Diesel Honda's?

Has anyone ever wondered why there are no diesel Honda or any Japanese cars
for that matter? I think this would be a good market, or does anyone think
that VW, and Benz have the expertise there?

Thank you.

 

You obviously don't live in Europe.
Honda already have a diesel sedan.
Accord Euro. (aka TSX if you live in that other country)

 

I believe you can get a diesel Accord in Europe and my cousin is going
to graduate school working on diesel technology for Honda.

Mark

 

in 2006, the formula for diesel will change, so after then maybe we will
start getting some. also, diesel is often more expensive than gas... its
not subsidized up to 40% like in parts of europe.

 

It is?????

 

In the early 80's Nissan had diesel cars and trucks in the US. I remember
seeing a station wagon from around 1984 (when the name changed) that was
something like a Datsun Nissan 810 Maxima Wagon Diesel. The car had name
badges all over it.

 

An uncle of mine still owns an old Maxima diesel. The car is falling
apart (rust) but he says the engine is very reliable (he's a diesel
mechanic).

In many countries outside NA Nissan offers a Pathfinder (Terrano) with a
diesel engine (ZD30 engine, 4 cyl 3.0 liters, approx only 150hp, but
approx 275lbs/ft at a low 1600 rpm). I wish they would offer this engine
in a Quest or Pathfinder, I would buy one right away.

Chrysler is supposed to offer a diesel Dodge Caravan in NA in the next
few years. It's been available in Europe since around 1993. Mileage is
something like 35 mpg.

I guess when we'll start paying gas $2/liter we'll see more diesels
around, just like in Europe. Gas is still too cheap over here.

Carl

 

There are 2 Honda diesels currently only for the european market of course.

1.7 litre in Civic producing 101hp which is actually an Isuzu engine.

2.2 litre in Accord producing 140hp and 340Nm. That is first Honda in-house
diesel engine, and appearantly many diesel nuts think it's possibly the best
in its class. Many magazines praise that engine.

Check http://www.honda.co.uk UK Honda site.

 

you're right and it's a quiet smooth powerfull one too
it's a new engine so there is not much known of it's reliability

marcel

 

What a question. That a high-revving engine maker like Honda would
make a slow lugging diesel engine. So the answer is: when pigs fly,
when diesels hit 9000 rpm.

Next thing you'll be asking why Honda doesn't make jets.

http://world.honda.com/news/2003/c031216_2.html

Seriously, Honda has expertise in high-revving gas engines. Why
couldn't they make a high-revving diesel? Because the diesel
explosion is more forceful, the engine must be stronger and heavier,
and thus have higher momentum forces at higher rpms. Whats the rpm
nature of their European diesel? Is their such a thing as a
high-revving diesel made of light, strong alloys?

 

Seriously, Honda has expertise in high-revving gas engines. Why

New Accord diesel engine peaks 140hp at 4000rpm and 340Nm at 2000 rpm. I've
never seen nor heard for a diesel to rev more than 4500 or 5000 at the most.
They are most likely inefficient at high revs...maybe some mechanical
engineers could shed any light?

 

If it gets going too fast, it potentially can turn into a sort of perpetual
motion machine. A diesel works by igniting the mixture with the heat
generated by extremely high compression (no spark plugs). If it gets going
too fast, the heat can build to a point where it can theoretically start
fueling itself with the oxygen in the compressed air, resulting in a runaway
engine.

The fastest one I have seen was in the '70s VW diesels (granted, I haven't
seen very many). The engine was mechanically limited (via a set screw on
the throttle) to a maximum speed of 5450 RPM unloaded.

 

So what?

The question isn't how much the fuel costs. The question is how much
energy you buy for your dollar.

If I can get more miles per dollar with a diesel car, then it doesn't
matter how much I have to pay to fill the tank.

So, back to my question: so what if diesel costs more than gas? It
doesn't matter one bit. The only thing that matters is miles per dollar.

 

I dont think so. Not theoretically and not in reality. What would be
the chemical reaction?

But... if you can make an engine that runs on only on atmospheric
oxygen, I guarantee that the engineers will figure out how to keep it
from running away. Our energy shortage would be history.

 

I hope there's a smiley after that!!

Anyway, I do believe that they have gone to about 5000 rpm, but
with diminished returns. From what I understand, you eventually
get limited by the combustion propagation speed in compression
ignition. I've also heard about limitations in the possible fuel
delivery rate. Either would limit how fast you can rev, ie rev
faster and either it doesn't combust well or the fuel doesn't get
in. But I am not an expert, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of
these answers. But I *can* vouch for it not being a perpetual
motion machine

 

You are right, but miles per dollar also needs to include the typically
increased cost of purchasing a diesel engine . . . AND . . . the increased
maintenance costs. Routine oil changes take many more quarts of oil in a
diesel. In the US buying a diesel car usually doesn't make good $$$ sense.

Besides has anyone ever driven a diesel auto? My brother in law is a diesel nut
and was bragging up how powerful his turbo diesel Peugeot was. I drove it
expecting some tire smoking demon, NOT. At best it had all the power of a
normal gas engine. But it did have a starting procedure that included waiting
for glow plugs to warm up, engine temp tor rise and lets talk about engine
noise. (If we are going to talk in the car, it will have to be loudly to be
heard over the engine.)

Diesel makes sense for large trucks and the like, but I just don't understand
some folk's fetish for them in cars.

Dean

 

Besides has anyone ever driven a diesel auto? My brother in law is a diesel nut

If your brother in law (is his name Alan?) lives in the US, that Peugeot
must be close to 20 years old. Those diesels certainly were noisy and
could be a bitch to start in the cold. If you are fortunate enough to
live in a state where diesels still are sold, go test drive a VW TDI,
you'll see that it is a completely different experience. Gas mileage is
is good too, in Europe VW has a small diesel car that gets 80 MPG (and
yes, that is not a typo, 80, eight zero, and we are talking US gallons
not imperial gallons, and we are talking US miles). With gas still being
dirt cheap in the US, your are probably right that the $ savings may
just not be there for a diesel. That applies to hybrids as well.

 

They already DO make jet engines! You should keep up with the Honda news!

 

I think he knows. Did you check out the link right below the line you
quoted?

 

I met a couple who had his and hers TDIs. They were real enthusiasts
for them except for one aspect. About every 30K it would start losing
power and he would have to disassemble the intake system and clean out
the massive accumulation of carbon. He had all this documented with
pictures and detailed disassembly and cleaning notes. Took him about
six hours each time. The pile of carbon removed was quite impressive.

There are apparently two grades of diesel fuel. The higher grade is
pretty rare but supposedly reduces, but does not eliminate, the soot
accumulation problem. The guy would drive 10 miles out of his way to
get the higher grade. Personally, I wouldn't like the inconvenience
and insecurity of having to find the regular stuff.