I really think that, if we're a little patient, ToyUSA will bring the 3.0 turbo diesel and manual transmissions to the US.

The economy is in the dumps.
Cars didn't sell even with O% financing last month.
Gas is averaging over $2 per gallon.

A friend in the new/used car business says Ford Expeditions are $14K at the auctions after just a few months. No one wants to pay $100 to fill a gas tank.

Mercedes is bringing us a diesel E-class (not that I can afford it).

Jeep is bringing out a diesel Liberty next year.

Like someone else said at one of these boards...
Toyota isn't a industry leader, they're a follower.

Toy let's everyone else test the water, then they bring out a better product.

Patience. Diesels with manual trannys will get here. Because they can't sell me a new car by just adding or changing the doo-dads they offer.

 

Its funny that diesels are so popular everywhere in the world but the U.S. Thanks to some really bad diesels designs in the early 80's Americans got turned off to diesel. My Jetta TDi gets over 50 MPG, is quiet, doesn't smoke, and has that cool turbo whoosh sound. Throw in much longer engine life and hopefully a lot of manufacturers will send their diesels here, especially once we get ULSD in 96. Right now that is the only limiting factor I can see - that is why biodiesel is such a good idea right now.

 

Alot of people here in the US are turned off by the sweet smell of the exhaust even on a new good running engine. A friend of mine swears that if I ever buy a diesel he'll never follow me anywhere again. I personally am not bothered by it, the issue for me is not very many stations sell diesel in my area.

 

www.omegaskylines.com

 

I was in Seattle last summer and had no problem finding gas stations that sell diesel. I wasn't very happy with the diesel in Wash. though. It smoked a lot at startup and was definately down on power. The best diesel I've ever used was from Cali. but they already have ULSD there. The next closest is here in Texas.

 

Victor...
I made up about a half liter of biodiesel a couple of weeks ago and could get my students to make up some more if you want to test it out for us.

Since you know the language, turbo diesel 4Runners are imported into Costa Rica...I wonder what it would take to get a couple sent up here?

 

I love the smell of diesel, and that smooth sound... One of the best things I have ever seen was a hot young female driving a CTD with a bumper sticker that said "Diesel fumes make me horny!"

I would love to swap a diesel engine into my runner..Like anything made by CAT...I am just not sure where it would fit...unless I remove the back seat...yes..

 

Ir shouldn't be too hard. There are a couple of guys that have imported the 3.0 TD from Australia and installed it in their 2nd gen 4runners. I'd love to get the 89-94 truck with a crew cab, solid front axle, and the 3.0 TD. Here in Texas there is no emissions test for diesels so as long as these trucks meet all the safety equip. checks at the port it shouldn't be a huge problem. That generation of trucks didn't have Airbags so as long as all the lighting meets our standards (instaling DOT headlights, etc.) then it should be a relatively easy import.

I wonder if someone in S. America could put is in touch with a company that can pull the complete engines and ECUs with harnesses. That should be cheaper than a $3000 3vze replacement.

 

with all the extra milage you get out of a diesel, it's easier to come across stations that have it. plus, when you don't have a diesel motor, you don't notice all the many stations with diesel. once you do, you realize the diesel stations are allllllll over the place.

finding diesel stations are never a big problem from my experience owning a jetta tdi. especially on xcountry road jurneez, diesel's available at the mojority of fuel stations along the highway. so if you need diesel, a freeway will inevitably lead you to one.

 

Freeway???
We don't need no stinkin' freeway!

 

Victor, I can give you some webs or e mails from Toyota Parts shops here in Argentina, but you better try in Mexico, Colombia or Perú, which are much closer to the US.

If you buy an engine in Argentina for $3.000, you´ll be paying another $ 3.000 to UPS or similar.

Alejandro

 

the other thing to remember is that all the cars in japan are right hand drive which is why they are getting shipped to the uk.

 

It´s true, but there are several countries where Toyota exports turbo diesels and are left hand drive. All Southamerica and Europe ( except UK)

 

Hayduke I'll gladly throw some in the tank. What did you make it from? I hear french fry oil smells pretty good out the exhaust.

 

I made it from some Crisco vegetable oil we had in the lab. I figured after I found a good way to test it, I'd start shopping for a waste source. Email me directly at:
jjgilb@swbell.net

 

The thing I love about the diesel is that compared to a similar size Petrol (sorry I'm a brit) engine, the mid range grunt is considerably more. Top end power isn't high but then the 4Runner / Surf isn't a sports car.

Off road diesels beat everything short of a big V8.

I've never noticed a sweet smell from my exhaust, maybe cause mine doesn't have a diesel CAT.

Andy

 

Yup, my TDi has a cat, CCV system (PCV), and an EGR system. It normally does not smoke or produce any diesel exhaust smell. With biodiesel depending on what the base oil was that was used a lot of times you get a sweet smell from the exhaust.

 

For all those of you out there that are looking for Toyota diesel engines; these guys import them..

Price? I hate to ask..

http://www.sor.com/sor/cat035.tam?xa...x=cat035%2Etam

 

Does anyone know the engine code for the 3.0L diesel?

 

The 3.0 liter (non turbo) is the... 5L-E.
The 3.0 liter (turbo model) is the.. 1KZ-TE.

I think..