Gas>Diesel?

[konadog]

Personally, I reckon This is the best campstove ever - and it burns wood... http://bushbuddy.ca/

[glenn]

I have a Svea 123 too. Best 50 cents I ever spent! Garage sale find - seller had no idea what it was. I take it with me everywhere - it takes up no room, and like you say - it burns anything.

[Firesong]

Smell, power ....
Just want to say, redefine your opinion of a Delica and available power. Test drive a 2nd gen l400. Thanks Steven.

[ivandewolf]

I am just starting to look into Delicas. My last car was a Subaru WRX. before that I had a TDI (diesel) beetle.

The power curve on these 2 vehicles were exact opposites. The TDI would leap at a green light, intense torque at startup. I could pull out around a slow car and zip up to speed even on steep uphills. top speed was kinda low though; once it reached that it was pretty gutless. The WRX suffered from turbo lag. Almost no power at low speed, it took a good second or two to for the power to reach the wheels if I pulled out to pass. but, MAN that thing had no top speed. Floor it and it wouldn't take off like the TDI, but it kept accelerating ruthlessly, well past my comfort zone. the WRX got 25 mpg; the TDI got 50.

I kind of assumed this was the nature of gas vs diesel- high torque, great mileage, slow top speed.

Digging in to info on the Delica, it sounds like it doesn't have the MPG that newer turbodiesel engines (i.e. VW's) have... maybe simply because of the form factor/ lack of aerodynamics? and the engines are too small to get good acceleration, but it seems ample for offroad adventuring.... is this accurate?

[konadog]

it seems ample for offroad adventuring.... is this accurate?

Yes.

[thedjjack]

Digging in to info on the Delica, it sounds like it doesn't have the MPG that newer turbodiesel engines (i.e. VW's) have... maybe simply because of the form factor/ lack of aerodynamics? and the engines are too small to get good acceleration, but it seems ample for offroad adventuring.... is this accurate?

Delica is 4x4 with transfercase, 2Xdrive Shafts, 31 Mud Tires, Aerodynamics of a Brick, and 2Xweight of TDI....

L400 move, L300 do not.... These are 15 year old's before we get them....hard to compare to newer VW....

My 1989 Delica has the same power as my 1.6L non turbo 1988 Jetta had... The 1988 Jetta went twice as far on Diesel but weight, drive train, and aerodynamics explain that.

New TDI have complicated computerized fuel systems...I like old school simple

[Rattlenbang]

Digging in to info on the Delica, it sounds like it doesn't have the MPG that newer turbodiesel engines (i.e. VW's) have... maybe simply because of the form factor/ lack of aerodynamics? and the engines are too small to get good acceleration, but it seems ample for offroad adventuring.... is this accurate?

That's part of it, but the Delica weighs likely twice what the VW TDI at around 5,000 lbs. There's just no way to get great fuel economy numbers with a tank like that. One the bright side, if it was a typical gas truck at that weight it would probably get 12 or 15 MPG.

[Rattlenbang]

My 1989 Delica has the same power as my 1.6L non turbo 1988 Jetta had... The 1988 Jetta went twice as far on Diesel but weight, drive train, and aerodynamics explain that.

New TDI have complicated computerized fuel systems...I like old school simple

Really? I thought the VW 1.6 NA churned out 40 hp, which is why they were absolute pigs in the westy.

[thedjjack]

a 1988 Jetta or maybe it was a 1984 I cannot remember weighed nothing and was pretty areodynamic

Westy is a brick to push through the air....maybe it was GTI grill it had that made it fast...

[macro]

You are not a man unless your vehicle needs a 10lb $40 oil filter. No more needs to be said.

Aaaaahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

[RadarGrrl]

This is such a great thread! My own $0.02 then some questions...

I've never tried the Dragonfly, but I have a very faithful Whisperlite Internationale, which I've run on white gas and kersene, but never diesel. I think it's capable of doing so though. Easy to use and maintain, very tough. I'd have another.

I don't yet have a Deli but I'm jonesing for one, just as soon as I get to the west coast. My current ride happens to be an Astro, a 1994 model to be precise. It's a tank. You can't kill the thing. Almost. I'd keep this thing going, but I already know it won't pass a safety. Why? A simple door striker plate that probably costs around $25 needs replacement...the sliding passenger door won't close properly without it. I had the door closed by my mechanic, who gave me instructions to not use it at all. The kicker? General Motors no longer stocks the damn part, and trying to source one from a junkyard has been fruitless. So, for the sake of this simple part, I'm going to have to let an otherwise decent ride go to pasture, and that sucks. Hence, the prospective Deli...

So...my questions...

I've seen a few figures posted about fuel mileage. I'm a fan of diesels, so my questions concern whatever is available in a L400 model (which are the ones I'll be looking for)> What is the absolute best I might ever realistically achieve? What about figures for a diesel Deli used as a daily driver in and around town, given typical Island weather? What's all this about cracked heads? How does this happen?

I'm really enjoying this place, by the way. It's a wealth of information.

[del400]

Well RadarGrrl,
Let me answer some of you questions.

The engine is the same for all L400 gen1 models. There are some modifications (specifically to the fuel pump) in the gen2 L400 (post 1997 models). So when looking for a Deli L400 look for what is more practical for you. Obviously the low roof model will have a bit less wind resistance and thus improve your chances in best fuel milage. Now as per fuel milage. Best i've gotten on mine has been 560km per 60 l tank on the highway half loaded. I've heard first hand that these numbers go as high as 700km. Cracked heads (usually due to overheating) are occurring more in the L300, but with good care of the engine and not overheating it you should be good.
I'm considering converting to oil. It'll cost about 2k, but the fuel savings are HUGE!!! There has been some mixed reviews about running WVO. So still everything up in the air.
If you get a clean, well maintained vehicle. It should run you a very long time with minimal problems. Unless you are beating it up off-roading like crazy.

Expect the usual maintains of a diesel engine. But they are pretty rugged and can take a lot.

A.

[RadarGrrl]

Thanks for the good words. From thtty much what I'm getting with e numbers you've given me, this is pretty much what I'm getting with the {cough} Astro. But then, there's all this four wheel drive gear I'm not pushing.

Can you tell me a little about the L400 diesel engine? I gather it's a 2.8L, which strikes me as large for a four.

[nxski]

Thanks for the good words. From thtty much what I'm getting with e numbers you've given me, this is pretty much what I'm getting with the {cough} Astro. But then, there's all this four wheel drive gear I'm not pushing.

Can you tell me a little about the L400 diesel engine? I gather it's a 2.8L, which strikes me as large for a four.

Not at all large, the local city busses are 4 cylinder diesels!

[grolly6]

blackberry 050.jpg

This trailer scaled out at 5800lbs

blackberry 054.jpg

My hoovercraft, once everything was loaded inside scaled out at 4600lbs

blackberry 052.jpg

Another shot of the trailers before I left with them (just cause I like looking at my hoovercraft)
I pulled both these trailers from Thompson MB to my place near Dauphin MB. 760km one way. I made a total of 4 round trips in 6 days,3040km's loaded, and 3040kms empty, and used 1/8th of a tank of diesel. Try that on gas or propane. It was also done in the end of June 2011 and the temp was over 30C. No pyro, no cracked head. I've also towed l300's from Calgary, Saskatoon, and Foam lake to my place. The l400 diesel can easily hold its own when towing.

Jason

What speeds were you holding when towing the heavier trailers? 100km/h?