Diesel Anyone?

[calgary_redneck]

Originally Posted by SupraTitan

The most reliable, powerful, simple and strongest diesel used currently in a pickup truck currently is the Cummins, an I-6. An inline 6 uses 7 main bearings, a V6 uses 4 and a V8 uses 5, which one do you think would have the strongest bottom end. When an engine is producing in excess of 600 ft/lbs of torque for hundreds of thousands of miles this is a huge advantage for the I-6. You also get an even firing order with the inline 6, a powerstroke every 120 deg. of crankshaft rotation contributing to a perfect primary and secondary balance. A v config requires heavy counterweights on the crank. Also in a turbo configuration an Inline design allows the turbo to mounted closer to the head and capture more energy from the exhuast gasses, a V design requires the turbo to be much more downstream. The only advantage I can come up with for a V design is packaging size, thats about it.

If thats the only advantage you can come up with perhaps you should delve a little deaper

[Brons2]

Originally Posted by Tom Roper

- If you do that, you've depreciated it. The resale on 100k mile diesels is no better than gassers.

I'm not sure you know what you are talking about here. The resale on used diesels is WAY, WAY better than used gassers. I routinely see people buy 150K mile diesels for a pretty good chunk of change. Around here, people say 100K on a diesel is just getting broken in.

[Brons2]

Originally Posted by calgary_redneck

If thats the only advantage you can come up with perhaps you should delve a little deaper

I agree, the downside to the Cummins is the VERY narrow powerband. Yes, it makes more torque down low, but it's out of breath by 2200 RPM or so. The PowerStroke drives more like a gasser, which is what most people want. The Cummins ISB drives like a large truck motor. To get good fuel mileage at highway speeds, it really needs even more gears than it already has. (5-auto, 6-manual)

[Armada]

Wow, what a great thread going here! When the folks over at the Ford, GM and Dodge forums find out what is in the works, the tongues will really start wagging.

A few observations:

1. Nissan is already pretty heavily into diesel engines. They make light and medium duty engines and have for years. They are very popular in Europe, not so much so here.

Here is a link to the web site:

http://www.udtrucks.com/specifications.htm

These are in-line engines. The four cylinder would be unsuitable. The six might, if it would fit in the engine bay. I think it is 215 horsepower, but 500 ft.lbs of torque.
Probably too big. It is 7.7 Liters in size. I do not know its dimensions. These engines do enjoy a good reputation for reliability.

2. Our engine bays may need a more compact V-6 or V-8 design. And it would have to be pretty light in weight. Cat might be a good partner for this if Nissan does not want to develop the engine completely in-house.

3. The market presently has some pretty good competition and the first shot will need to be as excellent as the Endurance 5.6.

To me the target will have to be the F-250 Superduty Powerstroke 6.0. That is an awesome engine in performance. It had a problem its first year which seems to be solved now.

My "other truck" is an older F-250 SD with the 7.3 engine. It is very strong, even after well over 400,000 miles.

We also operate a Dodge Ram 3500 dualee with the Cummins 6. It has 4.10 gears and a manual transmission. It is quite something in first gear. If the bed is empty, you just about have to start in second gear to keep the tires from going up in smoke! With light to medium loads, it goes off and leaves the Ford. But with capacity loads, the Ford diesel pulls better at highway speeds. Just my opinion based on our trucks.

I'd think the Cummins 5.9 straight six, or something like it might be a problem fitting in our short engine bay.

But a turbo V-6 or preferably V-8 in the 6 to 7 liter range would be really nice. I can't wait to hear what Nissan has up its sleeve.

[Brons2]

I'm not sure the 7.7 diesel is actually a Nissan motor, it says on the specs link that it's a vendor engine that is manufactured for Nissan Diesel Motor Company. On the 3300 truck, it is listed as 230hp at 2500rpm and 506 lb/ft of torque at 1500 rpm. About 3 or 4 years ago, that would have been very competitive in the light truck field against Dodge, Ford and Chevy. Now it is lagging a bit. Still, with 7.7 literes/469ci to work with, I'm sure they could boost the ratings some.

[dcrobt]

2006 model diesel titan

[Armada]

I wonder who actually makes the UD engines? I see that the automatic transmission is an Allison.

[calgary_redneck]

Originally Posted by Armada

Wow, what a great thread going here! When the folks over at the Ford, GM and Dodge forums find out what is in the works, the tongues will really start wagging.

A few observations:

1. Nissan is already pretty heavily into diesel engines. They make light and medium duty engines and have for years. They are very popular in Europe, not so much so here.

