, and it should last you many, many miles.

Terry

 

i want a diesel jeep wrangler. pronto.

when I lived in india i had a diesel truck and I swear to god I could pull out trees with that thing. It was awesome. It just couldn't rev past like 4000K RPM. That was pretty funny. It would get very upset with me.
I drove that thing for 12K km in india. Never once had an issue. The truck is still alive and kicking and has made its way thru the hands of 4 different people and now a buddy owns it again. It still runs great. I can't believe it. That thing is a tank.

 

.....agree.

Been driving an '82 VW diesel pickup for nearly 23 years. 55 MPG at 55 MPH. Sure, the bird gets flipped my way now and then. We all know about the clueless

It is indeed a tank (at odo 292,000 original engine minus one head gasket)

best, ez...

 

sorry my post meant to say 120 k km

 

Imo, buying a car simply for fuel efficiency should be a last resort.

Generally the fuel savings wont account for the additional purchase price, insurance and stuff you have to buy (like tires).

Driving less, driving better and making the car you own as fuel efficient as possible are all cheaper.

 

...and torque :devil:

 

You missed the part about converting it to a grease car (runs on recycled veggie oil). If he does the conversion, he would only have to run on diesel for the 1st and last 10 minutes of operation. If you're truly industrious, you can make biodiesel in your back yard

 

I heard biodiesel makes the exhaust smell like popcorn, is that true??