Toyota's new diesel

[y-knot]

Anyone heard any more on the new Toyota diesel expected for the new full size Toyota FTX? They are building a new assembly plant in Texas for it, and word is there will be a diesel option available. Toyota wants compete directly with the big three truck makers and is steping up it's effort. They are increasing their support in the Craftsman truck series, and the Nextel cup series in an effort to position them selves as a power player. No real word yet, but rumor has the diesel as an all aluminum, 4-valve per cylinder v-8 engine supporting both turbo and supercharger. Horsepower and torque figures are expected to be class leading, making them a legitimate contender, the truck is reported to be larger then most full size trucks offered now, at 21 feet long and a full 7 feet wide.

 

[DPelletier]

Yawn,



I'll believe it when I see it. Toyota will NEVER make a diesel truck that can compete directly with the "big three". There design philosophy is diametrically opposed to such things as overdesigned medium duty, cast iron, 6 cyl, diesel engines. IF they ever make such a truck it will be, alum, V-8, high revving, light duty, and EXPENSIVE.



Dave

 

[JyRO]

Yawn #2,



We went through this already. I just recently left Toyota Technical Center, Inc. in Ann Arbor MI. , where I worked in design. If this thing was coming, I would've heard about it, and perked up at any mention of a diesel truck (being a diesel truck enthusiast). Not only did I not hear about it, but from working with the Japanese closely at Toyota, I'd have to say that DPelletier nailed it square on the head. He's so accurate, it would seem he worked for some Japanese some where down the line.



From what I remember, the new plant in Texas will be for trucks, but unless I'm mistaken, it will be the Tacomas. I don't think they'll move the Tundra from IN. However, Toyota is coming out with a bigger V8 gasser (big whoop). They have to because every body else, especially Dodge & Nissan, are kicking their hineys all over the place for power. Its supposed to be in the neighborhood of 5. 5L with ~ 300 h. p. See what I mean about big whoop? The guys in DPO (Development Planning & Organization) were pretty tight lipped about the new Tundra. I told them I read about Toyota making a new 5. 5L V8 in Truck Trend magazine and the guy I was talking to got in a huff about magazines releasing stuff that they're not supposed to and that the magazines didn't know all the facts anyway.



- JyRO

 

[dpetre]

I can remember back in 1971 we used to get bombs delivered on large Toyota trucks and they where all diesels. It would not take much for Toyota to come up with an engine. Put a yanmar diesel in a Toyota truck and you would have an awsome machine.

 

[Apence]

I just got the latest issue of either 4wheeler magazine or Petersons and it had a column in there saying that Toyota expects to have a diesel powered 3/4ton truck by 2007. what it will actually be or if it happens who knows just saw that article though.

 

[DPelletier]

JyRO,



I will admit to dealing with the Japanese in the past. ..... Although I didn't think it'd be obvious!



To be clear, my thoughts are that Toyota may well release something that they call a 3/4 ton truck (eventually), just don't expect it to be a 3/4 ton in any traditional sense. My Dodge weighs almost 8,000 lbs and has a nice heavy duty cast iron engine with a nice heavy duty cast iron transmission. Just the way I like it. These trucks are overbuilt and designed from a western perspective. There's more steel in my transmission than an entire T-100 pick-up!



Dave

 

[RobertBolinger]

Remember Toyota had a "1 Ton" (said on the tailgate) back in the late eighties/early nineties. A preacher bought a 34' Travel Trailer (huge back then) from the dealer I worked for and told us as he was leaving that if the truck would not pull it he would give us the truck. He left and we never saw him again. It was a 4 cylinder and 5 speed-I don't know what made it "1 Ton"-maybe a full floating rear axle. He was one of only two people I recall that they made sign a waiver because they were trying to tow something too big with something too small. The other was a guy with a ½ ton Ford 6 cylinder gas/3 "on the tree" transmission who bought a 32' Fiver-He was destined to replace a clutch or two and would be lucky if he did not shear a rear wheel off his non-floating rear end.

 

[stevek]

Toyota builds some pretty respectable diesels for other markets, and most are all inline designs I could easily see a inline 6 turbo diesel in their future in the US.

 

[DPelletier]

Yep, I've even seen Toyota duallies before. kinda cute.



