Reliable Diesel Engines That Just Won't Quit

Diesel engines deficiency nan spark of state engines, some virtually and figuratively. They don't request a spark plug since they ignite nan substance utilizing only compression, but besides deficiency nan 'je ne sais quoi' that inspires america to thrust our cars. There are so diesel enthusiasts around, yet for astir car lovers, state is nan measurement to go.

However, diesel engines are truthful overmuch much applicable. The world's smallest diesel motor — nan Nano Bee — has a capacity of 0.006cc. The world's smallest state engine? 0.031cc. On nan different end, nan largest spark-ignited motor produces 25,000 hp, while nan largest diesel is bully for 107,389 hp. Both are made by Wärtsilä, a Finnish institution that builds monolithic engines that powerfulness ample ships.

Yet nan main logic why diesel engines are truthful OP is their outstanding longevity. Diesels are workhorses, built from sturdier parts, which makes them inherently much reliable. They tally astatine little rpm, too, which further increases their lifespan. Now, sure, immoderate diesel engines were a reliability nightmare, for illustration the infamous Oldsmobile 5.7-liter V8. However, connected this database you'll only find reliable and durable diesel engines that conscionable won't quit. Propelling everything from rider cars to SUVs, trucks, and boats, these workhorses will travel you for hundreds of thousands of worry-free miles.

A fewer years ago, we recovered a 1979 Mercedes-Benz W123 diesel wagon pinch 782,000 miles connected waste astatine Bring a Trailer — successful mint condition. If you cognize conscionable a spot astir these cars, you'll cognize that this isn't excessively surprising: W123s are built for illustration tanks, and that's particularly existent for nan OM617 diesel workhorse nether nan hood.

Yes, nan people aspirated 3.0-liter inline-5 isn't a velocity demon. In nan W115, nan mill produced conscionable 80 hp, though a revision to nan cylinder caput pushed that to 88 hp successful nan W123. Not that it mattered overmuch — 62 mph still arrived successful 17.8 coma-inducing seconds, and nan apical velocity was 96 mph. Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz introduced a turbocharged type successful 1977. The boosted type made 111 hp initially, though later versions were bully for 125 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Still tame, but now bully capable for nan Mercedes W116 S-Class.

As underpowered arsenic it whitethorn be, though, nan OM617 simply refuses to die. Covering complete 500,000 miles earlier a rebuild is very common, and galore see nan OM617 a million-kilometer (620,000-mile engine). Heck, a Thessaloniki taxi driver covered an astonishing 4.6 cardinal kilometers (2.85 cardinal miles) pinch his W115 240D! Sure, he might've done a rebuild aliases two, but nan truth that nan motor still ticked is remarkable. It's besides amazingly refined; cluttery, but smooth. I drove galore OM617s complete nan years, and nan smoothness ever impressed me. That, and nan mileage indicator. I've ne'er driven 1 pinch less than 200,000 miles, yet nan motor ever ticked pinch nan aforesaid mechanical precision.

VW's 1.9-liter TDI (Turbocharged Direct Injection) motor has a near-mythical position successful Europe. You tin still spot Golf III and IV models equipped pinch this four-cylinder portion refusing to retire. With regular maintenance, they tin spell good beyond 300,000 miles, pinch immoderate drivers utilizing them for complete 500,000 miles earlier a rebuild is necessary. That's mightily awesome for a mini turbodiesel not destined for heavy-duty applications. Sure, nan 1.9 TDI isn't without issues, but nary of them will wreak havoc connected nan internals. Easily repairable lipid leaks, faulty injectors, and a clogged EGR valve are communal successful astir diesel engines.

Not each 1.9 TDIs are equal, though. In general, earlier versions are much reliable, peculiarly nan ALH and AGR. However, we'd reason that units equipped pinch nan much precocious 'Pumpe Düse' nonstop injection strategy connection nan champion equilibrium betwixt performance, substance economy, and durability. These engines had overmuch higher injection pressures (2,050 bar/29,700 psi), which resulted successful best-in-class powerfulness and ratio figures during nan 2000s. Notably, nan 2001-2003 VW Golf IV 1.9 TDI produced 150 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, went from zero to 62 mph successful 8.6 seconds, had a apical velocity of 134 mph, and its substance system was 44-mpg combined. Impressive stuff.

But nan 1.9 TDI is besides 1 of the champion accumulation engines ever made because of its tuning potential. Ah, yes, you didn't spot this coming. Simple ECU remaps bring nan 150-hp type to a hot-hatch-rivaling 204 hp and truck-like 322 lb-ft of torque! For reference, that's much than nan Golf IV GTI 1.8T engine's 178 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque.

In 1989, Dodge started offering a 5.9-liter 12-valve turbodiesel motor successful nan first-gen Ram truck. Little did they cognize astatine nan clip that the Cummins-sourced 6BT portion would go nan top motortruck motor of each time.

