You're too stupid to... own a diesel small truck

[DesmoDiva]

Doesn't look that bad.

BTW, BMW makes Smart Cars, not MB. 

I drove Smarts in Germany and thought they were just a gutless as the one's we have here.

[lethe]

Doesn't look that bad.

BTW, BMW makes Smart Cars, not MB. 

I drove Smarts in Germany and thought they were just a gutless as the one's we have here.

Smart is Mercedes
Mini is BMW

[Randimus Maximus]

Doesn't look that bad.

BTW, BMW makes Smart Cars, not MB. 

I drove Smarts in Germany and thought they were just a gutless as the one's we have here.

Nope, MB has always owned the Smart brand.

www.smartusa.com

Scroll down to see the copyright.

[DesmoDiva]

Ooops, my bad.   

I guess I remembered wrong.  Thought the Smart dealers were co-housed with BMW dealer in Germany.   

[duc_fan]

Yep.

And the bullshit nonsense collectively known as the EPA.

^^ This.

I have a 2011 Silverado Duramax.  Once I learned what all was included in the required emissions system, I understood why we don't have more diesels.  GM shelved the 4.5L Duramax, and retooling it for the newest standards would cost millions.  The fans of the "Duraburb" are fanatical, but GM management is asking how many are there with money to buy? (I think there should be enough, but I don't give GM management much credit in the brains department... they can be monumentally stupid)

These emissions regs are also what keeps more of the small VW diesels away (like the very frugal 1.6).  They can only afford to certify a handful of their range to US EPA spec.

Ditto for Toyota with the 2.5TD in the HiLux.  Too much money to federalize the emissions.  I saw several on a trip to the Philippines... man, I want one so bad!  I am sorely tempted to buy a wrecker next time we're there, strip the engine/trans/electrics, ship it here, and find a run-out Taco to stuff it in.  I live in an area with no emissions inspections, so it'd be fine to run out here.  You'd never be able to register it in an area with emissions testing, but if I ever had to move, I'm pretty sure I could find a buyer out here in eastern Washington or Oregon who'd love a newer smallish diesel pickup.  Several of my coworkers expressed interest in such a conversion as well.

[ducatiz]

^^ This.

I have a 2011 Silverado Duramax.  Once I learned what all was included in the required emissions system, I understood why we don't have more diesels.  GM shelved the 4.5L Duramax, and retooling it for the newest standards would cost millions.  The fans of the "Duraburb" are fanatical, but GM management is asking how many are there with money to buy? (I think there should be enough, but I don't give GM management much credit in the brains department... they can be monumentally stupid)

These emissions regs are also what keeps more of the small VW diesels away (like the very frugal 1.6).  They can only afford to certify a handful of their range to US EPA spec.

Ditto for Toyota with the 2.5TD in the HiLux.  Too much money to federalize the emissions.  I saw several on a trip to the Philippines... man, I want one so bad!  I am sorely tempted to buy a wrecker next time we're there, strip the engine/trans/electrics, ship it here, and find a run-out Taco to stuff it in.  I live in an area with no emissions inspections, so it'd be fine to run out here.  You'd never be able to register it in an area with emissions testing, but if I ever had to move, I'm pretty sure I could find a buyer out here in eastern Washington or Oregon who'd love a newer smallish diesel pickup.  Several of my coworkers expressed interest in such a conversion as well.

US spec is not the problem.  IT is California's ARB diesel rules and the 11 states that follow CARB.

Jeep was going to put out a "43 state legal" diesel in 2008( ?) but decided against it.

CARB had good reason to implement the high bar of emissions... until this came out:
http://www.examiner.com/article/calif-climategate-part-ii-air-board-s-340-pollution-error

And of course the fact that the individual responsible for this "error" had apparently falsified his academic credentials, and yet, CARB did not revise nor revisit his findings even though they were aware he overestimated the emissions by over 300%

[LowThudd]

Kay, just incase you don't know, CARB allows conversion of a gasoline vehicle to diesel as an alternative fuel. This also makes it exempt from smog regs and checks: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=210359

I can't find the form on the DMV website, but I have a copy of it somewhere if anyone needs one. Pre 98 vehicles are no problem. Later than that, and it gets sketchy.

[duc_fan]

US spec is not the problem.  IT is California's ARB diesel rules and the 11 states that follow CARB.

Jeep was going to put out a "43 state legal" diesel in 2008( ?) but decided against it.

CARB had good reason to implement the high bar of emissions... until this came out:
http://www.examiner.com/article/calif-climategate-part-ii-air-board-s-340-pollution-error

And of course the fact that the individual responsible for this "error" had apparently falsified his academic credentials, and yet, CARB did not revise nor revisit his findings even though they were aware he overestimated the emissions by over 300%

I stand corrected.  Sorry... I had forgotten that CARB is a bigger problem.  Kali's car market is a huge chunk of the total US car market, so for a vehicle to make financial sense it generally must be 50-state legal.  Add to that the fact other states like Orygun and Washington have adopted the self-harming CARB rules... and we have created a nonsensical barrier to truly efficient vehicles.

