Turbo 4 cyl Diesel Full Sized Truck

[Generous Motors]

I'm throwing this out there to the masses as a thought. What if GM were to install a 2.4 - 2.7 liter turbo diesel in 1500 series GM pickups as an alternative to 6 cylinders. This could put out an honest power level for the 1/2 ton pickups and improve fuel economy over the V6 that it is in there now. Of course it would have to be a step up option, if done right the engine could be used in the smaller Colorado pick up as the heavy puller. This is just a thought experiment, kick it around honestly. BioDiesel could be an option here too, cause E85 is a joke as a biofuel at this time.

[RamJet502]

Sounds good to me

[igor]

it will happen..

Igor

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

You mean the kinds of diesels the Colorados ship with in the rest of the world? Should be more than enough oomph for a 1500... after all they had less hp/torque in the 6,2 L diesel in the 80's

[psece]

It will definitely happen. Biggest enabler will be the transmissions. 6 speeds help give the smaller, high torque diesels almost comparable performance to the bigger engines. We just need a technological leap to clean the diesels reliably and cheaply.

[Generous Motors]

Originally Posted by psece

It will definitely happen. Biggest enabler will be the transmissions. 6 speeds help give the smaller, high torque diesels almost comparable performance to the bigger engines. We just need a technological leap to clean the diesels reliably and cheaply.

It might be a tough sell with the 6 spds until the cost comes down. Hard to sell an economic Pickup to the masses with a 4 cylinder 6 spd auto and have it costing twice what a base model V6 4 spd auto would. I think it has potentual though. How about a manual 5 or 6 spd with the turbo diesel I4?

I think the clean diesel technology has already been worked out.

[psece]

Originally Posted by Generous Motors

It might be a tough sell with the 6 spds until the cost comes down. Hard to sell an economic Pickup to the masses with a 4 cylinder 6 spd auto and have it costing twice what a base model V6 4 spd auto would. I think it has potentual though. How about a manual 5 or 6 spd with the turbo diesel I4?

I think the clean diesel technology has already been worked out.

Manuals are great but a majority will still be automatic. And you aren't talking a lot more money going from a 4 speed to a six speed as labor is your number one cost.

Clean diesel technology has been worked out but it is maintenance and cost intensive. It is just meeting requirements today and the emissions keep getting harder. That is why I said we need a technology leap. Something that gets us in front of the emissions curve with less cost and more reliability.

[Generous Motors]

Originally Posted by psece

Manuals are great but a majority will still be automatic. And you aren't talking a lot more money going from a 4 speed to a six speed as labor is your number one cost.

Clean diesel technology has been worked out but it is maintenance and cost intensive. It is just meeting requirements today and the emissions keep getting harder. That is why I said we need a technology leap. Something that gets us in front of the emissions curve with less cost and more reliability.

I don't totally disagree with what your saying, but the cost of the latest technology is usually higher in the begining, due to labor, new parts, engineering and developement. Look at the costs of the original 4 spd automatics when GM installed them in the early 80's. You would be trying to sell a small Diesel with a newest 6 spd Auto that would cost substantually more, this vehicle would have to sell to the frugle crowd and that would a tough sell, people only see the intitial buy-in costs they usually don't see the savings over time. I know it needs a 6 spd auto but the cost to profit margin would have to be brought into check. Then again the sooner GM starts putting the 6L80E in all RWD applications the sooner the costs will drop for the consumer and GM. There is another option, a beefed up version of the 5 spd auto that comes in the G8.

I want to see something like this happen rather then trying some of these pie-in-the-sky Hybrids or plug ins in full size pick ups, or even worse as I have heard a unibody pickup.

[psece]

Originally Posted by Generous Motors

I don't totally disagree with what your saying, but the cost of the latest technology is usually higher in the begining, due to labor, new parts, engineering and developement. Look at the costs of the original 4 spd automatics when GM installed them in the early 80's. You would be trying to sell a small Diesel with a newest 6 spd Auto that would cost substantually more, this vehicle would have to sell to the frugle crowd and that would a tough sell, people only see the intitial buy-in costs they usually don't see the savings over time. I know it needs a 6 spd auto but the cost to profit margin would have to be brought into check. Then again the sooner GM starts putting the 6L80E in all RWD applications the sooner the costs will drop for the consumer and GM. There is another option, a beefed up version of the 5 spd auto that comes in the G8.

I want to see something like this happen rather then trying some of these pie-in-the-sky Hybrids or plug ins in full size pick ups, or even worse as I have heard a unibody pickup.

I agree with you. I think a 4 cylinder Diesel would get people into a Canyon/Colorado faster than the 5.3 V8 they're putting in. But I don't see it happening. Let's hope that GM surprises us both.

As for pie-in-the-sky, I am also wondering what a 6 speed, direct injected, HCCI, 2.3 liter Ecotec would do in that application. Adding BAS+ would also be nice and would probably help the engine stay in HCCI mode longer. Put the battery pack in the back end to help with weight distribution and give it an even better ride. Oh well, GM is king of pipe-dreams-r-us.

[Generous Motors]

Originally Posted by psece

I agree with you. I think a 4 cylinder Diesel would get people into a Canyon/Colorado faster than the 5.3 V8 they're putting in. But I don't see it happening. Let's hope that GM surprises us both.

As for pie-in-the-sky, I am also wondering what a 6 speed, direct injected, HCCI, 2.3 liter Ecotec would do in that application. Adding BAS+ would also be nice and would probably help the engine stay in HCCI mode longer. Put the battery pack in the back end to help with weight distribution and give it an even better ride. Oh well, GM is king of pipe-dreams-r-us.

I was talking about a GMT900 series trucks for the 4 cylinder Diesel. The gas one would just be too weak to get it done, all the drivetrain gains would get lost in standing on the throttle to get the 4200 lbs truck up too speed. I remember driving a Iron Duke 2.5 in a 3th gen F-body, OMG snails had to slow down for them. In the Colorado/Canyon it would worth a try, they need to put through a diet plan though. BAS should be considered for all vehicles in the GM lines, large sedans, small coupes, small Pickups, and Large Pickups..........but like you said GM is the King of Pipe Dreams-R-Us (I like that)

[F14CRAZY]

A small turbo diesel might be okay, just not a gasser