You tin reason pinch that statement, sure, but nan facts beryllium our point. For instance, nan diesel-equipped Ram has been a income occurrence since its launch. But of course, buyers still didn't cognize astir 6BT's reliability astatine that time. They bought it because it was powerful and efficient. As nan first motortruck motor equipped pinch nonstop injection, turbocharger, and an air-to-air intercooler, nan 5.9-liter produced 160 hp astatine 2,500 rpm, and a meaty 400 lb-ft of torque astatine conscionable 1,700 rpm. But that was conscionable nan beginning. Cummins refined nan look complete nan years and incorporated precocious tech for illustration Common Rail nonstop injection. As a result, nan latest 6BT produced 325 hp and trailer-pulling 610 lb-ft of torque.

Then location is nan truth that nan 6BT is arsenic stout arsenic it gets successful an soul combustion engine. It's a comparatively elemental motor pinch a sturdy cast-iron artifact and head, factory-installed lipid cooler, and lipid pump cavity for durability. The 6BT's internals are very sturdy, too; Cummins opted for a forged-steel crankshaft and rods, induction-hardened fillets and journals, and cast-aluminum pistons. Unsurprisingly, astir 6BTs past hundreds of thousands of miles earlier rebuilding. Still, 1994-1998 6BT engines are nan astir sought-after, chiefly acknowledgment to nan super-durable Bosch P7100 P-pump, which lasts complete 500,000 miles. Moreover, nan P-pump tin proviso a batch of fuel, allowing 1,000-plus-hp tunes of this astonishing diesel engine.

What Cummins did for Dodge pinch nan 6BT, Navistar did for Ford a fewer years later pinch a potent 7.3-liter V8 turbodiesel. Destined for Ford's heavy-duty trucks and International trucks, nan Power Stroke V8 was appreciably much potent than its inline-6 rival, initially producing 215 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque, and 225 hp/450 lb-ft 2 years aft its motorboat — hardly astonishing fixed nan overmuch larger capacity. Still, Navistar utilized each nan tricks up its sleeve to make this V8 much competitive, including a HEUI hydraulic injection system, ample injectors, an air-to-air intercooler, and a Garrett TP38 turbocharger.

Yup, nan Power Stroke V8 was precocious for its time. However, it was besides elemental and built from overengineered parts. The artifact and caput were built from formed grey robust and tightened pinch six bolts per cylinder. The pistons were made from formed aluminum, nan crankshaft and alloy rods were forged steel, while nan valve lifters were hydraulic. Caterpillar's HEUI injection strategy was besides much reliable than Common Rail, contempt offering akin injection pressures. Even nan injectors, which often neglect connected different diesel engines, were very durable. To apical each that, astir components were comparatively unstressed — nan Power Stroke V8 ne'er went beyond 275 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque.

Sure, Ford 7.3 PowerStroke V8 owners still look communal issues, for illustration a faulty camshaft position sensor and leaking exhaust manifold up-pipes. What they don't look is simply a clogged EGR valve, arsenic this motor had none. Overall, nan 7.3 PowerStroke V8 will past for betwixt 400,000 and 500,000 miles earlier a rebuild is necessary.

Toyota has a agelong lineage of diesel engines that conscionable won't quit: 1HZ, 1HD-FTE, 1VD-FTV, 13BT, 2B, and 3B, the database goes connected and on. So, we played 'duck, duck, goose' and chose nan 12H-T astatine random. It's a joke, of course: this 4.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 deserves a spot connected immoderate database of nan astir reliable engines.

With a cast-iron artifact & head, forged crankshaft, and mechanical substance pump, nan 12H-T was designed arsenic a workhorse motor to powerfulness nan facelifted HJ61 Land Cruiser, launched successful 1985. However, it replaced nan earnestly underpowered 2H people aspirated diesel from nan pre-facelift model, which produced conscionable 102 hp. The 12H-T is nary powerhouse, but pinch 134 hp astatine 3,500 rpm and 232 lb-ft of torque astatine a comparatively debased 1,800 rpm, it had a overmuch easier occupation moving nan Land Cruiser 60 around.

Sure, Toyota's 1985 Land Cruiser 60 for 2025's SEMA whitethorn tally circles astir it, but nan Tundra-sourced 3.44-liter twin-turbo V6 won't beryllium astir arsenic reliable. The 12H-T, connected nan different hand, tin past northbound of 400,000 miles pinch regular maintenance. The unfortunate portion is that it was only 5 years successful production, truthful parts are scarce. So, if you want to build a task Land Cruiser, we'd urge going for nan 1HZ. This people aspirated 4.2-liter inline-6 is somewhat little connected powerfulness (129 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque), but Toyota still sells it successful Africa, truthful parts are readily available.

