Diesel Cars of the '70s and '80s

  • RetroBen81
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 1294
    		 How many of you here have had fond (but mostly not-so-fond) memories of all the diesel-powered cars produced during the 1970s and 1980s?

    The one issue that stands out the most, rather infamously, was the Oldsmobile 350 diesel V-8 engine, which was available for many of GM's intermediate and full-sized cars from 1978 to December 1984. Contrary to popular opinion, this diesel was not an outright conversion of the gasoline engine (the "Rocket" V-8) of the same size, nor were Volkswagen's 1.5 and 1.6L diesel four-bangers outright conversions of their gas relatives. The first few years of this engine (1978-80) were especially bad; although the problems were fixed on the 1981-85 models, there were not that many buyers interested in them anymore, presumably because they were so burned out by the problems that had emasculated the earlier units.

    The failure of the Olds diesel V-8 was such that even some significantly reliable diesel cars, such as those produced by VW/Audi and Nissan, were sent to the diesel car graveyard. The losers were the traditional victors in the diesel car wars, such as Nissan's Sentra (1.7L four) and (especially the) rear-drive Maxima (2.8L inline six), Volvo's 240/260 and 740/760 (both VW/Audi 2.4L inline six), and the Audi 4000 (1.6L four) and 5000 (2.0L five), and even Mazda's 2.0L RF four as used in their 626 and the Ford Escort/Mercury Lynx and Ford Tempo/Mercury Topaz, and especially, the Lincoln Continental and Mark VII equipped with the BMW/Steyr 2.4L turbo six. All of these diesel cars were removed from North American distribution by 1988 (with only Mercedes-Benz's diesel-powered cars having any real success), thanks to the Oldsmobile fiasco.

    What are your opinions on all these diesel cars and light trucks of the '70s and '80s?

    ~Ben
    "I am such a purist for old information on anything '70s and '80s."
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  • adventure_of_link
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 11018
    • Super Mod
    		 Diesel rocks baby!

    on another note, here's more reasons why people don't go diesel (taken from a similar post on the SaturnFans website that I made):

    1) Three letters: E. P. A.
    2) the loud noise (most) diesels make
    3) more polluting

    and here's why:

    1) over in the US (specifically CA), they/we are so prudish about air pollution, and we have uptight standards on it. Even Honda recently tried to get their diesels into the US, however only the manuals would pass (which wouldn't be a problem for most people on this board :snide:.) In the autotragics, you'd need some uberexpensive fuel injector. Barring that, IIRC they're using UREA technology in the Mercedes diesels, however some people may think it's an inconvenience, given you have to change it every 10k miles and it allows for ten starts under certain conditions, after that you're locked out.

    2) Because of the noise diesels make, it makes it that much harder to tell if something's fouling up under the hood. Not to mention most people want a quiet ride anyway.

    and 3) I'm sure you see all the black smoke most diesels put out under certain conditions, right? (I'm sure someone else can add more input when it comes to pollution, but since 2007 they mandated the 15PPM sulfur diesel fuel so..)

    All this is coming from a diesel fan. I'd still like to have a diesel though, but with how people like to steal each other's parking spots around here, it's gonna make it that much tougher to find a space to plug it in in the winter.
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  • eddstarr88
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 13248
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    		 Brilliant post RetroBen81. You are spot on in your analysis of the real reason for diesel reluctance in the American market. The technical flaws in the Oldsmobile 350 engine were few and were addressed within the first year of manufacture. But bad press has a life of its own and soon every diesel got burned by it.

    What a shame! All over the world, diesels form the heart of car sales in country after country. It broke my heart to see Audi and Mercedes touched by the diesel haters. Everyone that bought a diesel powered car got slammed on resale value.

    But the worse has to be on emissions. Particulate standards are expensive to meet and the cost of keeping diesels clean also keeps the prices high. Timing is everything in the car business and the requirements of "low sulfur" diesel made the cost higher than gasoline in most markets across the USA.

    Diesel powered cars are still hanging on in America, but be sure to have plenty of money handy.
    This ain't over yet!
    The Eldorado is dead. Long live the Eldorado.
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  • adventure_of_link
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 11018
    • Super Mod
    		 This is NOT the end of the battle.

    Oh and Eddstarr, sadly we have the tree-huggin hippie liberal low sulfur diesel, but despite that, the diesel still wants to stay 20 cents per gallon cheaper than gasoline.

