Diesel Commodores

[jakbob]

I know Holden keeps promising a diesel commodore, but it never seems to happen. I recently picked up the June 1980 issue of Modern Motor to read about the VC commodore, and in the news lines section there is a little column entitled 'Diesel Commodore more than a rumor'
The passage goes on to say that they stumbled on a delivery of bell-housings en-route to Holden's Pagewood plant designed to match some diesel engine to a Holden gearbox. It seems Holden has been promising a diesel commodore for much longer than I'd realized. This was way before my time but does anyone who was around in 1980 remember hearing about a diesel commodore?

I have to say I'm glad it never happened, as any diesel engine at the time less than about 6 or 7 litres was inherently woeful and combined with a trimatic would have to have been worse than the starfire.

Also, just out of curiosity, has anyone seen or heard of any commodore being converted to diesel? A bloke at work said he'd seen a commodore with a diesel engine in, and my uncle reckons he knew someone who put some sort of nissan diesel engine in a vk.

[227shanno]

the proud commodore dynesty would die as soon as they put a diesel engine in it.

[S.O.S]

No, you're going to need to move with the times, some people are just after cheap running cost without the drop in performance. I'm all for the work horse range having a diesel option, but not as the performance option.

Only issues i can see is no crewman. That would have been the perfect option for a turbo diesel motor.

[Rufus®]

Pretty sure I caught something on the news monday night. Diesel Ute will produced, don't know any details, just caught a glimpse of it. And of course I can't find any other info on it.

[minux]

Some people need to get out of the 70's with their diesel thinking.

Disels are performing just as well as petty motors in this day and age, with one major significant step forward, HUGELY better fuel economy.

Oh before anyone talks rubbish, we are talking standard cars here, not stupidly modified ones...

[ScoHar]

Yea i've seen a few VB VC etc and even some HQ's converted to diesel using the Nissan RD28 Engine, there are quite a few in NZ that have been converted, I guess its more common over here as the restrictions on emissions laws etc are next to nothing.

But yes for a standard Holden to use a diesel engine would be great for sales I imagine, as minux said diesels now days are almost on par with petrol engines for emissions, power and noise.

[f1tzy]

Pretty sure I caught something on the news monday night. Diesel Ute will produced, don't know any details, just caught a glimpse of it. And of course I can't find any other info on it.

I have no issue with the diesel motor just with the fact that its pointless putting it into the ute if its going to be marketed as a workhorse. There is no tonner option anymore and no tray. Id happily take the le mans winning tdv12

[Pete SS]

Since moving to Australia from England two years ago, I'm still suprised at the lack of diesel cars on the road here. I suppose it's because petrol is still cheap compared to Europe.

A couple of diesel varients is just what the Commodore range needs. A lower powered TD for the Omega sedan and ute and a more performance based engine for the Calais and even an S model. Before you all flame a performance diesel, look what BMW are churning out in their diesel range.

I personally, will keep to the V8's as I've driven diesels in England for the first 10 years of my driving career.

[S.O.S]

Australia's diesel quality is still below par. It's better, but still below.

[HICOMPVN]

IT'S All part of holdens ECOLINE range, check out the holden website. saw somthing earlier with dad on the site

[Jezza]

i think its a great idea i remember seeing someone saying in a wheels article that it would be good to see the calais get a TD engine to compete with the Euro cars like merc and bmw and i imagen there is some GM car somewhere in the world that has a decent diesel engine that can be used

[dynoryder]

for 1 epica has a diesel

for 2 commys will be fine with diesels they had 4 bangers in the vc (the hz kingy had a 13b)

and for 3 if a diesel is built right it has plenty of power for the street


diesels have high comp ratio so they have good torque

petrol has more energy per liter but due to dynamics they are equal

there you herd it it's finaly over there equal

[Jezza]

if people think diesel has no proper performance properties then look at the top gear episode where they grew there own fuel which was meant to be petrol but was diesel so they got a bmw diesel and turned it into a race car and when the stig drove it in the endurance race it went really well for a diesel

[dynoryder]

if people think diesel has no proper performance properties then look at the top gear episode where they grew there own fuel which was meant to be petrol but was diesel so they got a bmw diesel and turned it into a race car and when the stig drove it in the endurance race it went really well for a diesel

lol i like high output diesel but top gear plz dont speak of that show and plz dont belive what you see on the bbc

[Calaber]

Some people need to get out of the 70's with their diesel thinking.

