Found a Ford Tempo Diesel

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I might have the opportunity to get a 1986 Ford Tempo with the 2.0 Mazda RF Diesel 5 Speed.

Info on these cars are very scarce, but I've heard these cars get 40 MPG in town.....on a bad day, normally 50+ on the HWY

Anybody own one of these old Ford Mazda Diesels? I think they used the same motor in the old Escort Diesels as well.
 
Mazda and diesel are two words I've never (and 99.5% of most parts stores in the US) heard used together.

If it's free - go for it.
 
I had the Escort Diesel in wagon form. Not too bad of an engine, I did get 44-46 on the highway. Too bad it was in an Escort, motor was fine but that was the only thing good about it.
 
Rare car indeed. Snap it up quick, you could always fix it up and sell it for a nice bit of cash if you find you don't like it.
 
I just checked Rock Auto. It seems they have just about every part I could think of. All the sensors, engine parts, cooling parts, injectors.

I was surprised to see they had just about everything.
 
Get it, and a gas tempo for spare body/ interior parts.

I looked at one of these at a junkyard/ used car lot, of all places, years ago. They do exist, though the urban legend I've heard is most used US models have been exported to South America where diesel is way cheaper. Toyota and Nissan had I-4 FWD diesels in the US in the 80s too.
 
If the engine was a slug in an Escort its going to be worse in a Tempo.Should make a Yugo look like a sports car.52 hp is all it could wring out.
 
I can't comment on the engine, but the car is a real POS. I Owned the 1990 gas version; thank God for Ford extented warranty..
 
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I used to know a guy who owned one that worked at a ford dealer, he said the heads would crack about every 50 to 60,000 miles. He bought the car when ford offerd the lifetime warranty on all labor and parts in the service dept. Once he paid for the head repair after warranty ran out he would replace it free of charge but get paid warranty repair time to fix his own car and paid employee price for the repair the first time. He used to live along way from work so it paid off for him but the car body stuff gave up and he junked it in the end but I don't know if heads are still around but probably not.
 
RF - mazda engine

Naturally aspirated SOHC, 2 valves-per-cylinder, displacing 1,998 cc with square internal dimensions of 86 mm (3.4 in) bore and 86 mm (3.4 in) stroke diesel RF engine was one of Mazda's more popular diesel engines. The R engine has virtually the same block as the Mazda petrol FE engine with identical bell housing pattern and block dimensions.

Used also in the 1984–1986 Ford Tempo - Mercury Topaz, the 1984–1987 Ford Escort - Mercury Lynx and pre-2001 turbo diesel Suzuki Grand Vitara
Used in the Mazda Bongo and 1999 Mazda Demio
Kia Sportage 1998-2003 Turbo-intercooler diesel variant released for Asia

parts are available, not a powerhouse , but it will last forever

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Tempo
 
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I've dealt a couple over the years, the motor has a couple of oddball designs. It has 2 timing belts, one at each end, the front drives the cams, the rear drives the injection pump. The front is a real pain in the [censored] to change. Battery is in the trunk, don't put your hand on the intake if the key has been turned on(it's heated) or you will get a severe burn. Keep up with the maintenace and the motor will outlast the rest of the car.
 
Cool. I don't know that I've ever seen one. I have seen a diesel Escort or two decades ago.

When I think back at how many Tempo/Topaz you used to see on the road years ago... Zillions of them it seemed!
 
Originally Posted By: FXjohn
it won't be worth the hassle unless this is gonna be a huge hobby car.


That's the plan! I have a liking for oddball Fords, still hanging on to my 94 Taurus SHO Yamaha 3.2

Originally Posted By: citationxeleven
I had the Escort Diesel in wagon form. Not too bad of an engine, I did get 44-46 on the highway. Too bad it was in an Escort, motor was fine but that was the only thing good about it.


Yup, all i'm looking for is a cheap beater to drive

Originally Posted By: HM12460
A guy I work with has the escort diesel, 40+ mpg.


Sweet. Exactly what i'm looking to hear.

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
I just checked Rock Auto. It seems they have just about every part I could think of. All the sensors, engine parts, cooling parts, injectors.

I was surprised to see they had just about everything.


Yup, unlike my Taurus SHO, which most parts were discontinued about six years ago, and you have to track down New Old Stock for motor parts.

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Get it, and a gas tempo for spare body/ interior parts.


Theres about 20 Tempos and 8 Topazs in my local junkyard!

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
If the engine was a slug in an Escort its going to be worse in a Tempo.Should make a Yugo look like a sports car.52 hp is all it could wring out.


I had a 86 Nissan Pulsar 1.6 once, 63 HP with an Auto Slushbox. Seemed ok for me. A 52HP 5 speed should feel the same.

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
I can't comment on the engine, but the car is a real POS. I Owned the 1990 gas version; thank God for Ford extented warranty..


Yea well, theres lots of em in the junkyard around here, and I like tinkering with things. Who knows, if the rest of the car falls apart, I might swap the drivetrain in something else.

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Stay conventional in this case.


Rotella 10w40 is my favourite for old motors

Originally Posted By: methusaleh
And for the truly hardcore enthusiast...

http://www.tempotopaz.com/


Thats awesome, you can find a club for everything!

Originally Posted By: Maritime Storm
I've dealt a couple over the years, the motor has a couple of oddball designs. It has 2 timing belts, one at each end, the front drives the cams, the rear drives the injection pump. The front is a real pain in the [censored] to change. Battery is in the trunk, don't put your hand on the intake if the key has been turned on(it's heated) or you will get a severe burn. Keep up with the maintenace and the motor will outlast the rest of the car.


Battery in the trunk? I could pretend i'm driving a Mazda Miata!
 
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