Few engines are arsenic wide arsenic nan International-Navistar DT466. This direct-injection diesel motor astir apt powered nan schoolhouse autobus erstwhile you were a kid, arsenic good arsenic nan tractor that yet brought nutrient to your table. Heck, nan DT466 did that for complete 4 decades. The reason: it was truthful bully and overengineered from nan beginning.

See, International made a fewer decisions erstwhile designing this mill that would move it into an unstoppable beast. The DT466's deep-skirt artifact was made from sturdy grey iron, while nan cylinders were dressed successful plateau-honed bedewed sleeves. The bedewed sleeves protected nan cylinders and improved cooling, but were besides made from formed robust pinch a precocious chrome contented for quicker break-in. The forged alloy crankshaft was induction hardened for maximum toughness, while nan cast-iron caput housed hardened valve seats and ductile-iron rocker arms.

Over nan years, Navistar continued to amended connected nan look initially developed by International and gave america nan diesel overlord: nan MaxxForce DT466E. The newer 7.6-liter portion produced 300 hp and 860 lb-ft of torque, improving connected nan older units rather significantly. Crucially, though, it had a main headdress girdle that made it fundamentally indestructible, moreover erstwhile tuned. Pro Farm IH dragster tractors are often powered by nan MaxxForce DT466E and nutrient beyond 1,200 hp. This high-horsepower diesel dragster, according to its makers, pushed nan DT466 to 3,000 hp, for heaven's sake! Yup, that mightiness beryllium an exaggeration, but nan dragster still ran an awesome 7.62-second 1/4 mile.

Caterpillar's C15 did akin things for heavy-duty applications arsenic nan DT466 did for nan medium-duty category. A existent powerhouse, this 15.2-liter turbocharged inline-6 offered unmatched reliability, power, efficiency, and versatility, and was indispensable for nan long-haul trucking industry. Thanks to its toughness and longevity, though, nan C15 was besides utilized successful powerfulness generation, business & building equipment, cultivation vehicles, boats, and more. In different words, you tin tally astir of your fleet utilizing this engine, which further simplifies nan C15's low-maintenance requirements.

The C15 is simply a million-mile motor pinch regular maintenance. That's successful nary measurement shocking if you look astatine nan materials Caterpillar utilized to conception this engine: Forged alloy connecting rods and crankshaft; monotherm pistons; gray formed robust artifact pinch a heavy skirt design, and high-volume lipid and h2o pumps that guarantee each of these parts is lubricated and cooled properly.

The astir breathtaking portion is that Caterpillar didn't sacrifice capacity for longevity. Depending connected nan procreation and application, nan C15 produced betwixt 375 and 625 hp, and up to 2,050 lb-ft of torque! Because it's truthful popular, nan C15 besides enjoys fantabulous aftermarket support, pinch galore tuning upgrades that tin push it beyond those figures. Even a elemental ECU update will extract 750 hp and 2,460 lb-ft of torque, bringing nan C15 successful statement pinch much modern long-haul diesel engines. With immoderate upgraded components, for illustration a capacity caput from HHP, you tin push nan C15 to 1,000+ hp.

It's okay if you've ne'er heard of Gardner & Sons, because nan marque ceased to beryllium during nan 1990s, aft failing to clasp turbochargers arsenic nan basking caller point successful diesel engines. However, Gardner erstwhile ruled nan British manufacture pinch innovative diesel engines that surpassed their rivals successful almost each way. Perhaps nan champion illustration of that is nan 6LXB, a 10.45-liter people aspirated diesel motor that powered everything from buses and trucks to ships, powerfulness generators, building equipment, and mining machinery.

Depending connected nan application, nan 6LXB was disposable successful 127 hp, 150 hp, and 180 hp tunes. Yes, not excessively awesome from today's perspective, but it was nan transportation that impressed nan most. The 6LXB produced maximum torque from conscionable 975–1100 rpm and highest powerfulness astatine 1,850 rpm, conscionable a fewer 100 revolutions little than nan competition. All nan while, nan Gardner 6LXB proved impressively frugal, acknowledgment to nan 40% thermal efficiency.

All these fantabulous figures were packaged successful a sturdy formed robust artifact and cylinder head, which gave nan 6LXB unmatched durability. The internals were overengineered, too. Notably, nan crankshaft main bearings were horizontally and vertically braced for outstanding rigidity, while nan crankcase was made from a reliable formed alloy. On apical of that, Gardner ne'er embraced wide production. Each portion was crafted by 1 skilled worker, truthful it's not astonishing that 6LXBs often past hundreds of thousands of hours and are still wide utilized today. Thus, adjacent clip you reason pinch personification that 'they don't make them for illustration they utilized to,' make judge you mention nan unkillable Gardner 6LXB.