Dave

 

[JyRO]

I'm not saying Toyota can't do it. Matter of fact, if they did, it would be the one to have in my opinion. Customer satisfaction out the wazoo, and dependability. I doubt it would be h. p. king, or win drag races, but it would be a heck of a truck. But, I hadn't heard squat about it. And I think I would've heard, but maybe not. It just doesn't seam feasible in the Toyota realm of things, at this point in time. Heck, their "1/2 ton" is not exactly competitive right now. The '05, or '06 model Tundra will be a big step up. But as for a truely HD truck ... I don't think so. But they do have some decent diesel engines for other markets ... they know how to make'em at least.



- JyRO

 

[Todd G]

All the Japanese companies make decent diesels, they just can't think the same way we do. Hino, Mitsu, Isuzu, and UD all make 6 cylinder iron-block diesels that work work great in a big pickup truck.

 

[KBennett]

More competition is better

I was really happy with the three previous "Japanese built" trucks before I got my Dodge but I don't know if I would go back. I only have 10K on this one but if it stays reliable I will stay with it. I had a Tacoma last and I miss it's off road prowess but I don't like the styling of the Tundra so there would have to be significant design changes.

The Dodge has way more power than I need but the only time I am concerned about that is at the pump. If Toyota improved the styling, installed an inline 6, and promised 30+MPG on the highway unloaded I think you might see some people changing. At least they would build them in the US, that's more than you can say about Dodge.

 

[guava]

From an engineering forum...



The japanese see the writing on the wall regarding EPA changes and fuel requires coming up in 2007 and later. They believe their vehicle to last for longer than the upcoming changes so they don't want to send out a bunch of vehicles that will suddenly be unusable by future standards down the road.



I think its silly because they would be grandfathered in but what do i know.



They make some great diesels and are distributed around the world, just not to the US or canada. Take a look at the MEGACRUISER... its sold in australia. Direct copy of the Hummer.

 

[Breck]

I'm still trying to figure out how to put a Cummins in the wifes 80 series Land Cruiser!



I wish Toyota made a real 3/4-1 ton pick-up.

 

[CATCRACKER]

my guess if they built a 3/4 ton truck today it would cost at least 42K. i bought my 03 for 32000 slt power cummins ho 4x4 speed. you will never see me riding in a toyota. they all feel light to me. no good. i saw two dead teenagers (boy friend and girl friend) in a 4runner last sat night. i thought to myseld that if they were in my dually they would have made it. naw i will keep my dodge you go ride around in a tin can if you want.



guess who builds all the new diesels in the cat d3,d3,d5 it a inline mistubishi engine. who owns a large part of mitsubishi DC . my d3 has a 359 cubic inch 4 banger. lots o torque.



yanmar would be one hell of a choice by really anything inline will be a 500K engine. but just maybe not a 400hp and pulling my dozer around no i will leave that up to cummins.

 

[Will24]

They are using a mitsu now in the cats? I thought the little cats were perkins motors





-Will

 

[DSpencer]

I owned and loved an 86 Toyota one ton as my last truck. It would be a mistake to compare it to a full sized one ton, but it was a tough truck. It would also get 20mpg pulling a 3500 lb boat trailer at 65mph! I lost a head gasket at 240k; my fault when I replaced the original radiator with an aftermarket that would not quite cool the motor on hot Texas summer days pulling my boat. I had been wanting a new truck anyway and they had quit making the one ton Toyota so I got a Dodge diesel. When anyone asks why I bought the Dodge, I tell them that its the closest I could get to my little Toyota... ... . HMMM... I don't know if could go back.

 

[hammersley]

Toyota did make a one ton - that was so named

because that's how much it weighed -

 

[JBlock]

Australian Turbos'

Totoya Landcruzier and UTE models have turbo diesels are in Australia and they real are screamers. I had a standard diesl that would roll 150kilometers hour (90 mph) cruzing speed all day long while in the outback



I don't own any foreign car or trucks even. But a small diesel in mid size truck would be great for my 14year old when he steps upto the wheel in couple years.



JB

 

[CATCRACKER]

last time i was in the local cat dealer to buy some paint and a roller the head mechanic was telling me that they use a mitsubishi engine. he said they are awsome engines. bottom line a inline will always be the most durable b/c i rod strenght natural balance etc. so whether its toyota, yanmar, perkins, man, duetz, cummins, lugger, cat, detroit, mitsubishi, isuzu, navistar, inline is the best.