Thinking about another corolla diesel does 21 mpg

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Jul 22, 2020
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Good afternoon,

I am thinking about getting another 1990 corolla diesel since the one i drive averages about 35mpg most of the time and parts are fairly available and not that expensive.

Pros of the one i seen
original lhd not converted rhd to lhd like mine
A/c works apparently ven though we tested it at night whichnis not so good a test as in day.

Cons:
Owner says it gets21 mpg.
has an oil leak from valve cover
Engine temp felt hot when hand is placed close to it. More than the one i drive.

I would like to get it as another economical daily driver as other vehicles that are driven are way too thirsty ie izuzu dmax double cab pickup 2.5 diesel.

Seller is asking 2100$ i will see if i can post pics

Thanks
 
As far as I know, there is no Corolla diesel in the US.
You must be from another country?
I purchased a new 85 Corolla 4 dr. sedan (4AC gasoline engine) at a Toyota dealer in S. Carolina. The owners manual had a section for U.S. models that were equipped with a 4 cyl diesel. I always wondered how many were sold in the U.S. that were equipped with the diesel. Must have been very few.
 
The e80 corolla did appear for a year maybe two if i am not mistaken around 84. The states did see the 1c engine albeit for around 2 years maybe.
The one i am looking at is a bit more modern the e90.
 
As far as I know, there is no Corolla diesel in the US.
You must be from another country?
As a side note, a friend of mine purchased a used Chevy Chevette in the mid 1980's that was equipped with a 4 cyl. diesel engine. As I understand, it was basically the same diesel engine that was supplied in the U. S. sold diesel Isuzu I Mark at the time. It is the only Chevette powered by diesel engine (from the factory) I ever saw.
 
Izuzu was the first maker of diesel engines in japan. If i am not mistaken the number 1 seller diesel trucks worldwide is izuzu. They make very good diesel engines imho.that izuzu diesel engine is very economival eveen more so if it direct injection. I was thinking about also a izuzu diesel car though the lack of parts locally for it informed me to better not buy it.
 
I am thinking about getting another 1990 corolla diesel since the one i drive averages about 35mpg most of the time and parts are fairly available and not that expensive.
What the point? A full size 15 year old Impala gets 35mpg and can be found under $2,000. A cramped under powered Corolla should get at least 50mpg like a VW of that era would.
 
I purchased a new 85 Corolla 4 dr. sedan (4AC gasoline engine) at a Toyota dealer in S. Carolina. The owners manual had a section for U.S. models that were equipped with a 4 cyl diesel. I always wondered how many were sold in the U.S. that were equipped with the diesel. Must have been very few.
There was a diesel boom in North America in the mid-'80s. Some that come to mind:

- Full-size Olds V8 (the ill-fated gasoline-to-diesel conversion)
- Ford Escort (and/or Mercury Lynx - the Euro version)
- Mazda 626 (2nd-gen)
- Various VWs

There must have been many others, but I don't remember Toyota exporting diesels to Canada.
 
What the point? A full size 15 year old Impala gets 35mpg and can be found under $2,000. A cramped under powered Corolla should get at least 50mpg like a VW of that era would.
So, what would the selling price be in Nicaragua?

Talking about the US market when the OP is in another country isn’t helpful.
 
In good running condition diesel corollas with 1c or 2c engine easily get low 40s mpg in fuel economy with a mix of highway and city driving. I know i have gotten a 45 mpg tank with mixed highway and city driving.

I live in nicaragua. There are probably no impalas for sale here.
I lean towards toyota because of parts availabiliy locally.
 
Don't most of the used cars down there come from here? I always see caravans of Spanish looking guys towing one beater Nissan or Toyota with another driving south on I95 with the Copart or IAA stickers on the windshield.
 
In nicaragua a good condition corolla probably goes for $ 2500 to $ 3500.

I saw one locally in ads for $5700 recently in mint condition, granted it is in mint condition. The diesels have higher resale value than the gasoline ones.
 
True, many usdm corollas sentras and civics can be seen here though many korean brands are king here because of favorable parts prices and good fuel economt. Cars such as kia morning 1.0 liter 4 cyl gas are very popular, hyundai atoz with1.0 liter 4 cylinder gas engine, if i am not mistaken these kind of cars were not sold in usa officially by kia and hyundai.

Mechanic said that maybe new piston rings and valve adjustment will improve 21mpg. I just quoted piston rings at toyota dealer at $190 a set.
 
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I dont know about Toyota but on the old Ford diesels with mechanical injection a new set of injectors and injection pump can make a big difference in mpg. If you do decide to buy this car that would be the first thing I would suggest is to go through the fuel system.

Also kinda curious what is the more common fuel there? Diesel or gas?
 
Mechanic said that maybe new piston rings and valve adjustment will improve 21mpg. I just quoted piston rings at toyota dealer at $190 a set.
What is the cost to install rings? This is typically a job that requires many hours of work, but I do not know what labor rates are there.

One issue with diesels is, just tossing rings at it may not fix the issue, if the bores are worn out. that's true of anything, but on diesels the allowable amount of wear is lower than it is for gasoline engines.

I wonder if "valve cover leak" is actually a fuel leak? Hot engine could be a bad thermostat. Although anything could be wrong at this age--alignment, engine timing, or outright engine wear.
 
I would say diesel and suvs and pickups are common. Sedans are more common in gasoline.

I was thinking about that too afuel inyector service.
 
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