    In ohio, it's another story. The diesel there is still as cheap as it is in KY, but it's closer and closer to the price of gas.
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  • Mezase Master
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 9096
    adventure_of_link wrote:
    This is NOT the end of the battle.
    Okay, somebody's gonna have to explain this to me.
    TMNT wrote:
    Movin` on up!! To the East side Blah blah Blah Movin on up Gaints lol.
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  • adventure_of_link
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 11018
    • Super Mod
    Mezase_Master wrote:
    adventure_of_link wrote:
    This is NOT the end of the battle.
    Okay, somebody's gonna have to explain this to me.

    It's a line off the game, "Adventures of Lolo."

    I believe it appears after you clear levels on a multiple of five.
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  • RetroBen81
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 1294
    		 I believe in the realm of diesel-powered mini trucks; such as the Volkswagen Caddy (what we call "Rabbit Pickup" so as to avoid confusion with the Cadillac), Mazda's diesel B2200, and the Mitsubishi Mighty Max (also sold by Dodge as the Ram 50), buyer habits were the same as for diesel-powered passenger cars: Nobody liked them (they favored diesel engines in bigger trucks such as the Chevrolet/GMC C/K series and Ford's F series).

    Ford was the only company outside of Chrysler to use a Mitsubishi diesel engine. In Ford's case, it was a turbocharged 2.3L four (also found under the hood of Dodge's Ram 50) used in their 1985-87 Ranger compact trucks, replacing Mazda's 2.2L four used in the 1982-84 models.
    "I am such a purist for old information on anything '70s and '80s."
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  • Mezase Master
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 9096
    adventure_of_link wrote:
    Mezase_Master wrote:
    adventure_of_link wrote:
    This is NOT the end of the battle.
    Okay, somebody's gonna have to explain this to me.

    It's a line off the game, "Adventures of Lolo."

    I believe it appears after you clear levels on a multiple of five.
    Oh, right.
    TMNT wrote:
    Movin` on up!! To the East side Blah blah Blah Movin on up Gaints lol.
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  • bassman21
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 12786
    		 Didn't diesel cost more than gas last summer for awhile? Also while diesel stinks doesn't it overall produce less carbon? And isn't true nitrogen oxide absorbers on newer engines are being used to lower the sulfur emissions? I also heard all of the additive they use in gas to prevent engine knock produces more carcinogens than diesel.

    I love diesel engines. They get better mileage and generally last longer before needing any major overhauling. The newer ones are much quieter and burn cleaner. Oh and lets not forget the torque those air compressed combustion engines have vs gas. Yes I know they generally have less pickup, but they can be tweaked.

    Also most diesel fuel comes right here in the USA. So when you buy diesel at the pump your not loading the pockets of some rich people in the Middle East that probably hate you. Finally if really want to/need to you can even make your own bio diesel.

    Unless you're into speed I say diesel all the way.
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  • Shazbot
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    • 3 years 10 months ago
    • Posts: 4622
    • User Admin
    		 Diesel engines can make a vehicle go real fast, you just need to spend time and money on mods. Banks sells engine kits that will make 1100 hp!
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  • RetroBen81
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    • 1 year 6 months ago
    • Posts: 1294
    Shazbot wrote:
    Diesel engines can make a vehicle go real fast, you just need to spend time and money on mods. Banks sells engine kits that will make 1100 hp!

    A rear end ratio with a lower numerical rating will also make the vehicle go faster.

    ~Ben
    "I am such a purist for old information on anything '70s and '80s."
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  • CleverHans
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    • 1 year 6 months ago
    • Posts: 1283
    		 Thanks for that tidbit.
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  • Dyzfunk7ional
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    • 1 year 6 months ago
    • Posts: 4869
    		 My Econoline is diesel. Keeps away the flies and mosquitoes.
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  • rommelK
    • 9 months 14 days ago
    • Posts: 1
    		 Sales of diesel vehicles have been growing recently. Gas mileage standards are pushing auto makers to come up with increasingly efficient automobiles and this is resulting in more car makers turning to diesels. Will you be looking to buy or sell a new or used SUV? If this seems like you, find out more on our websites at Gus Johnson new cars Spokane!
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  • DirtyD1979
    • 6 months 1 day ago
    • Posts: 1476
    		 I just never really cared much for them. Most of my knowledge about fixing and maintaining cars is pretty much based on gasoline engines since that's all my family ever owned and that's all I've ever owned. If I were gonna get a diesel anything it'd be a pick up truck and only if I really needed it for like towing a boat or something.
    Nemo Malus Felix
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