I do maintain that the EPA isn't helping.  EPA has their own rules for diesel particulates and NOx which differ from the more commonly accepted Euro standards.  And, it is expensive to retool emissions equipment to hit different targets.

Consistency and sound science-based standards would go a long way toward getting the more efficient engines available here in the US.

[LowThudd]

DMV form Statement of Facts. Check box for exempt from smog DIESEL: done. Might have to ref it though. http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg256.pdf

[duc_fan]

Kay, just incase you don't know, CARB allows conversion of a gasoline vehicle to diesel as an alternative fuel. This also makes it exempt from smog regs and checks: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=210359

I can't find the form on the DMV website, but I have a copy of it somewhere if anyone needs one. Pre 98 vehicles are no problem. Later than that, and it gets sketchy.

Hmm... this is interesting.  I wonder if the same applies in Oregon and Washington.  If a diesel-swapped Taco was legal to register and emissions-exempt, that would be a HOT seller in Portland or Seattle.  I should go into the conversion business.  I have family in the Philippines, so a source of inexpensive Toyota diesel parts.  I have a 2400 sqft garage at my disposal (and an equally large gym/barn/multi-purpose-room for storage), so workspace to perform swaps is also available.  I have the cash saved up to install a 2-post lift as well.  Hmm... ideas...  

[duc_fan]

Looking at it more closely... the swap probably has to be a US-spec motor & emissions system.  I could still do a foreign-market swap out here in central/eastern Washington, where there is no inspection, but I would not be able to sell it west of the Oregon or Washington Cascades.

Of course, I know the NSA is reading all of this... but I'm guessing that they don't give a rat's a$$ about EPA violations.   

[LowThudd]

Looking at it more closely... the swap probably has to be a US-spec motor & emissions system.  I could still do a foreign-market swap out here in central/eastern Washington, where there is no inspection, but I would not be able to sell it west of the Oregon or Washington Cascades.

Of course, I know the NSA is reading all of this... but I'm guessing that they don't give a rat's a$$ about EPA violations.   

All pre 98 diesels are exempt from smog in CA. My 83 MB diesel has never been inspected. From what I have read on Toyota forums from those who have done the conversion in CA(do a search), all the Referee wants to know is that it is the proper motor for the class of vehicle, and that it is indeed a diesel.

[ducatiz]

Looking at it more closely... the swap probably has to be a US-spec motor & emissions system.  I could still do a foreign-market swap out here in central/eastern Washington, where there is no inspection, but I would not be able to sell it west of the Oregon or Washington Cascades.

Of course, I know the NSA is reading all of this... but I'm guessing that they don't give a rat's a$$ about EPA violations.   

Actually, to do a swap and be EPA legal, it has to be a SAME YEAR compliance.

[LowThudd]

Actually, to do a swap and be EPA legal, it has to be a SAME YEAR compliance.

Technically, yes. But as in the DMV form, once the conversion is done it is smog EXEMPT. Many people have done this with earlier motors, and were fine. Do some searches for 'Diesel conversion in CA Toyota'. Many have done it with earlier motors and been fine. Have you been to a Referee before? I knew one by first name in High School trying to get my Bradley Kit car(VW based) registered. All the ref cares is what the DMV wants to know: Is it a diesel or isn't it? Is it a CAR with a CAR engine or a TRUCK with a TRUCK engine. It is only a visual inspection here in CA to confirm that it is a diesel conversion, and not someone trying to get a free ride without a smog check. Same as when my stepdad registered the electric pickup we built. They just wanted to see under the hood to make sure it was being registered as what it was. Look at the form link that I provided. The provision is that any pre 98 vehicle can be EXEMPT from smog if it is converted to Electric, Diesel or 'Other' fuel. The provision is there because people generally want to do a diesel conversion to run on veggie oil/Biodiesel. They don't care beyond the facts of it.

[rgramjet]

^^ This.

I have a 2011 Silverado Duramax.  Once I learned what all was included in the required emissions system, I understood why we don't have more diesels.  GM shelved the 4.5L Duramax, and retooling it for the newest standards would cost millions.  The fans of the "Duraburb" are fanatical, but GM management is asking how many are there with money to buy? (I think there should be enough, but I don't give GM management much credit in the brains department... they can be monumentally stupid)

These emissions regs are also what keeps more of the small VW diesels away (like the very frugal 1.6).  They can only afford to certify a handful of their range to US EPA spec.

Ditto for Toyota with the 2.5TD in the HiLux.  Too much money to federalize the emissions.  I saw several on a trip to the Philippines... man, I want one so bad!  I am sorely tempted to buy a wrecker next time we're there, strip the engine/trans/electrics, ship it here, and find a run-out Taco to stuff it in.  I live in an area with no emissions inspections, so it'd be fine to run out here.  You'd never be able to register it in an area with emissions testing, but if I ever had to move, I'm pretty sure I could find a buyer out here in eastern Washington or Oregon who'd love a newer smallish diesel pickup.  Several of my coworkers expressed interest in such a conversion as well.

Have you modded your Duramax at all?  Ive got an 06 LBZ.  Gets 22 mph on the highway.  Intake, exhaust and stage 3 hypertech.