Anyone thought about dropping in a Diesel engine in there 150?

 

Why?

Diesel fuel cost's about 30-40 cents more per gallon here in CA.

Wouldn't it be cheaper in the long run to just buy a 3/4 diesel?

What type of diesel engine are you taliking?

 

This one :-)

 

Go big or go home LOL. Mega Boost F150

 

I think it would make more sense to just get an F250 Turbo Diesel. I was thinking about this for a while. Ultimately, I just couldn't get past the difference in cost.

It could be a fun project, but I'd imagine it would be a lot more complicated than a standard engine swap.

I don't know a whole lot about this part, but would a late model F150 be subject to EPA standards and emissions tests that the Super Duty is exempt from? I know that heavy duty trucks are not subject to EPA mileage testing, but I don't know about emissions testing. It might not be an issue.

 

in California, nothing is exempt from emmisions tests..... They have had smoke and OBD tests on everything, even tractor trailers for years now. They even recently started mandating re-powers or replacement with new Tier off highway equipment as well (think farming, construction and even stand by power generators).

Nothings sacred in this state anymore......

For what it's worth, I met a guy who took a early 90's F150 and swapped in a Cummins 4BT from a box truck. With an overdrive manual trans, 3.55 gears and a little pump, injector and turbo mods, he said he was knocking down 32-35 mpg. Only downside, it had like 200 hp or so.

 

They had some f150 diesels in testing up here in Northern Minnesota in the early 2000's. They had, at that time, the 4.5L V6 (3/4 of 6.0L) in them and a guy that was doing the cold weather testing said he was seeing 24-27mpg highway with it cursing 65mph with 3.55 gears. At that time he said Ford didn't plan on producing it due to the upcoming emissions for diesel engine. They were also testing the 4.4 v8 more recently but those disappeared shortly before the ecoboost launch, Ecoboost = "diesel option". Its government standards the KILLED the F150 diesel option, I'd gladly lay down an extra 3000-4000$ for a 4.4 diesel engine option which would easily pull 3-4 mpg better than the Ecoboost. 36 gallon tank + 25mpg = 900 mile fuel range!

 

The government ruined those dreams with their ignorance.

 

It's pretty tragic how stupid US politicians are. I was recently looking at the VW Amorok, (Not Available Here) it's got a small TDI engine, can tow 7,000 pounds, and gets up to 40 mpg unloaded. I love VW's, have been driving them for decades, and would love the opportunity to check out a truck made by them.

Yes, it is pricey, but since greenies are willingly paying a premium for hybrids that will never see payback, there is no reason to think they wouldn't spend an extra $5000 for a vehicle that gets more than twice the Tacoma's mpg.

 

My buddy and I were tossing ideas around the other day and came up with what we thought would be a pretty good pickup and get good mileage. This would be in the new bodystyle pickup which is supposed to weigh alot less with the use of more aluminum. Put a 3-4 L 6 cylinder twin turbo diesel mated to an 8 speed manual (that you can rpm shift instead of using a clutch for every single gear since my legs are too long to use the clutch every gear) or an 8 speed automatic mated to a 3.55 rear end and 7 or 8 lug wheels.

This should be able to get close to 30 mpg and be able to pull loads as big as the pickup can handle. Have an idea for a different rear end but that's for a different day.