Disels are performing just as well as petty motors in this day and age, with one major significant step forward, HUGELY better fuel economy.

Oh before anyone talks rubbish, we are talking standard cars here, not stupidly modified ones...

I'll back that statement up. Whilst in the UK recently, we haired a Hyundai i30 diesel five speed. I have no idea of the engine capacity but it wouldn't have been more than two litres and the little bugger hauled like a train. Rapid off-line acceleration, plenty of overtaking grunt and unbelievable economy.

With the right diesel engine, Commodores would only be better, not worse.

[minux]

lol i like high output diesel but top gear plz dont speak of that show and plz dont belive what you see on the bbc

Sorry, I must of missed when you were made a moderator and could tell people what they can and cannot mention?

I'll back that statement up. Whilst in the UK recently, we haired a Hyundai i30 diesel five speed. I have no idea of the engine capacity but it wouldn't have been more than two litres and the little bugger hauled like a train. Rapid off-line acceleration, plenty of overtaking grunt and unbelievable economy.

With the right diesel engine, Commodores would only be better, not worse.

Yeah, diesel has come a long way, sadly, backward hick countries like the USA, Australia etc are still stuck in the 70's on both production of diesel and the beliefs of its performance.

[MasterOfReality]

I'd have no hesitation buying a turbo diesel for my next car.

How do you blokes figure that the Commodore will die if they put a diesel in?

Last I looked, the various Audis and BMW turbo diesels were selling very well and are almost just as quick as their petrol counterparts, and have a huge torque benefit as well.

[TVR-190]

Holden needs to keep up with the times. i wouldn't mind a diesel commodore

[Pete SS]

Why would diesel be worse here than Europe? Companies like BP, Mobil, etc are worldwide, surely they would use the same refineing process here as over there?

[minux]

Why would diesel be worse here than Europe? Companies like BP, Mobil, etc are worldwide, surely they would use the same refineing process here as over there?

It is refined differently, just like our normal petrol is. By world standards, our standard unleaded fuel is a piece of shit.

[_R_J_K_]

petrol has more energy per liter but due to dynamics they are equal

there you herd it it's finaly over there equal

Can you elaborate on this a bit more? What do you mean by dynamics?

What are your comparisons to say that it is "equal"?

[Pete SS]

It is refined differently, just like our normal petrol is. By world standards, our standard unleaded fuel is a piece of shit.

Why would they refine it differently? Cost cutting? Fuel here is about half the price of UK fuel, maybe that's one of the reasons:- cheaper refining process. Tax on fuel isn't as high here either.

Maybe if they refined the oil to a similar quality as Europe, the price would sky rocket.

When you say it's a lower standard, what do you mean? The octane ratings are the same. Is it got heaps of impurities? Not trying to argue, just trying to understand.

[VKCOMMO]

if i had the money id do it.. my dad is a diving instructor and has a 2.0 4 pot turbo diesel and it goes 200km/h up a slight hill with more to go.. if your read the rta website and look through it all it stated that p platers can run a diesel v8 with as many blowers or turbos as they can dream of, all that matters is that it has to be diesel..

[Bravotwozero]

Some people need to get out of the 70's with their diesel thinking.

Disels are performing just as well as petty motors in this day and age, with one major significant step forward, HUGELY better fuel economy.

Oh before anyone talks rubbish, we are talking standard cars here, not stupidly modified ones...

The better fuel economy is negated by the higher initial purchase price of vehicle, higher servicing costs and the higher cost of diesel over petrol. False economy imo.

[S2_VR_]

The better fuel economy is negated by the higher initial purchase price of vehicle, higher servicing costs and the higher cost of diesel over petrol. False economy imo.

+1

doesnt diesel cars have to be serviced way more