Small Ford diesel car?

[Nebraskan]

When I lived back in Nebrska, there was a guy that had a smaller Ford car with a diesel engine in it. Can't remember the model. Do they still make a small diesel car (Ford)? What could have been the model of that Ford car that had the diesel? He made about 50 mpg with it and it had a diesel pre-heater on it for winter driving.

 

[XS650]

Mid 80s Escort for one.

 

[CorvairGeek]

Tempo too. Both Escort and Tempo were Mazda diesels (real diesels) that were built for CAFE mileage reasons. Same reason GM sold Chevettes with Isuzu diesels from 81-86. All were supposed to have been excellent (if properly care for) but slow.

 

[Nebraskan]

Makes me wonder if there aren't some of the mid 80's Escorts, Tempo's and Chevettes still in operation? Wonder why more auto mfgs haven't indulged in the diesel for service and excellent mileage?

 

[oilyriser]

Ford Focus Diesel

50 mpg combined city/highway gas mileage. And it can reach 115 mph, if you like.

 

[XS650]

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Makes me wonder if there aren't some of the mid 80's

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Escorts, Tempo's and Chevettes still in operation? Wonder why more auto mfgs haven't indulged in the diesel for service and excellent mileage?

A quick check on eBay shows none of those cars listed. I can think of a few possibilities.

1. Not very many were sold. Fact
2. They didn't tend to be bought by people who cared for cars. Solid speculation
3. They weren't as reliable as diesels should be. Wild speculation.

Those cars fall in the category of many cars that I wouldn't give a second look as new cars, but having a decent used example now for the fun of it(and economical driving) sounds like a good idea.

 

[JHZR2]

nope... thank the EPA and all the associated entities for claiming that an 8 MPG expedition is a "partial zero" emissions vehicle, while a 50 MPG diesel is a 'gross polluter", without checking gross tonnage of pollution produced. Sheesh.

JMH

 

[hone eagle]

They arn't on e- bay because the ones that are left are being hoarded.
Dealers also resist new power plants because the companies force them to pay for training the techs and extra inventory is $$$$$$,if they dont sell really well they are POed.

 

[oilyriser]

The 8 mpg Expedition probably generates more soot from tire wear than the small diesel does from its tailpipe.

 

[simple_gifts]

The pontiac 6000 also had a diesel version

 

[crw]

Yes, there is, but it's sold in Europe. When I was in Belgium, I rented a Ford Focus turbo diesel. I found it very fun to drive and got excellent mileage!

 

[XS650]

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The pontiac 6000 also had a diesel version

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Olds and I suspect other versions of that chassis had a 4.3L V6 diesel option.

 

[XS650]

http://www.thedieselpage.com/readers/vet.htm

 

[CorvairGeek]

The GM A-bodies (FWD, Celebrity, 6000, Cutlass Ciera, Century) were offered with 60 degree, Olds 4.3L Diesel V6 from 82-85. Never heard anything good about them. Also sold in some G-Bodies.

 

[XS650]

Quote:

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The GM A-bodies (FWD, Celebrity, 6000, Cutlass Ciera, Century) were offered with 60 degree, Olds 4.3L Diesel V6 from 82-85. Never heard anything good about them. Also sold in some G-Bodies.

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Were they just 3/4 of the POS 5.7 diesels in the bigger GM cars?

 

[CorvairGeek]

It would seem logical that they were related, but the 4.3 Diesel was a 60 degree V6, the Oldsmolemon Diesels were 90 degree V8s (260 & 350). I don't recall them looking like the Olds V8, but the FWD version may have been so altered that I didn't pick up on it.

 

[Nebraskan]

Welcome

CorviarGeek!!
My neighbor has a VW Golf with a diesel and I would think you would not want a fuel efficient diesel to be too large for mid sized cars. Were they ever made in the 3.8 L size and smaller? We have a few of the Ford 1900 tractors with a 3 cylinder diesel. Really odd looking thing, but they are not very large either.

 

[CorvairGeek]

Thanks for the welcome!
There are so many issues for diesels to deal with for the North American market i.e. emissions, sulfur, cetane ratings, and GM did such a good job of souring the diesel car market. Many owners then finish them off with a lack of proper maint. A good diesel is typically heavy too, which really gets to be an issue as cars get smaller, and FWD.

 

[widman]

I had an 81 Cutlass Supreme with the diesel. No complaints in the 1 year (35,000 miles) that I had it before moving from the US to Brazil.

I rented the Ford Focus Diesel this June in London. Great little car. Very hard to finish a full tank of fuel.

Now I have two Diesel 4Runners

 

[Nebraskan]

Yep, my friend would buy diesel for his car and sometimes would have to change out the diesel before he used it all up in the tank so it wouldn't become stale.

It made such good fuel mielage on diesel, he would always take along a quart of diesel on long vacations, "just in case".