Engine swap: gas vs diesel

I love diesels. I don’t love the stink but it doesn’t bother me. I only swap first and second Gen Cummins though, no DEF. I swapped a Detroit into a Landcruiser once but very underpowered compared to 5.9. 28MPG with a 60 gal tank is pretty nice though. They are extremely heavy which is their protection and a bit of their curse. Usually have to fully box and reinforce frames due to torque. Also have to lift Landcruiser 3-4 inches to clear the front axle. I only mate them with manuals as well so no TCU and keep stock geometry.

 

It's mostly been mid-size tractors for me.
And really big loads of fire wood. But I've slowed down on that.

 

It's been mostly garden purchases and sectional sofas here.

 

Choose a diesel carefully.
https://www.carscoops.com/2023/11/n...on-after-catastrophic-diesel-engine-failures/

 

I know it is from Cummins, but nobody from Cummins wants to claim it. Probably the worst engine they ever produced.

 

I absolutely agree with this, I feel like a people should buy a vehicle that when left stock can handle 90-95% of the normal work they do. A tacoma with airbags can do the work that you'd need a F150/1500 for ten times a year, if thats not enough your right that a 3500 would be better to use. Hell for me a Highlander sized suv would be nicer for twice a year family road trip but a CRV works fine with a hitch carrier for the little bit that doesn't fit.

 

If memory serves me right it was developed to go into a light-duty Ram along with a V-6 diesel in lighter vehicles, but then the 2008 financial crisis came along and they were dropped. Later we heard Nissan was going to put the V-8 in the Titan.

 

Im gonna go against the grain and say I like diesels alot... however between the cold weather, the fact I would only genuinely work the engine maybe 15-20% of the time and, enjoy the refinement of a gas engine, a diesel Tacoma may not be for me.

I almost tdi swapped my ranger but when I seriously started planning it I realized the truck was not a good candidate due to rust. Still have the tdi engine sitting on a stand and ready for action.

North American also has terrible quality diesel fuel and combined with all the emissions junk they add onto them now even a diesel car is not much better on fuel than a gas job.

I still like them and if I had the option at time of purchase probably would of got a diesel Tacoma despite all that

 

The light duty Ram diesel was a complete Italian made disaster which was appropriately removed a couple years ago. I’m not sure of what Ram was going to do wanted to do with the V8 Cummins though.

For me, if you want torque at controllable revs with a manual then you can’t beat a diesel….look at the Suzuki samurai as the American example. I could go for days on Hilux and the torture I have put them through. I also agree that swapping an engine with little to no immediate access to support or parts is a NO GO for me. I have a CDL so pulling a 32’ hydraulic dovetail with a 9k skidsteer on it is a no brained for the heavier diesels. I would never confuse the two diesels as a good swap for a Tacoma. We don’t typically see the smaller diesels in the US market so they don’t get to show their prowess Offroad. The big US diesels are horrible Offroad choices simply due to weight alone. Finally, diesels can take much more abuse with for larger tolerance gaps when compared to gas. They typically (NOT DURAMAX) easier to work one and rebuild in a dirty environment and can take much more abuse.

 

Love driving my VW golf wagon Tdi, awesome mpg
Plus VW backed it up with a 10 year warranty from its original in service date.

 

Airbags don't magically increase payload, and it will take a toll over time. People have this crazy notion that if they can pump up an airbag so they can't see it struggling under they weight then it somehow takes all the overstressing of the weight off the vehicle. A midsize cannot do what a half ton does as well as a half ton and it will wear prematurely if forced into it with airbags. An overloaded truck might be fine for years to a casual observer, but the casual observer can't see the metal fatigue that winds up causing failures.

 

If we didn't have to deal with all the emissions equipment that modern diesels are burdened with they would probably be a much more viable option for a light duty vehicle but all the emissions controls effectively negate or greatly reduce two of the main advantages that diesels were known for which are fuel efficiency and longevity.

The aftertreatment systems on diesels are problematic and expensive to repair so they aren't really desirable anymore unless you really need the pulling power, look at truck fleets now they used to be mostly diesel now many fleets are replacing them with gas powered trucks.

Get ready though because the same exhaust aftertreatment systems that are equipped on diesel vehicles are making their way to gasoline vehicles, CEGR (Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation) has already been added to many in recent years and particulate filters (already on many European gasoline vehicles) are going to be on some 2024 US vehicles.

 

Dude I'm not talking about regularly towing 6500 pounds with airbags on a tacoma. Im talking about how if you actually do tow the tacoma limit it squats really bad and ends up flattening the leaf springs. If I needed to regularly tow over 2000 pounds I would buy a F150 or Ram 1500, but I don't so I have a tacoma without airbags.

 

Kind of the point of the thread was to get derailed

 

Then you're in the minority of people I see looking at airbags. Most have already bought the truck and trailer only to find out they needed a bigger truck, and rather than moving up they will try to "increase" their payload with springs, bags, shocks, and anything else just to avoid admitting they bought the wrong tool for the job.

 

I absolutely agree, I see landscaping setups with a F150 thats got a 16 foot trailer filled with sod/dirt/ect so the truck is squatted like crazy and its dangerous. Heck last week I passed a 2011-2016 F250 6.2L that had a fifth wheel with two of the smaller 20 foot shipping containers on it, I wish I could have taken a picture, based on how much it was struggling I think a F350 dually would have been slightly over taxed. I think people should buy a vehicle that stock can do 90-95% of what they normally need, I'd rather 95% but I think 90% is easier to argue. Heavy loads I've towed with my stock tacoma is 2000-4000 pounds maybe 7 times total, only twice did I tow 4000 pounds and would not be comfortable going heavier.
Edit - bump heavy loads up to 9 times I think, forgot about helping a friend tow a 6x12 uhaul when they moved, still only did 4000 pounds twice.

 

I towed my SxS of around 1400-1500 lbs on a trailer that weighed about the same, to trade the SxS on a motorcycle. My Tacoma did okay with it, and it's the worst trim for towing. Now, would I want to try and tow 5K pounds? Hell no. 3K I'm fine with, but I also don't see myself needing to tow that much in the future. I don't have anything that heavy to tow.

 

Where is the line between big and small diesels? Displacement vs power to weight?

 

Small diesels work good in agricultural equipment.
My line would be anything pulling loads of 10,000 lbs or more world be better suited for a "big diesel".
Sure, there are gas options that pull 10k lbs just fine, but you're looking at low gears and big fuel fuel expense.

 

Chassis size they are manufactured to power as far as I am concerned. Any diesel put in a half ton chassis or less is a small diesel for me. Every other diesel in class II or higher is a large (2500, 250 or up).