Here is a link to the web site:

http://www.udtrucks.com/specifications.htm

These are in-line engines. The four cylinder would be unsuitable. The six might, if it would fit in the engine bay. I think it is 215 horsepower, but 500 ft.lbs of torque.
Probably too big. It is 7.7 Liters in size. I do not know its dimensions. These engines do enjoy a good reputation for reliability.

2. Our engine bays may need a more compact V-6 or V-8 design. And it would have to be pretty light in weight. Cat might be a good partner for this if Nissan does not want to develop the engine completely in-house.

3. The market presently has some pretty good competition and the first shot will need to be as excellent as the Endurance 5.6.

To me the target will have to be the F-250 Superduty Powerstroke 6.0. That is an awesome engine in performance. It had a problem its first year which seems to be solved now.

My "other truck" is an older F-250 SD with the 7.3 engine. It is very strong, even after well over 400,000 miles.

We also operate a Dodge Ram 3500 dualee with the Cummins 6. It has 4.10 gears and a manual transmission. It is quite something in first gear. If the bed is empty, you just about have to start in second gear to keep the tires from going up in smoke! With light to medium loads, it goes off and leaves the Ford. But with capacity loads, the Ford diesel pulls better at highway speeds. Just my opinion based on our trucks.

I'd think the Cummins 5.9 straight six, or something like it might be a problem fitting in our short engine bay.

But a turbo V-6 or preferably V-8 in the 6 to 7 liter range would be really nice. I can't wait to hear what Nissan has up its sleeve.

I only wish the 6l powerstokes problems were behind it but it seems from all acounts that they are not

[MrXpress]

Nissan should solidify the Titan's spot in full-size truckdom before it even begins to think about heavy duty. Hell, even matching the Tundra's sales numbers will be an accomplishment at this point. If American buyers are hesitant to buy a regular Nissan full-size pickup, what on earth would make them splurge for a heavy-duty Nissan?

I'm not saying they can't do it....that's not my point at all. I'm just saying, if Nissan is going to spend all this dinero to develop and produce a heavy-duty Titan, there needs to be an established consumer base in which to target. So far, < 100,000 Titan owners does not qualify.

[Squid]

What came first,supply or demand? Marketing!

Marketing=Advertising=Sales

[lotsofaloha.com]

If Nissan can make a value packed heavy duty truck like the current Titan is now, it will definitely sell. Can anyone from Nissan help me put my Cummins in a Titan? Then I can help you with your road testing? I want a new truck but don't like the interior of the Dodge, or the high hood. Give me more hope to wait for the HD Titan!

[roadtoad]

Do the modern diesels lose power to brakes and steering if the engine stops ??

I did 200k in an '85 Chev 6.2, and because brakes & steering ran off the vacuum pump, dealing with a winding 3500' climb and descent every day got really nervous after the first time I lost power going down San Marcos Pass (Blood Hill), and learned I only had what was left in the booster to get it stopped.. As it aged, it also got harder to start because there were so many electrical parts and connections involved, and those that failed always seemed the hardest to see or reach.

I've learned my Titan 4x is fine for Cat trails and modest obstacles, but its compromise ground clearance, a wife who loves it (and the rider on my insurance) makes further testing of the off-road envelope something I'll just read about.

That said, a stakeside aluminum flatbed 4x4 diesel 1-ton dually with underhung boxes is still what I'd want for getting to broken tracks with air tools, welder, and heavy parts, and that's why I'd like to know if the new ones will stop and steer if the engine quits.

[Brons2]

Originally Posted by roadtoad

Do the modern diesels lose power to brakes and steering if the engine stops ??

I did 200k in an '85 Chev 6.2, and because brakes & steering ran off the vacuum pump, dealing with a winding 3500' climb and descent every day got really nervous after the first time I lost power going down San Marcos Pass (Blood Hill), and learned I only had what was left in the booster to get it stopped.. As it aged, it also got harder to start because there were so many electrical parts and connections involved, and those that failed always seemed the hardest to see or reach.

I've learned my Titan 4x is fine for Cat trails and modest obstacles, but its compromise ground clearance, a wife who loves it (and the rider on my insurance) makes further testing of the off-road envelope something I'll just read about.

That said, a stakeside aluminum flatbed 4x4 diesel 1-ton dually with underhung boxes is still what I'd want for getting to broken tracks with air tools, welder, and heavy parts, and that's why I'd like to know if the new ones will stop and steer if the engine quits.

A much larger vacuum canister would help with vacuum worries. I guess Chevy did not have the foresight to see this in 85.

The exhaust brakes (jake brakes) can really help on the diesel also.